High above San Jose is Paos Volcano Lodge, set on a working dairy farm in the cloud forest. Getting here is part of the adventure – the single-track road twists and turns as you climb higher and higher into the clouds.
The temperature is fresh up here. Luckily the chalet-style lodge has several open fires and comfy sofas in the living room and library. Borrow a book and curl up with a glass of wine in one of the cosy nooks.
Dinner is served in the Bromelia Restaurant, a fusion of Costa Rican and European dishes. Floor to ceiling windows show off views of the volcano while candles flicker on the tables.
The lodge staff take sustainability very seriously and have been awarded the Blue Flag certificate for the last 13 years. They run reforestation programmes with local schools and plant more than 200 trees a year.
The virgin cloud forest around the lodge is begging to be explored, and there are numerous trails to follow. Keep an eye out for toucan, hummingbird, butterfly, Capuchin (white-faced) monkey, two-toed sloth, as well as the more elusive jaguar and puma.
Guided hikes to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Hule Lagoon are on offer, as well as horse riding, rafting, coffee plantation tours and a visit to the dairy farm. Then there’s the lodge’s namesake, Poas Volcano National Park – a chance to see the broadest active crater in the world.
We have a huge range of destinations, experiences and hotel options available.
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