Paraiso Quetzal Lodge — Hotel in Copey

This is a difficult review to write. The location is fabulous, and for the primary purpose of our trip, birding and photography, one of the most spectacular venues I have seen in my five trips to Costa Rica and Ecuador.||BUT ... and this is a very big but ... there are some very specific and real downsides to staying here that you need to be aware of, primarily the condition of the standard rooms, referred to as "Bungalows Clasicos" or "Casitas". They are, not not to mince words, aweful. In a nutshell, they boast ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR (at least my unit, #5 did) views of the surrounding area, but are cold, dimly lit, have a strange chemical kind of smell (insecticide?) and have highly erratic plumbing.||The little bungalows are not tiny, and mine came with an extra bed so I could lay out stuff on it, so size wasn't really an issue, especially since you will be spending very little time awake in your room if you are on an active birding itinerary. But the lack of heat other than a tiny space heater, grudging or no hot water, a bathroom so small that you cannot sit on the toilet without banging against the tiny sink, lighting that is primitive and dim even by contemporary Costa Rican standards, which already lean very much to the low-wattage LED bulbs nailed precariously to the ceiling at odd angles aesthetic, end up making it a very unpleasant place to stay.||When you first enter the room and inspect the bedding, which seemed to be clean and free of vermin, you are amused by the multiple layers of plush blankets and a quilt that weigh down the bed. By the time you realize how cold and damp the Talamanca Mountains actually can get in the Winter you are really grateful for them, particularly since the supplied heater is so small that it makes very little difference, and you are a bit cautious about leaving a flimsy electric heater running all night in a highly flammable room while you sleep so when you have to get up and use the bathroom in the middle of the night you realize that the room is REALLY cold. My brainstorm was to use the extension cord that I always pack (What, you don't? Silly you!) and prop the heater in the doorway of the bathroom so that it was toasty warm for my morning ordeal. Out of two nights, I had ample hot water for my shower one morning and only a tepid "not quite cold" supply the next. Running any water was an adventure, since the pipes were constantly passing hissing bubbles and making weird noises. Several of my traveling companions reported no hot water.||Also, note that the rooms are not serviced at all unless you request - nothing, not even collecting the bathroom trash can into which you are supposed to put used toilet paper, sweeping up the dead bugs or wiping the drips from the tiny leak in the roof.||So why do I not give it 1 or 2 stars? Location, location, location - this is one of the best places in the world to stay for bird photography and local bird watching including the iconic Resplendent Quetzal, and probably the best place in the world to get photos of the amazing Fiery-throated Hummingbird. Food was very good, staff was helpful, the restaurant, and common areas were pleasant and the gardens and landscaping were beautiful and amazingly productive for bird watching and photography. Only the rooms were awful. If I ever stay there again, I might try one of the "Bungalows Superiores" - but then again, I really don't know exactly how they differ. If they are only larger, but with the same attention to plumbing and interior comfort as the clasico units, they may not be such a hot deal.||So be aware of what you are buying. If you want to take advantage of their common areas, gardens and feeders I believe you can pay a fee somewhere around $10, and/or eat at the restaurant and stay somewhere else if you have transportation. Or just grit your teeth and suffer for your art for a couple of nights.||If I could leave a message to management it would be that I would gladly pay $10 more per night if you would make a few investments in the comfort of your rooms, which could easily change them from "small, cold and unpleasant" to "tiny,...

We scouted for a halfway spot to overnight between Costa Rica’s south Pacific beaches and San Jose, during a recent CR road trip, and it soon became clear that Paraíso Quetzal Lodge was the ideal stop. We didn’t pick this birders paradise because we’re actually bird-nerds, but because of the wonderful accommodations, lodge and grounds. Each looked invitingly comfy, cozy and delightful and its mid-way location was ideal.||We were provided one of the ‘new’ cabins close to the lodge, due to our excessive luggage. It was so nice of them to accommodate us! The rooms themselves were comfortable and inviting, with plenty of blankets and a small table-top heater to keep you warm, during the cold mountain nights. The views were standout – jaw-dropping even from the room, but the vista from our balcony of the valley below and mountains beyond, were unparalleled. With the verdant surrounds absolutely everywhere, the tropical bird spotting was at a frenetic pace. Our only beef was the shower temps could have been warmer. The space was lovely, clean and modern, it’s just that this am ritual was akin to bathing in lukewarm water, in a walk-in fridge (@max heat).||The lodge itself was the star of the show. There was a very reasonably priced restaurant with delicious food (from breakfast, through dinner) and similar awesome views. The cute little shop supplied some unique souvenir finds and the precious wee bar served up great drinks to ensure we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The centerpiece was a roaring fireplace with comfy armchairs around it to relax in, as if to solidify the experience as perfect.||We popped out with the more avid bird watchers on the hummingbird deck and were incredibly impressed with the volume and variety that we saw. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to catch sight of the Quetzal itself, but we would have had more opportunity if we had a longer stay and took a morning tour. That in no way stops us from whole-heartedly endorsing this San Gerardo de Dota lodge for your next Costa Rican stay. If a rustic, cozy accommodations vibe is your thing, this is the place for you! The amazing tropical bird watching can simply serve as a...

The main reason to come here is the Quetzals. We joined a fantastic early morning walk and saw 8 frolicing in the canopy - it was fabulous. So too is the landscaping around the gardens and hummingbird feeders that allow you to get really close to these beautiful birds. There are some amazing walks around their land. We did two and they were some of the most enjoyable we had. ||From there on it wasn't great - basic doesn't quite capture it. We really wanted to see a quetzal so were happy to stay here. But if you're not a serious bird watcher, I would say go somewhere else. It reminded me of a school camp, but not in a good way. The 'Alpine chalet' we stayed in was terrible:|- smaller than my small shed|- so dark you could barely see in the evening. There was no point in having a coffee machine - there wasn't enough light to operate it.|- cockroaches|- A bathroom door with a lethal swing because the whole thing was wonky (catching fingers, banging limbs etc - my thumb still bears the scars)|- absolutely freezing cold. There are signs asking you to turn the lights out because they have a high electricity bill. What a nerve! The lights are probably a tiny percentage of their leccy bill, whereas the electric heaters in each room (ours balanced precariously on a stool) must burn enough to power a small town. The blankets were so uncomfortable it was impossible to sleep. I have just one request to make - insulate!!!!!!!! Save your bill, save our planet and it will make your customers so much happier.||Other rooms might have been better (at least some got a verandah - we didn't) but ours was a miserable affair - so do check.||The main lodge were the food is served was ok. The food wasn't bad but service was mixed and not really a place to linger, which was a shame given the state...