Hotel Heliconia, Monteverde

Kimkim team favorite · 4.2 (11 reviews) · Standard
Quaint alpine-style hotel in Monteverde's Cloud Forest with wildlife-rich gardens and vintage rooms

Overview

Set on a hillside with views of the Gulf of Nicoya, Hotel Heliconia is an alpine-style chalet surrounded by cloud forest vegetation and tropical gardens with colorful foliage. Dating from 1985, the hotel offers basic rooms and suites with wooden details and shared balconies or terraces. Explore the property's grounds by strolling on hiking trails and spotting wildlife. Amenities include free parking and an on-site restaurant offering breakfast, happy hour, and dinner.

Kimkim's Take

Brittany
Brittany McNamara kimkim staff
Based on kimkim staff visit, July 2022 (Learn more)
Pros
  • You get the best of two worlds here, as you'll be surrounded by nature and also be able to enjoy some fantastic sunset views over the coast.
  • Guests can enjoy many perks of the property, including the hummingbird garden, orchid garden, and hiking trails.
  • Family rooms have three beds with a split-level loft area, and some suites feature a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.
Cons
  • The property is very hilly, so be prepared to put in a little effort when walking around the grounds.
  • The hotel has a hot tub, but some travelers reported that it was out of service.
  • WiFi only functions reliably around the lobby and public areas

Authenticity

The hotel offers guests an immersive experience of Costa Rica's famed environment. Enjoy on-site hiking trails through gardens and dense greenery, home to numerous birds, insects, and other wildlife. You'll also find a huge ficus tree outside the hotel's restaurant that appeals to several resident critters.

Location

Hotel Heliconia isn't far from the main road through Santa Elena but set back enough to feel fully in the forest. The downtown area is less than five minutes by car and within 15 minutes from both Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Sky Adventures Park. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Small and humble, the property includes just 36 rooms. All feature a cabin-like feel with wooden ceilings and paneling, plus shared terraces with patio seating. About half of the rooms have views of the Gulf of Nicoya, while the split-level family rooms look out into the gardens—older kids will love having a little space to themselves in the loft area. Enjoy in-room amenities like ceiling fans, minifridges, and coffee makers. The hotel has upgrades in the works, so some rooms have already switched from wood floors to tiling.

Wildlife

Around the hotel's tropical gardens, you're likely to spot colorful birds and butterflies. Look out for toucans, parrots, giant toads, glass frogs, and more. 

Amenities

The hotel doesn't have a gym, pool, or spa. There's a hot tub for guest use, but it's only available sometimes. Guests can relax in the gardens and walk on the property's nature trails. Hotel Heliconia isn't a good choice for travelers who need accessibility features: it's on a steep hillside that presents a challenge for wheelchairs and strollers, there are no elevators, and some bi-level rooms have their own staircases. 

Family-Friendliness

Children are welcome at the hotel, though no specific programs or amenities exist. It's a more popular choice with couples or solo travelers. Several guest rooms are suited to families traveling with children, but bi-level rooms and suites aren't safe for babies or younger children, as they feature a central staircase. The hotel is on a steep hillside, and the grounds are not especially stroller-friendly.

Other Highlights

Enjoy a simple breakfast each morning at the restaurant, which offers outdoor seating in the garden. The restaurant also has a menu available for lunch and dinner, though travelers report it isn't reliably open. Happy hour, served from 4 pm to 6 pm, offers drink specials and Costa Rican-style appetizers. The bar is limited, focusing on beers and cocktails mixed with fruit juices.

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Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 3-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506 40017899
Hotel address icon Monteverde Cerro Plano

Traveler Reviews

11 total ratings, 11 with reviews
4.2
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
4.0
Location
4.2
Staff
4.7
Cleanliness & Comfort
4.5
K
Ken H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024
On steep hill out of town, so taxis needed for transfers. Family room was large but had a huge bath in the bedroom itself and nowhere to sit indoors. Wildlife in the gardens a big compensation. Coatis and many birds. Read more

On steep hill out of town, so taxis needed for transfers. Family room was large but had a huge bath in the bedroom itself and nowhere to sit indoors. Wildlife in the gardens a big compensation. Coatis and many birds.

Authenticity & Character
Characterless restaurant
Location
Isolated but great views
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in April 2024
S
Sonja T.
Rosemont, CA | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2024
This was our least favorite hotel - it seemed a bit dated and the breakfast buffet was just OK.
Bathrooms were large, but didn't have spaces to put anything.
Bedrooms were very generous in size. Situated on a very steep hill which made for good views of the sunsets.
Staff was very friendly and helpful.
Read more

This was our least favorite hotel - it seemed a bit dated and the breakfast buffet was just OK.
Bathrooms were large, but didn't have spaces to put anything.
Bedrooms were very generous in size. Situated on a very steep hill which made for good views of the sunsets.
Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
I don't think it really had much character.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in December 2023
Yelena
Yelena S.
Castro Valley, CA | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2023
Very beautiful place. Room with a beautiful view. Very spacious and clean. Good breakfast, nice staff. Negative: bathtub plunge didn’t work so it kept draining the water, no space in bathroom for personal hygiene items and poor lighting. But overall we would stay at this location again. Read more

