Wildlife without leaving
Reviews mention capuchin monkeys, hummingbirds and many birds, sometimes visible from the restaurant windows or the room balcony.
Cañitas, Monteverde · Puntarenas · Costa Rica
Belcruz Bed and Breakfast
★★★
A small family-run lodge of wooden rooms with balconies, set on a hillside of gardens and forest just outside Santa Elena. Breakfast is included, there is a restaurant on site and a trail on the property where monkeys and hummingbirds drop by.
- 9.2on Booking.com · 539 reviews
- 4.8on Google · 224 reviews
- 2.6 kmfrom Santa Elena town (straight line)
Secure booking on Booking.com · Rates change by date
A three-star with the feel of a family farm, in the hills of Monteverde
Belcruz is in the Cañitas area, about 75 meters from the village church and roughly 2.6 km from the center of Santa Elena. That's close enough to reach the reserves, cafés and tour agencies in a few minutes by car, and far enough that at night you hear the forest instead of traffic. One guest summed it up: a little away from town, but they liked being closer to nature.
The property has gardens, a stream with a small bridge, a marked forest trail and a viewpoint at the top where people go for sunset. Guests mention monkeys, hummingbirds and toucans without leaving the grounds. The rooms are simple wooden cabins, and what people praise most is the welcome of the family that runs it (9.8 for staff on Booking.com), the cleanliness (9.5) and the breakfast.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the listings and from guest reviews.
A trail on the property
A marked path through the forest and a short climb to a viewpoint at the top, ideal for sunset and, on clear nights, stars.
Breakfast included
Guests talk about pancakes, fresh fruit, home-made pineapple and papaya jam and the typical gallo pinto.
Staff: 9.8
It's the hotel's highest score on Booking.com; reviews describe a warm, helpful family that also helps arrange tours.
Mountain views from the balcony
The rooms have a balcony; the view is clearest when the clouds lift.
Dinner on site
A Latin American restaurant for breakfast and dinner; several guests call dinner a highlight of their trip.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Wooden cabin-style rooms with a balcony and a private bathroom with a shower. Towels, a hairdryer and an electric kettle are provided, and the rooms are cleaned daily.
Standard double room with balcony and mountain view
The room type listed on both Expedia and Booking.com: wood paneling, a desk, a bench and a balcony with views of the garden and the mountains. Guests call it spacious, clean and quiet, simple rather than luxurious.
See price →Hotel amenities
A small family lodge with no pool: its strengths are the garden, the trail, the food and the views.
- Breakfast includedEvery day, served from 6:30 to 9:00 AM according to Booking.com.
- RestaurantLatin American cooking for breakfast and dinner in a family setting. Dinner is best booked ahead.
- Free parkingOutdoor parking on the property; spaces are limited.
- Free wifiFree wifi, with the best signal in the common areas.
- Garden and terraceGreen grounds with a stream, benches and a terrace for the morning coffee.
- Forest trailA marked path on the property, with a viewpoint for the sunset.
- LaundryLaundry service for guests.
- Daily housekeepingRooms are cleaned every day.
- Safe at the front deskA safe is available at reception.
- Tour helpThe hotel helps you book excursions and buy tickets.
- Airport shuttleRound-trip transfer available for an extra charge.
- Smoke-freeSmoking is not allowed on the property.
Breakfast and where to eat
You can have breakfast and dinner at the lodge; for lunch or a change of scene, there are several places a few minutes away by car.
The included breakfast
Fresh fruit, pancakes, home-made jams, granola and gallo pinto, with coffee and the occasional visit from monkeys outside the window.
Dinner at the restaurant
Latin American dishes in a family setting. Guests praise the food; one found it a little pricey and another found it closed on the day they visited, so it's wise to ask when you check in or book.
Monteverde Brewing Company · 3 min by car
The closest option, for a craft beer and dinner.
Don Juan Coffee Tour · 4 min by car
A coffee farm tour, a short drive away.
Tree House Restaurant & Café · 6 min by car
A well-known restaurant built around a tree.
Soda La Amistad · 7 min by car
A soda, the Costa Rican family eatery, for a typical plate.
