Cloud Forests are some of the nicest natural spectacles available in Costa Rica. With perpetual clouds and misty rain, the area holds an aura of vitality. Everywhere you look something is alive in the cloud forest. The northern highlands of Costa Rica are covered in part by cloud forests, all the way up to Monteverde.

In fact, one can think of the San Ramon cloud forest in terms of what Monteverde used to be 15 years ago, before the advent of tourism. The town of San Ramon itself is characteristically Costa Rican, shielded in part from foreign influences due to remote location in the northern highlands.

The Villa Blanca hotel is located 15km outside San Ramon, in a private reserve called El Silencio de Los Angeles. Literally, “Silence of the Angels”. The rooms are styled in traditional adobe home motifs, with shingled roofs and a blue stripe at the bottom of white walls. Their modest exterior gives no clue of the luxury and comfort inside. The over-sized king bed, fireplace, jacuzzi, and private garden make the rooms at Villa Blanca superb. There even is no need for television, as you will be mesmerized by sounds of nature.

Surrounding the hotel are a couple of nature trails that go into undisturbed areas of the cloud forest. You can take the 1km self-guided hike, or also hire a guide from the hotel. Coatis, quetzales, humming birds, and bromeliads can be seen here.

Villa Blanca is rated a level 5 CST, the highest eco-tourism certification awarded by the government. Villa Blanca is part of the Green Hotels of Costa Rica, a group which includes Si Como No in Manuel Antonio, and Aguila de Osa in Drake Bay. The group promotes sustainable tourism and conservation of each areas unique appeal.

Villa Blanca is now easily my favorite non-beach Costa Rica hotel.

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Filed under: Hotel Reviews on September 24th, 2007