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Reviews of Lauraceas Lodge

Calle San Gerardo 1.2 km Oeste de la Escuela La Lidia, 11701 San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica

#1 of 15 hotels in San Gerardo de Dota

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 133 hotel reviews

9.5

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    9.7

  • Comfort

    9.7

  • Location

    9.4

  • Facilities

    9.5

  • Staff

    9.7

  • Value for money

    9.4

  • Free WiFi

    9.1

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 28 August 2025

    10
    Wonderful hotel in Dota
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights

    The rooms are very tastefully designed and decorated, most luxurious I've stayed at in Costa Rica. The Dota area is relaxing. The hotel gardens were very pleasant.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 August 2025

    10
    Perfec
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nada

    Best beds in Costa Rica! Very friendly staff in the restaurant. Helped us to get a quetzal guide where we did see them! Restaurant food is good for a good price. The room was beautiful and more then worth of the money.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 25 July 2025

    10
    Cosy, family-run boutique hotel, worth a longer stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    Everything was great, just didn't like leaving!

    We arrived late at night in a taxi after our car had broken down. The taxi crept down the steep hill in the dark and fog at 10-15kph. It all felt very ominous, but we were very warmly welcomed at the hotel and we arrived just in time for dinner before the kitchen closed. Food was fantastic, sevice, impeccable and the rooms were spacious with certainly the most comfortable bed I had slept in, during our vacation in CR, possibly more comfortable than our bed at home. Seeing the valley in sunlight the next morning was fantastic and we were only sad that we had not decided to stay for another night...!

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 June 2025

    10
    Wonderful experience
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The lodge was great. Staff was friendly & attentive. The cabin was clean & comfortable. The food at the restaurant was delicious & they give large portions. We would stay there again. Plus they have a lovely garden to walk through & a great guide for spotting quetzals!

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 June 2025

    10
    Great place to go when you want to rest and connect with nature
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    None

    Super comfortable and very clean place ! I loved the smell of the wood and the feeling and listening of the raining

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 17 May 2025

    10
    Nice place with great breakfast, surrounded by nature. Rooms are large and beautifully decorated. Restaurant food is ver
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    Beautiful and large bedrooms surrounded by nature. Note that some bedrooms have a view on the parking lot.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 27 April 2025

    10
    A great place to see the Quetzal, highly recommended!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The bungalows are built in a traditional way and surprise at the same time with a modern and very comfortable interior. The Lodge comes with its own huge garden (like a park) full of wonderful flowers and birds and offers a path for the visitor to enjoy the beauty. Lauraceas Lodge offers birdwatching tours and especially one to see the Quetzal with an experienced guide, who is the owner of the lodge. Breakfast and dinner were really tasty and the staff (partly members of the family) is really friendly.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2025

    10
    Excellent accommodations, excellent food, excellent staff!
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There were no negatives

    Everything

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 April 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Thé room was Not refreshed on second day

    Restaurant is excellent and rather Good Price

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 6 April 2025

    10
    Top tier lodge that feels cozy, a little luxurious, and 100% friendly
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Everything was great!! My only caution is to be careful stepping onto the bathmat by the shower because it can slide on the smooth floor. Like any place in San Gerardo de Dota: be prepared for the trip in and out and you'll have a great time. Fill up your gas tank before entering, as there are no services in the area. Pre-download your map so you can track your location if/when you lose cell service. Take the road slowly, and yield to uphill traffic when the road is narrow. Time your arrival before nightfall as the visibility can be poor when ascending to the mountain peaks into the foggy mist, and this is 10x harder at night because there are no streetlights. Plus, the drive is gorgeous; you'll get to actually enjoy it if you drive during the day!

    We loved our stay at Lauraceas (AKA the "Avocado") Lodge. I would recommend it wholeheartedly, and I would stay here again when returning to the region. All of our meals were wholesome, fresh, and fulfilling. The breakfasts were included with the room rate and had a great variety. I wish I could have ordered the smoked trout by the plate while I was there or bought some vacuum packed. We used the kettle and french press to enjoy coffee and tea routinely for a warming afternoon treat, and we enjoyed walking around with our mugs to soak in the scenery. The cleaning staff was very attentive. All the cabins are raised above the road level so you can look out into the trees and to the creek ambling through the hillside. I worked remotely and the WiFi took care of business! When my project ran long, the staff kindly held my breakfast and served me after hours. THANK YOU. The beds were so cozy and comfortable. I loved the big heavy curtains to divide the room- this helped our space heater keep the "bedroom" extra toasty at night, and meant we could sleep in past the sunrise. The place is family run, and we saw the effort and care they put into every aspect of our stay. Glenda was incredibly helpful and informative. She and her family (the Chacon-Moras) are all descended from the pioneers who settled in San Gerardo de Dota ~70 years ago, and she was happy to inform us of some of the history of the region. Your stay includes access to the Lauraceas Botanical Garden at any time, and it is well worth a visit. It is vast and incredibly well curated; the textures and layers of the garden as they've integrated flowing water sources (creeks, ponds, fountains) felt magical. The plants species were quite different, but there were areas in the garden that reminded me of how I felt walking through Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France. FYI: we booked a horseback riding excursion for 2 hours and had a blast! Recommended if you have an interest

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 March 2025

    10
    Wonderful stay at Lauraceas Lodge, highly
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    Great breakfast, choice of hot options, fruit, yogurt, very good coffee

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 6 March 2025

    10
    A wonderful place to stay in the mountains.
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Nothing - the lodge is a great place to stay and I would recommend it to anyone.

