El Silencio Lodge & Spa — Hotel in Toro Amarillo

This review is difficult because some things deserve a 6/5 stars, and some deserve a 1/5 stars. I’ll break down everything below.

Pros: •Incredible setting in a cloud forest along a mountain stream. This is probably the most unique and beautiful part of this lodge. •The buildings are beautiful, both the cabins/villas and the main lodge/restaurant. •Certain restaurant staff is friendly and attentive. •Birdwatching guide was so kind and friendly. Spoke with us about his experience living on the mountain! •The spa staff is incredibly gentle and kind. Expect relaxing treatments. The couples room is PHENOMENALLY beautiful!

Cons: • Overall service is lacking. I would say it’s maybe a 2-star level of service? We had a terrible experience surrounding planning g our spa treatments. I’ll tell the story later. Front desk didn’t even apologize for this mistake. Rather tried the “look over there” approach, and other belittling tactics. • Restaurant service at a 5-star hotel should probably mimic French-style service. Don’t pick up plates until everyone is done. Don’t pick up the check until the guests leave (and then look at the tip as you walk away). Everything felt EXTREMELY rushed at all times (except when we were in a hurry. Haha). Allergies should be remembered and associated with each hotel room so if it’s a new person helping out, they’re already made aware of your allergies BEFORE they even get to the table. • Restaurant food quality: poor to medium. Ceviche, the salad, and the bland coconut chicken, were the best things I had. Basically New York City prices for very bland and not interesting food. Seafood was often over-cooked. No pico and hot sauce could make most of these dishes interesting.

I should start by saying, if you’re planning to stay here, plan all of your on-site experiences WELL in advance. (For the highlight of this place being the spa, they have a very limited number of appointments.) And then call and confirm them MULTIPLE times, ask for those confirmations in writing/email from the General Manager, and then call before you arrive to confirm one last time.

Discussing something and saying you’re interested in doing something, and then having them confirm it doesn’t seem to be enough. You need to make sure they’ve confirmed the staff member will be available and has been informed that you will be doing the activity (even if it’s paid!).

The spa story: Prior to arriving, I called to schedule two couples massages. The person on the phone seemed friendly the whole time, but even though I selected the spa option on the main switchboard, they clearly were not familiar with the spa treatments. (And later we’ll find out how to schedule spa appointments) It started a bit rough. We scheduled the perfect times for treatments, quickly realizing it was on the wrong days (or maybe week?). Mistakes happen! I no big deal. He went to the correct dates and communicated times that were available. The first day, we weren’t able to get our treatment together, but rather back to back. But the second day we were able to get our couples massage so I was happy! We talked through the brochure together and I picked out each of the different treatments my partner and I wanted. The call ended with the gentleman reading back each of the confirmed times, and each treatment we chose (all different ones) for our massages, with me confirming the dates and times ONE MORE TIME because of how the call started. Well. Cut to arriving at the lodge and the front desk person saying “It doesn’t look like y oh have any experiences booked.” “I said no, we didn’t book any experiences, only massages so far!” It turns out, the spa experiences were also not in their system and now there were VERY limited options left in the middle of the day, which didn’t allow much time for us to do off-site excursions in the morning or afternoon. (Why these times were available) When a simple apology was in order, we received an unending runaround of “look at the schedule,” (which was basically a manual Excel sheet), “there are no times left.” (To...

