Canaima Chill House

Canaima Chill House is named after Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, the rugged tropical wilderness that's the setting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventurous epic, "The Lost World." The book inspired Canaima’s Spanish owner to explore the vast park and when he opened this hotel in 2008, Canaima Chill House became the chosen -- and quite fitting -- name. Set on a lush hillside and up a seemingly impossibly steep hill, Canaima feels remote and off the beaten path. The hotel is shrouded in a canopy of trees and palms giving the grounds a twilight atmosphere all day long. Rock and cement pavers connect the colorful -- but scrappy -- lobby to the pool and guest rooms. Buddha statues are scattered throughout the grounds. There hotel’s big wooden balcony has lounge chairs, tables, and a relaxation pit full of plush pillows. Balconies (both in the rooms and the shared one) all have railings, but they’re pretty open are part of the reason why kids under 8 aren’t allowed at the hotel. It’s a quiet, calm spot -- especially at night when the hotel’s no-noise policy goes into effect. Hotel guests are mostly couples between 25 and 45 from the United States and Canada, although they receive quite a few Europeans in the summer months. 

Canaima is located on a lush hillside above Santa Teresa, a 10-minute walk to the beach (though walk times vary depending on whether you're going up or down the hill). The nearest grocery store is a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Restaurants serving Costa Rican, international, seafood, and organic fare are a five- to 10-minute walk away. Playa Hermosa Beach, a less crowded surf beach north of Santa Teresa is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The nearest pharmacy, bank, and ATM are a 10 minutes away by car. It’s a 45-minute drive to Montezuma, the dusty backpacker town with tasty restaurants, beautiful beaches, and the 79-foot tall Montezuma Waterfall. There’s also a canopy tour in Montezuma. The sleepy fishing village of Mal Pais, which has a popular fish market, is a 20-minute drive away. Traveling from San Jose to the hotel requires either a five-and-a-half-hour drive (that includes a ferry ride) or a 20-minute flight from San Jose, followed by an hour drive from Tambor Airport to the hotel. Alternatively, travel from Liberia is either a four-hour-and-10-minute drive or a 25-minute flight and an hour drive from Tambor Airport. 

The air-conditioned rooms at Canaima are a mix of Suites and Loft Suites that are all similarly decorated. Suites have high ceilings (the upper-floor rooms have hardwood vaulted ceilings), stone floors, and platform queen beds with mosquito nets. Their big windows let in a soft, leaf-filtered light throughout the day. All rooms have kitchenettes with a two-burner gas range, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and cookware and utensils. The sliding window in the kitchen that’s connected to an outdoor bar is a nice touch. Bathrooms are eco-chic, with teak floors and stone walls plus stand-up showers and bamboo towel racks. Clear-glass bathroom sink’s are located outside of the bathroom and set in pieces of the only tree cut down during the hotel's construction. Toiletries include liquid soap and shampoo (in eco-friendly dispenser bottles). All rooms have either private balconies or patios that overlook the pool with tables, chairs, and hanging bamboo daybeds. Other amenities include safes, emergency lights, E.U. and U.S. outlets (although both are 110 volts), and Bluetooth speakers. Hairdryers can be borrowed from the front desk. A free bottle of water is included with all rooms and there’s also free Wi-Fi. 

Features are a bit slim here, and the hotel doesn't have a restaurant (instead, a booklet of menus is provided for ordering delivery). It does have one of the most beautiful pools in Santa Teresa. The freshwater, fully tiled pool isn’t huge, but with its lush canopy and hillside location, it arguably has the best ambience. Next to the pool is a covered balcony with loungers, chairs, tables, and a pillow pit with lots of cushions and pillows built into the floor. There’s also a hot tub -- one of the few that we found in Santa Teresa. The hotel can arrange tours, surf lessons, yoga classes, fishing, horseback riding, and renting ATVs, car rentals, taxis, shuttles and national fights. Soda, water, beer, wine, and coffee are available for purchase in the lobby, as is locally-made jewelry. There’s free parking and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Keep in mind that the hotel only accepts cash.