Meet Our Locals

Fifteen years leading night hikes in the cloud forest. Knows every frog on every trail. Book him before you land.

Speaks English. Knows every road. Has never once been late. Save his number before you land.

A boutique mountain lodge on the edge of the rainforest, with views of volcanoes, the San Carlos Valley, and Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Deluxe rooms with balconies, an on-site spa, and a restaurant serving locally inspired cuisine. Also hosts yoga retreats and small destination weddings.

A beachfront hotel and restaurant on the Pacific Coast Highway at Caldera — perfect overnight stop between SJO and Manuel Antonio or Jacó. 11 clean rooms, outdoor pool, complimentary breakfast, free valet parking, and a pool bar with ocean views. Rated 4/5 on Tripadvisor with 52,000+ Facebook followers. Steps from Playa Caldera, minutes from Caldera Port. Pairs perfectly with a lunch stop at Restaurante y Cabinas Mata Limón next door.

Hours: Check-in: 1:00pm | Check-out: 11:00am | 24-hour reception

• 🏊 Outdoor Pool
• 🍳 Complimentary Breakfast
• 🚗 Free Valet Parking
• 🌊 Ocean Views
• 📶 Free WiFi
• 🍹 Pool Bar

Authentic contemporary Mexican cuisine in San José — tacos, chilaquiles, enchiladas, artisanal cocktails, and some of the best food you'll find in the capital. A perfect dinner stop for travelers spending a night before or after their trip. Listed on the ICT's official Visit Costa Rica site.

Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–10pm | Sun 11:30am–5pm

A local restaurant in Escobal, just outside Atenas — the kind of place that feeds the community and welcomes travelers with the same warmth. Traditional Costa Rican food made with care, run by Jessica Salazar Guerrero. One of those spots you only find if someone who lives here tells you about it.

Hours: Call to confirm hours: +506 8506-4757 | +506 8895-9990 | +506 2427-7054

A 200-year-old colonial adobe house converted into one of Heredia's best traditional restaurants. Ranked #18 of 202 restaurants in Heredia with 173 Tripadvisor reviews. Legendary meat sampler plate, grilled corvina, chifrijo with house chile, fresh fruit juices, and the best Tres Leches in the province. The only restaurant in the area that makes coffee the old fashioned way right in front of you. Generous portions, attentive service, locals packed inside — always a good sign. On the road to Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Hours: Mon–Sat 7:00am–10:00pm | Sun 7:00am–9:00pm

The liveliest spot in Atenas. A family-style restaurant and sport bar with a varied menu, live music nights, outdoor seating, and secure parking. Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked in the top 25 restaurants in Atenas. The kind of place where locals gather for football matches, birthday celebrations, and Friday nights. Perfect for travelers wanting an evening out with good food, cold drinks, and real Atenas atmosphere.

Hours: Always open | Live music events — check Facebook for schedule

A family-run seafood restaurant and cabinas right on the Pacific Coast Highway in Caldera. Famous for two viral dishes — La Patrona and 7 Machos — giant seafood platters that locals drive from across the Central Valley to eat. Fresh mariscos, ceviche, octopus tower, shrimp, and lobster at honest prices. Everything made fresh and homemade. Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award winner — top 10% of properties. The perfect lunch stop on the drive between San José and Manuel Antonio or Jacó.

Hours: Daily 9:00am – 9:00pm | Free parking available

Fine dining perched atop the Gaia Hotel & Reserve with breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and rainforest canopy. Open to non-guests — a golf cart takes you up from the entrance. Innovative menu featuring plantain-coconut mahi-mahi, ginger-panko-crusted tuna, Caribbean curried chicken, and a squash and papaya soup that gets mentioned in nearly every review. Happy hour 5–7pm with 2-for-1 cocktails and live music at the Ambar Bar. The sunset view from this restaurant is genuinely one of the best in the Manuel Antonio area. Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor. Reservations recommended.

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 7:00am–10:00pm | Happy Hour 5:00pm–7:00pm | Reservations recommended

An open-air restaurant perched atop a 90-acre farm at its highest peak — the only place in Manuel Antonio where you can watch a Pacific sunset every single day of the year. Founded in 2003 by Ronny Alpizar. Famous for tropical sangria, cocktails served in coconuts and pineapples, whole fried red snapper, coconut-crusted shrimp, sopa negra, and ceviche. Ranked #4 of 104 restaurants in Manuel Antonio on Tripadvisor with over 3,600 reviews and a 2026 Travelers' Choice Award. The access road goes up and it's worth every meter. Book for sunset — arrive early.

Hours: Daily 11:15am–9:30pm | Closed September 15–30 | Reservations recommended for sunset

A beloved open-air café perched above the road to Manuel Antonio National Park with panoramic Pacific Ocean views. Fresh fish any way you want it — panko crusted, coconut crusted, grilled, blackened, or cornmeal crusted. The whole red snapper is the signature. Famous for the Agua Azul margarita — blue curacao, guanabana, fresh lime, topped with Grand Marnier. Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor with over 3,100 reviews. Small restaurant that fills up fast — arrive by 5pm for sunset views. No reservations accepted. Worth the wait. Monkeys occasionally pass through the trees above.

Hours: Daily 11:00am–9:00pm | Get there by 5pm for sunset

The best casado in the Central Valley. Friday mornings after the farmers market. Cash only, no reservations, always worth the wait.

A local artisan bakery right in the heart of Atenas. Fresh pastries, cakes, and baked goods made daily. Find them at their Atenas Centro location or at Soda Donde Margot inside the Atenas market. The perfect 6am stop before hitting the road — and one of those places that makes Atenas feel like home.

Hours: Daily 6:00am – 6:00pm

Costa Rica's only Harry Potter themed café. Floating candles, wizard décor, Butterbeer, and themed pastries. A genuinely magical stop for families and fans — and one of those places most travelers never find without a local tip.

Hours: Wed–Fri 2:30pm–6:00pm | Sun 12:00pm–6:00pm

The top-rated café in Puerto Viejo — right next to the MEPE bus terminal with ocean views. Specialty coffee made with Talamanca cacao, authentic Rice and Beans cooked in fresh coconut milk, whole fried red snapper, and tropical smoothies. The perfect first stop off the bus. Free WiFi, pet friendly, digital nomad heaven. The Talamanca chocolate moccachino alone is worth the trip.

Hours: Daily 7:00am – 5:00pm

Breakfast and café with one of the best views in all of Monteverde. Sit with your morning coffee above the cloud forest and watch the mist roll through the canopy below. The kind of place that makes you stop talking and just look. A perfect first stop before heading to the reserve — or the reason you came to Monteverde in the first place.

Hours: Breakfast & café — contact via Instagram @loscerrosmv for hours

Handles property sales, rentals, and search — from finding the right property to closing the deal. Personalized, transparent guidance through the entire process.