HRC Reforestation Lodge: Remote, Wild, Authentic

Popular amenities

Pool

Breakfast available

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Explore the area

Cabanga, Alajuela

Lake Arenal6 min drive
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park42 min drive
Tabacon Hot Springs44 min drive
La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)99 min drive

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

Bedroom 1

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 5

2 Queen Beds

6 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 6

Toilet

Bathroom 7

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

About this property

Simple elegance in a remote and wild location. HRC Lodge, in the heart of Guanacaste is your doorway into the rainforest. Plant trees and explore natural habitats from a lodge that supports the Hacienda Río Cote Reforestation Project. Built on a commanding plateau, with views of Volcano Tenorio, Río Cote National Forest, and Lake Nicaragua. Easy access to Río celeste, hot springs, windsurfing and boating around lake Arenal and Cote. Fast Wifi. Perfect for multiple families, groups, and seminars.

The space
Designed by the award winning Marin Arquectectos and Built in 2020 by local craftsman, the lodge features five bedrooms with private baths, as well as 1.5 baths adjacent to the great hall.

The Great hall provides dining as well as a seminar space for up to 24 people.

The five bedrooms can each accommodate up to four people.

The four bedrooms on the second floor all have private terraces overlooking the rainforest and plains of Guatuso and Lake Nicaragua

The entire lodge features commanding views of the rainforest and plains below

The front of the building is glass, all of which retracts opening the building to the surrounding primary jungle and pastures.

All furniture, doors, and interior finishings are from native, sustainably harvested woods, hand crafted by local master woodworkers.

The lodge is centered around the themes of the primary Jungle, Guanacaste Culture, and the Indigenous Maleku. The great hall and each bedroom features original paintings from local artists and traditional masks carved and painted by the Maleku.

The lodge includes a highspeed internet connection and can accommodate workshops and seminars. The primary purpose of the lodge is educational, and opportunities to learn about the primary jungle and reforestation can be part of your experience.

All income from your stay supports our reforestation efforts which are under contract with the Costa Rican government.

Built to U.S code, the lodge features a security system, smoke detectors and external CCTV

All bedrooms have individually keyed deadbolts and the compound is gated and locked.

The lodge features the privacy of a hotel and the intimacy of a home.

Property manager

Mahar Sperling

Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Pool

Free WiFi

Breakfast available

Pool

Kitchen

Outdoor space

Barbecue grill

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 20

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed

Ideal for retreats. Events need permission of host

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

Parties and events are allowed on site

Note from host: Ideal for retreats. Events need permission of host

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Cote

Located in Cote, this lodge is in a rural area and in the mountains. While the natural beauty of Lake Arenal and Tenorio Volcano National Park can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Tabacon Hot Springs. Travelling with kids? Consider FlyZone Wakeboard School and Monteverde Frog Pond.

Cabanga, Alajuela

What's nearby

Lake Arenal - 6 min drive
Arenal Volcano National Park - 38 min drive
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - 42 min drive
Tabacon Hot Springs - 44 min drive
Arenal Volcano - 47 min drive

Getting around

La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 100 min drive

Restaurants

Café & Macadamia - 15 min drive
Dond' Liz - 37 min drive
Moya's Place - 7 min drive
Tinajas Arenal - 11 min drive
Soda La Parada - 7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is HRC Reforestation Lodge: Remote, Wild, Authentic pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at HRC Reforestation Lodge: Remote, Wild, Authentic?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at HRC Reforestation Lodge: Remote, Wild, Authentic?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is HRC Reforestation Lodge: Remote, Wild, Authentic located?

This family-friendly Cote lodge is located in the mountains, 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Lake Arenal, and within 12 mi (20 km) of FlyZone Wakeboard School and Venado Caves. Tenorio Volcano National Park is 9.7 mi (15.6 km) away.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

8/10 Good

Zami H.

24 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Wonderful space

The space was really beautiful and was everything we needed. I was facilitating a wellness retreat and the large room was perfect for our participants and activities. The rooms were great and so was the space. My only recommendation is to make it clear in the posting that the swimming pool and labyrinth area is located in another part of the location of the property and is not walkable to get to. Thank you.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

7 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our Stay at HRC Reforestation Lodge

Words cannot describe HRC and the hosts. This property was simply amazing. Maher was very informative in making sure we knew all the attractions near the property. He also arranged a bus and a driver for us and made us all feel very well taken care of. We were a large group of four families with kids, and this house was perfect for our group. The property manager, Jorge, was very accommodating and a very good host to us. When one of the members of our group got sick, he was compassionate enough to bring her some fruits to keep her hydrated. Everything that this property has to offer is beyond anything that we have ever seen. From the spectacular views from the balcony to the nice pool at the wellness center, this property had everything to make our vacation perfect for everyone. It is a very clean and well-kept house. The fresh fruits, flowers, and amazing mountain views made it very relaxing. The kitchen had more than enough pots, pans, plates, and silverware for our group of 16 people to cook and eat. They also had a cleaning crew come out during our stay who made the place look perfect every time. We felt at home in this house, and nobody wanted to leave when the day came to fly back home.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ryan C.

29 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceeded our expectations!

Pictures don’t do the property justice. Excellent communication from host. Place was very clean. Big bowl fresh fruit and fresh flowers waiting for us. Would stay here again.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maulik S.

