Pensión Santa Elena
Location: Santa Elena, Monteverde, Monteverde, 5655, Monteverde, CR
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Property Type: Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
About this Property
Scenic Mountain Views - Nestled in the serene Monteverde mountains, Pensión Santa Elena offers breathtaking garden views, providing a tranquil retreat for guests.
Convenient Amenities - Enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, restaurant dining, and concierge services at your disposal. Take advantage of luggage storage, laundry facilities, and airport shuttle services for a seamless stay.
Prime Location - Explore nearby attractions such as Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Jardín de Orquídeas, all within reach of this charming hostal.
Ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of Monteverde? Book your stay at Pensión Santa Elena now and create unforgettable memories.
Important Information
- Up to 2 children 7 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
- The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Policies
Check-in: 02:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Instructions: The front desk is open daily from 6:30 AM - 9:30 PM. The front desk is staffed during limited hours.
Amenities & Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Garden
- Luggage storage
- Designated smoking area
- Concierge service
- Picnic area
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Ecotours nearby
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Parking (limited spaces)
- Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
- Ziplining nearby
- Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
Rooms Available
-
Grand Cabin
2 Queen Beds and 2 Twin Bunk Beds
258 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, towels, and soap
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking, pet friendly
Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)
- Shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- Private or shared bathroom
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
-
Standard Room
1 Double Bed
129 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Shared bathroom, towels, soap, and toilet paper
Practical - Desk
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- Private or shared bathroom
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
-
Petite Suite - Private Bathroom
2 Double Beds
258 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, towels, and soap
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Accessibility - Wheelchair accessible
Non-Smoking, pet friendly
Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Wheelchair accessible
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- Private or shared bathroom
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
-
Grand Standard
1 Double Bed
151 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, towels, and soap
Practical - Desk and wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking, pet friendly
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- Private or shared bathroom
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
Guest Reviews
- Gilberto (10/5): - Excellent hotel with friendly and helpful staff; conveniently located.
- Pilar (8/5): - In general the place was good. Not enough tables for breakfast, you had to make your own coffee and breakfast portions were small. Bed a little on a firm side, not enough water pressure for the shower
- Jeffrey (8/5): - No frills, but perfectly adequate accomodations. Wonderful, hot shower with good pressure.
- Michelle (8/5): - La piscina estaba sucia y nunca pudimos hacer uso de la misma. El personal es amable como en todo CR.
- Pramod (10/5): - Very helpful. Place had everyting wr needed.
- Ronald (4/5): - I understand that this is a budget hotel, but I have to admit we were disappointed. First off, the photos online were misleading regarding the standard rooms with bath. It turns out that our room was small, dingy and run down. We ended up going elsewhere after a couple nights. The bed was hard and uncomfortable. Housekeeping service is apparently only on Saturday. It was fairly noisy, but that was expected since we were centrally located. On the positive side, the location was good, staff was as friendly and as helpful as possible. The breakfast was generous and good. The communal kitchen seems to function quite well, and there was room in the lobby to hang out or eat. We prepaid and were not offered any refund options when we asked (our fault for prepaying). In short, this hotel might work well for the price providing you know what you’re in for. Again, better photos would help.
- Kyle (6/5): Aging hostel - It is an aging hostel right on the main street, expect uncomfortable beds, unclean floors, and lots of road noise all night. The breakfast was good
- Lorene (10/5): - The photos make the rooms look bigger. They also don’t show they count a double bed as a loft that has a low ceiling.
- Anjelica (8/5): - Wonderfully walkable to restaurants, shops, etc with about a 10 min drive to all the reserves. Loved the communal kitchen and games in the shared gathering area with free tea and coffee all day. This is an older property, but the location is great, the staff are helpful, and it is clean.
- SLatTex (2/5): Disappointing Stay - My recent stay at Pension Santa Elena was deeply disappointing, warranting a dismal 1 out of 5 stars. The rooms were shockingly dirty, with noticeable dust accumulation and overall neglect in cleanliness. It was clear that thorough cleaning and maintenance were sorely lacking, contributing to an uncomfortable and unpleasant environment.
