Costa Rica San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica Lodge, Hotels San Gerardo de Dota, Lodge San Gerardo de Dota, Restaurant San Gerardo de Dota, Activities San Gerardo de Dota

These eight luxurious bungalows are located in the heart of the Los Santos Forest Reserve, some 80 km from the capital San José towards Southern Costa Rica.

The small village of San Gerardo de Dota is only a few kilometers away. 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 at an altitude of 2600 meters. The primary forest with century old oak trees is less than a minute’s walk away.

Click here to see the location map
(high resolution map / could take a few minutes)

Getting there

Public transport

Every hour there are also buses leaving from the Musoc Terminal both in San José and San Isidro (it's their only route). You can ask the driver to drop you at Kilometer 80, 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 US$ per ride). Otherwise it is an hour's walk (about 4 kilometers) downhill to the lodge.

By car

From San José take the highway to Cartago. Just a few kilometers before reaching Cartago there is a sign: San Isidro and Paso Canoas. Here you must not follow the highway into the center but turn right. You are now on the Pan-American Highway, Route 2. After about 30 kilometers you reach the last gasoline station at El Empalme, another 30 kilometers and turn right at Kilometer 80 to San Gerardo de Dota. The altitude is 3.100 meters and you take the dirt road (partly asphalted) for 4 kilometers downhill until you see the lodges 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, rising almost 3.000 meters into the paramó vegetation to pass the second highest top, the Cerro the la Muerte (3489 m), at an altitude of 3.400 meters. It's the highest road in the country. Some 50 kilometers from San Isidro, descending, you will find the left-turn to San Gerardo de Dota at Kilometer 80.

Taxis

From San José an one way trip will cost around 90,- $, from San Isidro 45,- $. Make sure you explain clearly that you want to go to San Gerardo de DOTA to avoid that the taxi leaves you at San Gerardo de Rivas, another well known destination near San Isidro.

English-Español-Deutsch-Frances-Nederlands

“Definitely the slickest place in San Gerardo, if not the whole southern sector. Three beautiful, upscale cabins have two bedrooms, each with private bathroom, a full kitchen and a Jacuzzi. The walls are graced with artwork from the owner´s native Colombia, some of which you can buy in the on-site gallery, while modern furniture and stone and hardwood floors provide a contemporary contrast. The kicker, though, is the wall of windows, with an extraordinary vista over the cloud forest.
A romantic breakfast is served on your private terrace.” Lonely Planet, 2007 Edition

“We got home this afternoon after just one short night at Dantica Lodge. We just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you one more time how wonderful your lodge is. Wonderful rooms, clean, modern and cozy, all at the same time. The view from our house was spectacular, it was like waking up right in the cloud forest. We loved the feather duvets that made sure we wouldn't freeze at night. Your breakfast was just another highlight of our stay there. We spent endless time in your Gallery, wishing we could buy everything! You have created a very precious place that invites people to step into a different world. We have traveled extensively during our 4 years in Costa Rica, but, it has to be said: Dantica Lodge was definitely one of the very best places we have stayed at.” Nick Manring, US Embassy Costa Rica, April 28th 2007

“Thank you for a truly exquisite experience! We loved watching the clouds roll across the hills and trees, the hike to the river (providing our exercise of the day!) and the lovely accommodations. The Jacuzzi tub was perfect for our chilly night. We hope we were able to capture the incredible view in our photos but, if not, we will always remember that breath-taking feeling we had walking in the door. Thank you. Janet, Joe, Catherine and Anna Bisignano. Seattle, USA. July 14th 2007

“The most spectacular view from any hotel window I’ve seen! Warm hospitality, excellent food and beautiful accommodations. Many, many thanks.” Fisher-Weitzenkorns. October 9th 2007

“The perfect place to rest, to be in contact with nature, to think and relax. An excellent place to leave the daily problems behind. Great views, great place, great people. We received the year 2006 here and we will never forget it. Thank you and happy new year.”José, Joanne, Beto and Mariana. January 1st 2008

“Save the best till last. We certainly did. Dantica Lodge is the best accommodation you will find in Costa Rica. We loved the design, the furnishings and the attention to detail. The views were rivaled only by those we had at Arenal and were much more peaceful! Breakfasts were superb.

The quetzals behaved themselves and were most predictable. They appeared in the right tree at the right time both morning and afternoon and gave us a wonderful display of great photos. Good luck to Dantica. You deserve to be successful.”

