Reviews of Santa Juana Lodge & Nature Reserve

We booked 3 lodges and they were exactly as we had hoped. They were in keeping with the breathtaking scenery. We loved every minute of our stay, from the exciting drive up to Santa Juana, the wildlife and beautiful surroundings.

Very friendly staff. Great house to stay in. Beautiful views! We enjoyed it. Road was not bad.

Santa Juana Lodge & Nature Reserve is truly a Gem find. People who are looking for Peace & Serenity, Santa Juana is the place to be. The people are kind, welcome you with hearty smiles. The authentic Costa Rican cuisine is simply the best. It’s not for people who are going to look for variety of food & to just eat & complain. This place is really to heal your soul & soak yourself into Nature, its pure beauty, the mesmerizing sound of the birds & wildlife. Me & my kids stayed here 8/1/2025 to 8/4/2025 and we are so glad we took the time to stay at this heavenly place. The waterfall there was better than Rio Celeste to us. We swam in the waterfall for 2 hrs & it was a dream come true for me & my kids. You definitely need a 4x4 suv or jeep & yes Santa Juana is tucked up in the mountain away from the hustle & bustle that’s what was best about it. I would recommend trying to get to the lodge during day time, we drove from San Jose & by the time we reached there it was night 815pm, me & my kids laugh, we were drove in the dark,which now to us, is an adventure but definitely not for the faint of a heart. My advice is try to get there during day time. Santa Juana Lodge & Nature Reserve is truly a must visit & see once you are in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica. Pura Vida! P.S: I would recommend getting a car, so u are able to get around & enjoy more.

None that I could find.

The secluded area, the delicious meals, and access to trails and waterfalls.

The drive up to the property is a bit long and arduous.

What a find! I stumbled open this place when searching for accommodation near MA to break our 4 days in the area. How lucky we were to find this stunning place! The lodges were huge with the most beautiful vantage point with fantastic views over the valley into the mountains and onward to the coast. Hugo met us and immediately made us feel at home away from home with everyone there greeting us with kindness and hospitality! The food is local home cooked Costa Rican dishes cooked by Julio and staff. With two beautiful waterfalls within their grounds it’s the perfect place to unwind and explore. We spent a day just swimming in the waterfalls and exploring the trails surrounded by wildlife. This place is just beautiful and the people who run it too from the local community make it so special. We cannot recommend it enough! It’s feels like a secret place that we feel lucky to have found.

We wished we could have stayed longer! Totally love this place

The view was amazing, the staff very kind and the room clean and nice.

The road to get to it.

The personal service provided every member of staff who are either family or from the local community makes you feel like a like a VIP! There genuine passion for the lodge and the surrounding nature was obvious. The whole experience started with an amazing off road drive up into the mountains. We had a tropical downpour on the drive up and the lovely staff greeted us at the top with large umbrellas. Sadly this was our final stop in Costa Rica and we only stayed for a couple of nights but do hope to be lucky enough to return! The views from the lodge balconies are breathtaking from a perfect elevated position above the forest. The lodges are spacious and very comfortable. The balconies are large with comfortable seating and a hammock to relax and enjoy the amazing views. Some hotels have great pools and wild ponds but this one tops them all with its own private waterfall with amazing little swimming pools! We enjoyed a lovely breakfast watching the many different birds from the restaurant balcony, where we spotted Toucans, Scarlet Macaws and many different Humming Birds and then wandered down the hill to swim at the waterfall where we had the pools all to ourselves! Just sitting watching the birds in the evening was a perfect way to end the day at this beautiful lodge up in the hills! It was the perfect place to end our memorable holiday in Costa Rica

Nothing

Great location and the team. Standard rooms are old and the higher categories are gorgeous. Definitely need a 4x4 to get there and what interesting drive. View from the higher room categories are just fantastic.

Standard room category.

Beautiful quiet jungle escape with beautiful views of the rainforest and ocean. Lots of bird viewing including toucans

An off the beaten path and unique experience in a stunning location. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Food is fresh, local, and delicious. The walk to the lodge's gardens and waterfall is magical.

I am so so thankful Booking recommended me this hotel when I was searching for places where to stay in Costa Rica! I'm a seasoned traveler and I usually never leave reviews, but for Santa Juana Lodge I had to. I can't say without a doubt that this is one of the best place I've ever stayed at in my life. Everything felt so absolutely perfect, from the everyone in the staff who made you feel like you were (Alan especially!), to the food, the rooms and the location... (wow the view!!) I am even amazed that it's only sitting at 9.6 on Booking, it should be higher. So if you are looking to go to Costa Rica next, do yourself a favor and book this place, you won't regret it! (Oh and don't forget to book activities with them. The birdwatching tour and the Santa Juana mountain tour are absolutely dreamy!) I can't wait to be back...

Nothing, everything felt so peaceful and charming.

A very nice place with a warm, family atmosphere. The owner and staff are incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the owner’s mother prepares delicious home-cooked dinners.

SUV is a must to reach the location, as it’s up in the mountains. Constant ATV passing can disturb some jungle peace.

Room was excellent although a little tired. There was a room safe but it didn't work. When I asked the manager to fix it he said he didn't know how to! Great views to the ocean and very comfortable bed.

The food was universally poor. We were there for three nights on half board. (the place is remote and there are no alternative restaurants). Each night was the same, watery soup, and choice of grilled fish or meat with rice and beans followed by rice pudding. No variation and quite tasteless. Despite the high cost of this place I had to ask to have my room cleaned each day. The manager expressed surprise that I wanted it cleaned! The place could be really nice with well trained staff and a chef but at the moment I would avoid it!

Amazing surroundings and tranquil. Well equipped for a small family. Friendly and attentive team on site.

Beautiful scenery, friendly staff, wildlife and waterfalls

Cars driving by at night, not a lot of variety with the food

This lodge far exceeded our expectations and will be the highlight of our travels in Costa Rica. Our three night stay provided time for guided tours and relaxation at the top of a mountain. We saw over 60 different birds and the cicadas were deafening! We enjoyed traditional Costa Rican meals and learned so much about the culture, flora and fauna from the hosts. The hosts respect for and commitment to protecting the environment shines! Highly recommend this experience!

Nothing!

The location and views. The waterfall walk was great as well. Very friendly and helpful host. The plant a tree at the end was a wonderful touch.

The drive up from the main road is a bit of an adventure, but with the right car it is okay.

Absolutely beautiful setting, full of birds and lush forest. Stunning views. Very friendly and helpful staff.

It was fab so no, nothing we didn’t like!

Cannot recommend Santa Juana Lodge & Nature Reserve more! The staff was amazing, the views were incredible, the rooms were rustic and allowed for close interactions with nature, the food was impeccable! We can't say enough about this amazing place - it now has a piece of our hearts!

The view is extraordinary and the staff is Lovely.

Impossible to sleep : I had to leave after the first night as the neighbour dog kept barking a good portion of the night . There is no AC - just fans and it works well with all Windows open but you must be able to sleep with loud barking dog(s).

Property is gorgeous and well-kept, like a pristine Jurassic Park view. All staff are great, local from the immediate community and have a vested interest in the community’s well-being. Property has all the amenities you’d need. For the drive up there, a 4x4 would be great, although we managed to do it with a 2 wheel drive crossover (think small SUV) although a few of the inclines at the end were a bit tenuous…. Tours are well-done and food is yummy…..

We loved everything about the property. One suggestion would be to have maps of local hiking trails routes on the property - there’s a few trails with markers but without maps it’s a bit difficult to plan your route out.