Name: Celeste Mountain Lodge
Address: 4km on new road to Volcan Tenorio, Rio Celeste, Rio Celeste, Rio Celeste, 01001, Costa Rica
Rating: 9

Smoking areas

Ticket assistance

Gift shop

Garden

Terrace

No elevators

Reception desk

General

Accessibility features

Wheelchair Accessible

Wheelchair access to restaurant

Accessibility

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Services and amenities

Coffee/tea for guests

Breakfast

Restaurant

Breakfast/lunch to go

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Multi-language staff

Languages Spoken

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Free parking

Parking

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Temperature control for guests

Personal protection equipment for guests

Contactless check-in and/or check-out

Individually packaged food

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the cottage

Upala Airport

Guanacaste Airport

Celeste Mountain Lodge

Rio Celeste

child-bed

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limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

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water-view

with-view

annex

basement

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1-bedroom

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Turned out to be one of my favorite lodges during our five trips to Costa Rica! A great base for exploring the area to include a local forested walk offering a variety of birds, mammals and other wildlife.  A fine example of ecotourism. The use of recycled metal barrels to make furniture and coconut husk fibers to fill cushions and hassocks are but two examples that caught our eyes. 

Lodge occupancy was light during our two-night stay so I can not comment on noise levels during the night. But our room was comfy and more than met our needs. Was a bit warm due to unusually high air temps but windows could be adjusted and once the sun went down, the room quickly cooled off. As at other lodges in CR, wash cloths were not provided and no hot water at the sink. No big deal for us. 
The food was a good as anywhere we have stayed while birding. I did not expect the high level of cuisine we enjoyed. Could have been at a fancy restaurant in a big city. Portions were very satisfying. 

The staff was friendly and certainly willing to make one’s stay enjoyable. Joel, the owner/manager could not have been any more accommodating. His sharing of photos of resort wildlife happenings  made for a down-to-earth stay.

The layout and use of potted plants/bushes in the atrium greatly enhanced the setting. At times even birds had access to the area and the periodic “rain forest” watering added to the atmosphere. The visit of the bronze-striped parrot snake was a real treat as we had our first meal in the dinning room. Two small ponds and related life rounded out a short night walk as we looked for owls in the larger trees.

We would not hesitate to stay again at Celeste Mountain Lodge.

A wonderful stay!

We stayed for 3 nights as part of a birding tour at Celeste Mountain lodge.  The grounds are well cared for, with easy access to their private rainforest trails (excellent birding) and good views to the volcano when the clouds aren't on it.  The rooms are clean and spacious, showers worked well and the WiFi was excellent.  We used the laundry service which was excellent value ($15 for a basket full of washing).  We ate in the restaurant each day, and they do go to some trouble to prepare some interesting and varied dishes using local produce - and it tasted really good.  The rooms and restaurant area are a little dark at night, so it is useful to have a torch for reading and finding things.  My only real complaint is that during hot weather (and it was pretty hot when we were there) there is no air conditioning or fan, and the only way to get sufficient airflow.  If anyone has read older reviews about the road, it is now sealed to the lodge - a bit steep in places but easily driveable in a 2WD.

Great base for birding

I loved this property, but my two companions took a dislike to it. They didn’t like the personal touch of the owner,  the lodge’s design or the food.  I thought all were superlative, although Joel did, perhaps, come across as a little too cloying. 

I thought the property was well constructed with exceptionally good design taste, architecturally interesting and excellent and extremely well maintained. That, to my mind, reflect caring, hands-on management. Loved my room and its very comfortable bed and lots of pressure shower and hot water.  Spotlessly clean, good linens. 

Food is French/tropical fusion, table d’hôte. I liked my dinner well enough that I ordered a glass of wine to go along with it. The only time on the whole trip I felt moved to do so!  Also, one of the few places in the country with the class to provide cloth table napkins 

I suspect this is lodge people will either love or hate for its adventurous good taste. For my part, I would happily come back with my wife and spend several days enjoying the experience and the whole Tenorio area.

A few suggestions for management:

(1) put a dead bolt on the room door. 
(2) get some really good quality classic colour (e.g., navy, burgundy, straw) cotton, bespoke T-shirts (i.e., Lodge name, perhaps coquette o snowcap, and NO ‘pura vida’). 

Apart from that, kept doing what you are doing.

Excellent, Good Taste

If you want a youth hostel feel for a resort price... this is your place. The rooms are shabby, with thin walls and yucky showers. While the grounds are lovely - a gravel path takes you through the garden, it doesn't make up for the tiny cheaply furnished rooms.

