Comfort

Celeste Mountain Lodge

Escape to the wilderness in an eco-lodge surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty at Celeste Mountain Lodge. Built in harmony with nature, the dynamic blend of contemporary architecture and the natural environment using recycled materials invites the stunning natural world into this consciously crafted lodge. With everything from exquisite local cuisine to professional massages, wildlife lovers can enjoy the impressive views of the Tenorio Volcano’s peaks and opportunity to see a diverse range of mammals and birds from the lodging or on the private Celeste Trail. Fall asleep soundly in one of the eighteen rooms and wake up in your own tropical jungle paradise.

Bijagua, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Apdo. 305–2250 Tres Ríos, Costa Rica, Central America

Wake up with one of the best views in Costa Rica, overlooking luscious green valleys of the rainforest leading to the two volcanoes, Tenorio and Miravalles. Nearby, lie winding rivers and deep rainforest trails for guests to experience a number of activities, from river rafting to spotting tropical birds. With a newly paved road leading to the Lodge, it is now more accessible than ever.

The Tenorio Volcano National Park is perfect for viewing on-foot, with paths to the rushing Celeste Waterfall and magnificent birds and wildlife to be seen along the way. Home to mountain rain forests, tropical wet forest, and premontane forest, tourists can expect to see prominent palm trees, ferns, bromeliads and orchids growing wild. White-faced monkeys, anteaters, pumas, peccaries and local favourites tapirs can be seen in their natural habitat, along with exotic bird species such as trogons or the three-wattled bellbird.

The heights of Celeste Mountain Lodge offer a constant spring climate with temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees, and a constant pleasant breeze. The region is humid, with an average annual rainfall of 4000 mm, with the dry summer months being February to May, August and October. Guests are advised to carry waterproof clothing with them in case of sudden torrential downpours especially during September and October.

Eco-lodge in the heart of Rio Celeste’s beautiful tropical jungle
Stunning views of Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes and the village of Bijagua
Featuring modern bioclimatic architecture and recycled building materials
Private “Celeste Trail” through the forest, ideal for hikers
100% eco-friendly, “Tica-fusion” cuisine blending local flavours
Accessible room and special sedan chair for disabled guests
Tours of surrounding wilderness by well-trained guides
Travellers’ Choice and Greenleaders Silver awards on TripAdvisor

Celeste Mountain Lodge is located in 3 hectares of open land and 4 hectares of protected primary forest, with its own private 1.7km “Celeste Trail” with abundant wildlife. Guests can expect to see both howler and capuchin monkeys, tapir and other mammals, as well as a range of butterflies and birds including toucans, hummingbirds and parrots. The diverse, lush and rich vegetation has vined trees that are several hundred years old. Impressive views of Montezuma, the 3rd peak of the majestic Tenorio volcano, can be seen from the lodge.

Designed by Belgian architect and Costa Rica resident Jacqueline Gillet and her assistants Jose Ali Porras and Rafael Tenorio, the lodge has a contemporary open-plan style that “invites nature into the building”. The lodge uses recycled materials and bioclimatic standards have been used to adapt to local conditions and to adhere to their Responsible Tourism philosophy.

Each one of the eighteen rooms in the lodge offers stunning views overlooking the two volcanoes and the lush rainforest. The rooms are minimalist and keep close to nature, decorated with the environment in mind. To fully highlight the unbeatable surroundings, the rooms have large floor to ceiling windows that let in light and allow for an incredible rainforest view. Every effort has been made to give the guest full immersion with nature with living rooms opening out onto the covered garden spaces.

Guests can choose from a double/triple/or family room, with two accessible rooms. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms equipped with hand basins, hair dryers, hot showers and toilets. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the lodging.

Celeste Mountain Lodge Restaurant

The restaurant at the Celeste Mountain Lodge is known for its excellent cuisine and its incredible panoramic views. Sample the delicious Tica-fusion cuisine, made with local ingredients and traditional recipes. New menus are created every day, meaning exciting and fresh culinary experiences for all guests. Dietary restrictions are easily catered for, subject to prior notice. Breakfast, dinner and lunch are all available from the Celeste Mountain Lodge restaurant, with the option of lunch as a picnic.

Bird-watching

With 876 species of birds, Costa Rica is the perfect bird-watching destination. Join a bird watching tour and see the beautiful species yourself.

On-site activities

Guided tours for bird-watching, more general nature viewing, or night tours to see the jungle after dark. Boat tours along the Rio Frio are also available
Hike up and tube down the Rio Celeste rapids for an exhilarating adventure, or cruise down the Rio Frio river in a kayak and take in the natural environment. Paddle boarding, rafting and other water sport excursions are also on offer
Discover Bijagua village by bicycle or explore the region on horseback. The lodge can supply a map and a picnic for exploring the slopes of the Miravalles Volcano
Indulge in the on-site spa facilities, including massages, reflexology and hot stone therapy
Take a tour of the small family owned coffee or cocoa plantations in the region

Celeste Mountain Lodge has an involvement in the local community and the development of healthy and sustainable tourism. They have a voluntary involvement in the Village Development Association and the Municipality of Upala in tourism, and work as volunteer consultants for locals involved in tourism development. They also have a role in providing the village with French language courses and vocational training in agreement with the French International Cooperation and the I.N.A. They use local employment where possible, with 80% of construction staff and 95% of lodge operation staff being local. They support local women’s groups and the technical college through purchase of their handmade goods, and support fresh produce from local farmers by sourcing their ingredients from there.

The lodge uses recycled and recovered materials for construction, decoration and landscaping, including but not limited to recycled tires, recycled plastic boards, wood, and construction material scraps. Eco-friendly materials such as coconut fibre are used when available and the wood used is plantation or salvaged online. By building tall, not wide, the 2 floors of the lodge mean minimal land use. Solar panels are used to heat hot water and there are 3 Bio-purifiers for waste water. Electricity is saved through partial automation of lighting, and flow control of the WC and shower taps. The clothes dryer is bioclimatic and the lodge uses exclusively biodegradable soaps. Packaging is reused and the lodge has an internal recycling program.

Children of any age are welcome. Children aged 12 and above are considered adults at this property.