Every year at Ocotea Boutique Hotel begins the same way: with gratitude, with reflection, and with the quiet excitement that comes from imagining what we can become. Monteverde is never static, and neither are we. The forest shifts with the seasons. Ideas evolve. Spaces refine themselves. And through it all, the heart of Ocotea Boutique Hotel – Karen and Valeria, our mother-daughter owners – continues to reside in a love for hospitality, nature, and community.
As a welcome to 2026, we wanted to share a look behind the scenes – a glimpse into the living evolution of a Monteverde boutique hotel shaped by people who care deeply about what they create. Every refinement, every new experience, every conversation in the hallway or the garden comes from the same source: a family’s vision rooted in local values, the circular economy, environmental stewardship, and a desire to welcome you into something meaningful.
Design That Evolves with the Forest
Ocotea Boutique Hotel was built with the belief that design should grow the way the forest grows: with intention, rooted in place, and in harmony with the landscape around it. That philosophy continues to guide every update we make.
This year, one of the most meaningful additions will be to put the finishing touches on our new Lauracea Massage Room. It’s a quiet, soothing space meant for deep rest, shaped with calm lighting and soft textures, and welcoming a feeling of privacy that settles over you the moment you step inside. Guests can now enjoy couples massages, restorative treatments, facials, and exfoliation therapies tucked into a quiet corner of the hotel, intentionally removed from the noise of daily life.
We’ve also completed the setup of our new Damas Tree Fitness Room. Clean lines, simple but functional equipment, natural light, and a calm environment help guests move at their own pace, whether that’s a morning stretch or a focused strength or cardio workout. Our goal was to provide a space dedicated to purpose, comfort, and connection to the view outside our windows.
Our team continues to plan for a future firepit area, envisioned for quiet moments, warming conversations, and the kind of slow, cool, peaceful evenings that Monteverde is known for. It’s one of the many ideas simmering beneath the surface: simple, communal, and built around the joy of being outdoors.
Art also remains one of our favorite ways to honor place. In 2025, we introduced our new Gift Shop, featuring sustainable products and locally made items from right here in Monteverde and around Costa Rica. You’ll find aromatherapy-based personal care, scarves that showcase Costa Rica, and bags of the same Monteverde coffee we serve in our hotel. It’s a small space, but one filled with both heart and stories of our community.
One such story we’re proud to highlight is the work of Hailey, a local Monteverde artist, the creator behind Verna Verde Jewelry, and part of our Ocotea family; she’s married to Karen’s brother, Ignacio, who you’ll often find brewing incredible coffee, serving a meal, or mixing drinks on our Monteverde rooftop! Hailey’s epoxy-resin pieces preserve real cloud-forest flowers, each one crafted with a delicate connection to the landscape that we – and you – so love.
New Experiences on the Horizon
Experiences at Ocotea have always been shaped by Monteverde itself: by the forest, the weather, our community, and what feels most authentic to our roots and vision. As we move into 2026, this philosophy guides us toward experiences that bring people closer to the heart of our hometown.
This year, Nectandra Restaurant is also stepping into a new chapter. We are introducing expanded breakfast, brunch, and dinner menus featuring innovative creations, locally rooted ingredients, and more than twenty new dishes. Our hotel breakfast, which is included in every stay and always served à la carte, now blends seamlessly into an elevated brunch service with new signature plates.
We’re also exploring creative tasting menus, which we introduced in 2025 and plan to continue developing in 2026. These small, thoughtful culinary journeys allow our chefs to experiment with new recipes while offering our guests and local diners a deeper, more expressive taste of Monteverde. And beginning this year, Nectandra will also begin to welcome the public by reservation.
Up on the Monteverde Rooftop, we continue to explore curated guest experiences. In the past, we’ve hosted yoga sessions and mixology evenings: offerings that blended relaxation, creativity, and the rooftop’s tranquil atmosphere. Our schedule remains flexible, but we know the rooftop will continue to inspire gatherings that blend relaxation, creativity, and the calm of the mountain air.
This is the Ocotea Boutique Hotel way: not adding experiences for the sake of quantity, but nurturing the ones that feel sincere, grounding, and true to who we – and you, our guests – are.
Sustainability in Motion
Sustainability has never been a marketing angle for us; it’s simply how we live, work, and care for our community and heritage. From the hotel’s earliest planning stages to today, regenerative thinking has been at the core of every choice.
In 2026, we’re preparing for an important future step: the pursuit of a formal sustainability certification at the corporate level. It’s a long-term commitment driven by heart and values, not trends. While the process is still in its early phases, it reflects the same principles that have guided us since the beginning: responsible sourcing, community partnerships, durable materials, and a deep respect for the ecosystem that surrounds us.
These efforts are not about recognition. They’re about legacy, responsibility, and doing what’s right for Monteverde, our guests, and our local community.
The Human Element
When we ask our guests what stands out most about their stay, they often say the same thing: our people. And at the heart of those people are Karen and Valeria, the mother-daughter team who built the hotel, shaped its identity, and continue to lead it every day.
Their presence is woven into the hotel’s rhythms, from greeting guests and working alongside the team – you’ll often find Valeria helping during Nectandra’s busiest hours, and Karen with her sleeves rolled up in the garden – to making decisions with sensitivity and clarity, and nurturing an environment that feels personal, warm, and deeply connected to Monteverde.
Our vision, not just for our Monteverde boutique hotel but for your time here, is not just about hospitality; it’s about honoring our home, elevating our community, and creating a place where guests can seek new experiences in Costa Rica and rediscover a slower, more intentional way of being.
Every improvement we make in 2026 begins with Karen and Valeria: their conversations, their careful consideration, their love for this land, and their commitment to sharing it all in a way that is authentic and meaningful.
A Glimpse Toward Tomorrow
As for the years ahead? Ocotea will continue to evolve slowly, thoughtfully, and forever in conversation with the cloud forest.
There are dreams of new artistic collaborations, further refinements to guest spaces, and even deeper integrations with the Monteverde community. But nothing will be rushed. Nothing is created for the sake of novelty. Only what feels right for the land, the culture, and the family that stewards this place.
Because this isn’t just a boutique hotel. It’s a living expression of Monteverde’s quiet strength, creativity, sense of purpose, and belief that nature and people can exist in balance. And we would love for you to be part of what comes next.
Be Among the First to Experience What’s Ahead
If 2026 is your year to visit or return to Monteverde, we’d be honored to welcome you back. Be among the first guests to experience what’s new – and what remains timeless – at Ocotea Boutique Hotel.
Reserve your stay and step into the next chapter with us.
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