The Best Secluded Adventure Resort in Costa Rica

El Silencio Lodge and Spa is located on a 500-acre private cloud reserve in the area of Bajos del Toro, about a 1-hour drive from San Jose International Airport. El Silencio can arrange a private transport for you, which is what we did. Our friendly driver met us outside our arrivals and took us on the beautiful drive up into the cloud forest. The roads to this area are steep, windy and not for the faint of heart for those wanting to rent their own car. If this sounds like your type of drive though, renting a car can get the adventure started before arriving at the resort.

Upon arrival at El Silencio, you are greeted and taken to your standalone suite or villa tucked within the cloud forest. Every room on the property, ranging from a one-bedroom suite to a three-bedroom villa, is a standalone space with a private deck and a jacuzzi that fires up at the flip of a switch. The staff knew we were celebrating a birthday and had champagne and the jacuzzi ready for us when we got to the room, a lovely preview of the attentiveness of the service yet to come during our stay.

The accommodations are not only private; they are stunning. Think spacious rooms with hardwood floors, seating areas, vaulted ceilings, large bathrooms, plush beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors for an immersive experience. If you happen to find yourself relaxing in your room during a thunderstorm, prepare to be in heaven.

There are many things to love about this adventure resort, however the high point for me is the on-site activities. We spent our first morning hiking from our suite to three private waterfalls on the property. Catarata La Promesa, the last and largest of the three waterfalls on the hike, is a stunning spot to go for a quick swim. We had the hike entirely to ourselves and spent about 30 minutes taking a refreshing dip at La Promesa. You can easily do this hike on your own, but if you would prefer a guide, the Eco-Concierge is happy to help you with scheduling a tour.

On day two, we went on a private zipline and waterfall rappel tour at the on-site adventure park. The day again started steps from our suite where we met our guides and were taken by golf cart to the start of the adventure park course. A quick hike will take you up to the rappel or zipline start point, depending on the type of tour you select. The zipline course totals four runs with stunning views of the cloud forest from above. If rappelling isn’t your thing, you can skip that part and just do the zipline portion of the park.

Other on-site activities that are available include mountain biking, river fishing and horseback riding. For those in the crew whose idea of adventure is less adrenaline-inducing, the Eco-Concierge team can help you schedule on-site bird watching, tree planting, coffee tasting and casual walks on the property.

No matter what type of adventurer you are, there comes a time when a little relaxation is called for. If you feel like leaving the comfort of your private porch and jacuzzi, the Esencia Spa is a stunning place to catch a yoga class or experience a spa service. I highly recommend the Esencia or Essence, treatment for complete relaxation; just allow yourself some buffer time afterwards to float down from cloud nine. Complimentary wellness classes, think yoga or sound healing, take place at Esencia Spa every morning at 8am.

This adventure resort experience is rounded out nicely with the delicious dining options available to guests. The Riverside Las Ventanas Restaurant is a stunning location to take in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu features ingredients from the organic farm on the property and changes slightly to showcase the freshest ingredients of the day. You will find the Toro Bohemio Bar in the same building, a perfect spot for light bites and drinks after a day of adventures. Prefer to relax in your suite or villa? You can get in-room dining ordered to your room from the same menus to arrive in quick and attentive fashion.

I recommend El Silencio Lodge and Spa for clients looking for some adventure while unplugging and immersing themselves in nature. The adventure resort would be great for adventurous couples, friends and families. The beauty of the mix of adventure and wellness offerings at El Silencio is that there is a little bit for everyone.