What a let-down.

We wanted to see Rio Celeste and asked our travel agent to book one night in a local hotel.  She booked this one and I am sorry we only had one night there.  This was our first experience with deliberate ecotourism and we loved it.  The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle philosophy imbued every aspect of the property.  The garden is gorgeous.  I could stare at the view from our room all day - so beautiful and peaceful.  The private trail, called Celeste Trail, introduced us to toucans and a capuchin monkey.  Our youngest son noticed both!  The hotel arranged for a private tour of the Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste.  Our guide, Freddie, was knowledgeable and personable.  All meals are included and, wow, they are truly gourmet.  The breakfast was simple but dinner would rival the best you can get at a 5-star restaurant in the US.  We will come back!

Unexpected Gourmet Delight and Blue Wonder of Rio Celeste

Stayed 3 nights here in July with a birding group.  One of my favorite places we stayed for the entire trip.  The lodge is lovely, and a bit quirky.  The rooms are well appointed and all have great views overlooking a well-manicured garden, as well as mountains and forest in the background.  There are feeders for viewing from the dining room and common area.  The size of the hotel is just right to accommodate a few smaller groups like ours or small families, without the large touristy groups you might find in more touristy areas.  It’s also well situated for birders looking to spend time in northern Costa Rica – and with easy access to the Liberia airport.  But one of the main attractions (for me) of this location is the dining experience.  There is no menu (at least I never saw one), but each meal was an experience.  The (French) owner clearly takes great pride in the cuisine offered here, and visits with each table at the beginning of every meal to explain the meal (often his kitchen’s take on a local ingredient) and to wish everyone a “bon a petit”.  The food was to die for.  Highly recommend this place if visiting the northern reaches of Costa Rica.

Wonderful lodge and dining experience

We really enjoyed our time here.  We stayed two nights.  Excellent bird watching from the common area that overlooks the garden.  We even saw a tapir wander up for a snack!  The breakfast was fresh and delicious.  Firm, comfortable beds, warm showers and a friendly and helpful staff.  The Rio Celeste, Volcan  Tenorio, and Tapir Valley are all a short drive away.

Great location, wonderful views, excellent breakfast

OK, the place is quirky, either you'll like it or you won't. Fully committed to sustainable, low-impact eco-tourism, so no A/C (not really needed), no TV, small footprint building, innovative use of recycled materials, etc. Owner and chef are French: very good food and dinner was good value for the money. Their own nature trail right across the street was a good walk. Long views from the common areas. Room walls were a bit thin; sound carried from adjacent rooms, but the place attracts a bird-watching / hiking crowd that tends to keep quiet and go to bed early, so that wasn't a major problem. On a hillside about halfway between the town of Bijagua and the Tenorio National Park.  Not for everyone but suited us well. 

Quirky, very eco-conscious lodge

Staying at Celeste Mountain Lodge was an fantastic experience in itself.  Beautiful Lodge with beautiful grounds.  The view of the volcano from the lodge was fantastic.  The walk through their gardens was beautiful and they also have a mountain walk (which we didn't have time to do).  The meal that night was served family style with long tables where they paired up different groups so that you mix and mingle with other guests.  The owners of the lodge oversee every detail of the stay.  It was a fantastic meal and the service was impeccable and it was very reasonably priced.  Breakfast was included in the cost of the room and was again a fantastic meal with great service.   We wished we had chosen to stay at the lodge for 2 nights.

Wow - Fantastic Lodge

Drive up the maintain was spectacular and arrival into the clouds surrounding the lodge was beautiful. Very welcoming check in that explained a bit about the lodge  and pointed out the manicured gardens and bird feeder that was full of feasting birds of many varieties. 

They asked about dietary considerations and when indicated one of our family requires strict gluten free due to celiac and  they said no problem. All gluten free meals presented (2 dinners and 2 breakfast) were carefully prepared with gluten free alternatives including fabulous breads, muffins and desserts. I need to also say the family style seating in long shared tables was a highlight to meet other travelers and share stories. 

From this resort we did a full day out with tubing in morning and then hike through the nation park to see the waterfall. Great wildlife sightseeing along the way. 

The owner was a perfect host, helping answer any questions, as well as sharing stories of the creation of the very eco friendly, minimalist style lodge. As a family we were inspired by the use of salvaged materials and focus on the environment that is clear in every part of the space. Our family would happily return to this lovely hotel.

Celeste Mountain Lodge

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