Finca Aquarius — Hotel in Monteverde

My husband and I recently stayed at Fincas Aquarius for two nights while exploring Monteverde, as we wanted to be away from the hustle and bustle.

The location is a little difficult to get to without a good car, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. Fincas Aquarius is nestled in a beautiful valley, with wide-sweeping views all the way down to the ocean. It’s honestly breathtakingly beautiful.

Once we arrived, we were greeted by our host, the incredibly welcoming Jan. He made us feel super welcome, and honestly was such an amazing host. Nothing was too much trouble, even to the point where he rescued us when our car got stuck up a rather tricky hill nearby (tip - get a four-wheel-drive car!)

Our room was incredible, featuring a sleek and modern design, a beautifully comfortable bed, and possibly one of the biggest bathrooms I’ve seen. The room was very spacious, but the main highlight was the balcony, showing off that million-dollar view.

We ate with Jan on both nights, as we didn’t fancy driving into Monteverde after dark. He was a fantastic cook, and it was lovely that he opens his kitchen to guests. The food was great, and he uses a lot of ingredients he grows on-site.

Locally, there are lots of things to do. We had a great time at The Original Canopy Tour, Finca Ecologica San Luis which is just down the road, and El Cafetal Coffee Tour which was fantastic.

Overall, we had an incredible time staying at Fincas Aquarius. The entire experience was fantastic, and Jan was a delightful host. If you’re planning a trip to the area, it’s definitely worth...

I would call Finca Aquarius magical if doing so didn't discount the amount of effort, care, thought, and love that Jan and his family have so clearly put into this property. It is breathtakingly beautiful (I literally gasped when we walked inside and saw the view from the large porch) and the interior of the unit is spacious, comfortable, and modern. The location is also close enough to the main Monteverde/Santa Elena area to get to town for activities, but remote enough that you feel peacefully removed from any touristy hustle and bustle. The roads are not paved (typical of the area I think) but it is very doable if you take your time (and have a higher clearance vehicle, probably). Jan himself is an incredible host AND an incredible cook. Booking this stay was the best choice I made on our trip to Costa Rica and I left feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to come back asap—I highly recommend...

Our only complaint is that we did not book a longer stay…

Seriously, Jan’s beautiful paradise of a property was hands down the most enjoyable place we’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Upon arrival, you are immediately greeted with incredible hospitality (and six adorable dogs). The rooms are sleek, modern, and comfortable, and no picture can do the views justice. The sunsets are to die for.

Jan, the host, has carved out his own slice of life — he grows almost everything himself, and what he cannot, he sources locally. His generosity is legendary, and he is truly bent on helping others, whether it be as simple as providing a local recommendation or sharing intimate knowledge about his life and journey.

Whether you are seeking rejuvenation, a reset, or just a place to stay, Finca Aquarius should be your choice.

And bring a...