The staff's demeanor further compounded the negative experience. They were consistently rude and unresponsive to basic requests, displaying a lack of professionalism and courtesy that fell well short of acceptable standards. Their dismissive attitude towards guests' concerns only exacerbated the already poor impression left by the accommodations.
Adding to the discomfort, there were significant issues with the facilities themselves. Several rooms had inadequate lighting, making it difficult to navigate, and some lacked functioning air conditioning, exacerbating an already uncomfortable stay. These shortcomings highlight a severe lack of attention to guest comfort and basic amenities, further detracting from any potential positive aspects of the stay.
In conclusion, my experience at Pension Santa Elena was marred by dirty rooms, rude staff, and insufficient facilities. It is clear that significant improvements are needed in cleanliness, customer service, and basic amenities to provide a satisfactory stay for guests in the future.
- K (8/5): Great for the solo female traveller - As a female traveller, I felt completely safe here and would definitely stay again if I'm ever back in Monteverde.
Great place for a solo traveller with a communal kitchen to help keep down expenses of eating out. WiFi in all the rooms. Staff were extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful 😊
My only complaint would be the floors in my room hadn't been cleaned (but in fairness it's a 2 star hostel, not a 5 star hotel). Make sure you have some flip flops or slippers for the room and then its not a problem 👌
- Olivia (8/5): Comfortable, convenient. - Super convenient location, very clean and comfy bed, warm shower, staff helpful and breakfast included with ease. Downside: noisy road, lots of dust and exhaust fumes. However, if you’re staying here it’s likely because you want the central location and it’s right in the centre so it’s perfect. Wouldn’t stay if I had a car. The kitchen facilities could also do with updating: better pans and more fridge space.
- Verified traveler (6/5): Good location, but… - Santa Elena Pension is in a central spot of Monteverde. However, there is poor noise isolation so you can really hear the traffic outside. In addition, some of the staff were a bit rude and unhelpful. The room itself is fine, but the floor is concrete and uneven.
- simaisnon (4/5): Overpriced, barely clean room in main building - I had the room P8 in the main building, right next to the lounge area. Thankfully, that area closed around 9pm because it is super noisy. I do not recommend rooms in the main building: too expensive for what they are, which is 2 beds, a nightstand, no window, no fan, nothing. When I looked under the beds, it was really disgusting. The nice pictures you see on the Web (with hammock and big windows) represent the newer building.
I was really disappointed about the service offered by the workaway people, who are not motivated nor much help since they know nothing except how to sell you an expensive tour. If you want correct information (about buses for example), ask people from Costa Rica who are paid employees there or the tourist info center (beware, there is only one in town, check google maps carefully to not be fooled as Santa Elena is a tourist trap). I was expecting a garden, but it was just a grassy area with tables. Beware that the lounge and kitchen area is literally locked and therefore inaccessible between 9pm and 6am. Don’t forget your breakfast in there if you need to leave early!
- Cecilia (8/5): - Pension was good the breakfast was perfect, the kitchen worked well too and room was great. They had free yoga and they helped us book tours and things to do.
- Sylvie (10/5): - Très belle expérience. Réception très efficace. Très propre. Cuisine communautaire bien organisée. Espace commun correct. Emplacement central près de tout à pied.
- Eszter (8/5): - Basic but well kept property in a very convenient location. Staff were friendly and helpful.
- Fraser (8/5): - Friendly, convenient and good value place in the centre of Santa Elena
- Maria (6/5): - Excellent location, well equipped and clean common area, free breakfast. Paper thin walls, squeaky bed.
- Erika (6/5): - The concept is interesting. Makes for a lovely youth hostel. Was surprised it was so much in the city. Breakfast was very good.
- Christopher (10/5): Best hostel experience! - This is an amazing place to stay. Feels like a cozy bed and breakfast up in the mountains. The staff is so friendly and accommodating! Common areas are comfortable and the free breakfast is a great way to start your day.
- Bryson (4/5): - Definitely a hostel in terms of quality of facilities. Very small rooms. Loud since it is located on a busy road.
- LAURA (8/5): - We really enjoyed our stay at the pension. We had the chance to meet with beautiful people and share parts of our trip with them. The place is very well located, but the area is quite busy and get somehow quite noisy with traffic noise in the background.