Very beautiful place. Room with a beautiful view. Very spacious and clean. Good breakfast, nice staff. Negative: bathtub plunge didn’t work so it kept draining the water, no space in bathroom for personal hygiene items and poor lighting. But overall we would stay at this location again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in September 2023
M
marlyn C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2023
Stunning views, sunset was amazing seen from balcony;, saw some exotic birds, from the balcony and from the dinning room ; food was excellent Read more

Stunning views, sunset was amazing seen from balcony;, saw some exotic birds, from the balcony and from the dinning room ; food was excellent

Authenticity & Character
Love the architecture,
Location
Quite, away from main business areas
Staff
Friendly and courteous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleaning ladies came in everyday, spa was excellent
Stayed in March 2023
P
Protima W.
Mammoth Lakes, CA | Reviewed on Apr 03, 2023
Great views, spacious and clean rooms and comfy beds. The hotel looks like a chalet built in dark wood. Good restaurants close by. Not an ideal hotel for people with reduced mobility as it quite steep to get anywhere around the complex. Read more

Great views, spacious and clean rooms and comfy beds. The hotel looks like a chalet built in dark wood. Good restaurants close by. Not an ideal hotel for people with reduced mobility as it quite steep to get anywhere around the complex.

Authenticity & Character
Location
5-7 mins away from town center by car.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in March 2023
Amy
Amy M.
Burlington, NC | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2023
New restaurant has great food and lovely decor. Our room was clean and comfortable but if you like to read at night, there is no table lamp. Coffee maker with coffee in room was nice and the coffee was good. Bathroom had good water pressure and hot water. Strange sewer smell in bathroom but maybe that was just in our room. Read more

New restaurant has great food and lovely decor. Our room was clean and comfortable but if you like to read at night, there is no table lamp. Coffee maker with coffee in room was nice and the coffee was good. Bathroom had good water pressure and hot water. Strange sewer smell in bathroom but maybe that was just in our room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Being so close to town was great. Steep walk to get back to hotel, however.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in March 2023
Elizabeth
Elizabeth R.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Feb 24, 2023
This hotel had very pretty and comfortable rooms and was located near enough to town to walk to town and walk to some great dinner places like Don Luis. The hill on which this hotel was located was a bit of a climb so I would not recommend walking up this hill during the heat of the day but it was quite comfortable in the evening.
The staff at this hotel was very friendly and accommodating. They assisted myself and my traveling companion by helping to get us the cash we had misplaced at a...
Read more

This hotel had very pretty and comfortable rooms and was located near enough to town to walk to town and walk to some great dinner places like Don Luis. The hill on which this hotel was located was a bit of a climb so I would not recommend walking up this hill during the heat of the day but it was quite comfortable in the evening.
The staff at this hotel was very friendly and accommodating. They assisted myself and my traveling companion by helping to get us the cash we had misplaced at a different location. They really went out of their way to assist us in this regard and we will be forever grateful. We also saw some unbelievable rainbows from the porch of this hotel adding to the overall beauty. The hotel was located near enough that even when we went to the cloud forest, it was not a far ride.
There is a spa at this hotel but we did not utilize it. The breakfast that was provided was not as spectacular as the other hotels in which we stayed.

Authenticity & Character
nice spacious rooms and you can get a bite to eat right at this hotel.
Location
easy walk to town and some dinner places, hotel is on a hill so you cannot walk back on a hot day.
Staff
The manager of the hotel assisted us with getting the cash that we misplaced back in our hands, truly amazing in that respect.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very nice room with very comfortable beds.
Stayed in February 2023
Cheri
Cheri A.
Simi Valley, CA | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2023
This hotel had the best bed and room setup. The bed was so comfy and fluffy comforter made it so cozy. It was better than other more expensive property beds. There were upholstered chairs by the windows for reading or whatever which other properties didn't have either. We found a trail in back, and saw lots of birds and animals. Read more

This hotel had the best bed and room setup. The bed was so comfy and fluffy comforter made it so cozy. It was better than other more expensive property beds. There were upholstered chairs by the windows for reading or whatever which other properties didn't have either. We found a trail in back, and saw lots of birds and animals.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was just a bit far to walk to town or other eateries. We did eat at the restaurant and they had a good home made tomato pasta sauce with fresh vegetables from their garden
Staff
very friendly and helpful, and they were there day and night it seemed.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2023
Bradley
Bradley C.
Savage, MN | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2023
What a view! We stayed on the second floor, overlooking the valley and town. Spectacular sunsets. Mileydi was especially kind and helpful to us. Tasty lunch and dinners at the restaurant. Read more

What a view! We stayed on the second floor, overlooking the valley and town. Spectacular sunsets. Mileydi was especially kind and helpful to us. Tasty lunch and dinners at the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2023
Laurie
Laurie L.
Onaway, MI | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023
Great location at the top of a hill outside Santa Elena. Nice views of the valley. We stayed in 3 family garden rooms in the main lodge close to the restaurant. The rooms were large, comfortable and clean with a big bathroom and walk in shower. The restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner, not open for lunch. Read more

Great location at the top of a hill outside Santa Elena. Nice views of the valley. We stayed in 3 family garden rooms in the main lodge close to the restaurant. The rooms were large, comfortable and clean with a big bathroom and walk in shower. The restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner, not open for lunch.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy 20 minute walk down hill into town but you'll definitely want to get a taxi for the trip back.
Staff
The staff at the front desk and in the restaurant were very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in December 2022

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Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 3-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506 40017899
Hotel address icon Monteverde Cerro Plano