Kimkim favorite
Koora Hotel at Monteverde, Monteverde
Upscale property with bungalows set in the cloud forest and a restaurant serving locally grown cuisine.
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Anna L.
Wonderful place to stay
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Morgan F.
If you go to Monteverde, you must stay at Hotel Koora. The views, the staff and rooms are incredible.
Marie-Claude E.
the staff very friendly. great ecolodge. Beautiful sunset
Joseph M.
Amazing location, staff and accommodations! Nestled up in the mountains with incredible views of the Nicoya peninsula and Pacific ocean, this was our favorite for our... Read more
Lisa C.
Beautiful and rustic. Come for the hotel and stay for the service!
Overview
Sleep among the cloud forest at Koora Hotel, as each bungalow sits on a hill surrounded by trees with vistas out to the coast. The property is expanding, adding new cabins and other perks with its renovations. For now, perks include meals at the restaurant with its circular terrace, outdoor dining, and views. You can also enjoy time spotting wildlife on-site or with complimentary access to the nature reserve down the street.
Kimkim's Take
Pros
- Relax at a quiet and truly stunning property surrounded by nature with great views of the Gulf of Nicoya—meaning pretty amazing daily sunsets.
- Almost all rooms are standalone bungalows, offering more privacy and tranquility with balconies overlooking the cloud forest.
- Guests will enjoy the perk of complimentary access to the nearby Aguti Reserve, filled with 200-year-old trees, birds, butterflies, and other critters, such as agoutis and coatis.
- All the food served at the on-site restaurant is delicious and grown right on the property—and the outdoor seating is perfect for a meal or drinks at sunset.
- The hotel provides board games, picnic supplies, and umbrellas for guest use.
- The hotel is a bit farther from downtown Santa Elena than other recommended properties and requires a 25-30-minute walk uphill along a dirt road.
- Due to the current renovations (expected until spring 2023), it's a bit noisy at the moment, but stay tuned because it'll be great for future travelers.
Additional Notes From Brittany
I was not ready to leave Hotel Koora at the end of my site inspection! The hospitality here is second to none, and the staff is happy to work with guests to meet their needs and special requests—I watched the front desk staff sit down and teach a family of young children how to play the Costa Rican board game, Estampida. There's a lot to love here, but by far, the best part of the visit was the sampling of yogurt, bread, juices, and salsa provided while sitting on the restaurant's balcony, taking in the views of the Gulf of Nicoya. After renovations and expansion, I can't wait to experience Hotel Koora again—the plans look incredible!Authenticity
Expect a warm welcome from the start, as the hotel will greet you with a towel and drink upon arrival, and then walk you to your room, where a welcome letter awaits. Besides the incredible hospitality, you can truly enjoy time in Costa Rican nature here. You'll have stunning views of the Gulf of Nicoya and complimentary access to Agouti Reserve, with several miles of trails.Location
You'll enjoy a quiet and private location far from the main road through Santa Elena. As a tradeoff, getting into town and some of the area attractions takes a little bit longer, so you might want to rent a car or hire a transfer to get out and about. Still, just a five-minute drive gets you to the downtown area, and both the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Sky Adventures Park are 15 minutes away.Rooms & Bathrooms
Hotel Koora appeals to all travelers, though it's quite popular with families. Currently, there are just eight rooms, but the property has plans to expand to over 20 units. Designs for the new bungalows include rooms with an outdoor shower and a private plunge pool. Though the atmosphere will surely change, the hotel will maintain its essence of cabin-like rooms with ceiling fans, minifridges, and balconies, all set high in the cloud forest. Family rooms have (and will continue to feature) kitchens, seating areas, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.Other Highlights
Hotel Koora has thought of all the details and provides little things like picnic supplies for snacks in the garden, umbrellas for drizzly days, and board games for cozy evenings. The on-site Restaurant Kiré serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with all food grown on the property and prepared with care by a local chef. The outdoor dining space sits above the cloud forest and wraps around the restaurant to provide all the views. You can also enjoy a daily happy hour.Hotel Information
4-star Hotel
+506 40003385
350 mts Northeast of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) office, Santa Elena
Traveler Reviews
10 total ratings, 9 with reviews
5.0 out of 5
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
5.0
5.0
Location
5.0
5.0
Staff
5.0
5.0
Cleanliness & Comfort
4.9
4.9
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Anna L.
France
| Reviewed on Nov 02, 2023
Wonderful place to stay
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M
Morgan F.
San Ramon, CA
| Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023
If you go to Monteverde, you must stay at Hotel Koora. The views, the staff and rooms are incredible.
Read more
Marie-Claude E.
Canada
| Reviewed on Feb 24, 2023
the staff very friendly. great ecolodge. Beautiful sunset
Read more
Joseph M.
Grand Lake, CO
| Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023
Amazing location, staff and accommodations! Nestled up in the mountains with incredible views of the Nicoya peninsula and Pacific ocean, this was our favorite for our emtire trip. Nestled in the cloudforest between Monteverde and Santa Elena, the climate was cooler than we expected in Costa Rica - but we loved it! Small mountain villages with plenty of site seeing opportunities - coffee & chocolate tour, cloudforest, nature preserves. Allowed us to experience the variety of ecosystems that...
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Lisa C.
Denver, CO
| Reviewed on Sep 03, 2022
Beautiful and rustic. Come for the hotel and stay for the service!
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Amy W.
Richardson, TX
| Reviewed on Jun 17, 2022
This hotel was perfect for our vacation to the cloud forest. The rooms were beautiful. We enjoyed being in the rainforest so much. The service and attention to detail was amazing. The food was some of the best we had in Costa Rica. Both my husband and my teenage son made sure they had the name of this hotel written down. Both apparently plan to return here specifically! :)
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C
chari p.
Asheville, NC
| Reviewed on May 29, 2022
The staff at Koora was second to none. From the moment arrived, they called us by name and made sure we were cared for. The food was great, view was exceptional. The room was like living in a treehouse.
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Michael H.
Live Oak, TX
| Reviewed on Apr 07, 2022
Koora was a quiet, beautiful hotel to relax and enjoy the cloud forest in. Our bungalow was surrounded by the cloud forest and we enjoyed the privacy and having nature all around us. While it doesn't offer as many amenities as other hotels, we enjoyed the quieter tempo and more personal atmosphere. Every one of the staff knew us by name and would check on us to see how they could best help us. We'd have our table for breakfast and dinner ready every day and, if we had any questions, they...
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Wendy S.
| Reviewed on Jan 03, 2022
This hotel was hands down the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. This is not a resort (no pool, spa or other similar amenities). It's a boutique property with just 14 rooms and it is absolute paradise. From the second we walked in the door the staff was nothing short of amazing. They exude warmth and professionalism. The family unit we stayed in was so lovely. It had two levels (it's like a mini apartment) and it was just so comfortable, light-filled, and spacious. The food at the hotel was...
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