- Louise (10/5): Great stay in Santa Elena - Great hostel close to restaurants. Easily walkable. Great breakfast. The staff is amazing.
- Hilla (6/5): - Check if it is what you are looking for
- Alice (8/5): - I am a senior traveler and was trying to bring the self-indulgence of a solo trip in on a budget. Staying at Pension Santa Elena helped. I had a Garden Standard Room with private bath. Location in the town in very good for a traveler without a car. As noted by others staff are pleasant, informative and helpful with making travel arrangements. Room was basic but comfortable, shower was good. Found the pension quiet at night, though an early start to motorcycle traffic in the am might be a problem for some. Satisfied with the breakfast. If you are out and about before it is offered at 7 am, Panaderia Jimenez just up the street opens at 0500 and has good coffee.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Staff were very helpful and friendly. Good central location
- Aaron (10/5): Perfect for our 3 Monteverde nights - Excellent family experience. Easy walking to city. Comfortable amenities. Loft bed for one kiddo - very exciting. Wonderful daily breakfast. Would definitely stay again.
- stephenbD681ZV (10/5): Pleasant Stay at Pension Santa Elena - It's located in the center of town making it a very convenient place to explore from. The staff, which included Dayana and John, were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, arranging a variety of quality tours for me. Free breakfasts were another nice benefit.
- MacKenzie (8/5): - The staff were very nice and helpful. I enjoyed the courtyard.
- Meredith (10/5): - This is our 4th time staying at the Pension Santa Maria. Staff and guests are super friendly. Location is very centralized. Beds are comfortable (but bring your own pillows).
- Marie (10/5): - This place was great for our family. Helpful knowledgeable staff, great breakfast and perfect location in the center of Santa Elena.
- 217jennia (10/5): Excellent place to stay - This hotel was excellent, and a great bargain. The rooms are well maintained, clean, and we felt safe. It is extremely walkable to all the restaurants and shops in santa elena. It was quiet too, so you can sleep when you need to! The receptionists were very helpfu and kind and speak English perfectly. The shared kitchen, bathroom and sitting spaces are clean, attractive and calm. I’d return!
- Mukhtar (8/5): - Great location! Near a lot off restaurants!
- Abby (8/5): friendly staff, easy access to town, slept awful - The hotel has a lot of personality and staff was super friendly and helpful. The included breakfast was great.
Hotel is easily walkable to a bunch of good restaurants and super market in the area.
Beds were not comfortable and there is no sound proofing in the rooms-- we could hear everything on the main road all night long. We slept really poorly but otherwise were happy with the hotel.
- Hinna (10/5): - The place I stayed at during my stay in Costa Rica. The staff are beyond helpful and they make everything easy. They helped me book tickets and transport and it was more reasonable than anything I found online. It's not a fancy place, it's pretty basic but great for what it is. The rooms don't have TVs and the beds are too soft for me personally but I didn't mind any of that. There's a common kitchen for everyone's use and free tea/coffee available all day. There's a little courtyard on the property that was really nice to have. The included breakfast has three options and they're all pretty good. There's plenty of restaurants in walking distance and a short drive to Santa Elena cloud forest or Selvatura adventure park. Most tours to the park should include transportation from hotels/hostels nearby. Definitely recommend.
- miahG6832JD (10/5): Loved it - Good balance between service and expenses!
We had a nice stay very clean everything good place in the city, helpful staff nice chill area and great atmosphere;)
Cheap and very price worthy with breakfast and all!!!
- Mary (10/5): - Wonderful hostel, lots of people, glad we had a private room. Staff really helpful, especially MJ. Loved the free breakfast with donations for the community. Santa Elena & Monteverde have many activities to offer, in town & surrounding area.
- Meander30841952391 (10/5): Loved by solo female traveler - I really loved staying here. 5/5
As a solo female traveler it felt very safe, and it was centrally located so I could make a short walk if needed to the grocery store or coffee in the morning. Room was basic but I stayed a week and it felt like home.
- manuelgB9241PO (10/5): Great hostel! - Well located, clean, with nice common area and most of all you can feel that they care about giving you the best possible experience. Very good quality/price option! Highly recommended for a stay in the beautiful area of Santa Elena / Monteverde!
