Raul Esteban

El Tigre Hideaway is the most beautiful place I've ever visited in Costa Rica. Totally secluded and immersed in the forest, but comfortable and safe. We swam in the pool, visited the private waterfall, and at night we listened to monkeys, birds and frogs while the fireflies illuminated the cabin. The food came straight to us, and we also took a horseback tour. The reception has a deck with a spectacular view, a bar, and a swing. Simply amazing. The only confusing thing was understanding the process before arriving. El Tigre is primarily a waterfall destination (incredible!) and the cabins are a complement. From Santa Elena, you can get there in your own vehicle by dirt road. Transportation is not included, although they help coordinate it. In our case, the response took several days, which created uncertainty and confusion. That said, if you arrive with that planned route, the experience is unique and unforgettable.

A complete cabin, very well equipped and very cozy. You feel a sense of peace, you connect with nature, and you really disconnect completely. Very friendly staff at the front desk, attentive to everything you need. I recommend it.

This was truly the most incredible stay of my life. Such an experience with the tree in the courtyard & hot tub over looking the cloud forest. We love the hidden trail straight from the house to waterfalls. We loved the main trail from reception-passing multiple waterfalls was beautiful and fun. We loved the zip line bike, horse riding, and the fun 4x4 ride from the house to the desk. This was truly an adventure. As listed in the posting, there are bugs in the jungle and expect to see some! But, even our kids survived all the bug sightings!

We had a wonderful stay at Casa Colmena. The house is beautifully designed and nestled in the jungle, offering a truly unique and peaceful experience. The private waterfall and hot tub were absolute highlights and made the property feel like a secluded paradise. We loved waking up to the sounds of nature and spending our evenings relaxing outdoors. The home was comfortable, well-maintained, and had everything we needed for a memorable stay. We would definitely recommend Casa Colmena to anyone looking for a special getaway in Costa Rica.

Awesome place to stay. You are surrounded by nature. Be mindful of a lot of birds singing early in the morning, but we loved it. The hidden Waterfall is great. I recommend getting there before sunset because the roads have many turns, and it's a bit scary to drive at night.

Here’s a version under 1000 characters: --- Hidden deep in the Monteverde jungle, this place feels like a true secret—completely off the beaten track and unlike anywhere else we’ve stayed. You arrive by special 4x4, winding through the forest, setting the tone for a real adventure. Suddenly, you’re surrounded by dense jungle, with your own private waterfall nearby—wild, untouched, and incredibly special. Waking up is unforgettable: birdsong, rustling leaves, distant water, and that fresh, earthy jungle air. Even the showers are an experience—you feel like you’re in the jungle itself, completely immersed in nature. What makes it even better is the comfort—cosy beds, a warm fire, and big windows overlooking the forest. It’s perfect for families wanting a safe but adventurous jungle experience.

An incredibly unique experience being fully immersed in nature but with all the comforts of home. Loved riding horses through the forest to breakfast, the waterfall hike, and the private waterfall right near the house. The staff at El Tigre Hideaway are amazing and took care of everything we needed. An awesome adventure in a breathtaking setting.

Very unique and beautiful home! It felt like being in a luxury treehouse. We had a great stay and enjoyed hiking and also just sitting by the fire to relax. The staff were extremely responsive and friendly. Would definitely recommend for a place to stay in the cloud forest.

Our two night stay at El Tigre was amazing! Private waterfalls and beautiful setting.

This is the definition of "off the beaten path." You can only get here by parking your vehicle at the parking lot and riding in a safari off-road vehicle down the steep, rocky path. The views from the top are incredible, but the location is like a best-kept secret. I wish we would've spent more time here, but our flight was delayed and set us back. I recommend arriving in daylight and hiking the path to the private waterfall. I also wish we would've booked the chef. Stopping in town and getting groceries is a good idea before you've made your way to the house, as it isn't easy to come and go. That being said, if you're looking for peace and quiet, this place truly is magical. Sleeping to the sound of the waterfalls is amazing. The hot tub was hot and the fireplace was cozy in the morning. The birds were beautiful, but we did see a couple very spiders as well. That's part of being in there cloud forest, but otherwise, the place was incredible: clean, cozy, bespoke.

Beautiful place. Highly recommended. Right in the heart of the rainforest.

This is a very unique place in the cloud forest. We absolutely loved the surrounding nature, easy hike to the waterfall, and outdoor hot tub. Don’t miss the horseback riding to breakfast. Overall, an impressive place!

This was a great secluded nature stay with Family. The common space outdoors and indoors is perfect. We enjoyed the hot tub outside, the beautiful patio and rainforest around us, as well as the fireplace which was well stocked with wood for burning and an easy to use fire starter. Coming to a fridge stocked with some drinks and local chocolate, as well as coffee and oil for cooking was great. The only thing to keep in mind is how secluded you are. Needing to contact concierge each time you want to leave, so it’s best to stock up on groceries before arriving and messaging for a ride at least 30 minutes before you want to leave. Concierge also helped us coordinate express food delivered right to the house our first night. We enjoyed the private waterfall hike which was an easy walk from our house and of course the entire el Tigre waterfall trail. Definitely a beautiful little piece of jungle luxury!

