Planning a trip to Costa Rica and looking for an authentic and peaceful wildlife experience? This guide brings together my favourite experiences in the small, lesser-known mountain village of San Gerardo de Rivas and the surrounding area — from epic hikes and natural hot springs to quiet moments in the cloud forest and encounters with rare wildlife.
Chapters
San Gerardo de Rivas isn’t a bustling tourist hub or a place you hear about on every travel blog.
It’s a quiet village where nature rules, the air is fresh and cool, and life moves at a gentler pace.
There’s no flashy nightlife or crowded attractions here — just misty mornings, the hum of jungle wildlife, and stars so bright they seem almost within reach.
If you’re after a genuine escape from the usual tourist trail, a chance to recharge surrounded by untouched wilderness, San Gerardo de Rivas might just surprise you.
Since my first visit, it’s become a place I return to again and again, each time uncovering new reasons to fall in love with its wild, peaceful charm.
"San Gerardo may be the most beautiful place I've ever seen." – Tripadvisor
If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination with real soul, this place is it. Here's my guide to the best, wildest, and most authentic experiences in San Gerardo de Rivas—plus where to stay and how to get there.
Top tips for San Gerardo de Rivas
- Bring cash: Some places prefer cash over card.
- Pack layers: It gets cold at night, even in the dry season.
- Stay for as long as you can: One night isn’t enough.
- Cover up: This will help with the mosquitoes
Where to Stay
Whether you're on a budget or looking for something with a bit more comfort, the village has some great options.
Budget-Friendly: Hotel Roka Dura
A down-to-earth, locally-run wooden lodge with quirky, nature-inspired decor. The rooms are simple, but the charm is unmatched, and the food is home-cooked and hearty.
Mid-Range: Jardines Secretos
Set in lush gardens with spectacular mountain views, this is a peaceful and beautifully kept guesthouse with private rooms and a serene vibe.
Luxury: Rio Chirripo Spa Hotel
A serene riverside retreat with mountain views, a natural spa, and some of the most peaceful vibes in the valley.
This year, we stayed in Jardines Secretos for a few nights and fell in love. It's a family run business set up in 1997. Perfect little cabins nestled in amongst the most beautiful landscape garden. It felt like a health retreat, there's even a private walk into a woodland with a stunning view. They make the best breakfast too, all incuded in the price
If you are hiking the Chirripo without a car I recommend staying in Hotel Uran, they're located opposite the entrance, which you will thank me for later as the walk up from the village is very steep...(but still possible and also lovely if you're keen for a hike).
How to Get to San Gerardo de Rivas
Getting here is an adventure in itself but has always been a very smooth and pleasant journey.
- From San José, take a bus to San Isidro de El General (around 3.5 hours).
- From there, grab a 15-minute taxi to the village (roughly ₡10000–₡18000).
- Make sure to stock up on snacks or essentials in San Isidro—there are only small local shops in San Gerardo.
Top Things to do in San Gerardo de Rivas
1. Stay in Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
Cloudbridge is one of the most quiet and unique reserves visited. Set on the slopes of Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest mountain, it’s a paradise of waterfalls, hanging bridges, misty trails, and cloud forest magic.
Entry to the reserve is $12.00 USD or ₡6 000 colones
They have around 6 different trails that are all interconnected. Alomogst the breathtaking views you'll find waterfalls, swimming spots, coloutful birds and plenty of solitude. It mgiht not be the most famous reserve, but it's definitely one of the quietest and most varied that we found.
Sleeping in the Cloud Forest
If a day of hiking is't enough for you, you can stay in one of their cabins, which give you a unique experience and a chance to sleep inside a cloud forest.
Cloudbrdige was a great place for us to step back and listen to the relaxing hum of the jungle. We spent 3 nights living and hiking alongside a variety of mammals, insects, and birds.
Each day would start with a beautiful sunrise
and end with the mists rolling in to create the cloud forest. The moisture from the clouds feed air plants (epiphytes that don't need soil to grow and live on the branches of trees).
How to Book
We took a leap and pre-booked one of the cabins situated in Cloudbrdige. We’d contacted their management via WhatsApp (+506 8856 5519) to book one of their remote cabins. They also have a number of cabins available on Airbnb. Some are more rustic than others but all offer a great immersive nature experience!