- David (2/5): - We arrive at 10PM due to terrible traffic only to find no one to receive us. We had called earlier that evening to warn them we would be late and was told there would a security person to provide us a room. Nope. Took us an hour to find another hotel. Warning! The whole town of Monteverde shuts down early!!
- Marisa (10/5): - Loves this whole place! It was in a perfect location, the room was nice and the staff was awesome. Felt super homey
- Grace (10/5): - Had a lovely experience staying here! Has a great location -walking distance to restaurants and shops. Staff were welcoming and helpful with booking us a shuttle and recommending places! Very cozy and comfortable sleep, clean and cute place, tasty free breakfast included. Pretty garden lounge area outside too!
- ian (8/5): Basic but perfect - Very basic. but super friendly and convenient, the staff are great, the breakfast is really good local food.. you have to try the local ice cream at the front of the hostel it was amazing. great base for town and trips.
also the hotel helped us with our arrangements when our plan were changed due to flight issues.. thank you Pesion Santa Elena.
- Energiek (10/5): Fab backpackers - This is what a back packer place should be like. Really friendly and helpful staff and a great friendly and chilled vibe.
Good, hot shower and comfy beds.
Helpful in arranging trips.
We walked from the town one day and visited the waterfall, cheese factory and bat centre which was fab.
- darcelia (10/5): Would totally recommend! - The location is perfect, it’s close to all businesses and easily accesible by foot. 200 meters away from the bus station and just a few steps away from the Orchid Garden. The staff is very friendly and helpful to book tours and guiding you around the place. The rooms are simple but comfortable, i was traveling solo and got a private room with two beds all for myself for an amazing price. I really enjoyed my stay.
- THOMAS (10/5): - The staff was very helpful they arranged my ground transportation when I left
- ubuntucloneen (10/5): Absolutely loved it!! - Staying at Pensions was an absolute treat, the chilled out atmosphere, super friendly staff (Shout out to Nina and MJ 👍), very comfy rooms and the best location in town.
Staying here was a cherry 🍒 on top of the cake that is MonteVerde.
I also had the good fortune to get to know Ran and his wife while staying there, they're a one in a million family.
- C3040HOannab (10/5): Super friendly staff! - Super friendly staff. Helping you with the planning and booking in Monteverde. Also nice food recommendations. Kitchen fully equipped. Free coffee and tea all day. Cosy common area although few tables with chairs for the guests. Free breakfast.
- Vanessa (8/5): - Great location. Friendly staff. But not very easy to book activities or to know what is available or discounts in the area due to the booking. The rooms are okay, but underwhelming. Very basic accommodations.
- Canelle_Ka (10/5): Perfect place in the center of Santa Elena - I spend one night in Pension Santa Elena and I had a beautiful expérience. Thé room was simple,clean and comfortable.
There is beautiful art in all thé hostel.
Thé atmosphere is really welcoming and friendly. Thé staff is so nice and Always ready to help or give thé best advice.
Thé location was perfect and there was all thé amenities nécessaire liké a shared kitchen and breakfast incluses. Thé garden is comfortable.
I definitely recommend to stay there.
- Martin (10/5): - There just seemed to be a really good vibe to the place. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. I extended my stay an additional day. Rooms were comfortable.
- Meredith (8/5): - The amenities are very basic but the staff and breakfast are fantastic!!!!
- 577carriem (10/5): Awesome staff, nice vibe - The staff at this place were so friendly, welcoming and helpful! They gave good restaurant recommendations (especially if you’re on a budget and are sick of Casados). The room was cozy, and the shower was great. I especially loved the hammock outside my room! The only downside - not really their fault - was that there was a large group of extremely disrespectful students (high school or college?) staying in the dorms, who behaved as if no one else was staying there. Shouting across the property at 11 pm and 6 am for example. So maybe not the most quiet night? Also parking was fine when I stayed because there weren’t many guests with cars, but they only have about 5 spots. But still great value for money and I love little guesthouses like this where the staff go above and beyond to make you feel at home. Costa Rica is seriously lacking at places where you can get a comfy private room and hot shower and a nice traveler vibe at this price point, so I was thrilled to find Pension Santa Elena.
