Hotel Belmar, Monteverde

Pros

• This property has a unique history as the second hotel built in Monteverde, established in the 1980s when the area first received tourism interest.
• The on-site farm-to-table restaurant and microbrewery are special perks and feature live local music on the weekends—a popular spot for locals, too!
• The hotel has been carbon neutral since 2016 and focuses on significant sustainability efforts, prioritizing local community connections and support.
• Guests can partake in the complimentary sustainability tour and yoga classes held weekly.
• Other notable activities include tours of the hotel's 17-acre (7 ha) private preserve, early-morning bird-watching excursions, and visits to the offsite farm to learn about sustainable agriculture.

Cons

• Though not necessarily a con, just a heads-up that the hotel features Austrian design, so it doesn't quite have the same authentic Costa Rican feel.
• It's a longer trek to downtown Santa Elena or offsite restaurants than some other recommended accommodations in the area. 

Additional Notes From Brittany

You'll not often find locals hanging out at a hotel bar, but that's what you can expect on weekends at Hotel Belmar's microbrewery and beer garden. Guests and locals pack the place, standing under umbrellas, beer in hand, listening to local musicians—a great way to end the day! The Belmar also offers a treasure trove of other unique experiences, including a visit to a private farm 20 minutes away, a garden-to-glass cocktail class where participants pick herbs and create cocktails, and more.

Authenticity

As an area staple, Hotel Belmar was the second-ever hotel in Monteverde, opening in the 1980s. This era explains the design inspiration to mimic Austrian mountain huts, a popular and appealing style at the time. Besides its history, Belmar provides authentic experiences like tours in its private Savia Reserve and a cocktail-making class using herbs from the on-site gardens. 

Location

You'll be a bit off the beaten path (adding to the hotel's charm), meaning a car or transfer is necessary to visit downtown Santa Elena and other area sites. Plan for about five minutes to the town center and roughly 15 minutes to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Sky Adventures Park.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Hotel Belmar is a quaint boutique property with just 26 rooms set in a few different chalet-style buildings. Most units have a lot of hardwood detail, including floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture, yet remain airy and bright. Upgrade to a suite for more space and perks like living rooms, indoor gardens, and porch swings. Maintaining the hotel's sense of tranquility, you won't find any TVs in the rooms. You also won't find air-conditioning, but each room has ceiling fans.

Other Highlights

There's much to love about Hotel Belmar—more than we can even list here! Enjoy a complimentary yoga class three times per week, take a sustainability tour of the property or its private reserve, or visit the hotel's farm on a little excursion. You can also relax in the hot tub (which you'll need to reserve all for yourself), dine at the organic farm-to-table restaurant, and sip a beer at the property's microbrewery, which also serves some grub and hosts live music on Saturday nights. 

Sustainability

Hotel Belmar has a strong focus on sustainability and one full-time staff member who works exclusively on sustainability efforts. You'll find an entire composting system on the property, which has been completely carbon-neutral since 2016. Other notable practices include solar panels, air-drying facilities, rainwater harvesting, and using a biodigester to treat wastewater (and harness its byproduct as energy).