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Upala Hotels | Places to Stay in Upala
Discover the best hotels in Upala, Province of Alajuela including Cabinas Cascada Rio Celeste, Santa Maria Volcano Lodge, Cabinas Cascada Rio Celeste, Finca Vocare, Hotel Marakabu.
1. Cabinas Cascada Rio Celeste
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
It is a very cozy place, with excellent scenic beauty, decoration and relaxing lighting, overlooking the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. The rooms are located in the lower part of our house. We are located just 5 minutes from Tenorio Volcano National Park and Rio Celeste. All the prices of our rooms include breakfast service.
Simple lodgings - extremely clean!
Reviewed By MichelleLS333If you are looking for a clean, basic location to spend the night while visiting Rio Celeste - this is it. Reasonably priced, delicious breakfast, friendly & helpful host, very close to the park entrance. There are no extra amenities like a/c or wifi but we had everything we needed. It is close to the road but we did not hear anything either of the nights we stayed there.
2. Santa Maria Volcano Lodge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 24 reviews
The lodge is situated between the volcanoes of Rincon de la Vieja and Miravalles, in Colonia Blanca, Aguas Claras de Upala. Founded and run by Doña Rosalba Espinoza, 25 years on the family farm and one of the first in the area. Santa Maria Volcano Lodge offers the best of rural tourism, with a range of 7 rustic cabins that has attracted visitors for years. Let yourself relax and enjoy in a natural environment surrounded by the tropical forest flora and fauna with a special diversity of birds.
A True "Get-Away"
Reviewed By rashid-yasinSanta Maria Volcano Lodge was a beautiful and secluded place to stay - properly separated from the rest of the world with a fantastic host, unparalleled food, and serene surroundings. The lodge is a collection of small cabins with electricity and running water, located among beautiful gardens. Internet is only available in the main lodge, which adds to the idea that you're away from the world. While you can see the other cabins from the road, you feel very alone and private while you're there. There was a big event room with hammocks that we assume is used more in the "high" season, but was a nice place to relax and swing and read alone in the rainy season. We ate in the main lodge a couple of breakfasts - gallo pinto (rice + beans), fried eggs/plaintains, cheese. Also some exceptionally good steak and fish for the dinner we ate there. And we had some milk tea - ask for tea if you're there! I can think of exactly one other place where I've had tea that good. We ended up drinking tea with every meal because it was so delicious. The proprietor/host gave us some options for activities and directions to go hiking - you're near Rincon de la Vieja, which is beautiful! The waterfall hike was one I'll cherish for all my years. She also had available a couple of local tours which we didn't partake in. We utilized our high-school level Spanish to communicate a little better, but I saw other guests doing fine with English as well. A warning to travelers using google maps: route 918 goes through a national park and had a couple small river crossings and miles of *very* unimproved road. Google maps incorrectly reports this as the only method of arriving to the lodge. There's a town east of the lodge you can navigate to, towards route 164, that uses highways and paved roads, only becoming a gravel road at the very end. There's a gap in the road on the map, but physically you can drive right through. The scenic route was beautiful and one of the most memorable parts of my visit to Costa Rica, but if you are not in a 4x4 or want a smoother/quicker ride, google maps (as of Fall 2019) will lead you on an adventure unless you're careful. After I leave most places I've been to on vacation, I usually think "that was nice" and am happy with the memory. But for this lodge, it was the first place I really thought "I want to come back here".
3. Cabinas Cascada Rio Celeste
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
It is a very cozy place, with excellent scenic beauty, decoration and relaxing lighting, overlooking the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. The rooms are located in the lower part of our house. We are located just 5 minutes from Tenorio Volcano National Park and Rio Celeste. All the prices of our rooms include breakfast service.
Simple lodgings - extremely clean!
Reviewed By MichelleLS333If you are looking for a clean, basic location to spend the night while visiting Rio Celeste - this is it. Reasonably priced, delicious breakfast, friendly & helpful host, very close to the park entrance. There are no extra amenities like a/c or wifi but we had everything we needed. It is close to the road but we did not hear anything either of the nights we stayed there.
4. Finca Vocare
Overall Ratings
5 based on 23 reviews
Rural lodging in a small community called Las Milpas, located 15 km from Upala downtown, Alajuela, Costa Rica. Finca Vocare offers different agroecological activities as well as a relaxing stay, in a natural and familiar ambient. Your pets are welcome.
Excellent. Get there!
Reviewed By fimac121Hosts Ernesto and Leslie are brilliant. Can I take them home? Spent a few days here with teenagers and were hoping to see a bit of the real Costa Rica. We were not disappointed. Chalets are comfortable but basic. Mosquito repellent is a must. Cover up in the evenings. We saw sloths, monkeys, toucans and so many birds. Just yards away from accommodation. Ant eaters came calling, and Ernesto will let you feed animals, plant trees, or do nothing if you want, it is up to you. Take the evening meal, as it is varied and locally sourced and produced. The price is $8 and well worth it. They supply wine and beer at what must be cost price. Sit down with the hosts and they will plan your days out, if in fact you want to leave at all for the day! Ernesto is eco mad and well done for that. We will return here. The only issue may be access. It is 20km on a rough track. 4x4 is recommended. Don’t let it put you off. Best trip this year, 2018 !
5. Hotel Marakabu
Overall Ratings
2 based on 2 reviews
Poco profesional !! Un desastre !!
Reviewed By Catalina2011La experiencia estuvo mala. Nos quedamos un grupo de estudiantes universitarios en gira de trabajo. Al llegar de trabajar, no habían limpiado las habitaciones (con basura, paños sucios, camas sin tender). Los dueños del local tenían una fiesta escandalosa privada en la piscina. Había borrachos necios en la piscina y no pudimos hacer uso de la instalación. Se tuvo que ir a pedir cambio de paños y nos atendieron en vestido de baño, chorreando agua y borrachos. El dueño estaba tan borracho que no se acordaba cuánto me cobró. A las 10 pm se tuvo que solicitar que bajaran la música porque no se podía dormir. No vuelvo a ir a ese lugar, poco profesionales!