- shanemP5880VY (10/5): Awesome spot - Helpful staff, friendly vibe, decent rooms, great location. This place made our visit so much more convenient and pleasant. The staff go out of their way to help you with tours and transportation, and the whole place has a really friendly community vibe to it.
- TravelWithLucia (10/5): Wonderful people! - We haven't had a chance to spend a night here, but when we thought there was a café included, so we went in. The young woman at the reception (who speaks English perfectly btw) invided us to have a coffee for free and use the wifi whilst waiting for our departure.
Thank you, Pension Santa Elena! This is truly a "pura vida" place :)
- Verified traveler (10/5): Great value for the price - Very cool Hostel/Hotel! Staff is really friendly & helpful, property is clean and the breakfast is very good, traditional.
- Shadi (10/5): What a pension - A real nice and cozy pension in the heart of Santa Elena where everything is within walking distance. Breakfast was good and the guys on reception always helpful and can book you whatever tours or transport you need which make life easier. Highly recommended hotel
- jpa927 (10/5): Very friendly and cozy - When where surprised with this place!! From the pictures we weren't really convinced but once we arrived we where very well treated. It's a very cozy space with a super laid back environment. And all the staff was super helpful and facilitated an amazing zip line experience even though it was for the next day and we arrived at 10pm
- Verified traveler (10/5): - The staff and service are amazing, and the breakfast and coffee in the morning is really good. I liked my room a lot, but definitely bring bug spray for the mosquitoes. All in all such a nice place and very central to Monteverde. I can't wait to stay again someday!
- AmberS240 (10/5): Friends for a Lifetime - This place has such wonderful vibes! I stayed here for a little over a week and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to stay here. The owners, staff, and even guests were so friendly. I instantly felt like part of a family. The team managing the front desk and check-in were awesome! Super knowledgeable and always welcoming you with a smile. They had resources and answers for all of my questions and needs. The room was very clean, the kitchen was well stocked, and you can't beat the location or the price. I highly recommend this spot for anyone passing through Monteverde for short or long stays.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - First time at a hostel and I liked it. Not fancy, but very homie, close to restaurants and bars (literally all around), very nice people, quiet.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Staff are really nice , friendly and very helpful.
- Verified traveler (10/5): Small place with a big heart - Bare bones pension with a big spirit. Everyone so friendly and helpful. Big free breakfast "just as a gift". Very cool stone shower. Cozy clean rooms
- Zen_less (10/5): A gem of a place in the center of Monteverde - I stayed two nights at Pension Santa Elena; even though I booked the single room at the last minute it was still marked down to $11 a night! It has a wonderful backyard with tables were people can sit outside on the wonderful Santa Lina days. The reception area is also very welcoming, and all the staff are great people. I can’t recommend this place highly enough.
- nicholas (10/5): Great staff and clean comfortable room - The room was great clean and comfortable. The staff on the desk were awesome so so helpful , so friendly and were happy to help with anything from booking trips , advice on places to eat , calling people for us. So good .
- Julie (10/5): Parfait - Cuisine propre et fonctionnelle, chambre propre et assez grande, thé et café gratuit en tout temps! Personnel serviable et enjoué. Déjeuner parfait!Bien situé, tout se fait pieds
- LoriL (10/5): - I LOVED everything about this property. My room was decorated with bright colors and a fun flower chandelier light. The bed was extremely comfortable. My room had a private bathroom with a stone shower. Breakfast was included and cooked to order every morning. There was complimentary coffee and tea available at all times. A wonderful fully equipped kitchen was at your disposal to cook your lunches and dinners. Michael, one of the front desk staff, was extremely thoughtful and carried my suitcase up to my room. The reception staff was always there to answer questions, help with problems and/or assist with tour or transfer reservations. A calm and serene place to chill and enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature. I’ll definitely be back!!
*If you work remotely, the WiFi here is not strong enough and has an intermittent signal.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Staff very friendly. Good breakfast. Great location. Only negative is the bed. Needs to be replaced.
