Is Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde a good base for exploring Monteverde?

Yes, Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde is a great base for exploring the area. It is the closest hotel to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, just 3.7 km away, making it easy to start your day there. Other nearby attractions include the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens at 2.2 km and the Night Walk Tour at 2.4 km, both within a short drive. For adventure, The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde is 3.0 km away, and Selvatura Adventure Park is 4.6 km. Since many sights are a few kilometers out, a car or local shuttle will help you get around comfortably. The hotel's own restaurant and bar are handy for meals after a day of exploring.

Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Name: Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde
Address: 852X+98W, Carr. a Reserva de Monteverde, Provincia de, Monteverde, 哥斯达黎加

Guest reviews

4.1Very good(441)

Excellent198
Good136
Average68
Poor25
Terrible14

What guests say about…

Property
Service
Location

Guests like

Staff: Guests repeatedly praise the staff as warm, attentive and helpful, with several noting they arranged tours and transport.
Location: Reviews mention the hotel is very close to the cloud forest reserve, with an easy walk to the park entrance.
Food Quality: Several guests say the restaurant food is excellent and the breakfast, though simple, is generous and a good start to the day.

Guests mention

Room Conditions: Some guests mention rooms can feel damp and cold, especially in windy weather, so it's worth asking for a room in the main building or a higher floor.
Remote Setting: Reviews note the hotel is a few kilometres from Santa Elena and best reached by car, so plan transport for meals or activities outside the hotel.
Breakfast Options: Guests say breakfast has a limited menu, so if you have specific preferences, it's worth checking what's offered or asking for alternatives.

Summary for your reference

Reviews from

Derek Meehan

4/5

Google· 6 months ago

This hotel was an ideal family stay for 2 nights and base for activities with transport. Although quite dated, rooms were comfortable and clean and there were blankets as It can get quite cold. It missed some of the elements we might have expected such as a coffee machine or fridge but it was perfectly adequate for a short stay. Note there is an extremely limited snack selection so bring supplies. Location is very high up some bumpy roads so there is little in the way to do nearby and there are limited grounds. I can recommend the Hummingbird gift shop and cafe 15 mins walk away. Staff very friendly and the food was very good and reasonably priced. Local beers and a variety of dishes. Breakfast menu is a la carte and basic but it was well prepared and suitable for the family.

janinelL2455JJ

5/5

Tripadvisor· 7 months ago

The Hotel is 15 mins walk to entrance of the cloud forest. It is built on slope with lovely gardens we stayed outside of hotel building with double window view of grounds and forest. The weather due to position is changeable. Staff are lovely calm attentive and very welcoming. The food quality is excellent and very good value. The happy hour bar is nice for chat with fellow guests . The bar decor is just a little dark in main building. The breakfast room is bright airy a nice way to start the day. Breakfast menu is simple and generous. All staff are very warm and helpful . We stayed 3 nights with no car but had trip pick ups but also walked into Monteverde twice taxi back. This is the Cloud Forest so come with layers of clothing , rain mac and sunscreen in equal measure .

Seibert Nicolas

3/5

Google· 9 months ago

We are a bit confused about this place. First of all : the staff is great : super kind, service is perfect. Location is good because really close to the cloud forest and other parks. But a bit remote from the village and restaurants. Restaurant and breakfast are ok The rooms, we got the rooms down-stare: it felt a bit like a cave. Super humid and cold and there is clearly a problem with the pipes in the bathroom : strong smell. I guess for the price payed the beds and room are ok but you really gotta do something for the smell in bathroom.

BrennaR68

5/5

Tripadvisor· 8 months ago

The location is great, very near the Cloud Forest Preserve. II you prefer to walk to the pick-up site to the Cloud Forest Preserve where one boards a van for transportation into the park, It is approximately a 7 minute downhill walk. Otherwise, you can ask for transportation from the hotel to the pick-up site or on your own from a tourist company. (There are no Ubers in Monteverde). We did ask our Preserve driver to drop us off at Trapp Lodge on the way back to the pick-up site and he was willing to do so, as it is an uphill climb back to the Lodge. Our room was adequate, clean and comfortable, with an enclosed patio area. As it was raining a lot during our stay, we did not see many animals or birds from our patio. Perhaps, it is different in better conditions. Yes, you may need a thermal jacket or similar if you are there in January. We were given a space heater for our last night as the humidity/rain made the 60 degree F temperature seem much colder. The restaurant and bar are exceptional. We had a variety of wonderful meals in the restaurant and the bar was well equipped, a nice atmosphere and good quality. The memory that stood out from our visit in mid-January was the personality of all of the staff, their sincerity, graciousness and responsiveness in supporting us during our stay as well as in previous communications for our visit. They all responded positively to the different personalities and attitudes of their clients as we observed. We sensed that this truly was a "family" of personnel who worked together and enjoyed their different positions within the lodge. We could not have been treated any better. We would return to Trapp Family Lodge if we ever visit this area in the future.