High in the cloud forest, among mist, hanging bridges and quetzals
Santa Elena is the main town of Monteverde, high in the Tilarán mountain range. The country's best-known cloud forest reserves are just a few kilometers away. Distances are in a straight line from the hotel.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve · 6.9 km
An ever-damp forest with moss-covered trees, orchids and bromeliads, and trails that cross the Continental Divide. Closer to the hotel, the Curi-Cancha Reserve (4.8 km) is another good choice for walking and birdwatching.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve · 6.2 km
A community-run reserve, a little higher and less crowded, north of town. It has marked trails through the cloud forest and, on clear days, viewpoints toward Arenal Volcano.
Hanging bridges · 5.3 km
At parks such as Selvatura and Sky Adventures, trails cross the forest on hanging bridges at treetop level. Many combine the walk with a canopy (zipline) tour.
Quetzals and birds
Monteverde is one of the best places in Central America to see the resplendent quetzal, especially in its nesting season, roughly February to June. There are also bellbirds, toucans and more than 400 bird species; with a guide they're much easier to spot.
Hummingbirds
Dozens of hummingbird species live in the cloud forest. Near the reserve entrances and at some cafés there are feeders where you can see them up close; guests also see them on the Belcruz grounds.
Santa Elena · 2.6 km
The town center, with sodas (local eateries), cafés, shops and tour agencies. The surroundings are coffee farms and the dairy founded by the Quakers who arrived in the 1950s.
When to go to Monteverde
Average high temperature and rainfall in Monteverde and Santa Elena, month by month (approximate values).
21°Jan
22°Feb
23°Mar
24°Apr
24°May
23°Jun
22°Jul
22°Aug
22°Sep
22°Oct
21°Nov
21°Dec
Dry (Jan–Apr) Transition and wind (May, Nov–Dec) Rainy (Jun–Oct) · mm
- ☀️ January to April is the dry season and the busiest, with roads in better shape. Book early for Christmas, New Year's and Easter.
- 🌬️ From December to February strong winds blow and a fine misty drizzle is common, even when the rest of the country is dry.
- 🌧️ May to November is rainier, often in the afternoon; September and October are the wettest months. There are fewer visitors and the forest is at its greenest.
- 🧥 Because of the altitude it's cool all year (21–24 °C by day and cooler at night): bring a light jacket, a rain jacket and closed shoes for the mud.
- 🐦 The best time to see quetzals is February to June; early-morning walks usually have the best luck.
- 💧 Tap water is safe to drink in most of Costa Rica; bottled water is easy to find if you prefer. With the mist and humidity, keep your camera and phone protected.
How to get here
From San José Airport (SJO)
Juan Santamaría Airport (78.7 km in a straight line) has the most flights. Expedia estimates about 157 minutes by car without stops; allow more for traffic and the mountain road. The hotel offers a round-trip transfer for an extra charge, and shared and private shuttles are also available.
From Liberia Airport (LIR)
Daniel Oduber Airport in Guanacaste (81.7 km in a straight line) is about 3 hours away by car, south on the Pan-American Highway and then up to Monteverde.
Bus
Public buses run from San José to Santa Elena (about 5 hours), with connections from Puntarenas (39.1 km). They're cheap but slow, with few departures a day: check the timetable in advance. From Santa Elena the lodge is a short taxi ride.
Jeep-boat-jeep from La Fortuna
From La Fortuna (27 km in a straight line), the fastest option is the 'jeep-boat-jeep': a minibus to Lake Arenal, a boat across it and another minibus up to Monteverde, about 3 to 4 hours in all.
Roads and getting around
The roads up to Monteverde are winding, steep mountain roads, and some approaches (such as those from Tilarán or Juntas) have gravel stretches: a 4x4 or high-clearance car is best, and drive in daylight. The lodge has free parking, and guests agree that having a car (or a taxi) is the one inconvenience, since it's a little outside town. The currency is the Costa Rican colón; there are ATMs, and US dollars and cards are accepted almost everywhere.
What's nearby
From the Cañitas area, 75 m from the church. Times are by car unless noted; distances are approximate.