- Lee (8/5): - Conveniently located in the centre of Santa Elena (the town). 2-minute walk to the shops (supermarkets, pharmacia, cafes and sodas, tour offices, souvenirs, restaurants). 6min walk to the parada / bus station. 5km to Monteverde forest preserve. ($12 taxi or 700 C on the public bus).
The courtyard garden in the back is lovely: quiet, sunny, with plenty of outdoor seating. Staff are friendly and proactively helpful. There were a half-dozen of us arriving at the same time, so Diego gave us an orientation session, including tours and activities to consider.
The kitchen is well-used -- remember to label your food, if you want to see it again!
Breakfast is fantastic. Choose from tacos, toast & eggs, or yoghurt with fruit & granola. I enjoyed the breakfast tacos (scrambled eggs, beans, potatoes, grated cheese) every morning.
Night-time is quiet... until the rooster and early morning traffic (trucks, motorcycles) start.
- Kris (8/5): - The front desk staff were very helpful in giving information and recommendations about different activities in the area. Also, tour buses stop right at the hotel to pick you up. The room was basic, but overall comfortable. The entire complex was comfortable. The front sitting area feels like a cozy coffee shop. There was hot water in the shower. It is in the center of town, so walkable to many things. It was nonetheless relatively quiet- the one instance of loud people was not very long, but it was clear the walls are paper thin in that regard.
A couple improvements would be to include a shelving unit in the main bedroom of 16. Also, the curtains are transparent- I could see my family through them at night when the lights inside the room were on. Lastly, the only lock was the twist lock on the handle. Would love to have a chain lock or something that only operates from the inside.
Overall, we would stay here again if we were to ever come back to Santa Elena.
- Veronica (10/5): - We came as a family of four with two kids (8 and 10). What was great: enough beds for everyone to have their own bed. We also had our own private bath. Location was perfect - central to everything. Staff was super helpful. Breakfast was tasty. Very charming place!
The windows were a little breezy and the walls a little thin - the German family next door was very loud.
- HN (10/5): - We had a very nice stay. The staff was so kind and really helpful, they booked some great tours for us, we loved our tour guide Adrian in the cloud forest that they arranged for us. The location was great, walking distance to many places in town. Highly recommend.
- Brooke (8/5): Glad we chose to stay here. - Diego was very welcoming and helpful. The place has a nice vibe. There is a cute store attached. Simple breakfasts. Free tea and coffee during the day. Great location. Rooms are nice, good showers but beds weren't so comfortable.
- Verified traveler (8/5): - I believe o got what I paid for. In general the place is clean, not spotless, the facilities are in good working order, the staff are excellent and the breakfast was great too. I would stay here again unless you are with someone whom the bugs love, the windows don’t have screens and there were some mosquitoes it other biting bugs.
- Nicholas (10/5): - Very comfortable place to stay and a very reasonable price.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Very pleasant knowledgable staff. Comfortable rooms. Decent breakfast included. Practical kitchen available. Lighting I. The rooms is not great, and can be a little noisy from neighbours.
- Aurelia (10/5): Great experience - Great stay and a very well run hostel. I chose a single room, and it was very clean throughout. The water was very hot, and it was the best shower I got while in Costa Rica. Daily breakfast was convenient, and the receptionist was great at assisting with planning activities. I would definitely stay here again.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Location. In the heart of monte verde. Such a beautiful town.
- GusChiggins (10/5): - Staff are excellent! Great location and awesome rooms. Will definitely stay here again.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Absolutely loved Pension Santa Elena, well organized and well located. But what makes this place an amazing stay is the wonderful attitude and willingness to help of the entire staff, highly recommend this place :)
- Verified traveler (10/5): - The staff are amazing here! So friendly and super helpful. It was pretty quiet at night considering it is a hostel. Breakfast was very good and the location is great as there is a bus stop right out front. Rooms were nice and clean. I would definitely stay there again!!
- AlaskaTraveler (10/5): - Centrally located, with very friendly and helpful staff. The room had a private bathroom, with hot water and good water flow. Breakfast was excellent and had very prompt service, as well as good choices. Parking is on site, but can get full, and they have an overflow area just up the hill at a bank. Many nice restaurants within a short walk (some tourist traps much closer up the road, but not recommended).
