but it just isn't worth the price. We booked here so that we could try to birdwatch while in San Jose for a few days and it sounded fun. We saw no birds or bats and even if we had wanted to sit and relax in the "yard" there is no place to do so because plants cover every inch (and chair) on the property. If you are taller than 5', you won't be able to walk around without losing your hat and if you have a backpack, forget about it, you're guaranteed to rip down half a tree.

There is a train that runs outside the room windows every 15 min. from 6am until 9pm, we had biting ants in our beds (yes I am aware of the irony given the name), and there are three locked doors that you have to battle with in order to get in and out. We weren't given the correct keys, so the morning of our departure, we were locked into the common area upstairs while our bus driver was ringing the doorbell outside. There was no way for us to get hold of Mayra downstairs. Thankfully one of the other guests woke up from the noise and unlocked the door for us.

It also looked as if it hadn't been cleaned for 10 years and my husband and I both had horrible sneezing fits the minute we walked in. Not sure if i was dust, mold, or pollen from all the plants. If we had paid $20/night or less for our room, I could probably live with all the problems, but for $40, no way. There are plenty of other options around San Jose for that price.

I really hate to speak poorly of the place. Mayra is incredibly nice, it's a great location, there is a FANTASTIC restaurant across the street (Cafe Mundo) and I think the concept is a great one, but we did not enjoy our time here. I would not stay here again.

When we arrived at the hotel and we were greeted by the owner, who was described by the Lonely Planet guide as a bit of an excentric. Wait a minute! This woman has a full blown bordeline personality disorder!! The place is popular for its in-town jungle/ecosystem that is visited by many birds. When she opened the door to our room, a strong smell of closed-for-the-winter-chalet jumped to my nose (a mix of dust and mold) and we soon found out that the smell was not to be overpowered by essential oils... There was a train going by every 15 minutes or so and dogs barking, of course... The room is plain dirty, there is not even a pillow case on the pillows and the sheets are so worn out, you can see through them... There was a dirty bowl soaking in our sink (??)...

Let's be clear here: I am not a princess and I have camped and traveled and slept in many uncomfortable places, but this is plain gross. Even the girls are grossed out and bothered by the smell... We are still weighting our options here... We are here 4 nights. We can bite the bullet and try to enjoy ourselves or we can try to negociate with the hysterical artist...

This place might have been super nice when it opened in 1995, but it has been taken care of (nor properly cleaned in a long time). If you like sleeping in mold and dust, this place is for you! Not a great way to start a trip! Look into Hotel Aranjuez instead, for 5 box more, you'll get much much more than this crappy place.

I arrived late in the evening, but Mayra had fresh coffee and tea made for me. Had the entire upstairs BB to myself. The artwork and "jungle garden" are amazing, and a boxed breakfast was waiting for me in the morning.

If you read the reviews, go to the website, this is exactly as it is described. It is a city "jungle" in the middle of San Jose. It is a bed and breakfast. You will be greeted after honking the horn in the trees, by a very vibrant and artist home owner. She will share her home with you and share her birds and dogs.

This place is not for everyone, but it is an experience to be had for sure. It was rainy while we visited so we were unable to enjoy the backyard birds, and the "fresh" air. I am sure on a sunny day the city rain forest would be very nice and relaxing.

But as I mentioned before, if you visit the Bed and Breakfast's website, you will not go wrong, or be mislead. This place is eccentric, it is a story to be told, and you will always remember your stay here.