Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for a little piece of Costa Rica where everybody knows everybody, then look no further.
This 250-person town (full name: Bajos del Toro Amarillo) is rural idyll at its finest.
There are no banks and only one tiny internet cafe. Bring all the cash you need.
Sleeping & Eating
Catarata del Toro
CABINA
( 2476-0800;
www.catarata-del-toro.com
;
r US$50-60)
At this roadside spot 6km north of Bajos del Toro, three rustic wood-paneled rooms are
tucked under A-frame-style eaves. However, the real attraction is the adjacent waterfall, a
100m-tall beauty that cascades dramatically into an ancient volcanic crater, reached by a
steep but well-maintained trail (admission US$10). There's also a restaurant where hum-
mingbirds flock to feed alongside the humans.
Bosque de Paz Rain/Cloud Forest Lodge & Biological Reserve
LODGE
( 2234-6676;
www.bosquedepaz.com
; s/d incl 3 meals from US$163/246; )
A birdwatcher's paradise, this 10-sq-km reserve straddles an important wilderness corridor
between Parque Nacional Volcán Poás and Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco, with
more than 22km of trails in tropical old-growth forest. The dozen spacious, terra-cotta-
tiled rooms, within earshot of a rushing river, feature large windows with forest views. Ve-
getarian and vegan diets can be accommodated. Advance reservations recommended.
El Silencio
LODGE
( 2476-0303, reservations 2231-6122;
www.elsilenciolodge.com
;
ste/villa incl breakfast & guided
hike US$325/688; )
Secluded above town, this upscale lodge comprises 16 luxuriously designed
cabina
suites
with private deck, rocking chairs, Jacuzzi and fine mountain views, plus two six-person
villas with gas fireplaces and full kitchens. Additional amenities include a spa, 8km worth
of trails (one leading to a stunning waterfall) and a health-conscious restaurant whose
meals (US$30 to US$35) feature organic produce grown onsite.
Soda Restaurante Nené
COSTA RICAN
