Pension Santa Elena Information Book

La Pension Santa Elena Guest Services and Information

Travel Saved My Life!

Welcome to the Pension Santa Elena.

Our mission: “exceed our guests' expectations of a Travelers Ho-

tel by providing outstanding services and dependable information. We commit resources and time to preserving the values and traditions of our communities.” Pure Life…Pure Hospitality.

Located in the center of Santa Elena, Monteverde. La Pension Santa Elena is a casual, cool place to sleep, play and explore the Monteverde cloud forest. The Hotel serves as a community gathering place for residents and visitors alike. We look forward to serving you.

Features: Your comfort and happiness is guaranteed. Please talk with the Front Desk if you need anything.  Reception is open 5:30am to 10:00pm  Complimentary Wifi is available everywhere  Complimentary Breakfast served daily from 7:00am to 9:00am from the fantastic Taco Taco Taqueria  Hotel Guests receive a 10% discount from Taco Taco and Luna Azul. For more info as the Front Desk.  Locally sourced Coffee and Tea served fresh daily in the lounge  Community Kitchen open from 6:00am to 9:00pm 

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Water in Costa Rica is safe to drink and its Free!

A complimentary Safe Deposit box is located at the Front Desk Protect our Septic System. Flush your toilet paper but

NO Sanitary Napkins, Condoms, etc.  

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If your room needs cleaning please tell the Front Desk Recycle, Re-Use. There are recycling stations throughout the hotel or leave it with reception.

We have replaced the lights with LED bulbs. Still turn off the lights!

The very best full service front desk in Costa Rica. Ask us Anything.

The Monteverde bio-logical zone has been viewed as a model for conservation at the grass roots level. Non-profits, for profits, research institutions, citizens, school children and visitors are all working together to protect some of the last tropical cloud forests in the world. Guided or on your own they are a magical place to reconnect with nature. Open @ 7 am to 4:30pm - Guided Tours @ 730 & 12:30 Monteverde Reserve: The oldest and biggest. Extraordinary trail system with both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes Reserve Santa Elena: Operated by the public high school. Great trails on the Caribbean slope with views of Volcan Arenal and the lake Curi Cancha: For profit park with both low land and primary cloud forest. Excellent for birding.

For more information and to reserve a guide talk with the Front Desk

Walks and Free Hikes: Ask at the front desk for reservations or directions

Children’s Eternal Rainforest : A great Trail System. It exists thanks to children and adults from all over the world who take part in the Children’s Rainforest Movement started in Sweden and the US in 1987. This Reserve protects critical habitat on the Pacific Night Walks: A very popular and great way to see the wildlife of Monteverde. All tours are guided and include a flashlight. Ask the front desk for times and tours Get up, Get Out, Go Trek! Free or full day hikes around town: Monteverde City Walk: Free 5k walk through Monteverde town Cerro Amigos : Free 3 hour hike to the Monteverde summit San Luis: Full day hike through coffee farms, rivers, with stunning views and rural community San Gerardo Station: Full day trek to the bio station. Arenal volcano and the lake. Overnight with a reservation

Farm Tours: Monteverse is one of the best coffee growing regions in Costa Rica and is also famous for dairy, Costa Ricans and Monteverde Quakers from North America have been producing artisanal cheeses and ice cream since 1953. Farm tours offer a great opportunity to connect with real folks in the community and learn about sustainable farming.

Life Monteverde: For coffee lovers. This farm is a true example of a great working organic coffee farm. Amazing. Tours at 730am and 130 CafÊ Don Juans: Focus on coffee but also includes the sugar and chocolate process. Very popular tour leaves 730, 1230, and 230 El Trapiche– Focus on Sugar but also includes coffee and chocolate process. This is a beautiful farm. Leaves 730, 1230, and 230 Cheese Factory: Excellent tour. Learn the process and the history of Monteverde on this tour. 9am and 1230

Adventure Tours: zip-lines / bridges / Horses / Bungee Home to 1.5 km superman cables, a 150mt bungee jump, waterfall rappelling, giant Tarzan swings and so much more. Original canopy is the first zip line company in the country and ever since Monteverde has led the way in adventure tourism. There is something here for everyone. All are unique experiences. we can discuss all the choices when you Arrive. Ask at the front desk for more information.

Original Canopy The smallest of the systems offering a more personal experience. Great forest. No superman

Selavatura: One the oldest and most trusted. They offer a superman cable, tarzan swing, and suspension bridges. primary cloud forest.