El Tigre is a gorgeous place to stay, feeling remote and immersed in the rainforest. We loved the outdoor hot tub in the cool evenings and even in the rain. We saw lots of birds from the windows. There are a lot of little bugs that enter in, but that’s rainforest living, and the staff are very helpful with cleaning. We appreciated the in-house chef service, it was our best meal in Costa Rica, and a wonderful convenience. Otherwise we were prepared to cook our food, or eat at the lovely restaurant- their view was amazing! Staff is super helpful and responsive. The El Tigre hike was also a high light of the trip, so many incredible waterfalls and hanging bridges, well worth it!

Fantastic villa inside the jungle! We've never been this close to nature before! Sleeping to the sound of a waterfall is pure bliss! We relaxed and recharged in this place by 100%!

The place was amazing. The trails are magical. And the service is top-notch. I had a flat tire and they fixed it without me doing anything. 100/100

Definitely a place I would like to visit at least once’s a year. The level of peacefulness and connection with nature is unmatched. This is a place I wouldn’t like many people to know… you know when you like something so much you don’t want to share, but they all deserve the opportunity to experience such a beautiful place, this is why I am writing this review. Thank you for having us over, definitely will come back.

We stayed in La Colmena house. It was a beautiful experience to leave our car and be driven to the middle of the forest!! The house is out of this world! With a beautiful jacuzzi and incredible views everywhere you saw, you can live the experience of a lifetime! Every room was fully equipped and the bathroom… You can shower out to the foressstt!!! We had a waterfall like 300 feet from the house just for us and it was magic all around. Communication with our host was easy, friendly and constant. Everyone should stay at La Colmena

A very special and magical place in a privileged location. The service was very friendly and enthusiastic at all times.

What a wonderful experience! Staying in a luxurious house in the middle of the forest. The kids loved it and we had a wonderful time here. The host was responsive and we could get the 4x4 to go to the parking very quickly.

Our family had an amazing time at this hideaway. The unique location and setting is peaceful, surrounded by nature, and with a hidden waterfall that everyone enjoyed exploring. The house blends with the surroundings and offers a mix of comfort and adventure. The host team was very responsive and accommodating, making everything easy from start to finish. Highly recommend!

This Airbnb in El Tigre park was an amazing and unique experience. With access to the park and a private hidden waterfall, it was magic. Host was very responsive and helpful. They always wanted to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. We enjoyed the hot tub everyday, so good for soothing sore muscles after long hikes. Views from the deck and hot tub were stunning, we felt immersed in the jungle. Highly recommend the private chef, Waldir. His food was absolutely delicious and exceeded our expectations. He catered 2 dinners for us and we wished we had reserved him for 3. It allowed us to really enjoy our evenings, such a treat! He was so kind and accommodating. Many thanks to the team at El Tigre for making our stay an amazing one.

My family and I loved staying at El Tigre Hideaway. Every staff member we interacted with was incredibly friendly and accommodating. The house was beautiful, and it was truly special to be surrounded by the jungle. The waterfall hike was the highlight of our trip — my husband and I would have done it every day if our two small children had been up for it. The restaurant staff were also very friendly, and the food was great. Relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day was another special treat. There were plenty of board games so we were truly able to get off all our devices. We would highly recommend this experience! Thank you Raul and staff!

El Tigre Hideaway was spectacular! I highly recommend it! It is beautiful and private. We stayed in Casa Colmeda and it was exactly as pictured. Bring your jungle sense of adventure though, as there are many bugs at night and it is nearly impossible to keep them out of your room. Chef Waldir Garro prepared two dinner for us at the Hideaway. He is an exceptionally talented cook. The food was delicious! I highly recommend booking him as a private chef. There is a fantastic hiking trail for the El Tigre Waterfall (and about 9 other waterfalls) accessible from the main meeting spot/restaurant. This was the best hike that we did in Monteverde. The trail for the hike is well-maintained and easy to follow. the scenery was amazing.

The customer service experience was above and beyond. Everything was amazing and they responded immediately whenever needed. I have not received customer service like this before. The casa was amazing and the waterfalls were breathtaking. We can’t wait to come back!

Beautiful house & location. Very unique experience and perfect if you’re looking for an off the grid experience. The house is so cozy

It was a great place to stay in the middle of nature and the staff was really helpful and very friendly

The El Tigre Hideaway Casa Colmena was an incredible escape. The secluded location right in the heart of the rain forest was so beautiful and peaceful. Everything from the attentiveness of the staff, quality and comfort of the lodgings, and stunning natural scenery made this an exceptional experience. We also loved the waterfall hike, zipline bike, and horseback ride to lunch!

