Mirador Cristo Rey Jardín — Restaurant in La Selva

I really enjoy this place for a few reasons. First of all, they offer a couple delicious vegan alternatives in their menu; the roasted sweet plantain with guacamole, mushrooms, caramelized onions and other yummy toppings is my absolute favorite and as much as I'm all for veggie options, I've been there with non-vegan friends who have greatly complemented their meat dishes. Also their natural juices are loaded with fruit and flavor, unlike other places that water them down. The service is great, everyone is friendly and quite accommodating. The atmosphere is fabulous and the view of Jardín is simply amazing. If you're looking for a good place to eat or if you just want to spend the afternoon in a cool spot in the mountains of Jardín, this is definitely a wonderful...

Let’s face it, the big attraction for this place are the spectacular views. We ordered appetizers only with drinks. The food was ok but not great. Service was slow probably because it was busy at the time. I did not get enough sauce for the empanadas and had to ask for more. The views can not be beat and I recommend visiting. Total bill with two appetizers, three beers and cocktail was 60,000cop before tip. One thing you should know is that this trip to top of the mountain requires a taxi if you do not have a car. And the road is extremely rough and bouncy. I thought my kidneys would explode. If you take one of the moto cars, the driver waits for you at the restaurant while you eat. Cost of the moto car was 40,000 cop round...

The Cristo Rey statue is an iconic landmark overlooking Jardín - you can see it from town. There is also a cafe (hours unknown) with patio and gardens.

There are several ways to reach the Cristo Rey statue and viewpoint. You’ll notice a gondola system going up the hill, however, at the moment, it is not in operation. Instead, you can take a walking trail or follow unpaved roads to reach the summit.

We took the walking trail that starts from Calle 11, on the North side of town. This way is less than a mile up and takes no more than 45 minutes one way.

We've mapped out some self-guided hiking paths in more detail on our blog - just search for "Intentional Travelers...