Paraiso Quetzal Lodge

Walking the five self-guided trails that cross the property brings guests to four waterfalls, ancient oak trees, and exposed fossils within an 80-hectare private reserve at 2,600 metres above sea level. Paraíso Quetzal Lodge stands in Cerro Buena Vista in the Los Santos region, two hours south of San José and between Tapantí and Los Quetzales national parks. The Serrano Salazar family opened the lodge in 2005 and continues to run it, partnering with local families through the Kabek Project to protect wild avocado trees and nesting sites used by the resplendent quetzal. Certified guides lead quetzal-spotting walks at dawn, mid-morning, and afternoon across private land owned by those families.

Bungalows are distributed in three categories. Standard bungalows accommodate single or double occupancy; Classic bungalows sleep up to four and add a balcony facing the Talamanca cloud forest; the Superior bungalow adds a jacuzzi and king bed. Each has a heater, coffee maker, and hot water. The hummingbird garden adjoins the restaurant, which sources most ingredients from the on-site vegetable plot and overlooks forest. A terrace and fireplace occupy the dining room. The observation deck grants views toward Poás and Barva volcanoes on clear days. Five trails range from 200 metres to two kilometres and pass a thousand-year-old mountain cypress, rivers, and the wreckage of a light aircraft. The lodge supports Nai Conservation's work protecting the Baird's tapir and hosts a Motus wildlife-tracking station that monitors migratory birds across the Talamanca range.