Hotel Serendipity tortuguero

Absolutely fabulous hotel with wonderful friendly staff. Cooper the Manager made sure everything was taken care of while we were staying there. The food was delicious and always ready for us when we returned from hikes. The hotel is clean and modern and welcoming. They booked a night hike and boat trip for us which we’d highly recommend. A special shout out to Jonny our guide who was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and made both tours fun and interesting. Many thanks to all the staff. Sally & Ben x

Really great location on the island. The meals were prompt and yummy. Staff were also friendly and helpful with booking both excursions and travel to and from the island. All you have to do at this place is ask! Biggest plus was the air conditioning and the constant smiles. These tiny little beetles are everywhere but don’t be alarmed. They’re harmless and mostly die as soon as they appear. Haha. Loved this spot! A welcome change after we ditched Mawamba Lodge down the river.

Serendipity Hotel, Tortuguero, Costa Rica In May of last year we visited a luxurious inclusive western-style resort within an hour drive from the Liberia airport. It was lovely with plenty of food and drink. However, we were over 3 hours away one way by car from the real beauties of rain forest and it’s abundant exotic inhabitants. It was very exhausting to say the least to spend most of your day on the road instead of enjoying the wonders of Costa Rica. Later that year we found out about Tortuguero, which looked like a true gem of the Rainforest life based on a little research we have done. Without a delay we immediately decided to explore the island. We found it to be be even better than few Google searches have revealed. The Tortuguero island is located a smooth and picturesque 2.5 hour drive from the San Jose airport and then 40 minutes by boat, which seemed more like a Disney jungle cruise. At the dock we were greeted by a friendly Serendipity Hotel representative, who was holding a sign with our names on it. The moment we set our foot on the island the hotel staff made us feel welcomed and at home! The Serendipity hotel itself was only a short 4 minute walk from the dock. And the location could not be more perfect: right in the middle of Tortuguero and only few hundred feet away from the National Rainforest park, ocean beach and a river with a large variety of restaurants. Friendly hotel staff was on site 24/7 always ready to help or provided the needed. For meals we had a choice of tasty traditional Costa Rican menu. And for breakfast we had an option of traditional American. The hotel staff went above and beyond to make vegetarian meals for me that I absolutely loved. The hotel’s clean modern rooms with super quiet AC units in each was a true luxury. What a change compared to a Marriott hotel in San Jose where I could not sleep due to a noisy AC. We were in the middle of the rainforest for 5 days! Canoeing, kayaking, walks in the virgin Rainforest, climbing a dormant volcano, night walks with a guide to explore the island’s nightlife and amazing sunsets…I took so many wonderful photos, that we keep going thru even now, several months after our trip. Having experienced such a paradise, I can say with a definite certainty there are no more all inclusive resorts for me…only Serendipity Hotel on Tortuguero! In conclusion, we will definitely go back to Tortuguero soon, as the place feels like home with amazing ecotourism opportunities and wonderful at home like comfort of the Serendipity hotel.

Very pleasant staff that truly tried to make us comfortable. The hotel is superficially attractive and relatively new, but poor location, poor quality of construction, and lack of attention to basic room amenities led to a very uncomfortable stay. Only one water temperature (cold in lavatory, lukewarm in shower). Bed is too small for two average adults. Shower pan does not drain properly. No shower curtain, so bathroom becomes soaking wet when shower is used. Pedestal sink, with no place to put toiletries except a tiny glass shelf. No reading lamp or bedside table to place phone or alarm clock. Has a dresser with drawers, but no place to hang clothes. All of this could have been overlooked, were it not for a lack of any meaningful attempt at soundproofing, internally or externally. We suffered through days and nights of incessantly yapping dogs, screaming babies, loud booming music, and the sound of voices from other rooms. Hotel is located in what can only be described as a slum in the town of Tortuguero, with multiple other buildings literally a few feet away. Walking anywhere from the hotel requires navigation of a mine field of dog poop and stray dogs roaming everywhere at will, including stores and restaurants. The surrounding natural areas are beautiful, but we would strongly advise a tour or day trip from San Jose, and avoid staying in the town of Tortuguero.

Tortuguero was our first stop in Costa Rica. The welcome from the staff at Hotel Serendipity was amazing. They met us off the public boat with a warm welcome and took our bags to the hotel. It’s more 6 apartments than a hotel but the rooms are amazing. Very modern, super clean. What sets this place apart in addition to the great rooms are the staff. They are absolutely lovely - especially the women who made our breakfast and dinner. Nothing was too much trouble and unlike some places the warmth and friendliness appeared genuine. This was our first stop in Costa Rica and it truly made us happy that we had picked this hotel. Don’t hesitate when booking, just book it you won’t be disappointed.