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Location
From San José, take the Inter-American
Highway north to the 149 km. road marker. Turn right just before
crossing the Río Lagarto and continue for 39 km to Monteverde,
following the signs to the Monteverde Reserve. A second option,
a part way paved road of approximately 12 km in construction from
Sardinal to Guacimal. The road is 11km before the Lagartos entrance
coming from San José, (possibly in the near future this will
be your the best option). It is the first entrance on the right
side 1.3 km after the Aranjuez River and a restaurant called "La
Cuenca". The Fonda Vela is located 2 Km from Monteverde Reserve.
Note:
The road from the Inter American Highway to Monteverde is gravel
and can be rough in spots. 4X4 is highly recommended. While it isn't
the most comfortable of rides, the scenery and views are spectacular.
Description
The Fonda Vela Hotel is located in beautiful
Monteverde, famous for its Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbirds,
an abundance of orchids, and a gorgeous cloud forest. The climate
is refreshing, many times referred to as "eternal spring".
The views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the hotel's 1400 meter elevation
are spectacular. Monteverde is an ideal destination for relaxing
and enjoying the wonders of the tropics. A visit of at least two
nights in Monteverde is recommended.
The
Fonda Vela Hotel has nine buildings nestled in the landscaped property,
designed with natural lighting, privacy and warmth. All have large
windows with views of our forest allowing the outside beauty to
be a part of a cozy interior.
The
20 junior suites have a small refrigerator, table, king and queen-size
beds, a comfortable sofa and 14 with TV's. All rooms have telephones.
Most of the rooms are wheelchair accessible; please request one
at the time of making your reservation if that is required.
On
the 35-acre property, you will find lush forests and verdant pastures
that are excellent for birding and hiking. In this tranquil setting,
you may see parrots and emerald toucans that come to feed in the
fruiting trees, occasionally. During certain months the Fonda Vela
is excellent for seeing Resplendent Quetzal, Three-waltted Bellbird
and Keel-billed toucans. Horses graze in the pasture below. A 15-minute
walk away is the world famous 10,500-hectare Monteverde Cloud Forest
Reserve. The Santa Elena Reserve is a short drive away where you
may observe the Arenal Volcano on a clear day.
Come
visit the Hotel Fonda Vela and discover the beauty of Costa Rica's
Highlands. If you are interested in transportation to or from the
hotel, please ask for rates. They offer a chofer and a 15 passenger
microbus ideal for traveling.
Other
services: An elegant and spacious restaurant, a separate
bar and TV room.
They
meeting rooms seat 50 people and have balconies overlooking the
forest. Every day at 6 pm. They present a slide show of Monteverde's
Quaker history and secrets of the cloud forest. The slide show was
prepared by Bobby Maxon and the cost is $5 per person.
Private
hiking trails, guided horse-back riding, and laundry service are
also available. They can arrange all local tours for you.
The
Fonda Vela is an ideal hotel for birdwatching. They have more than
one kilometer of private hiking trails and are within walking distance
of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Hummingbird Gallery and the
Children's Eternal Rainforest. For night entertainment, they are
approximately one km. from the local disco, La Cascada with salsa,
merengue and international music for dancing, a place to meet the
locals, make friends especially on Friday and Saturday.
room details
40 rooms in 9 separate buildings, this includes
20 standard rooms and 20 junior suites; 14 with TV's. All rooms
have private bath, hot water and 2 queen-size beds or a king size
bed. They also have rooms with three beds, ideal for families.
Attractions
The Monteverde
Cloud Forest: A private biological reserve dedicated to the
conservation of the rare flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem.
The reserve is 26.000 acres and is an important link in the growing
network of protected areas in Costa Rica. We are one of the closest
hotels to the Reserve, which attracts birdwatchers from around the
world.
The Santa
Elena Rain Forest Reserve: Opened in March 1992, this new reserve
is quiet and less traveled and is located 9 km away. It offers beautiful
views of the Arenal Volcano on clear days. The viewing point of
the Arenal Volcano is just 12 km from the hotel. All proceeds go
to the improvement of regional education.
Horseback
Riding Tours: A lovely way to see the area with a local guide. Admire
the views of the Nicoya Gulf, waterfalls and the valley of San Luis.
The Monteverde
Cheese Factory: Here they produce the tastiest cheeses in Costa
Rica. The cheese-production process can be witnessed through the
observation window.
CASEM:
At the Women's Artist Co-op in Monteverde one can find hand-crafted
souvenirs such as stationery, jewelry and T- Shirts decorated with
the famous quetzal.
The Butterfly
Garden: This is a study center and gardens are full of many stunning
butterflies, including the Blue Morpho.
Slides
Show At The Colibri Gallery: Learn more about the natural history
of the region through a slide show and an exhibition of photographs
of Michael and Patricia Fogden (professional photographers).
Our Private
Trails: Another alternative ways to see exotic birds and mammals.
Home
of the Resplendent Quetzal: Outstanding bird viewing opportunities.
Sky Trek:
Ziplines attached from one platform to another allow you to glide
through the forest canopy with the use of special equipment.
Sky Walk:
Six suspended bridges, platforms and paths built within the Cloud
Forest make walking through the canopy an experience of a lifetime.
Canopy
Tour: An opportunity to ascend into the forest canopy using modified
techniques, which were previously done only by canyon climbers,
which provide an enjoyable adventure.
Orchid
Garden: More than 380 species are part of a unique research project
and beautiful to see.
Ecological
Farm: A secondary forest-farm located in lower Monteverde becomes
a great spotting place for a wide variety of birds and some large
mammals.
Bajo
de Tigre Trail: A drier and more open forest with more than 3 km.
of trail and arboretum with over 200 trees and Children's Nature
Center.
Aerial
Adventure: Consists of metal rails, which extend for approximately
1,5 km. The rails carry electrically propelled cars with capacity
for two people.
Twilight Tour: A tour during the night that will show you surprising
nocturnal animal life not seen during the day.
Frog
Pond of Monteverde: A herpentarium in which you can admire over
20 species of frogs and other amphibians.
Serpentarium:
tropical reptiles in abundance.
Hummingbird
Gallery: featuring the work of world-renowned photographer Michael
& Patricia Fogden.
*Note:
The Hotel Fonda Vela has no relationship and bears no responsibility
with regard to any of the services or attractions mentioned
*Transfer
to La Fortuna Taxi 4X4-Boat-Taxi (2 hours) |
