El Silencio Lodge & Spa

El Silencio lodge is very special place. My husband and I visited for 5 nights with our 3 young children (ages 5, 3, 9 months) and were blown away by the setting and the service. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa along the river. It was a perfect and luxurious setup for our family. We loved the wood burning fireplace and enjoyed the hottub every single night. Our kids loved the coloring books and stuffed animals waiting for them as we arrived to the room. The grounds at El Silencio are particularly spectacular. The hotel has bikes available for complimentary use, which was so fun for our 5 year old. Our kids spent every afternoon biking around and exploring. There is a trout pond, small farm with lots of produce growing and chickens. Our favorite discovery was the 3 world class waterfalls accessible by a very well maintained walking path right on the property. We couldn't believe that these waterfalls were not more prominently featured on the website as they are incredible. The Promesa waterfall has a beautiful area to relax and it looks like there is space to swim though we did not do that. Sergio at the barn was so kind to our kids and took time to show them the horses. Everyone we encountered was friendly and accommodating. Ruth from housekeeping was extremely helpful our first day when we had a lot of wet clothes that needed laundering. This is a very damp part of Costa Rica. That is something to be aware of as you are packing (bring some extra clothes and an extra set of shoes). The rooms are set up with de-humidifiers which help a lot for keeping clothes dry. Overall a wonderful experience. I would go back here in a heartbeat and hope I have the chance to do so in the near future.

Our stay at El Silencio far exceeded every hope we had for our vacation. This review is long because I have too many amazing things to say. Everything about the resort and climate makes for the most relaxing of experiences. I booked this trip to fully disconnect from the world, and after 4 days here, I have never been more relaxed. The cabins are well-kept, modern, and also cozy. The jacuzzi on the patio was the perfect daily ritual while listening to the running river, birds chirping, and leaves rustling with the rain. The climate here is almost always cloudy with a high chance of rain, which makes for the most calming environment for reading in a rocking chair or doing yoga overlooking the forest. Rain is never a problem because you can pick up an umbrella at the front of every building or just call the front desk for a golf cart ride at any time. Tours are never canceled because rain is a part of the experience. Even my spa treatment was enhanced by the masseuse opening up the doors to add the natural sounds of the rainstorm, which made it all the more natural and peaceful. Doors are always open at El Silencio, inviting you in to their thoughtfully-designed warm/inviting spaces while simultaneously allowing guests to appreciate the wonderful rain/nature around them. The service was definitely 5 stars. Every employee jumped through hoops to make sure we were taken care of. Every person we came in contact with (from the wait staff to the golf cart drivers to the front desk greeters) all knew our names and seemed excited to see us and hear about our day. When we pass employees walking from building to building, they always wave and say hola. Coming in contact with so many people made us feel welcomed, appreciated, and like friends. I can’t stress enough how lovely, warm, and positive every employee was. Bryam was our driver for every trip we took taking care to drive safely while also genuinely getting to know us. Our tour guides Jose and David were extremely knowledgeable and knew everything in English and Spanish. Even the yoga instructors Karla and Karen teach class seamlessly switching between languages. Everyone at El Silencio tried their best to speak English even though it isn't their native language. It impressed us that every guide would take the time to use both languages repeating the same speech twice. Many employees are locals to small towns nearby, and are very passionate about their families and how El Silencio has brought work to so many people nearby. As tourists, we were so glad to have given our business to these lovely people who put so much passion into hospitality. We loved being able to plan our days with activities and still had time for a lot of rest and relaxation. It was incredible to have everything planned and a schedule to follow without needing to do it ourselves. Victoria helped us create a schedule ahead of our trip, and all the staff knew where we were going and when so we never had to lift a finger. Even in the middle of our stay, we got a text inviting us to a Costa Rican Independence Day celebration including a complimentary craft and ride into town for the local festivities. We loved meeting the El Silencio employees’ families, seeing their town, and we were honored that they shared their culture with us. It was thoughtful of the hotel to include us in this activity and also very meaningful to us to be able to celebrate a milestone with our new El Silencio friends. Everything at the resort is well thought-out and designed for each guest’s optimal experience including food service. Every meal came with a complimentary amuse-bouche, the menus use in-season ingredients, and portion sizes are very large (almost too large)! We were gifted multiple surprise treats when we came back to our room from tours or with turndown service. Even the spa offered drinks and a snack after our booked service. We felt extremely spoiled (and stuffed full) this whole trip, and we cannot recommend El Silencio enough!

Our whole experience at this hidden gem has been excellent. It has a rustic, camp-like atmosphere that meshes perfectly with the high-end accommodations and dining options. There is no shortage of activities and we loved the spa—a true highlight! Paola gives exceptional deep-tissue massages and ask for Lineth if you want a facial. They, along with every staff member, truly seem to love what they do and have made our stay so memorable. I’d highly recommend this resort for a relaxing, tranquil getaway in a lush cloud forest!

El Silencio Lodge & Spa is a superb hotel situated in Bajos del Toro, literally in the middle of nowhere. Surely not the most turistic place of Costa Rica, but if you want the silence of nature, you definitely want to go there. The hotel, composed by small houses is a big property with is own hiking trails and waterfalls. The acommodation is superb, clean, spacious, with private jacuzzi. The staff is very friendly, polite, helpfull, competent. A five star staff. I cant say anything bad about it, just good things. Breakfast is included, the food is good, a la carte, choosing from the menu, and you can complement with a small buffet. The hotel provide some activities, a trail guide, lessons of archery shooting, fishing. It has also a small farm you can visit. If you plan a visit to Costa Rica, i surely recommend staying in this hotel for 2/3 nights, you won’t regret it. A five star hotel in every detail.

Amazing! My wife and I traveled to Costa Rica for the very first time on our honeymoon and were delighted by the beautiful nature, delicious food and very friendly and accommodating staff at El Silencio Lodge and Spa. Incredible!