When we arrived, we were greeted by the reserve manager and given directions to Gavilan Cabin—their most remote option.
The hike to Gavilan took another 20 minutes through thick forest. It’s about an hour from the nearest shop, so we came prepared: black beans, rice, sardines, veggies, and tinned food.
No Wi-Fi, no noise, no neighbours. Just the forest. We spent the next few days her completely alone:
- Hiking the Cloudbridge trails, around 23k in total
- Watching hummingbirds dart around purple blooms
- Spotting jungle animals (like Tapirs, Peccary, Hummingbirds, MotMot)
- Forging for extra foods (Limon Mandarina, Ginger)
We felt so alive here!
2. Go Bird Watching
In front of our cabin we could see Hummingbirds all day every day feeding on the nectar of a huge Salvia bush. A great chance to take some photos, perfect if you’re a wildlife photographer or an nature lover looking to get a close up view of tropical birds in the wild.
Alternatively, visit Garden House Bird Observatory or Robino's Foodies restaurant to get great views of bird close up (they feed them) which isn’t the same as seeing them in the wild, but great for seeing a variety.
3. Wild Swimming
Looking for Turquoise bathing pools? Look no further - San Gerardo de Rivas and Cloudbridge are home to many great swimming spots. Crystal-clear pools run along the river—perfect for a dip on a hot day. We found the perfect swimming spot on one of the trails. It was deep enough to jump in off the rocks and we really felt alone with nature.
Poza Verde is the best spot within the village.
Walk from the centre of San Gerardo de Rivas along the footpath marked in red for an off road experience. If you have a car, just drive along the main road.
4. Sample the Cheeses of Quesos Canaán
If you love cheese as much as us, be sure to make a visit to Quesos Canaan; an artistan cheese shop where all cheeses are produced in house.
The owners gave us a warm welcome and a guided tour of their cheese making facilities.
They learnt their craft from masters in Swiss cheese making; as a result, their cheeses have an unmistakable depth
Made from the milk of local cows, there’s an unmistakable depth of flavor — almost a sense of place — that comes from eating something made from milk sourced just steps away. It’s fresh in a way you can taste, like the land and the animals are still present in every bite
We had our own tapas night back at the cabin in Jardines Secretos this year, it was definitely one of our highlights!
5. Hike the Chirripo Trail
On this 12.3 kilometer trek you'll hike through 5 unique ecosystems, soak up breathtaking views, and certainly work up a sweat!
The prize? A view from the top of Costa Rica's tallest mountain.
Visiting the Cerro chirripo national park was a totally unique experience. We were stunned to see plants and landscapes change as we climbed through Tropical Rainforest, Montane Forest, and Subalpine Shrubland all in one day.
Though the trail is challenging, each turn rewards you with breathtaking beauty. The experience was unforgettable.
(We didn't make it all the way to the top, but we did have an amazing day!)
In 2022 entry to the park was free. Now, there's a small fee that can be paid via the Sinac website (although, there isn't anyone checking tickets.)
6. Relax in Gevi Hot Springs
Take a relaxing bath in the Aguas Termales Gevi—a small, family-run hot spring up the road from Jardines Secretos. It isn’t the best rated online but we actually loved it, it was so quiet and the walk up to through trees was great.
7. Sample the Local Restaurants
Restaurants we enjoyed:
KapiKapi Organic Foods & Cafe: We particularly enjoyed the burger and fries. Out of all of the meals we tried in the area we thought it was the best value for money.
The market foods in there are premium prices, but it is local and organic. You can buy grass fed beef, quality vegetables, and kombuchas.
Robino's Foodies: This restaurant offers travelers and locals a worldwide inspired menu. We tried a range of Italian meals and they were all delicious and served with a smile. We recommend trying his famous trout pot pie which you can also buy frozen!
Final Thoughts
San Gerardo de Rivas is the kind of place that stays with you. It’s not flashy. It’s not busy. But it offers something deeper—connection to nature, to yourself, and to a Costa Rica that most tourists will never see.
Whether you’re hiking through cloud forests, stargazing from a cabin in the woods, or just sipping local coffee as the birds dance around you—this little village is pure magic.