Hotel Belmar is the hotel most couples mean when they ask where to stay in Monteverde. It is a family-run, alpine-style hotel that has been welcoming guests for nearly four decades, set on a hillside where the cloud forest drops away toward the Pacific. On clear evenings the sun sets over the Gulf of Nicoya, which is a rare sight from a mountain town better known for mist.
What makes it right for a honeymoon is the mix of comfort and character. The rooms are warm and wood-lined, with balconies for morning coffee. The kitchen is one of the best in the area, built around the hotel's own farm, Finca Madre Tierra. There is a craft brewery on site, a tea room and a short nature trail beside the original chalet.
Belmar suits couples who want to spend days in the forest and evenings somewhere cozy with excellent food. It is not a pool resort and Monteverde is cool and often damp, so think of it as a mountain break between beach stays rather than a place to lounge in a swimsuit.
Highlights at a glance
- Sunset views over the Gulf of Nicoya
- Farm-to-table cooking from the hotel's own Finca Madre Tierra
- On-site craft brewery, Cervecería Belmar
- Breakfast, lunch or dinner in the forest canopy
- Ten newer Artista Villas for extra privacy
Why Couples Love Hotel Belmar
The view is the first thing guests mention. Monteverde sits on the Continental Divide. Belmar's west-facing hillside looks out over forested ridges to the Gulf of Nicoya. When the clouds part at sunset, the whole valley turns gold.
The second is the feeling of the place. The chalet architecture, carved wood and fireplace-warm common rooms feel more like a mountain lodge than a typical Costa Rican hotel. Staff are long-serving and personal, which shows in the way they plan days around weather and birds.
The third is food. Belmar takes its kitchen seriously, with produce from its own regenerative farm and a menu that changes with the harvest. For a destination where many dinners are simple, that matters on a honeymoon.
Rooms and Villas to Book
Belmar has four main room types, each with a different feel.
- Chalet Rooms sit in the original chalet building beside the nature trail. They are the most traditional, with lots of wood and garden or forest views.
- Peninsula Rooms are in the main building near the restaurant and look toward the Gulf of Nicoya. They are the easiest pick for sunset views.
- Nicoya Suites are larger, at over 1,000 square feet, with panoramic windows. Book one if you plan to spend real time in the room.
- Artista Villas are the newest addition, ten private villas designed for more seclusion.
For a honeymoon, the Nicoya Suites or an Artista Villa are worth the upgrade. On a tighter budget, ask for a Peninsula Room on a higher floor and you still get the view.
Food, Drink and Wellness
Restaurante Celajes is the main dining room, with big windows over the valley and a farm-to-table menu that draws on Finca Madre Tierra. Expect Costa Rican ingredients handled with care: local cheeses, garden vegetables, coffee from the region and fresh juices.
Cervecería Belmar brews the hotel's own craft beer. The tasting room is a relaxed spot for an afternoon pint after a hike. The Juice Bar and Tea Room covers lighter moments.
The hotel's signature dining experiences are the real romance: breakfast, lunch or dinner served in the forest canopy, which is worth booking for one special night. Wellness is low-key rather than a full spa. There are massages, yoga sessions and a soaking jet pool. Coffee, cocktail and craft beer classes are fun for a rainy afternoon.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Monteverde is about the forest. Belmar is well placed for it. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena reserve are a short drive away. Dawn walks with a naturalist guide give you the best chance of seeing a resplendent quetzal. Night walks reveal frogs, tarantulas and sleeping birds.
The hanging bridges let you walk at canopy height without a harness. For adrenaline, the area's ziplines are among the longest in Costa Rica.
Belmar runs its own program too, including the SAVIA forest immersion, bird quests, countryside horseback rides and visits to the farm. One partner can go birding at dawn while the other sleeps in, then meet for a late breakfast. Coffee farm tours in the surrounding hills are easy half days.
Getting There
Monteverde is remote by design. The roads keep it that way. From Liberia (LIR), allow about three hours by car. From San José Juan Santamaría (SJO), allow about three and a half. The final climb is paved now on the main route, but side roads are still rough in places.
Most couples rent a car or book a private shuttle. Shared shuttles connect Monteverde with La Fortuna and the Pacific beaches. The jeep-boat-jeep route across Lake Arenal is a scenic way to arrive from the volcano side.
Drive in daylight. Fog rolls in fast in the afternoon and the mountain roads have few lights. Once you arrive, taxis are cheap and the hotel can arrange them for dinners in Santa Elena.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, for most couples. Belmar costs more than the simple lodges around Santa Elena, but it is still mid-range by honeymoon standards, roughly a few hundred dollars a night for two, approximate and higher for suites and villas. The food, the views and the service make the difference on a short stay.
Plan two or three nights. That gives you a dawn reserve walk, a canopy experience and one slow afternoon at the brewery or in the room.
Choose elsewhere if you want a private plunge pool, full spa or hot springs on site; La Fortuna's resorts do that better. Couples who want total seclusion might prefer a small cabin on a private reserve. Anyone who dislikes cool, misty weather should keep Monteverde short.
Insider tips
- Book the canopy dinner the day you arrive; it is the hotel's most romantic experience and slots are limited.
- Ask for a Peninsula Room or Nicoya Suite if sunset views matter more than forest views.
- Reserve a private dawn guide for the Monteverde reserve; the quetzals are most active early.
- Pack a warm layer each; evenings in Monteverde can feel chilly even in the dry season.