- Verified traveler (10/5): - The staff were incredibly kind and helpful. Monteverde is beautiful and friendly. The community really makes you feel welcome and helps you however they can. Pension Santa Elena had a great vibe-clean, great location, and awesome breakfast.
- Verified traveler (8/5): - Great place to stay in Monte Verde, centrally located with affordable & clean rooms.
2 out of the 3 staff were lovely and helping in arranging tours & logistics. It's a shame the last one (long hair guy) thinks he is too cool to answer tourists' stupid questions :(
I had a great experience there nonetheless
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Perfect location in the absolute heart of tiny Santa Elena. Easy walking to restaurants, tour operators, and whatever 'night life' there is in the city. Clean and comfortable rooms with extremely friendly staff and reliable wifi. What more could you ask for?
- Samuel (10/5): Best Service in Santa Elena - This was actually my second stay at Pensión Santa Elena but the first at their new building. (same location the original Pensión Santa Elena now called Hostel Santa Elena, same owners etc)
Same great service I remember from before, they helped set-up or tours, always had coffee available and in general were great for what ever you needed.
- Andrea (8/5): - The overall vibe of this place was so warm. The staff was incredibly friendly and the breakfast tacos were out of this world delicious!
- Lamarae (10/5): - Private room had a private shower with constant HOT water. Amazing staff.
- Verified traveler (8/5): Nice location - Nice hotel in great location. Room was basic but excellent for the price. Wonderful and friendly staff.
- Cladio (10/5): what we need and want. - This place has what we need is not a hotel is a hostal big different but very nice in the middle of downtown.
Staff is very nice and helpful
The breakfast is very good.
Yes like others reviews you can hear conversations from next door but if you want to sleep do it and ignore what is happening. Like I said is hostal not a hotel. So be open mind about things that you will get in a hotel but not here I will definitely stay here again
Price is very convenient
- Jen (10/5): Great value; lovely staff - My family and I loved our stay at Pension Santa Elena for three nights. It was exactly what we were hoping for: centrally-located, lots of room, and friendly people. We loved having the option of making our own meals and the breakfast had three delicious choices. The staff was great and made our reservations for us. Overall, Monteverde was excellent and Pension Santa Elena was exactly what we were looking for.
- Linds (10/5): great experience - Pensión Santa Elena was a wonderful experience. Although I was a solo female traveler, I booked one of the 2 bed rooms, requesting it in the newer building due to my (admittedly irrational) fear of spiders. Of course - still was terrorized by several large ones that were unreachable - but the 2 beds allowed me to choose the furthest to sleep from them. The room overall was nice, included a desk, loved the stone shower, very spacious. Jahn at the front desk was AMAZING - we had a wonderful hours long conversation, he convinced me to do the night hike despite my fears and I was SO grateful he did, and he gave me so many great food recommendations within walking distance. The hostel breakfast next door was quick and convenient to start the day and a wonderful addition, not to mention the unlimited coffee. It's in a prime location near any sort of shops or food you could desire. I would definitely stay here again.
- Elisa (10/5): Very nice place - Great area to explore and have adventures. All around great hostel!!!
- Chi (10/5): Top value for the price and quite and comfortable. - It's a bargain if you get to stay in the hotel. Good location close to everything you want to do. You even get a decent breakfast for what you pay. Friendly and knowledgeable staff give you all the help you need.
- Ian (10/5): The best place to stay in Santa Elena - The staff are very friendly and helpful. Nicolette, who runs the place, has great style and always welcomes you with a greeting and a warm smile. The location is ideal as a base for exploring Monteverde and Santa Elena.
- Lucinda (8/5): - Room was clean, beds were reasonably comfortable. Nice communal kitchen - just a bit dark in the evenings. The staff were helpful with tour bookings and recommendations.
- D (10/5): Great place to stay. Great location. - We loved this place. The staff are very informative and friendly - special mention to Diego, who was always so cheerful and helpful.
Seriously people, you won't regret staying here.
- Verified traveler (8/5): Good location - Nice central location, very welcoming, clean . Nice kitchen area. Good tacos for breakfast good wifi
- mary (10/5): Nice centric hostal - I loved the place! It is very centric, cozy and cheap!
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