Hotel Cacao Río Celeste

Had a great stay at Hotel Cacao. The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms were very clean. The breakfast was delicious and included homemade tortillas, fresh fruit, and rice and beans prepared by Lorena and Grace. The outside of the hotel has beautiful plants and flowers. We took a nature tour with Johnny who was very good at spotting sloths, frogs, birds, and other animals. The hotel is in a great location between Tenorio Volcano National Park and Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park. I would definitely stay here again!

When arrived Johnny welcomed us very friendly and showed us around. Very large room with good a/c, a great shower and nice chairs on the balcony with view on the garden and mountains. Kitchen/breakfast outside/covered area surrounded by trees with flowers and many type of birds visiting. Fridge can be used for own drinks, which can be bought in the various supermarkets in the Main Street on walking distance. Johnny is a real expert (he loves showing you) in spotting birds/sloths and frogs. The latter ones in the garden pond could be seen early evening with some flashlight support. Breakfast is in the lovely cosy kitchen area and prepared by 2 friendly ladies. The typical Costa Ricain breakfast, with fresh watermelon juice, fresh melon, pineapple and again watermelon fruit and home made strawberry jam on nice self baked bread. All in a very relaxed atmosphere. Special tours can be arranged by Johnny. Tapir -, Sloths -, Hummingbirds - or other birds tour. All is possible. Many nice restaurants on walking distance. Try Cafe Semilla for a coffee or a lunch and La Terrazzo for a nice dinner. We loved hotel Cacao in Bijaguas and it’s people.

There was a musty smell in the room

Such a lovely place! Very unassuming remarkable staff! The manager Johnny is so kind and attentive and helpful. He arranged taxis and tours for us. The breakfast included with the room is homemade By a wonderful cook Loraina. She is wonderful and accommodating. She fixed us handmade tortillas and switched to making corn at our request. I don’t know why this places isn’t booked to capacity . Like all of Biaqua it is quiet and lovely full of surprise gems if you take the time.

We stayed here for one night in February 2020 (pre-Covid). There were tiny flying bugs in our room but I assume that’s to be expected for the area. This hotel was very affordable and apparently included a great home cooked breakfast but we had to leave too early for our hike to Rio Celeste to enjoy it. All in all, it was nice enough for a stopover, and as close to Rio Celeste as we thought we could get (I wish we had stayed right next to Rio Celeste at the Hideaway but it’s definitely pricier and we would’ve missed out on our amazing meal at Pizzeria el Barrigon in downtown Bijagua).