We stay at this lodge as a recommendation from a friend. I was happy from the first moment we walked in It felt great. The gardens where spectacular, well manicured and with informative signs. We chose the superior room, my husband and I, it was a very confortable and spacious room, well worth the price difference. The standar rooms ( where my kids stayed) where nice and cozy caribbean style just a bit too small. Food was delicious, specially the grill chicken, pastas and salads and fresh tropical fruit drinks.
We took the time to relax as well as we venture on some fun tours, with teens on board we chose to make the rafting tour which was sooo much fun. We also made the hoarse back-ridding, a boat tour and a guided adventure on the hotel's own reserve. We appreciated specially the helpful and kind stuff that made our stay stress free. I could only recommend to bring rubber boots because the day we made the tours they didn't have any available and we didn't come prepared so our tennis shoes got a bit muddy. Also to get to the Hotel we got a bit off track for their where not many signs coming from La Fortuna so you have to ask a couple of times, which wasn't a problem for everyone new " Hotel Gavilan de Sarapiqui" and the owner Mariamalia Sotela who's beautiful paintings enhance the decor of some of the rooms is well known in the area. I am sure to comeback again !!!

We were going to La Fortuna, but a friend told us we should visit the Sarapiqui area on the way there. On the road to Puerto Viejo, we saw a sign of this lodge, and since we were tired, we decided to spend one night before continuing our trip to La Fortuna.
The gardens looked beautiful! We took a standard room (not the Superior, which was a bit expensive) because we travel with a limited budget. The room was OK, with private bath and ceiling fan, nice decoration. The manager was friendly, and was very helpful when we needed to confirm our reservations in La Fortuna.The meals were very good! We wanted to use their Jacuzzi in the evening but the water was too cold...
In general we liked our short stay in this small lodge, recommended if you're looking for a quiet, peaceful environment!

I stayed at EL Gavilan with my family. We absolutely loved it. We stayed at one of the deluxe rooms, and it was a great experience. The rooms are very nice. The food also was extremely good in taste and size. The location of the lodge is probably the best of all the lodges we have stayed at, right on the Sarapiqui River and surrounded by a private tropical rainforest reserve of around 20 acres we were told. The birds are all over. My wife is a birding freak, and she did not need to leave the front of our room to spot around 40 species? Not really sure, but a lot. The owner and staff are the best we have met in any hotel. Could not have been more friendly. I highly recommend El Gavilan Lodge to eco tourists, birders, families and adventure seeking people. We will be back.

They honored the first price, owner turns out to be a lovely woman who invites the local school children in once a quarter to have stories, snacks and play time in a wonderful setting. We truly enjoyed them. But its a long way to anywhere else, relaxing atmosphere, with a jacuzzie and not pool, but the other pictures on this review site do give you a correct feel.
Rooms are clean, bathroom is spacious and ceilings are 20 foot high, breakfast is good if CR standard fare, the get away from it all is definately there and you won't find a casino anywhere near. Its a "drive to" place, down good roads and on the banks of the River, plenty of birds to see and the red frog also lives there.

No Air conditioner and I would not and did not worry about the bug bites. The sounds of the forest is all around and this is on the "flats" and a little warmer than the rest of our trip.
Get a good book, sit on the porch and relax......A spiritual getaway
Its an eco lodge but still confortable, No TV no Radio no alarm clock, no problems