Laurence Boyle

5/5

Google· 6 months ago

Just down from the Rainforest reserve in Monteverde. Oh a hillside. Animals in the lovely garden forest views we were at the top of the property Coati and Agouti in the gardens. Hummingbirds and other birds to see. Maureen organised our tours to The Cloud forest reserve, Selvatura and a Bird tour of Curi Cancha reserve with Jose a super bird guide. Also Santamaria and Lantana Night walks.

Sightsee47678739979

3/5

Tripadvisor· 8 months ago

We stayed at The Trapp Family Hotel for 2 nights to visit the cloud forest. The hotel location is perfect for this, as it is slap in the middle of the 2 national park visitor centres. However it is quite remote, 2-3km, from the centre of Saint Elena and only really accessible by car.|The staff were really friendly and attentive. The quality of the food and service in the restaurant was to a high standard and the rooms were large, clean and tidy. |The down side: wet, windy and wild. You are up in the cloud forest and the wind howled around the building all night. The rooms are very spartan and austere with nothing to give you a cosy feel when the weather outside is wild. There is no visible heating, we called for a heater which arrived quickly, but was no more than a £25 fan, which was inadequate for the size of the space. |You could choose to sit in the bar lounge, which again was austere, with nothing to give you a warm, cosy feel. |The breakfast, you were offered a plate of fruit as you sit down, and could select from 4 options from the menu. |Overall OK if you just want bed and breakfast for the night to visit the cloud forest, it is perfectly adequate.

Clarissa Ribbens

5/5

Google· 8 months ago

This place might not be for everyone, but I really liked it! We had one of the 2nd floor rooms in the original building. It was a very windy day and I loved seeing the trees blow in the wind outside the giant windows. I thought the grounds were lovely and really enjoyed being so close to the park (we just walked there). Having a hot tub or something after a long day of hiking would have been Amazing! We also wished there had been a little DIY coffee station in the lobby or something. Breakfast was nice but didn't have a lot of options so if you didn't like what they offered that would be difficult (but I thought it was yummy). Lovely staff! The burger at dinner was very tasty but pizza wasn't great. Dining rooms are a bit noisy.

Mike Stirk

4/5

Google· 7 months ago

I think a large part of your feelings towards this place will be guided by the weather. When we arrived the "view" consisted of about 50m visibility, rain and wind. Whilst the view did improve, in our time there it was never dry, the wind didn't drop and the temperature never reached 20°. Therefore our room (a mountain suite) always felt damp and never really warm and no matter how good the staff that's hard to overcome. Breakfast was limited in choice but pleasant enough and it's geared for you to get going on your excursion, not a drawn out affair. Lunch/dinner in the main restaurant was good. The location, whilst good for the park isn't great for anything else and expect to pay ¢6,000-8,000/$12-$16/£10-£12 one way for a red taxi to or from town.

Frequently asked questions about Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Where can I eat near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde?

The hotel's own restaurant serves local and international dishes, and its bar is a good spot for a drink. For a short walk, La Chimenea Restaurant is about 9 minutes away and offers Costa Rican cuisine, while Cafe Colibri, a 12-minute walk, has coffee and light meals with vegetarian options. The Monteverde Cheese Factory is a 20-minute walk for local flavors. Santa Elena town, about 4 miles away, has more dining choices, and you can also try traditional gallo pinto at local sodas there.

What is the area around Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde like?

The hotel sits right at the edge of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, about a 3.7 km walk from the entrance, so you are surrounded by lush cloud forest and wildlife. The area is quiet and nature-focused, with the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens 2.2 km away and the Frog Pond Ranario 2.9 km from the hotel. Santa Elena town, with its shops and eateries, is roughly 4 miles from the property, and the hotel itself has a restaurant and bar for meals. The unpaved road to the reserve is typical here, and the nearest sights are a short drive or a longer walk away. It is a peaceful, forested setting ideal for those wanting to be close to nature.

How do I get to Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde from the airport or main train station?

From Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), take the Transmonteverde bus from Terminal 7-10 San José to Monteverde; it runs twice daily and takes about 5.5 hours. Alternatively, hourly shuttles from the airport to Monteverde take around 3.5 hours, and ride-hailing or a pre-booked transfer covers the 124 km drive. The hotel is about 1 km from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, and the road from Santa Elena is unpaved, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for the final stretch.

What's there to do near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde in the evening?

In the evening, you can join the Night Walk Tour, about 2.4 km from the hotel, to spot nocturnal wildlife in the cloud forest. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, 3.7 km away, also offers a night wildlife experience. Back at the hotel, the on-site bar is a cozy spot for a drink after your adventures. For a bite, , a 9-minute walk away, serves Costa Rican dishes, and , a 12-minute walk, offers coffee and light meals. The hotel's own restaurant is another easy option for dinner.

Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

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About

You might want to ask

Good to know

Amenities

Room types

Guest reviews

Guests like

Guests mention

Create your own trip to Monteverde

More hotels near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Sights near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Things to do in Monteverde

Frequently asked questions about Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

More hotels near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Guests like

Guests mention

Sights near Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde

Things to do in Monteverde