Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat

Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat House in Monteverde
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Exterior
5.0
Outstanding(147 Reviews)

House in Monteverde

8 guests · 2 bedrooms · 1 bath

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more

About this house rental

Our house is located on 40 acres of private property that abuts the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and is one of the last private homes before the Reserve. More than half our land is in primary cloud forest, but we also have a large clearing below our house that is perfect for viewing wildlife. In fact, because our place is contiguous to more than 110,000 acres of protected forest, you’re likely to see many more animals here than in most other places in the Monteverde zone. White-faced monkeys, coatis, and agoutis are all commonly seen on our land, and several cloud forest specialists, including resplendent quetzals and black guans are also often seen near the house. Even brocket deer, which are very uncommon, are occasionally seen here.

Fred Morrison built the house in the mid-1980s. He first visited Monteverde in 1981 and during his stay, he and two other biologists had a picnic on the property, taking in the spectacular view of the forest and the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance. A week later, his friends called to tell him that the parcel was for sale and asked if he would like to become a part owner. The three of them purchased the property later that year from one of the original Quaker farmers. Since then, each shareholder has built a house or cabin on the land. None of the dwellings are in sight of the others, which gives you a very private experience.

The house itself is located on a hillside at the end of a 500-foot driveway. It was designed with lots of large, picture windows to bring in plenty of natural light and is oriented toward the southwest with dramatic views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the forest canopy below.

The downstairs includes a living room with a wood burning stove, a dining room, kitchen, two box seats, a large bathroom and a small utility room with a washer and dryer. There’s also a long front porch on the first floor and upstairs, a roofed balcony, where you can sit looking out at the Gulf of Nicoya and watch up to nine species of hummingbirds visit the feeders. The second floor has two good-sized bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed and the other with two full beds.

At our place, you will be well away from the bustle of Santa Elena and the main road. You will be able to go to sleep to the sounds of katydids, cicadas, frogs and wake up to chorusing black-bellied wood quail and dueting gray-breasted wood wrens.

A public bus passes by at the bottom of the driveway several times each day and taxis are available at any time. Several good restaurants, a small grocery store and a few gift/coffee shops are located within 2 miles and many more are available in nearby Santa Elena.

The entrance to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is just a ten minute walk from our house. But, of course, the walk could take much longer if you're looking at wildlife or plants!

If you’d like a home-cooked Costa Rican meal, we can arrange to have a talented local cook come before you arrive (or during your stay) and prepare one. She can also deliver groceries upon request.

If you're interested in hiring a private naturalist guide or taking a tour, please be in touch with us and we can make arrangements.

Amenities

Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Monteverde

Reviews

5.0
Outstanding(147 Reviews)
5.0
Jul 2024
The house is old but kept clean and cozy. It is at a high position on the mountain with a good view of the forest and the ocean. We waked up morning with birds' song and the hummingbirds are not afraid of human at all. The meal prepared by Lilliana is very tasty. Our family enjoyed our stay of 2 nights.
5.0
Jul 2024
Was very relaxing
5.0
Jun 2024
We loved this house and the surrounding property. The trail on the property was fun to hike. The hummingbirds were absolutely amazing! Monteverde is a super place to hike with Howler, Spider, Capuchin monkeys, Coatis, and many beautiful birds. We even saw the elusive Resplendent Quetzal! My only complaint is the terrible roads so full of potholes. A bit scary to drive and caused us some carsickness. Otherwise loved the isolation and new habitat. Thank you!
5.0
Jun 2024
We loved staying here! Raul was amazing to work with and he was so great to help us set up a night hike with his son (which was amazing) and helped us figure out transportation there. He was great and showed us plants around the property. We also loved the dinner made by Lillian! It was delicious and fed us for 2 nights. So wonderful to have food waiting after a long day of travel. Totally recommend this place. It was a little far from the town if you don’t have transportation but many of the places are hard to walk to if you want an awesome location with a view that can’t be beat! Sitting on the porch watching hummingbirds even when it was pouring rain was an incredible experience
5.0
May 2024
Perfect cabin situated above the trees of the cloud forest! We were juat amazed by the view of this place! They had everything we needed to stay comfortably. Very nice sitting area on the second floor where you can feed the hummingbirds and watch other wildlife. We had tons of hummingbirds in the day and bats flying around at night, super cool! Toucanets and Motmots where also a common sighting. Thank you Raul for tracking down a whole Gunabana fruit for us while we were there! The property is very close to the Monteverde cloud forest reserve. You could walk to it but is a little uphill from the property. We decided to just park at the official parking spot a little ways down the road and it worked out good for us. Its also a short ride/drive to downtown Monteverde with everything you need. Definitely a special place amd so glad to have stayed here.
5.0
May 2024
The little yellow house vibes love and family in all of its nooks and crevices! I wouldn’t be surprised if we are back again For a third visit.
5.0
Mar 2024
Beautiful and peaceful location with a view of the ocean. The hummingbirds were loudly waiting for food within minutes of us walking in and they did not disappoint-a never ending show. Raul is a wonderful host and Raul Jr is a fantastic naturalist guide. So much to do and see, we wish we could have stayed longer!
5.0
Mar 2024
Wonderful home next to the park. Huge property with very well maintained trails, it’s functionally part of the nature preserve. Highly recommend Raul Jr’s night tour if he’s available, it was outstanding. Incredible to stay so close to the cloud forrest entrance. We saw many birds from the porch, can see the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. Long term ecology conscious owner, warm and joyful local support folks. Can’t recommend enough, the perfect way to experience the cloud forrest.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Monteverde?

The average price for a rental in Monteverde is $101 per night. This rental is $191 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Naturalist's Cloud Forest Retreat?

We found 7 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, laundry, and balcony or patio.

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