Sky Trek: Super forest. They have a different breaking system and huge, fast cables but no superman or Tarzan swing

Adventure Tours: zip-lines / bridges / Horses / Bungee Aventura: 1600 mt superman cable, 50 mt tarzan swing. Not in primary cloud forest but one of the most exciting zip-lines in the area.

Extremo: The newest system. 2 different superman cables and tarzan swing. fast and furious adventure. Not in Cloud forest Bridge Tours: Sky trek and Selvatura both offer suspension bridges.

5-8 bridges with a 3km walk, a great way to see the Cloud Forest.

Save when combined with a zip line tour.

Bungee Jump: Extremo has the largest bungee in Central America, an incredible 150mts. Breathtaking. Save when combined with a zip line Waterfall Rappel : rappel down 6 waterfalls, the largest over 75mts Wet. Muddy. Fun adventure.

Horseback Riding: Monteverde has amazing views and back country trails through mountains and farms. Great horses, Great Riding.

Transportation: Public buses, private and shared shuttles: we are experts on how to get there. Talk with the front desk for help with transportation The Reserves : Monteverde/Curi Canch or Children’s Depart daily from Vitosi Pharmacy: 6:15am / 7:30am / 9:30am (highseason only) and 1:20 Reserve Santa Elena: Departs daily at 6:30am / 8:30am / 10:30am and 12:30pm. IMPORTANT: Requires a reservation. Talk with reception To San Jose: Direct Public Bus or Shuttle Departs daily @ 630am and 230pm and from the bakery @ 430am with transfer in Las Juntas. All public buses stop at the airport/ Shuttle service departs from the Hotel at 800am. Requires a reservation. Ask reception for more information

LA FORTUNA:

Taxi Boat Taxi: Departs daily from the hotel at 800am and 200pm.

Needs a reservation. Talk with the front desk.

Public bus leaves from the bakery @ 7am arrives La Fortuna 4 pm.

Play Tamarindo, Coco, Samara or Nosara: Departs at 600am and connects with buses on the Pan-American for Liberia or Nicoya. Then to the beaches.

Puntarenas, Montezuma, St Teresa: Departs 600am to Puntarenas and connects with the 1100am ferry to Montezuma or St. Teresa Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Dominical: Departs 600am to Puntarenas and connects to 1100am to Quepos/Manuel Antonio. Stops in Jaco

Caribbean, Puerto Viejo, Bocas del Toro Panama: Departs 630am to San Jose and connects at 130 pm to Puerto Viejo. No terminal change.

Private or Shared Shuttles depart daily to every popular destination. Ask the front desk for times and prices.

Transportation Nicaragua: Public bus departs daily at 430am and 6am and connects

with a Liberia bus on the Pan American. Once in Liberia connect with Penas Blancas and the border. Take a taxi from the border and save lots of time. Ask at the front desk for more information Transport Tricks and Hints: -High-season get your bus tickets the day before your departure -Do not store your stuff in the overhead bins EVER -Taxis from the border to all major stops in Nicaragua are cheap.

Share a taxi with others and save -Transports times change often ask at the desk if you are not sure -Walk back from the Monteverde Reserve it is lovely with scenic views, great shopping and restaurants

Corporate Responsibility Statement -Health and Well-being: People come first. We have paid professional development for our staff, excellent salaries, flexible shifts, health care, social security and paid vacation. We never lay off during low-season. We honor our families and strive to create a healthy, happy work environment.

Economic Responsibility- Tourism plays an important part in helping Costa Rica thrive economically, supporting democratic initiatives, public health services, and protecting valuable biological regions. This is possible through the tax revenues that are generated by our visitors. The Pension Santa Elena pays ALL required Corporate, Sales, and Hospitality taxes to the government of Costa Rica.

-Community: We give money and resources to Monteverde Friends School, Escuela Creativa, Colegio Santa Elena, Radio Comunitaria Monteverde, Fondo Comunitario, Far Corners Community Theater, Monteverde Summer Camp and many others. We support all efforts to safe-guard our communities’ diversity, social programs and democracy.

-Environment: Our livelihood depends on the protection of our forests, water and air. We collect all of our grey water. We lead the way in recycling for Monteverde and have installed LED bulbs throughout the hotel. We volunteer on the boards and committees of the Monteverde Institute and Escuela de los Amigos.