A little bit about
staying here..
Tree Houses Hotel offers 7 private treehouses surrounded by a 70-acre wildlife refuge with waterfall and dipping pools. Explore the land on your own or accompanied by their sweet German Shepard that joined me on my solo walks through the rainforest.
LIVING MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS
staying in a treehouse
As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, I dreamt of having a treehouse. Unfortunately, the concrete jungle, otherwise known as New York, temporarily put a damper on my dream of climbing a rickety ladder to my oasis among the trees.
that was until...
I stumbled upon a magazine article of the coolest accommodations around the world, one of which was a treehouse.
Since I had wanted to visit Costa Rica for a while, I googled treehouses in Costa Rica and found the perfect one nestled in the rainforest. This led to an adventure-packed two weeks of exploring the country.
tree house
toucanloft
toucan loft
The Toucan Loft treehouse has two levels. On the main level, there is a double bed and in the loft which is accessed by a ladder, there is one twin bed and one small bed appropriate for small children ages 7 and under.
The deck on the Toucan is perfect to relax and enjoy the beauty of the jungle and there’s also a bird feeder perfectly positioned for bird watching.
The private treehouses do not offer Wifi so it’s the perfect place to disconnect from the outside world and truly embrace nature. If it’s important for you to stay connected for work or family, be sure to arrive with a suitable phone plan.
Treehouse amenities
2 level tree house
1 double bed
loft with 1 twin bed
in/outdoor shower
mini fridge
PRIVATE BALCONY
air conditioning
home cooked food
The daily breakfast (included with accommodations) is locally sourced and includes dishes like rice, eggs, tortillas, plantains, potato balls, and coffee, to French toast sticks with fruit drizzle, fresh fruit, and freshly squeezed juice.
Coffee Delivery
Each morning before you wake, a thermos of freshly brewed coffee is delivered to your treehouse and left on the table on your deck, which is a treat!
There’s nothing like hanging out on the deck of your private treehouse, sipping a cup of fresh brew, listening to the wildlife, and enjoying the beauty of the jungle.
Daily Breakfast
After finishing my coffee on my deck each morning, I joined the other guests at the dining area for breakfast which was delicious and the highlight of my visit.
Nightly Nature Walks
Each evening the hotel offers a night walk with their resident guide. On the evening I joined, I was the only guest and had the guide’s undivided attention which meant I was able to get up close and personal with the wildlife. It was during this nature walk that I held my first frog but it was certainly not my last.
The following week, I watched a lizard crawl the walls of my Caribbean bungalow while sitting safely in my mosquito net-covered bed. I also caught and released a frog that I found hopping around my shower. Yep, just call me the next Crocodile Dundee.
One with nature...
After a long day of walking trails, my tree house’s indoor/outdoor shower with screened windows was the perfect way to unwind.
Location
where the hotel is located and how to get around
If you’re visiting this region of Costa Rica, then you’re probably wanting to visit Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall both of which I highly recommend. The Tree Houses Hotel is located about 20 minutes by car and 30-35 minutes by bus from the main town of La Fortuna where these attractions are located.
When traveling, I typically stay in town close to activities, and although this hotel is located further out, the reviews for the treehouse convinced me that the daily commute was worth it.
When you have the one-of-a-kind experience of staying in a treehouse, you forfeit proximity to excursions but gain ultimate privacy in nature. I would also have to agree with the reviews that the experience was worth the commute.
transportation
If you choose to get a rental car, free guest parking is included with your stay, otherwise, there are two options to get from the Treehouses Hotel to the main town of La Fortuna.
- Taxi: $40-$50/each way (public transportation in Costa Rica is limited so taxis can be expensive)
- Bus: 1,500 colones (about $3.00) each way
I chose to use public transportation since taking a taxi to and from town each day would have added up quickly.
The Tree Houses Hotel informed me that the bus stop is located 100 meters from the front gate of the property and arrives hourly, however, I was surprised to see it wasn’t a typical “bus stop”.
There was no area marked with a sign. Instead, passengers stand in the general vicinity of where the bus stops. It’s practically guesswork which meant I ended up standing alone on the side of the road, partly in a ditch, waving down a bus as it drove towards me. Remember ladies, and gentlemen, you’re in the rainforest now.
Activities
waterfall, volcano, hot Springs, and dinner
I booked a half-day excursion with Juan Carlos through the hotel which included an afternoon of hiking around the active side of Arenal Volcano and an evening soaking at a Hot Springs, followed by dinner.
The excursion includes roundtrip transportation from the Tree Houses Hotel and starts at 2:30pm which meant I had the morning free so I decided to take the city bus to town and explore La Fortuna Waterfall, read about it here.
The hotel was accommodating to my schedule so instead of joining the group on the ride from the hotel to Arenal Volcano, I met them in the town of La Fortuna (after I was done at the waterfall) so that we could head to the volcano and start the half-day excursion together.
The hike around Arenal was not only fun but informative as Juan Carlos stopped along the way to point out various plants and wildlife indigenous to the area. You can read that post here.
Click here to view the hotel’s activities and if you’re looking to book the same excursion as I did, be sure to choose the option ‘hiking in nature with Juan Carlos – Half Day’
When I stayed at the Tree Houses hotel, the nightly nature walk and excursions with Juan Carlos were the only activities offered but the options have since expanded. You can now book a massage or spa service in your treehouse or the rainforest. There’s also a birdwatching tour and chocolate-making workshop. Click here for all tours.
after my stay
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