Hotel Quelitales, a garden hotel in Cachí near Tapantí National Park

Staying at Hotel Quelitales

Quelitales sits at the end of a country road in the hills above Cachí, and the rooms are spread through the garden and forest as separate bungalows rather than stacked in one building. The Superior bungalows face the Doña Ana waterfall, the mountains or the plants, and some have a shower open to the outside. Family bungalows add a second queen and a sofa bed. Meals are cooked by the owners at Casa José, which mixes Costa Rican cooking with dishes from elsewhere and can do vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free plates. A day here starts early in the garden, takes in a walk on the trails, and ends with a long dinner looking at the mountains. On weekends and holidays the restaurant also opens to day visitors, so lunch can be livelier then.

Rooms

• Superior bungalow (Las Reinitas, Las Tangaras and others): king bed (Tangaras adds a sofa bed), waterfall or mountain view, balcony or private outdoor shower depending on the unit
• Bungalow (Las Eufonias, Los Jilgueros, Las Oropéndolas, Los Trogones): two queens plus a sofa bed, forest or garden view, large windows and a terrace, set up for families
• Las Antpittas rooms: two queens each, terrace onto the garden, three separate rooms

Meals. Restaurant Casa José, run by the owner-chefs, Costa Rican cooking fused with international recipes; open to the public Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Whether breakfast is included is not stated by the hotel (a guest review says it is).

Good to know

• Several Superior bungalows have a private outdoor shower, worth knowing if you feel the cold or prefer privacy.
• The restaurant takes outside guests on weekends and holidays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The hotel sits at the end of a road; road surface and drive time are not published.
• Special diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) can be cooked on request.

Perfect for: a birding couple or a small family who want a quiet garden base above the Orosi Valley with good home cooking.