7 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Five stars don't do justice to this place

This is a stunning house in an equally stunning surrounding. We were a group of 11 and stayed in this place for 4 days. To begin with, Maher is an amazing host. Since we booked the place, he was in regular communication with us. He helped us make reservations for various excursions. He even booked a bus for our entire group at a reasonable price. The driver picked our group from the airport and was with us for our entire time in Costa Rica. He even arranged to have an amazing chef cook us local cuisine one night and it was a treat. His place is located on top of a hill and all you can see is beautiful hills and countryside all around. It gets very foggy at nights and early in the morning which adds to the magic and mystic of this place. The house is a bit off the beaten path but that's exactly what we wanted. The property is new and very well maintained. All rooms have attached restrooms and there is plenty of space for a big group. The common areas including the living room, kitchen and dining is very spacious. They even have a swimming pool and a yoga retreat with access to lake Arenal within a 20-minute drive from this place. Our first day at the place and we were treated with fruits grown on their own farm. This is one of the best places we have stayed at, and we highly recommend it.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nathan F.

28 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic secluded stay in Costa Rica

We loved our time at the property. It was clean and was comfortable to stay at. Modern amenities. The kitchen was well appointed. Jorge was fantastic to work with! He was incredibly responsive to our communication. I felt like this location was an excelllent value. Some things other guests might want to consider. This location is up the mountain on a rough road. It's about 15 min or so from Lake Arenal. We were there in the wet season and it was really wet and muddy in the area so we weren't able to visit the waterfall or plant trees as we had originally planned. There is not a lot to do at the property, but we had activities that we did each day in Arenal and La Fortuna. We would definitely return.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mahar Sperling

I'm Mahar, manager of Hacienda Rio Cote and our Reforestation Project. I've been living in Costa Rica with my family for over 15 years and speak Spanish like a local. My nickname is "El Gringo."

Nothing gives me more pride than showing off the country I've chosen to live in. The HRC team and I are committed to your enjoyment and willing to go out of our way to insure that your stay is a success. To that end:

All guests will be greeted and guided through the features and benefits of the lodge. English and Spanish are spoken.

Our farm and reforestation project are adjacent to the lodge and our staff provides 24hr support.

We can offer daily servicing of the rooms, shopping, cooking, translation, drivers, and guides to help you enjoy this remote and wild location safely.

During your stay, if the hostess is in residence, activities at our wellness center can be arranged. A practical introduction to plant-based nutrition, Ayurvedic isolation diet, walking meditation on our labyrinth, and a detailed holistic health consultations are all available by appointment.

Why they chose this property

The lodge sits on over 300 acres, which is a combination of primary jungle, reforestation projects, organic farming, and carbon sequestering cattle grazing. It is surrounded by 2,000 newly planted trees and overlooks our original reforestation, now in its 15th year. That planting features 10s of thousands of trees in over 50 species.

At the lodge, we offer numerous experiences including the opportunity to plant your own tree(s), a tour of the primary jungle’s medicinal plants with the Maleku, UTV tours, Horseback Riding, a taste of typical Guanacaste cuisine and culture, and farm to table meals with local chefs.

In addition to the attractions of the reforestation and surrounding primary jungle, we are located in one of the most beautiful parts of Costa Rica

Take a short drive to the town of Nuevo Arenal, where you will find lake access for Kayaking, windsurfing, boating, and fishing. Our favorite restaurants in town are Casa Italia, Moya’s Place and Chafis Bar.

Catarata Rio Celeste is to our north. Witness the mineral combination that produces a waterfall in a unique shade of turquoise, seen nowhere else in the world.
Fortuna is to our south. Plan a day trip to visit Volcano Arenal, the hanging bridges, hot springs, and ziplines over the spectacular Fortuna waterfall.

Other adventures include:

Lake cote, the location of one of the world’s most famous UFO sightings

Caño Negro National Park, the wintering grounds of thousands of migrant birds

Cavernas de Venado, home to stalagmites and stalactites

El Farallon Petroglyphs, a remote national heritage site where, over 1,500 years ago, the Corobici people engraved their culture on massive volcanic ignimbrite rock.

There is a local mountain biking scene for all levels. We can connect you with guides.

What makes this property unique

Staying at the lodge supports The Hacienda Rio Coté Project (HRC).

HRC’s mission is to reforest and preserve land that is contiguous with existing protected areas of the Rio Coté National Forest and in effect increase the size of a pristine rainforest environment. HRC’s goal is to maintain and extend natural biodiversity, preserve watersheds, reduce erosion and river degradation, protect animal and insect habitats, and preserve the primordial beauty of the tropical rain forests for future generations.

The project does this in four ways:

- Through reforestation plantings on clear-cut farmland
- Through reorientation of local grazing and farming practices to reduce erosion of land and restore the watershed (carbon-sequestering/carbon-farming techniques)
- Through our contract with the Costa Rican government to preserve the primary uncut rain forest on the HRC lands in perpetuity
- Through collection from the primary rain forest of seeds and saplings for our “primal nurseries,” which will eventually supply the reforestation projects at HRC

The primary sponsor of HRC is Inner Traditions International (ITI), a book publisher based in Rochester, Vermont, USA. ITI has, since 1975, published the wisdom and practices of the world’s indigenous peoples and is pleased to support HRC as a way of contributing to the protection of ancient ways of life while offsetting both our carbon footprint and our use of tree fiber in producing books.