Carl & Jenny Perry. Guildford, Surrey, England. March 11th 2007

“Wow!! Costa Rica has so much to offer and I must say the Dantica Lodge and surrounding area is by far one of the finest places I have visited in this beautiful country. I shall return here and take in the awesome beauty of the lodge and countryside!! What a beautiful place!!!”Dave Farrow. Phoenix, Arizona. March 23th 2007

“Gracias por construir este lugar de ensueño en el paraiso, y por encima de los nubes! Ha sido la mejor despedida que podíamos tener de Costa Rica. Sigan gozando de su terrenito por mucho tiempo. Espero poder volver pronto y ver quetzals como Dios manda. En fin que nos ha encantado. Con cariño.” Carmen. Junio 16 de 2007

“Estuvimos totalmente en shock y desmayados cuando nos encontramos frente a una vista espléndida por las ventanas enormes de la sala. Pasamos una noche maravillosa, tan increíblemente tranquila y tan dentro de la naturaleza. Les agradecemos mucho por la atención, la amabilidad con que nos han tratado.” Miguel. Suiza. Abril 8 de 2007

“Wir wollten so viel wie möglich von Costa Rica sehen, aber am Ende unserer Reise sehnten wir nur noch etwas Ruhe. Wir traten durh diese Tür und die Hektik der letzten Tage fiel von uns ab. Wir nutzten die Jacuzzi auch zum baden und schliefen mit einem Blick auf einem wonderbaren Sternenhimmel ein. Das Frühstück auf der Terrasse bei strahlenden Sonnenschein und wunderbaren Fernblick war fantastisch.” Eva & Horst-Dieter Bias. 30 November 2007

“Vielen dank für zwei wonderschöne Tage in der einmalig gelegen Lodge, ein echter Höhepunkt nach vier Wochen durch Zentralamerika. Von Quetzal bis zum Regenbogen, von guten Service bis zum besonders schönen Kunsthandwerk, alles hat gepasst. Wir können das allen nur weiterempfehlen, sei es in der Schweiz oder in Baden. Muchas gracias y hasta luego!” Christal & Bernhard Böckenförde. Freiburg, Deutschland.Ursula & Rudi Fackler. Muttenz, Schweiz. 14 Februar 2006

“Abseits der Touristenströme ist es immer am schönsten! Wir waren überrascht und sehr erfreut über die tolle Lage, die fantastische Aussicht und die persönliche Gastfreundschaft. Wenn wir noch einmal kommen, bleiben wir länger. Wir werden Dantica lodge allen empfehlen. Ganz herzlichen Dank!” Ulride und Heidelies Kunze. Deutschland. 4 März 2007

“Eine wunderschöne Lodge in traumhafter Lage, erholsame Stille und angenehme Kühle. Wir haben uns hier zwei Tage erholt und sagen ein ganz herzliches Dankeschön für die Gastfreundschaft. Die Dantica lodge kann und muss man weiterempfehlen.” Marion & Robert. München, Germany. 26 März 2007

“A peine arrivés à Costa Rica, apres lámbiguité de la ville de San José, nous avons trouvé ici un endroit enchanteux. Que demandez de plus? Le mobilier du logis est d’un goût des plus fins et grace aux grandes voies l’ou se croît au milieu de la nature avec un paysage splendide de la vallée. Nous avons fait usage de Jacuzzi et sommes au septième ciel. Il va être difficile d’égaler un séjour aussi plaisant. Nous donnerais cette bonne adresse à tous nos amis. Continuer comme ça.” Nicole et Franz. Suisse. 13 Mars 2007

“Le décor est fantastique. Tout à été conçu pour en profiler au maximum. Cést charmant et très fonctionnel. La gentillesse et la qualité sont également au rendez-vous. A surtout ne pas manquez. A conseiller absolutement. Un grand merci.”
Maryline, Laurent, Kevin. Paris, France. 17 Avril 2006

“Un habitat confortable, agreeable dans un décor grandiose et un accueil fort sympathique, cést une trés bonne adresse. On l’a refilera… Bravo et merci.” Y-François et Monique. Auxerre, France. 21 Avril 2007

“Dit is fantastich. Bedankt dat we van dit prachtig gelegen huisje hebben mogen gebruik maken! De ligging, het uitzicht, de rust… gewoonweg fantastisch. We hebben hier twee dagen genoten met de grote G. Hartelijk dank! Groetjes.” Dirk & Karen. België. 21 Januari 2007

“Een kleine oase van rust, vrede en comfort, alles in balans.Na een koude ochtend vanwege de quetzal heerlijk opgewarmd op een zonovergoren terras aan het ontbijt – een superieure lokatie. En wat een mooie galerie! Het allerbeste gewenst met z’n viertjes op dit geheime plekje!” Margot & Lambert. San José, Sta. Ana, Costa Rica. 25 Maart 2006

“Ondanks de regen op de dag van aankomst, was het uitzicht betoverend! Het wakker worden met de opkomende zon en blauwe hemel was nog mooier. Dit is zeker één van de mooiste locaties waar we geweest zijn. Slechts één nacht verbleven en toch helemaal tot rust gekomen! Veel succes.” Erik & Martijn. Huizen / Amsterdam, Holland. 3 April 2007