Together
VRBO is part of the HomeAway family, the world leader in vacation rentals with over 1 million listings. We offer the largest selection of properties for any travel occasion and every budget. We’re committed to helping families and friends find a perfect vacation rental to create unforgettable travel experiences together.
The Unicorn Lodge in the Cloud Forest of San Gerardo de Dota
| Sleeps | 5 |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Half Baths | 1 |
| Property type | house |
Overview
House, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath. Sleeps up to 6.
The Unicorn lodge is nestled among ancient oaks along side the pristine Savegre River in the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota. Our area is famous for its dense concentration of the Resplendent Quetzal which is sought after by bird watchers from all over the world. We have had breakfast on our front deck with these magnificent creatures several times. There are several high end eco-resorts in our magical valley, but we have the only fully equipped homes in the area. We have an additional villa(Dreamwater Villa) on the property as well.
The lodge has 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths, and an sleep 4-6 comfortably. The Savegre River is just off the front deck and was called 'the cleanest river in Central America' by National Geographic. We are located just 75 miles from the airport in San Jose or about a 2 hour drive
Why Ryan Huett chose Costa Rica
The valley in San Gerardo de Dota is one of Costa Rica's best kept secrets. It is one of the most pristine environments anywhere on the planet. The area is world renown for its birdwatching, but offers amazing waterfalls and ancient forests nestled into an unspoiled cloud forest at 7500 ft elevation.
Amenities
Cartago House Accommodation and Amenities
- house
- Guests provide their own meals
- Max. occupancy: 5
- pets considered
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- Mountain View
- Broadband Access ...
- Linens Provided
- Telephone
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Ice Maker
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Dining Area
- 1 Bathroom,
- 1 Half Bath
-
Bathroom 1 -
- 1.5
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5
- Double Beds (1), Twin or Single Beds (1), Sleep Sofa or Futons (1)
- DVD Player
- Television
- Video Library
- Balcony
- Deck / Patio
- cinemas
- restaurants
- boating
- horseback riding
- shopping
- sight seeing
- wildlife viewing
- basketball court
- cycling
- fishing
- hiking
- rafting
- rock climbing
- snorkeling/diving
- surfing
- swimming
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.9/5 -
(15 traveler reviews)
Beautiful spot!
We stayed here for 2 nights with our three kids after trekking through the middle of nowhere for 10 days in extremely remote places. This was the perfect ending. Unfortunately, the coordinates led us off track and we got lost for several hours because of that but, once we finally arrived, it was very relaxing! Ryan responded to my message for help right away and helped us get back on track. Within 30 minutes of our arrival, Emi helped us get dry firewood and a bottle of wine and secure our tours for the next day. We ate at many of the restaurants that were recommended and were not disappointed. We took a short quetzal bird tour where we saw several birds, a horseback ride and hike to the falls! All of these things were affordable, relatively short activities suitable for all of us. The hike to the falls was described as relatively easy, but, I would caution taking small children or stop at the first set of falls. The big fall at the end was gorgeous, but the hike was a challenge and the very end was impassable due to fallen trees. Overall a great stay!
Great location, lacked amenities
The house was very neat and in a great location. We caught lots of Rainbow Trout fly fishing in the river just off the back door (lots of little fish and a couple of monsters in the river), hiked to a couple of nearby waterfalls, and saw tons of neat birds. There were also some great restaurants within a couple of miles including Miriam's and Pizzeria Joannes Paulus run by Victor (much better than the hotel restaurants). Our group of 5 had a fantastic time. Note however that the temperature stays 50-60F with rain in the evenings, the house gets chilly, not all of the electric blankets seem to work, the small heaters don't give off much heat, and the wood for the fire place is water logged and very, very, very difficult to start (you need to bring fire starting materials if you want to have one). Also be prepared for no couch in the house and a minimum amount of kitchen supplies and amenities.
Unique and magic
Amazing location in a beautiful hidden away valley. Well equipped cabin with a fantastic location. Saw Quetzal early morning from cabin as promised. Loved our stay.
Tip: If you want to use fire place bring some dry kindling and wood. Fire wood is very damp and it took us an hour to get it going. But cabin really nice with fire.
Beautiful!
Talk about Paradise!
Paradise in the Mountains
My wife & I spent 3 nights at the Unicorn Lodge, and loved every minute of it. The location was a great respite to the hot weather along the Pacific coast (we visited the Tarcoles area prior and the Osa Peninsula after our stay at the Unicorn Lodge), with somewhat chilly nights and cool days. Great birding around the lodge and along the many trails in and around San Gerardo de Dota. A great place to relax and just "chill".
Relaxing retreat in the trees.
Unicorn is a beautiful rustic house with some stylish details. The large windows give wonderful views of the surrounding forest. WiFi worked great to communicate with family back home, etc. Enjoyed the fireplace in the evening. The local helper, Emi, is a very sweet woman. Thankfully we speak some Spanish. Only disappointment was the onsite birding compared to other places in the San Gerardo de Dota area....while we were here.
Map
Located in the pristine cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota.....this area is often called the best kept secret in all of Costa Rica. One of the few places on the planet to view the Resplendent Quetzal, San Gerardo de Dota is truly a must see on your visit to this amazing country.
San Gerardo de Dota is located off Highway 2, about 2-3 hours from San Jose and 2 hours from Dominical. Like everywhere in Costa Rica, signage is not the best; however, there is a small sign at the turnoff. It helps to keep a lookout for kilometer markers. San Gerardo de Dota is located at kilometer 80.
Once you turn off Highway 2, you’ll descend into the valley for about 15 minutes, maneuvering down several steep switchbacks before arriving at the village. Just one main road runs through town so there’s little chance of getting lost.
Leave early in the day: Driving after dark on Highway 2 is not recommended. The road is windy and steep and visibility can be very limited when it rains or the cloud cover increases.
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Pet Fee | $10 |
Owner's Cancellation Policy
You might like these similar properties
- 2 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 6
- Multiple rentals
- 1 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 1
- 1 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 2
- 12
You might like these similar properties
- 2 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 6
- Multiple rentals
- 1 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 1
- 1 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 2
- 12
Request to Book