Bosque de Paz

We stayed several nights in this beautiful lodge during a birding photography tour. Bosque de Paz means Forest of Peace. It was our favorite lodge of the whole tour. It is in a beautiful location. The staff is personable and very helpful. The owners, Frederico and Vanessa, warmly welcomed us at dinner. The hummingbird feeders by the dining room attracts many many birds. We also enjoyed the many coatis, agoutis, and other animals we could see in the area across the river. If you like birdwatching, orchid gardens, taking pictures of wildlife and birds, going on jungle nature hikes through a cloud forest, and believe in conservation, than this is the perfect place for you!

This is a very rustic lodge. Even our room, the junior suite, was very basic. The king size bed was fine, and the bathroom was good, except for the fact that the toilet became clogged twice during our 2-night stay! There are limited options for meals, at breakfast and dinner, but the food was good. Wines by the glass were OK. The bird feeders, especially for hummingbirds, were very good. The location allowed for good day trips to nearby birding areas.

Beautiful lodge in a beautiful location with excellent staff and food. My family (a total of 7 of us ranging in age from 10 to 69) stayed here for 4 nights. The weather was unusually rainy and windy for much of our stay (apparently, it is never windy and January is usually dry), but we still had a lovely stay. The trails were beautiful and plentiful and the hummingbirds, coatis, and paca that were commonly seen around the lodge were a treat. Fredrico (the owner) and his staff were absolutely wonderful. The waterfalls, blue river, and the towns of Zarcero and Sarchi were all beautiful, unique, and not too far too get to (but via crazy roads). It is only 90 minutes, but a whole world away from the airport. By staying here, you are helping to conserve the large tract of wilderness the property owns which provides a wildlife corridor between two national parks.

Incredible location! Incredible staff! Lots of incredible comments about this place. Staff were great! Food was excellent! Rooms were perfect! Loved the trails and feeder areas. Birds galore! Coatimundi, Agouti, and more were seen during our visit. Birders should be able to find many species. Mario, Maria, and all are treasures. Would go back if life finds us near them in the future.

Amazing! The staff was extraordinary. The room was beautiful. The food was GREAT. You are steps away from the cloud forest. Wildlife comes right up to the lodge. The drive in is breathtaking. Close to the waterfalls. Hummingbirds galore all around the lodge. Great for a retreat.

Do not rush through Bajos del Toro on your way to La Fortuna. This town has long been a secret paradise to travelers with an appreciation for authentic local culture and natural wonders unequalled in Costa Rica. But you have to slow down to see the wildlife and hike to waterfalls that you can enjoy without any other tourists. Basque de Paz is the perfect home base for exploring The Valley. Only minutes away from the town, you are nestled in the natural mountains. There is no one else around. The birds and wildlife are incredible. We saw two species of monkey, agouti, agouti paca, coati, at least fifty species of bird, and I saw the tail of a puma on one of the many trails that crisscross the huge property. The staff are incredible. Everyone was so kind. We got to know everyone quite well, they helped my Spanish and I helped their English. The food was out of this world delicious. We are vegetarian and the chef accommodated us for three nights with creative, fresh cooking. We ate breakfasts and dinners at the lodge, and usually found some casado in town for lunch after our day hiked visiting the local waterfalls. Rooms are simple but very clean. Hot showers that worked great (which is not always the case in remote rainforest housing). Sitting each morning with coffee on the front porch and watching the innumerably colored birds and clouds of hummingbirds was the perfect way to start the day. There aren’t any clubs or televisions here. It’s all nature all the time. So yeah, Basque de Paz is amazing. Do yourself a favor and book more than one night.