Hotel Finca L’Étoile Celeste

We had a wonderful experience during our three night stay at E'Toile Celeste . We wanted a few days of peace and quiet before continuing on our touring around Costa Rica, and this was a perfect choice. Our bungalow was large, comfortable, and creatively decorated, with a large mosaic and interesting quotes on the walls, drift wood on the ceiling, and stunning cut flowers placed around the room. Everything was in perfect condition and spotlessly clean. Then you step outside! Siri, the owner, and Yves, her husband & chef, have developed a tropical paradise filled with amazing flowers and trees (ask Siri where to find the rainbow eucalyptus tree), which is now occupied by a rich assortment of tropical birds. We saw 3 types of toucans and heard a laughing falcon as we sat by the pool. Most visitors take day trips from E'Toile Celeste, which Siri is happy to arrange. But we chose to spend the time taking in the extensive grounds, seeing the birds and flowers. (Cute note: It had been raining before we arrived, so Siri lent us high rubber boots for our walkabouts. She must have a big supple because she appeared with ones that fit perfectly!) I want to give a shout out to the young man who does numerous jobs around the hotel, from waiting tables, to cleaning rooms, to offering drinks as we sat at the pool; he would help us with anything and was always fun to deal with as we struggled to understand each other's language. Finally, as others have described, the food is sensational: creative blends of fresh herbs on lovely fish, pasta and more. This is a great place to stay!

This is a little gem of a place nestled in the farmlands near Katria. The owner and her husband have built the inn from scratch-- and it's like staying in a botanical garden. When we arrived to check in, we were hot and tired and our host immediately brought out fresh, frosty pineapple juice. After check in, we had a tubing tour booked on the Rio Celsete, so off we went to do that. When we returned, our host was there to greet us and we set a time to have dinner in the restaurant on the site. And it did not disappoint! My son and I had fish wrapped in a plant native to Costa Rica that imparted a flavor of anise into the dish. The bungalows were spacious and beautifully appointed. I wish we could have stayed longer here, as I would have loved to have lounged by the beautiful pool. Just a lovely, lovely spot. If you're planning to be in this area, it's a wonderful place from which to explore.

This is a stunner of a place! The grounds are tropical gardens and each cabin is gorgeously designed with local and recyclable materials. breakfast in the garden is divine and dinner in the evenings is hearty with local farm fresh products. To top it all off the owners are so delightful and truly welcoming. A fabulous stay- one we hope to return to!