Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat

Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat House in Monteverde
2 bedrooms, in-room safe, desk, free WiFi
Books
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Combined shower/tub, hair dryer, towels, soap

About this house rental

Situated in Monteverde, this charming house for $135 per night is a great option for your next break. Our house is located on 40 acres of private property that abuts the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and is one of the last private homes before the Reserve. More than half our land is in primary cloud forest, but we also have a large clearing below our house that is perfect for viewing wildlife. In fact, because our place is contiguous to more than 110,000 acres of protected forest, you’re likely to see many more animals here than in most other places in the Monteverde zone. White-faced monkeys, coatis, and agoutis are all commonly seen on our land, and several cloud forest specialists, including resplendent quetzals and black guans are also often seen near the house. Even brocket deer, which are very uncommon, are occasionally seen here. Fred Morrison built the house in the mid-1980s. He first visited Monteverde in 1981 and during his stay, he and two other biologists had a picnic on the property, taking in the spectacular view of the forest and the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance. A week later, his friends called to tell him that the parcel was for sale and asked if he would like to become a part owner. The three of them purchased the property later that year from one of the original Quaker farmers. Since then, each shareholder has built a house or cabin on the land. None of the dwellings are in sight of the others, which gives you a very private experience. The house itself is located on a hillside at the end of a 500-foot driveway. It was designed with lots of large, picture windows to bring in plenty of natural light and is oriented toward the southwest with dramatic views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the forest canopy below. The downstairs includes a living room with a wood burning stove, a dining room, kitchen, two box seats, a large bathroom and a small utility room with a washer and dryer. There’s also a long front porch on the first floor and upstairs, a roofed balcony, where you can sit looking out at the Gulf of Nicoya and watch up to nine species of hummingbirds visit the feeders. The second floor has two good-sized bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed and the other with two full beds. At our place, you will be well away from the bustle of Santa Elena and the main road. You will be able to go to sleep to the sounds of katydids, cicadas, frogs and wake up to chorusing black-bellied wood quail and dueting gray-breasted wood wrens. A public bus passes by at the bottom of the driveway several times each day and taxis are available at any time. Several good restaurants, a small grocery store and a few gift/coffee shops are located within 2 miles and many more are available in nearby Santa Elena. The entrance to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is just a ten minute walk from our house. But, of course, the walk could take much longer if you're looking at wildlife or plants! If you’d like a home-cooked Costa Rican meal, we can arrange to have a talented local cook come before you arrive (or during your stay) and prepare one. She can also deliver groceries upon request. If you're interested in hiring a private naturalist guide or taking a tour, please be in touch with us and we can make arrangements.

Amenities

Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Monteverde

Reviews

4.9/5.0
Outstanding(142 Reviews)
10.0
Jan 2024
Nice quiet secluded house a short walk away from the entrance to the Cloud Forest Preserve. However, there is a fairly steep and long driveway to negotiate. There are animals and birds that frequent the property, and there is a nice walk through a trail on the property itself. Just be aware, this is a comfortable but rustic house- no TV, but decent wifi (suggestion to Laurie: replace the router with one or two eeros. Shower head also should be replaced.). Pre-arrival communication with the owner was great, as was the check-in with Raul, the property manager. A short drive to the restaurants and shops at Monteverde and Santa Elena. Take advantage of the opportunity to have Lillian cook a meal for you.
5.0
Jan 2024
We loved our stay at the cabin on the mountain! Spacious and comfortable and located in a quiet, serene setting just a short walk to the Reserve and Cafe Colibri. We loved the cozy window seats to relax and peruse the many books on nature and look at our pictures from the day of exploring. We enjoyed our time exploring the trail behind the house, and sitting on the balcony, sipping wine and watching gorgeous hummingbirds come to the feeders. Raul was so kind and helpful and he was always quick to reply if I had a question. He arranged a wonderful night tour with his son and even let us follow him to the site so we wouldn't have trouble finding it. Lillian prepared several delicious meals for us that lasted us for a few nights nights. We stayed for four nights but would have loved to stay longer as there is so much to do in Monte Verde!
5.0
Jan 2024
The spot was completely magical. Our only negative was that we didn’t stay long enough. Incredibly peaceful and beautiful with outrageous sunset views and very easy walks to Monteverde park. A true dream.
5.0
Dec 2023
We spent to wonderful nights in this house. The hummingbirds are awesome. They drank two feeders in one day. The house is very cozy.
5.0
Dec 2023
I wish we had booked a longer stay here! The views were so wonderful we were reluctant to go anywhere else. We spent hours on the upstairs deck watching the hummingbirds (9 or 10 different species that we were able to identify) and staring out at the Gulf of Nicoya. The house was exactly as advertised and we were very happy to be able to do laundry. We had dinner waiting for us upon our arrival and tons of leftovers - enough for a couple more meals per person. This was a perfect midway stop during our Costa Rica vacation!
5.0
Nov 2023
The four of us (kids 9 and 11) had a wonderful stay at this home in Monteverde. Laurie the host was so helpful with information in advance, and Raul was on site to help us settle in and coordinate with our guides and other activities. Lillian made us an incredible dinner that we enjoyed all week. We enjoyed a guided tour of the nearby park and a night hike with Marvin. The house was clean with wonderful wildlife all around and had everything we needed to enjoy our time in the rain forest. We loved it- thanks to all!
5.0
Nov 2023
We stayed for six nights in this very nice home. Comfortable beds. Very quite nights to sleep. An excellent meal was prepared for us upon arrival and feed us for four nights. Lillian is a superb chef. Trails into very nice forest around house. Ten species of hummingbirds were regular at feeders. We recorded 76 species of birds around the grounds. Will certainly make plans to return. Recommended.
5.0
Sep 2023
My group of 4 had a wonderful five-night stay. The location is perfect for access to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and to Curi-Cancha. We enjoyed the trails on the property, taking hikes in the day and at night. We spent hours daily, especially in the evenings, on the upper deck, for the beautiful scenery and for the many hummingbirds. This truly is a perfect place for a naturalist, and has the warmth of a home that has been loved. If you are a reader, like I am, this place is perfect, with a couple of comfy nooks, plus the deck. I quite enjoyed the bookshelf full of naturalist books about the flora and fauna of the are. Beds were comfortable. The shower gets nice and hot. It had all we could need, and the kitchen was well-stocked with equipment, making it very easy for us to cook. Lillian’s cooked for us a couple of nights, and her food was delicious, especially the tres leches cake. Raul was so helpful for checking us in and answering questions. We took one night hike with Raul’s son, who was an excellent guide. I highly recommend this home to anyone who wants a comfortable stay, in a lush and peaceful place.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Monteverde?

The average price for a rental in Monteverde is $66 per night. This rental is $69 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat?

We found 7 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, laundry, and balcony / patio.

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