    We loved staying at the lodge. Our room/cabin was spacious and comfortable and a great location for walking around and bird watching. Everything was spotless and a it was clear that a lot of attention was paid to small details and the needs of clients. We hired their guide, who was great and very helpful. The restaurant was probably the best in all of our trip and very reasonable. We were sorry not to have spent more time here. Its a lovely area.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 February 2025

    10
    Lovely place to stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was chilly in the evening but there was a small heater and lots of blankets etc.

    Beautiful lodges situated right in the valley with a nice restaurant and a garden with a bird viewing platform. All the staff were very friendly and arranged the Quetzal tour for us when we arrived.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 February 2025

    8.0
    Garden setting and Uber private rooms offer hot days and chilly wakeups.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bedding is magnificently rich -- a necessity given the frigid p.m. temperatures. Rooms go from oven like during the day to 48 degrees F in the early a.m. Tiny space heater inadequate for such a large room. Also, at a place of this caliber, I expect better than dime store cutlery in the restaurant. And b'fast should include both juice + coffee, not either/or. A fridge in the room should be included given the room cost

    Spacious rooms set cabin-like away from each other. Grounds are truly beautiful with wonderful garden path winding upward thru the bird-populated property. The restaurant is quite good, too, and not a bad value.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 6 February 2025

    10
    Beautiful hotel and a beautiful area
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    The rooms are really very nice and look much better than in the photographs. Yes it gets a little bit cool at night but the bidding is more than adequate and we didn't have any problems. There are lots of beautiful hummingbirds in the garden and The meals and cocktails are very good and reasonably priced. We did the quetzel tour with Marco and he is a very accomplished guide and we managed to see a number of quetzals of both sexes. All in all I can't rate this hotel highly enough.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 January 2025

    10
    See above
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    N/A

    Great location, lovely large rooms, very friendly and helpful staff, great food. Loved the botanical garden.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 January 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    Many reviews refer to the cold. While it was also cold during our stay, we felt that sufficient blankets were provided and we had a great stay.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 27 December 2024

    10
    Excellent beyond words. Great location, great staff
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Alicia, Marco, and chef lady(forgot her name) were excellent. We had a great time with no worries. The garden was very beautiful. The Quetzal bird tour was beyond my wildest imagination.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 December 2024

    10
    Amazing
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    X

    Location, breakfast, space in the room

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 October 2024

    10
    Recommend stay in Dota valley, nice, small & best quality family business.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The place is not on the mainroad and it take a while (approx, 10km/30 min…better with a 4x4). So better spend a few days and enjoy the remote location. It can get cold - compared to other locations in CR - a heating system would be helpful.

    Very spaceous room with balcony and a nice view towards the river & hills. This family owned business is providing goos service, rooms as well as breakfast and dinner. On top, you can eat local food (booth trout & avocado from the garden. The nature offers a lot, including to see the Quetzal bird…if you are lucky. On top, we enjoyed a nice botanical garden - as guests for free.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 August 2024

    8.0
    Good stay for one night
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are extra blankets provided but it’s cold at night, if you travel with kids you won’t be sitting there playing Uno, they’ll be in bed with a lot of blankets.

    Great location, easy check in and check out.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 July 2024

    10
    Amazing
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    We loved it here, location, view, food all was perfect

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 July 2024

    10
    We very much enjoyed our stay in our beautiful cabin. We all had a nice warm shower and slept well!
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    We could've used a little bit of heat in the late night/ early morning, but we didn't have any heaters and at that hour, we couldn't ask for one. We came from the coast and some of us didn't have sweatshirts or jackets. We very much appreciated the coffee and tea provided in the room, but there were no caffeine-free options for a tea before bed (even the mint tea was a black tea/mint blend). We drink our coffee with milk, but there was no milk or creamer provided. Also, a refrigerator would have been great to freeze up our ice packs and keep our cooler food cold. Many of the other places we stayed at were not so nice, but did come with refrigerators.

    Our cabin was clean, cute and comfy, in a beautiful location with a view of the river. We loved that it was spacious, with a couch, table and chairs. The bathroom was very nice, and we very much appreciated the nice, hot shower (after so many places we stayed at in CR had cold showers). We enjoyed walking through the botanical garden, too. Breakfast was amazing, all 4 of us were happy with our food and were pleasantly surprised by the warmed/frothed milk that was served with our coffees!

    Stayed in June 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 May 2024

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Two Double Beds
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Family-owned Lauraceas Lodge is a wonderful place to stay in the beautiful San Gerardo de Dota area. The team was super friendly and helpful, the locally sourced food and drinks fantastic and the scenery of the area is breathtaking with so many great opportunities to hike through the cloud forest, see beautiful birds and just enjoy the natural beauty. From the Inter-American Highway it’s about a 10km winding way down, but it’s safe enough and, there aren’t too many tourists, although those in the know are well aware of this paradise. Do visit, and stay here instead of at the Savegre Hotel!

    Stayed in May 2024

Showing 1 – 25

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