- Café Monteverde coffee farm8 min walk
- Monteverde Brewing Company3 min by car
- Don Juan Coffee Tour4 min by car
- Tree House Restaurant & Café6 min by car
- Monteverde Wildlife Refuge9 min by car
- Monteverde Orchid Garden12 min by car
- Santa Elena town center2.6 km
- Curi-Cancha Reserve4.8 km
- Selvatura Park5.3 km
- Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve6.2 km
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve6.9 km
- San José Airport78.7 km
What guests say
9.2 out of 10 on Booking.com from 539 reviews, 9.6 on Expedia from 99 reviews, and 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 224 reviews.
9.8Staff
9.5Cleanliness
9.4Value for money
9.0Location
«It is a little bit away from the town but we liked being more in nature. The stars were so bright and the sunset was beautiful.»
«Friendly hosts, the view from the room was spectacular.»
«Breakfast was fantastic and plentiful, perfect to start a full day of hiking and exploring the area.»
«Hikes right on the property, wonderful mountain views and plenty of wildlife: monkeys, hummingbirds, an eagle and lots of birds.»
«The farm has a well-marked, well-kept trail through the forest and a wonderful place to watch the sunset. The home-made breakfast and a visit from a pair of capuchin monkeys were a bonus.»
«A wonderful place; I loved how much vegetation there is on the farm, with a river and everything. The pancakes at breakfast were delicious.»
What to know before you book
Check-in from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Outside those hours, subject to availability. The front desk is open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Check-out is before 12:00 PM.
Minimum age: 18
Photo ID and a card or cash deposit for incidentals may be requested.
Rooms and restaurant are in different spots
A short path covered by trees links the rooms with the reception and restaurant. It's a nice walk, with monkeys and butterflies, but wear shoes with good grip when it's wet.
A little outside town
It's about 2.6 km from Santa Elena: you'll want a car or a taxi to get around, though most activities are a short drive away.
Children welcome, no extra beds
No cribs or extra beds are available. On Booking.com, children from age 7 pay as adults. The outdoor areas may not suit very young children.
Simple rooms
Reviews describe them as spacious and clean but basic. One guest suggested adding hooks in the bathroom, and an older review mentioned limited sound insulation.
Dinner: ask ahead
The restaurant takes dinner with prior reservation, and one guest found it closed on the day they visited.
No pets
Pets are not accepted.
Things to do from Monteverde
Highly rated tours on Viator: a guided cloud forest walk, hanging bridges and canopy at Selvatura, birdwatching, a night walk, coffee, chocolate and sugarcane, and El Tigre waterfalls. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it includes hotel pickup; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Tour
See the tour →
Selvatura Park Gold Package (Canopy & Hanging Bridges)
See the tour →
Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde
See the tour →
2 Hour Night Hike by Finca Lantana Monteverde
See the tour →
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Tour (Regular)
See the tour →
El Tigre Waterfalls Hiking Tour with Lunch and Nature Guide
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
75 m from the Catholic church of Cañitas, Cañitas, 60109 Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Book your stay at Belcruz Bed and Breakfast
See today's rates and availability on Booking.com. Many rates can be cancelled for free; check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where is Belcruz Bed and Breakfast?
In the Cañitas area of Monteverde, about 75 meters from the Catholic church, roughly 2.6 km from the center of Santa Elena.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. Breakfast is included every day and is served from 6:30 to 9:00 AM. Guests mention fresh fruit, pancakes and home-made jams.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, on the property: Latin American food for breakfast and dinner. Dinner is best reserved in advance.
How far is it from town, and how do I get around?
Santa Elena is about 2.6 km away. Most guests use a car or a taxi; the Monteverde reserves and adventure parks are a short drive.
Does it have a pool or wifi?
There's no pool. It has free wifi, with the best signal in the common areas, and the main attractions are the garden, the forest trail and the views.
Is there parking?
Yes, free outdoor parking on the property, although spaces are limited.
What time are check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM and check-out is before 12:00 PM. The front desk is open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
How do I get here from the airport?
From San José airport it's about 157 minutes by car, according to Expedia. The hotel offers a round-trip airport transfer for an extra charge.
Are pets and children allowed?
Pets are not accepted. Children are welcome, but there are no cribs or extra beds, and the outdoor areas may not suit very young children.