We enjoyed our stay at El Tigre Hideaway with our family. The cottage is located in the middle of the jungle, on a beautiful estate with a beautiful walk along waterfalls. Very special to be able to stay here. The cottage is ideal to unwind completely, away from all the hustle and bustle. The jacuzzi was really a plus, as well as the private waterfall! The service was top: very friendly and fast. Because your car can't stay at the cottage, you'll be picked up by a ranger. I definitely recommend planning your groceries well, or as we did: order takeout from a local restaurant (went smoothly). The nearest (large) supermarket is the one in Santa Elena. Definitely recommended. It is an extremely unique stay. Tip: bring insect spray, it will definitely come in handy ;)

The place is absolutely beautiful! It is literally located IN the cloud forest, and you'll feel like you're in it all by yourself. It's a wonderful place for serenity and connecting with nature. There is even a hidden waterfall located just steps from the property. The property was extremely clean, and the owners are very responsive to all requests. The only word of caution is that because it is so remote, it takes 20 min to get to the nearest town for food or groceries on top of the 10 min drive required each way by the owner to and from the property, since it is not reachable by car. As long as you don't want to be near the action, this is a perfect place! I can't imagine wanting to experience the cloud forest any other way!

Raul’s home is right in the heart of the cloud forest! We enjoyed hiking the el Tigre waterfalls and enjoying the bike zip lines. We saw so many birds, butterflies, monkeys, and more from the back porch of the house. Keep in mind, you are literally in the heart of the forest, so you will see lots of bugs and critters but that’s part of the experience. The hot tub was wonderful and we enjoyed using it in the mornings and evenings. The hosts were very easy to contact and helped us get dinner our first night. The house is beautiful and worth the drive/trip!

Such a unique and cool place to stay! As other people have said, make sure to bring groceries with you if you are getting there later in the day. Although St Elena is a very cool town (the closest) to visit. We had a private waterfall that we never saw another person in the 4 days we were there. It was a fun experience!

Amazing stay in a lost home in the middle of the forest. The setting is truly exceptional. If you want to disconnect, you've come to the right place (good wifi still available). Plan to bring earplugs to sleep because nature and the stream next door are quite noisy at night. The jacuzzi is really nice and can be heated, remember to ask when you arrive otherwise it will be cold. Incredible stay that I would highly recommend!

Stunning x10 cabin in the jungle! Nothing to add!

Beautiful, serene, jungle hideaway. Perfect to disconnect and be immersed in nature. We loved hanging out in the jacuzzi after a day of hiking and zip lining. Private waterfall and trail access was the cherry on top! Highly recommend.

Words can not describe this oasis. If you want a truly unique experience off the grid in the middle of a rainforest this is it. There were no power issues, the hot water was always hot, the transportation to and from the reception area was always available. I would give this place 10 stars out of 10 if I could. if you are hesitating because of the price just spend the moneyb because there's no other place like this probably in the world. Truly spectacular.

Luxury in the jungle! We loved our stay at Raul’s place- if you are considering staying just do it! Getting to the villa is part of the fun and excitement- it is totally private and surrounded by lush jungle. The property is new and beautiful- This is a whole experience not just an Air bnb- we look forward to returning soon and cannot recommend this place enough

A breathtaking experience literally immersed in the forest. A 10/10 experience. I couldn't have expected more than that.

We had an amazing stay! We were working on an art and music project and needed a place to film in nature and record sound—this was perfect. Facilities are impeccable—stunning views, spacious and comfortable living room, cozy bedrooms and baths, and a modern kitchen. The jacuzzi and outdoor deck make it into a luxury spa in the heart of the rainforest! The WiFi was fast, the water was hot—you’d never know you were so remote. If you're planning a visit, keep in mind that reaching the crowded tourist parks takes some time, but there's no reason to leave. Just stop at a grocery store on your way in, and restock in Santa Elena as needed. It's secluded, you'll need a staff member to drive you the last 10 minutes to and from the hideaway, but it’s SO worth it—like stepping into Jurassic Park! Transport was always available, smooth, and reliable. A special shoutout to Raul, who went above and beyond—we had car trouble in Santa Elena, and he came to the rescue! Highly recommended!

Amazing stay in the jungle even thou it rained the entire stay the stay was unique and unforgettable, be ready for adventure on this one , the road to get here is not an easy one Ana the ride to the house even more of an adventure but once your there wow 🤯 the view of you have one is incredible the hot tub was wonderful and we spent a lot of time there , staff was kind and helpful

Really magical place. The location was very remote which made it very special. Waking up to the rainforest out your window was breathtaking. The staff was super amazing, and went above and beyond to make our stay special. Thank you again

Raul their team is very welcoming, the house is inside the forest, a good experience

I had an amazing stay at this mountain villa! Getting there was half the fun, a real adventure, taking a vintage Land Rover on some rugged off-road paths. It felt like we were really heading into the wild, which was awesome. Once we got there, it was just perfect. The place is super quiet, and all you can hear are the sounds of nature, birds, waterfalls, and just the forest around you. The view from the villa is unreal, especially in the mornings. You’re really tucked away from everything, which makes it so peaceful. The villa itself is really cozy and has a nice mix of rustic and comfortable. We loved using the fireplace to keep warm in the cooler evenings. It’s a great place to just kick back, relax, and enjoy the mountain vibes. If you’re looking to disconnect for a bit and be in nature without giving up comfort, I’d definitely recommend this spot!