This place has a special magic. I stayed here with my two daughters, ages 5 and 6, for several weeks this summer. If you are looking for a place with charm and character, look no further. The polished wooden floors and beams give it a warm, rustic feel, which is complimented by richly painted walls and colorfully mosaicked hallway. There are balconies, rocking chairs, and sunsets rather than a TV in each room. The owner, Nanci, and her two teenage daughters are friendly and laid back, making the place feel like home rather than a hotel. They happily arranged numerous outings for us, and they are very knowledgeable about the area.

When we first arrived, we sat on the front porch and immediately saw blue morphos and other butterflies hovering over Nanci's butterfly garden, and within minutes we heard howler monkeys nearby in the surrounding cloud forest. Over the course of our stay, we saw countless species of wild birds, butterflies, and mammals on the hotel property, including hummingbirds, mot mots, a toucan, a sloth, howler monkeys, and a martillo. The bird watching and night hike guides regularly take people in the vicinity of La Colina, because it is brimming with wildlife. My daughters were delighted by the pet turkeys, guineas, and chickens on the property. Nanci's daughters showed them chicks hatching and allowed them to hold the babies. The girls also enjoyed watching the local dairy farmers walk by every morning with their oxen laden with jugs of milk to deliver to the cheese factory. In short, they were never bored at the lodge. They were always outdoors exploring and learning new things.

The lodge is located a short walking distance from the historic Monteverde Cheese Factory, which has an ice cream parlor that my girls insisted we visit almost daily. It is also walking distance from the Friends School library which includes a huge children's section and is open 24 hours. In other words, when you're Jonesing for a good book late at night, you can grab your flashlight and head over. There are two different yoga studios within walking distance, and there is a small grocery store where you can purchase groceries. La Colina makes its kitchen available to guests. If you want to go horseback riding, a nearby stable will bring the horses right to the lodge. All of these places are accessible by lovely trails through the cloud forest. If you want to go further, there is a school bus which stops directly in front of La Colina several times a day. You can ride cheaply to restaurants and shops in Monteverde, Cerro Plano, and Santa Elena, and it also goes directly to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. For hikers, the reserve is only 3 km away, and it is a scenic walk. Despite these conveniences, the lodge is still private and isolated. The views are only of the surrounding cloud forest.

I recommend this place for families, couples, and outdoor enthusiasts looking for some place unique and charming to escape, unplug, and unwind.