This hotel was absolutely perfect. First, the drive is very easy on paved roads up and down the mountainside. Once at the hotel we were greeted warmly and surprised with a room upgrade to one of the mountain suites with a fridge, microwave, etc... The view was extraordinary! We stayed on our balcony taking it all in. The epitome of relaxation. We had dinner at the hotel which was good and were also able to drive quickly to the store and surrounding towns. It was also close to the Guayabo National Monument which was really interesting to see. The next morning it was a decent drive to Irazu volcano though if you don't rent a car the hotel offers trips to the volcanoes and other places. We would come back here in a heart beat.

We chose the lodge based on fellow Trip Advisor member reports, and take their word to the bank; this was one of the top places I've ever stayed, and I travel internationally for work. Yes, it is high above Turrialba at about 5,000 feet elevation, but the drive is spectacular and well worth the extra 30 minutes. Ask Pedro for specific directions before you go. We arrived in a rainstorm in the middle of green season with low expectations for seeing anything but clouds, but in the morning the clouds had parted, and Turrialba volcana - an impressive steam pillar rising from the top - was bathed in bright sunlight directly out our second-floor window. Awesome, but then was the opposing view back into the valley. Pedro is absolutely delightful. He has a prodigous history, originating in Uruguay with stops in Idaho, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica among others. The food is terrific and appropriately priced. We ate both breakfast and dinner, and were thrilled with the local trout, melons, fruit and particularly the Terrialba cheese. The garden is also delightful. The evening fire was perfect - there's a slight chill at this altitude - and one of Pedro's interns makes a mean margarhita. If you are traveling by bus, taxi fare is less than $20 US. All up, you should not pass up this place.

I stayed for one night at Hotel Guayabo Lodge in June, a tranquil motel located on the side of volcan Turrialba. Stunning views of the mountains and the volcano. The facilities and food were excellent and the tour of Monumento National Guayabo extremely interesting and highly informative. I stayed just one night but it was the most relaxing portion of my one month stay in Costa Rica. Unfortunately time constraints did not allow me to visit the biological gardens at CATIE near Turrialba or the volcan Turrialba. I highly recommend this motel as a respect from the other busy tourist areas in Costa Rica. Although a bit off the major roads but accessible from Turrialba via taxi or by bus for those with more time. I highly recommend this hotel.

Guayabo Lodge

Ok, tough to give a good review here. Read a lot of positive ones and thus booked. We got lost on the way to the lodge and really really struggled finding it. A detailed map or a sign at the bottom of the hill would have been very helpful. We eventually arrived exhausted and after dark. 

We enjoyed a good dinner and then passed out. 

The biggest negative was that our toilet leaked and the stench was unbearable. My friend refused to use the bathroom and I could barely breath when I did. Big thumbs down on those two marks. 

Our room view was that of sheet metal rooftops. Not too impressive. Beds were two singles in a small room.

Did enjoy the view from the main entrance area of the lodge. Maybe our whole opinion would have been different if we had not gotten lost and had a non stinky bathroom.

The drive up the hill is no less than 30 minutes. Not even close to Turrialba...