This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the tranquil and beautiful retreat, El Silencio Lodge & Spa, tucked between Poas Volcano and Juan Castro Blanco National Park just north of the charming town of Sarchi. It’s been ages since I had a weekend as relaxing and enjoyable as this one, and I will certainly be recommending this hotel to other travelers, or anyone living in San Jose looking for a quick getaway for the weekend.
The lodge is a new sister-property to the fabulous and luxurious Hotel Punta Islita on the Nicoya Peninsula. In fact, combining El Silencio with Punta Islita would make for a perfect week-long combo trip for couples or families with older children that enjoy nature, desire luxury, and are seeking the more “untouched” locales of Costa Rica.
El Silencio is a short 1 hour and 15 minute drive from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (perhaps a bit longer if you wish to stop along the way in Grecia or Sarchi to investigate local artisan shops or enjoy some delicious “comida tipica” (local food)). It’s a bit tricky to manuever at night (as my husband and I discovered) so arrival is recommended before 6 PM… however I have to say that one advantage of arriving late was the spectacular view of the San Jose city lights from high above as we drove to the lodge.
Upon arrival we were greeted by the general manager and our “Eco-Concierge” who assisted us with our luggage, parked our car, and showed us to our private cabina via an electric golf cart (the themes of El Silencio, as well as Punta Islita, are environmental consciousness and giving back to the local community, and those values were clearly evident throughout our stay which made us feel even better about choosing this property!).
The cabinas are SO comfy and cozy that you will not want to leave and explore the rest of the 200 hectare property! You will find a king-size bed, excellent linens, gas fireplace, large sitting area for enjoying a good book, large bathrooms, private outdoor jacuzzi, and a sizeable porch with rocking chairs for enjoying the majestic view of the mountains… all decorated with a mountain theme using natural wood and earth-tones.
The fireplace and private jacuzzi were my personal favorite touches. You’ll need the fire as the mornings and evenings are quite cool, and the jacuzzi was perfect after our morning hike to see three amazing waterfalls that certainly rival the falls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens (for those that are familiar with that location). In fact, I found the hike at El Silencio to be more enjoyable than the hike at La Paz, and it’s easy enough that those of any age can manuever the well-built trails without a problem. Accompanying us on our hike was our Eco-Concierge, who was a wealth of knowledge on plants, animals, birds, and insects, as well as the hotel’s future projects and the nearby community of Bajos del Toro. A hike is included as part of your room rate, so be sure to take advantage of this wonderful amenity.
We also made sure to visit the excellent spa at El Silencio. The spa is built slightly away from the cabinas to allow more privacy, and is so peaceful and quiet that I felt I should whisper for fear of disturbing it all. Our experience with the spa was very professional, and I found the prices to be extremely reasonable for the quality of service provided. I was lucky enough to be there at the same time they were offering a special for an exfoliation and aromatherapy massage package for only $100 for an hour and a half treatment. It was truly the best spa experience I have had in Costa Rica because of the staff, quality of treatment, and the atmosphere.
Finally, I have saved the best for last… the food. El Silencio’s per person rates include three meals per day (alcoholic beverages are separate) and, let me tell you, the food is the best quality I have had in Costa Rica to date. Chef Marco uses only the freshest ingredients, many of which come from their organic garden located on property. You can actually TASTE the freshness of the food…it’s like nothing I had ever experienced. The colors of the food are so bright and beautiful that it emphasizes the freshness even more.
With each meal, you have choice of an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert, complimented with tea, coffee, or an array of natural fruit drinks. Of course, alcoholic beverages or the perfect glass of wine are available to complement your meal. The “stand out” favorites in my mind were a delicious Pejibaye Ceviche on the first night, and the best Chicken Parmigiana I have ever tasted with pesto sauce and homemade pasta. The breakfasts are also very unique…they have a hint of the “typical” Costa Rican favorites of gallo pinto, eggs, and fresh fruit, but in creative ways and with creative flavors, plus some surprises like multi-grain pancakes with homemade berry compote. My husband would tell you that his favorite part of all three meals was the out-of-this-world homemade berry jam that accompanied every breakfast. He couldn’t get enough of it…
The staff at El Silencio is extremely personable, kind, and helpful. You can sense the sincerity in their work, and their belief in the hotel’s themes of environmental consciousness and contribution to the local community. It was nice to see the same staff each day as it made the property feel more “home-y” and relaxed, almost like you were visiting friends or family.
Overall, my experience at El Silencio ranks as one of my top hotel stays in Costa Rica. I have stayed at many excellent hotels here through my work, but very few have successfully combined service, atmosphere, luxury, and beauty, AND have a mindful eye on doing right by the environment and the Costa Rican people. Felicidades to El Silencio and Grupo Islita for establishing such a fabulous hotel! If you are reading this article, please be sure to visit El Silencio (and Punta Islita for that matter!) on your next trip to Costa Rica or your next weekend getaway from San Jose. You won’t be disappointed!
Written by katiehigh
Resource: http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/hotel-reviews/el-silencio-lodge/628
Posted by: massage adelaide - http://knead.net.au/
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