Peace Lodge — Hotel in Varablanca

🌿✨ Peace Lodge – A Cloud Forest Paradise ✨🌿||||Our stay at the Peace Lodge in Costa Rica was nothing short of extraordinary. Where else can you walk into your bathroom and find your very own private waterfall? The design blends pure luxury with the magic of nature, and it truly takes your breath away.||||One of the most unforgettable highlights was enjoying a personal hummingbird show right on our deck—these little jewels of the forest hovered just a few feet away as we sat with coffee in hand, taking in the unmatched views of the cloud forest. The scenery alone is worth the trip, but the lodge makes sure every detail adds to the wonder.||||We also loved the bonus of having the wildlife sanctuary right on-site—it’s not every day you get to see sloths, jaguars, and toucans up close. It was an incredible way to experience Costa Rica’s biodiversity in such an intimate setting, and it made our stay feel even more magical.||||We had the unique opportunity to catch our own trout, and the restaurant transformed it into a mouthwatering meal—easily one of the most delicious and freshest dishes we’ve had. The dining experience is made even more special by Daniel, the fantastic maître d’, whose warmth and charm set the tone for an evening in what feels like a magical setting. The entire staff—Freddie, Robin, Alejandro, and Daniel—were incredibly helpful and hospitable, making us feel like cherished guests rather than just visitors.||||We visited during the green season, and it was perfect. Yes, there were a few rain showers, but they were quick, refreshing, and left everything even more vibrant. The flowers were in full bloom, the forest was alive, and the air felt cleansing. Plus, the added bonus—no crowds, no competing for space at the pool, and very reasonable prices compared to the high season. If you crave peace, privacy, and immersion in nature, this is the time to go.||||A few considerations: the resort sits high in the hills of the cloud forest, so there are steps throughout the property. It adds to the adventure and the views, but it’s worth noting. Also, while the brand-new 5-star experiential spa is under construction, they currently offer spa services in a temporary space—still a lovely option if you want to relax even further.||||Overall, the Peace Lodge is a dream destination that blends nature, comfort, and authenticity. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls in your bathroom, watching hummingbirds from your deck, meeting sloths and toucans, or savoring fresh-caught trout, this is a place you’ll never...

We just returned from a 4 day stay at the Peace Lodge, and it was absolutely amazing. From the beautifully appointed rooms, to the stellar service by staff, and the gorgeous scenery of the nature and wildlife at your fingertips makes this place an absolute must see visit.||Being a bird lover and an amateur bird watcher, the Peace Lodge offered you the opportunity to see birds close up, whether you were having your breakfast buffet (the birds joined for snacks) or being able to hand feed hummingbirds. Having hummingbirds fly around you and land on you was an incredible experience. They have a birdwatching tour on site, and we would highly recommend booking Michael Jimenez for this encounter. He has been working for the Peace Lodge for over 20 years, and his knowledge of birds and other wildlife is amazing. ||We had excellent service from every staff member we encountered. Shout out to Pablo Sevilla and John Jimenez for their nature tours as well as Daniel Villanea and Byron Arce, two of the many wait staff at the four restaurants on site at the property.||Not renting a car wasn’t a problem, as the Peace Lodge arranged transportation to and from the airport for us, as well as having many excursions from the property itself. Besides the birdwatching tour, there are tours of the entire property, including visiting the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, their animal sanctuary tours, a nighttime frog tour, trout fishing on site, milking a cow, and animal feeding tours, which included feeding toucans, sloths, and hummingbirds. We also got to visit the Poas Volcano and the Doka Coffee Plantation.||If you are contemplating going to Costa Rica and you want an absolutely unique experience, the Peace Lodge is the way to go. You will not be disappointed.||P.S. This property is in the mountains in a rainforest/cloud forest and there are many steps (many uneven) which need to be navigated getting from place to place. We managed and the property has golf carts to pick you up if needed, but just wanted others...

Stayed for a few nights...and it was enough to be able to see all the grounds and hike the available trails. We stayed pretty busy all day and did not get bored. Grounds are beautifully kept and staff was super pleasant. It is off the beaten path but that is part of the charm. All the animals on site were rescue/rehab. It would be nice to have staff in place to keep some of the younger guests from teasing the animals. Both restaurants were very nice. We stayed away from the buffet as it was mainly day trippers with children. We fished and caught our own trout for dinner, but sadly the bar there was closed. The room- 2 queen beds- was stunning. Fireplace was light when we came in. View was lovely. Hot tub on the balcony ( and in the bathroom) was great! There was a little weirdness with adjusting the water temp in the waterfall shower and the bidet. Ice in frig and coffee was nice. Snacks were in place and good variety. Bedding and towels were high quality. I was a little overwhelmed by the weighted blanket and needed to remove it at night. Be mindful there is no air conditioning. However, we kept the screen door shut and opened the sliding door. We were given a night tour of the frog area and that was really cool. Also, the staff in the snake area had oodles of information and he went out of his way to talk to me even though it was busy. You could tell he loved working with them. We visited two gift shops. The one at the top was very busy but the one near the waterfalls was empty when we came in. The young women working there was lovely and took her time showing us things. There was also the two bartenders near the buffet that were really nice. The lady that was there was amazing....and we had a moment with a Coati that was walking the rafters looking at the food. She was beyond sweet. We did not do any outside tours, so I cannot speak to those. They were also able to arrange a driver to San Jose. Magical area and...