Our stay at El Silencio Lodge & Spa was simply unforgettable. From the moment we arrived in Costa Rica, the warmth of the staff and the beauty of the cloud forest surrounded us in the best possible way.||We were greeted at the airport by Bryam, our friendly driver, who welcomed us with a smile and took us to a fantastic local restaurant when he heard we were hungry the perfect start to our journey. When we arrived at the lodge, the front desk greeted us with genuine smiles and a refreshing drink called “agua de sapo” a cold local tea that immediately made us feel at home.||The El Silencio team made our stay feel like a dream:| • Julio & Vladimir, our bellmen, went well beyond our expectations — always gracious, proactive, and truly kind. Every arrival and departure felt seamless and cared for.| • Robert (Executive Chef) and Manuel (Sous Chef) created gourmet dishes every day at Las Ventanas.| • Manuel also led our private cooking experience and took it to the next level of culinary artistry he brought the flavors of Peru and the sea into the jungle, a tall order that he pulled off magistrally!| • Ronald, our tour guide, brought the natural surroundings to life with passion and insight.| • Nicolas at the front desk was always helpful and attentive.| • Johnny at the stables gave us an enjoyable and memorable horseback ride.| • Kenneth and Adres made us feel safe and relaxed during the zipline — professional and reassuring the entire time.| • Estefano at the bakery was an absolute sweetheart — warm, friendly, and attentive to every detail.| • Fabian should officially be recognized as the Best Host Ever — his level of care, grace, and hospitality truly made our stay unforgettable.| • Special thanks to Victoria, our El Silencio planner, who helped organize every detail with ease and care.||🏡 Our Villa: Comfort, Cleanliness & Thoughtful Touches||Our three-bedroom villa was absolutely amazing. It was always spotless, the beds were extremely comfortable, and the outdoor heated jacuzzi was kept pristine they even changed the water every single day, which was a detail we truly appreciated.||Every time we returned to the villa, a small treat awaited us like rich chocolates or freshly baked banana bread. Honestly, it felt like they were watching for us to leave so they could sneak in and surprise us! That level of attentiveness made us feel incredibly cared for.||Housekeeping was flawless, and anything we needed was brought quickly and with a smile.||💆‍♀️ Spa & Wellness||The spa was a highlight Savanah gave a deeply relaxing and professional treatment in one of the most tranquil settings we’ve ever experienced. Yoga with Karla was equally peaceful she was patient, clear, and helped us follow along with ease. It was the perfect way to connect with the surroundings and start the day.||🍽️ Dining & Atmosphere||Meals at Las Ventanas were exquisite fresh, locally inspired, and beautifully presented. The setting was elegant yet cozy, and every meal felt like a curated experience.||🌲 Nature & Adventure||We explored waterfalls, enjoyed scenic horseback rides, and took in adrenaline-filled ziplines all surrounded by breathtaking cloud forest scenery. Even quiet evenings by the fire pit with a glass of wine felt magical and grounding.||Final Thoughts:|El Silencio Lodge & Spa isn’t just a resort it’s a sanctuary. A place where peace, nature, and hospitality meet in the most beautiful way. We left feeling refreshed, cared for, and already dreaming about when we can return. One of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had highly, highly...

Our stay at El Silencio Lodge & Spa was simply unforgettable. From the moment we arrived in Costa Rica, the warmth of the staff and the beauty of the cloud forest surrounded us in the best possible way.

We were greeted at the airport by Bryam, our friendly driver, who welcomed us with a smile and took us to a fantastic local restaurant when he heard we were hungry the perfect start to our journey. When we arrived at the lodge, the front desk greeted us with genuine smiles and a refreshing drink called “agua de sapo” a cold local tea that immediately made us feel at home.

The El Silencio team made our stay feel like a dream: • Julio & Vladimir, our bellmen, went well beyond our expectations — always gracious, proactive, and truly kind. Every arrival and departure felt seamless and cared for. • Robert (Executive Chef) and Manuel (Sous Chef) created gourmet dishes every day at Las Ventanas. • Manuel also led our private cooking experience and took it to the next level of culinary artistry he brought the flavors of Peru and the sea into the jungle, a tall order that he pulled off magistrally! • Ronald, our tour guide, brought the natural surroundings to life with passion and insight. • Nicolas at the front desk was always helpful and attentive. • Johnny at the stables gave us an enjoyable and memorable horseback ride. • Kenneth and Adres made us feel safe and relaxed during the zipline — professional and reassuring the entire time. • Estefano at the bakery was an absolute sweetheart — warm, friendly, and attentive to every detail. • Fabian should officially be recognized as the Best Host Ever — his level of care, grace, and hospitality truly made our stay unforgettable. • Special thanks to Victoria, our El Silencio planner, who helped organize every detail with ease and care.

🏡 Our Villa: Comfort, Cleanliness & Thoughtful Touches

Our three-bedroom villa was absolutely amazing. It was always spotless, the beds were extremely comfortable, and the outdoor heated jacuzzi was kept pristine they even changed the water every single day, which was a detail we truly appreciated.

Every time we returned to the villa, a small treat awaited us like rich chocolates or freshly baked banana bread. Honestly, it felt like they were watching for us to leave so they could sneak in and surprise us! That level of attentiveness made us feel incredibly cared for.

Housekeeping was flawless, and anything we needed was brought quickly and with a smile.

💆‍♀️ Spa & Wellness

The spa was a highlight Savanah gave a deeply relaxing and professional treatment in one of the most tranquil settings we’ve ever experienced. Yoga with Karla was equally peaceful she was patient, clear, and helped us follow along with ease. It was the perfect way to connect with the surroundings and start the day.

🍽️ Dining & Atmosphere

Meals at Las Ventanas were exquisite fresh, locally inspired, and beautifully presented. The setting was elegant yet cozy, and every meal felt like a curated experience.

🌲 Nature & Adventure

We explored waterfalls, enjoyed scenic horseback rides, and took in adrenaline-filled ziplines all surrounded by breathtaking cloud forest scenery. Even quiet evenings by the fire pit with a glass of wine felt magical and grounding.

Final Thoughts: El Silencio Lodge & Spa isn’t just a resort it’s a sanctuary. A place where peace, nature, and hospitality meet in the most beautiful way. We left feeling refreshed, cared for, and already dreaming about when we can return. One of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had highly, highly...