Location

The Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge is situated high in the mountains of the Talamanca mountain range, at an altitude of 2.600 meters above sea level, in the middle of the Upper Montane Cloud Forest.

Our eight luxurious bungalows are located in the heart of the Los Santos Forest Reserve, some 84 km from the capital San José towards Southern Costa Rica. Constructed on the top of a hill in the middle of this valley full of Quetzals, these bungalows offer a spectacular view of the cloud forest. The small village of San Gerardo de Dota is only a few kilometers away.

Public transport

Every hour there are buses leaving from the Musoc Terminal both in San José and San Isidro. The bus leaves both terminals almost every hour; 5.00 AM – 5.30 AM – 6.30 AM – 7.30 AM – 8.30 AM -  9.30 AM – 10.30 AM – 11.30 AM – 12.30 PM – 1.30 PM – 2.30 PM – 3.30 PM – 4.30 PM and 5.30 PM. You can ask the driver to drop you at Kilometer 80, the entrance to San Gerardo de Dota. At the entrance to San Gerardo de Dota there is a little bar where you can call us so will pick you up and drop you off when you leave (costs are 10,-USD per ride).  Otherwise it is an hour's walk (about 4 kilometers) downhill to the lodge. From San José it takes about 2 hours by bus, from San Isidro dle General around 1.5 hours.

By car

From San José / Juan Santamaría International Airport: cross San José to the south and take the highway to Cartago (this is already the Pan-American Highway, Route 2). Just a few kilometers before reaching Cartago, after the Delta gas station and some traffic lights, there is a sign: San Isidro and Paso Canoas (Panamá). Here you must turn right, but actually you drive straight, because the highway makes a turn to de left. The road goes straight for some kilometers and then starts winding into the mountains. After about 30 kilometers you reach the gasoline station at El Empalme (last place to fill up your car!), stay on the road for another 30 kilometers and then turn right at Kilometer 80 to San Gerardo de Dota. The altitude here is 3.025 meters and you follow the dirt road (partly asphalted) for 4 kilometers downhill until you see the lodge at your right hand site.

From San Isidro follow the Pan-American Highway, Route 2 to San José. San Isidro is the last stop for gasoline. The climb is steep, climbing almost 3.000 meters to pass the second highest top, the Cerro the la Muerte (3.489 meters asl), at the altitude of 3.400 meters. It's the highest road in the country. Some 46 kilometers from San Isidro (9 kilometers descending after passing the summit), you will find the left-turn to San Gerardo de Dota at Kilometer 80. The altitude here is 3.025 meters and you follow the dirt road (partly asphalted) for 4 kilometers downhill until you see the lodge at your right hand site.

Taxis

We arrange transportation by a professional taxi company from Juan Santamaría International Airport and the San José  area; a one way trip will cost 132,-USD for 1-4 persons, and 198,-USD for 5-12 persons. You can fill in the transportation option in our reservation form when you are interested in using this possibility. For transportation with taxis to Southern Costa Rica please contact us, and will send you a quotation.

Route Juan Santamaria
Airport to Dantica
Parte 1

Route Juan Santamaria
Airport to Dantica
Parte 2

Route Quepos
to Dantica

Route Puerto Jimenez
to Dantica

Download maps and route (pdf)

"In January 2011 we stayed in Dantica for 2 nights. It was just perfect! The location, the staff with Alex and Carlos who are very helpfull en friendly and the rooms which look out over de forest and clouds. The nicest hotel we stayed in during our round trip in Costa Rica! The food is also of very hight quality.
And in the morning we even spotted the Quetzal during the excursion with Carlos. If you are planning to visit Costa Rica this place is definately one you should visit! "
Joris en Marieke, Holland