In Los Tornos – a small town just 8 kms (5 miles) northwest of our Monteverde boutique hotel – the air feels a little softer. There’s still a slight chill in the August air, as morning drifts low across the hills, settling briefly before giving way to sun and shadow. It’s here that this small plot of land hums with quiet purpose: Karen’s vegetable garden, which partially supplies the kitchen at Nectandra Restaurant.

At Ocotea Boutique Hotel, we love every season in Monteverde – but the green season holds a special kind of magic (and a sweet place in our hearts). From May through November, the rains return, turning the cloud forest into an emerald dreamscape. The air feels fresher, the forest hums with budding life, and a gentle mist drifts through our gardens and balconies.

There’s something about sipping a cold, handcrafted, Monteverde craft beer after a long hike through our region’s transitional and cloud forests: It achieves that uncommon feeling of just right, especially when you know that beer is brewed just down the road from where you’re sipping it, using high-quality ingredients and pure, local mountain water.

At first glance, Ocotea Boutique Hotel appears to be a quiet Monteverde retreat—and it is, with 21 boutique rooms tucked into a peaceful corner near Santa Elena. But step inside, and it becomes clear: this is more than a Monteverde boutique hotel. It’s a living example of what happens when sustainability is paramount and community and hospitality are woven into every detail.

When Colin arrived at Ocotea Boutique Hotel, it wasn’t his first time to Monteverde. He had stayed in the area before, but as he later shared, something here felt different. "From before you arrive until you leave, you can tell the team legitimately cares about sharing Monteverde with you," he wrote.

There’s a certain warmth that settles into your chest and belly after a sip of Cacique. Maybe it’s the way the sugarcane lingers, or maybe it’s something deeper – a quiet echo of tradition, memory, and shared moments. For travelers curious about Costa Rica’s culture and cuisine – and for Ocotea Boutique Hotel guests who enjoy sampling local products – Cacique offers a delicious chance to learn about the history and stories behind what you eat and drink.

In Monteverde, our stories don’t just belong to the past. They live on in the roots of the forest, in a traditional meal, in the way we greet you with genuine warmth. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, they live in the places you stay and the people you meet.

Tucked into the lush folds of highland hills, dairy country, and Monteverde’s cloud forest, where misty tendrils weave through the trees and howler monkeys echo in the canopy, there’s a small school quietly shaping the world – or, at least, individual worlds – one curious, compassionate student at a time.

At Ocotea Boutique Hotel, we believe every part of your Costa Rican experience should feel meaningful – from the forest that greets you in the morning to the meals you share at our table. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things – like a simple cup of coffee – that tell the biggest stories.