"Superb hotel ideally located in the middle of the San Gerardo de Dota Valley and still managed by the descendants of the pioneers who "discovered" the valley in the 1950s. We chose this hotel for its proximity to Los Quetzales National Park. Finally, we stayed in the superb San Gerardo de Dota Valley which is home to quetzals all year round thanks to the presence of Guatemalan avocado trees - whose fruits they feed on. The hotel grounds include a garden designed for the many hummingbirds, various hiking trails, some of which are particularly popular with ornithologists, as well as a viewpoint offering a superb panorama of the valley. We went on a quetzal observation outing (among others) with Raul Fernandez Chacon (Whatsapp +***********), grandson of the pioneers who settled in the valley; to be booked directly or through the hotel. Spa equipped with jacuzzis and an impeccable sauna and restaurant."

"We stayed at the Lodge for 2 nights. It is a birder paradise with many trails and beautiful gardens where many special species live. The food was well priced and delicious and the reataurant has a nice lounge area where you can chat to other travellers. The bungalow was lovely though do bring warm clothing! We did the quetzal tour at 5.30am. The guides worked very hard and got us some excellent sights and made sure we had souvenir photos"

"We returned with friends after visiting Suria Hotel two years ago and vowing we would go back. We were less impressed this time. The gardens were beautiful, but the area where the little hummingbirds were are now closed off and the hotel now charges an extra 10 dollars per person per stay to enter, which was a real shame. We visited another garden close by and we thrilled by what we saw there. Rooms were clean and comfortable but unfortunately there was no WiFi in our rooms, only in the main building area. It’s very cold at night and there are little electric potable heaters in the rooms. The breakfast was well prepared but quite economical- a choice of three items, traditional Costa Rican (with rice and beans) or “Continental” ( a piece of very well cooked bacon, two eggs, a small piece of toast, a spoonful of jam and three slices each of watermelon,papaya and pineapple) or pancakes (two American style pancakes with a spoonful of watery syrup, afew slices of banana and a strawberry) The pancakes were very dry to eat. There was no other items such as juice, toast, cereal, pastries or fruit juice. As we checked out after our stay, we were not warned about the only road being closed for two hours just after we left, which meant a two hour hold up for us in the hot sun."

"Fantastic place, don’t hesitate, just book it. You’ll have zero regrets. Great atmosphere, food, trails, flowers, the cabins, all of it. Definitely going back."

"Bungalows with an incredible location in the cloud forest. Floor-to-ceiling windows across the entire width with an amazing view. Hummingbirds fly to the balcony, a cozy carpenter in the evening - what more could you want? Great atmosphere in the adjoining restaurant with piano music at breakfast, a delight. A wonderful experience all around!"

"Great food, views and staff. 100% recommend. Comfortable room with double beds."

"I came to this region along with my husband, brother and sister-in-law primarily to go birding. El Toucanet Lodge was the perfect base for our activities. It is located in the Copey de Dota region surrounded by the mountains of the Los Santos Forest Reserve region of Costa Rica. The scenery is spectacular. It is not a very touristy area. The lodge is in a beautiful location with separate guest rooms tucked into the landscape, providing lots of privacy for each guest. Waking up in the morning and looking out over the spectacular landscape was my favorite thing. The restaurant on the grounds provides a delicious breakfast while you look at hummingbirds and other wildlife. We had dinner most nights there as well. The food was terrific, and portions were generous. Be sure to try the avocado ice cream! It was so good. A short walk up the hill from the lodge, and you can see the majestic and colorful Quetzal and other amazing birds. Our room was very comfortable with a king-sized bed, small kitchen area and great views. Miguel greeted us, arranged anything we needed. He is a terrific host and person."