This boutique hotel is only 10 minutes or so from the airport, on the road that leads to the summit of the Poás Volcano. The owner is a botanist, who has planted the 7 acre property with tall native trees and wildflowers on a sloping hillside, making it a great spot for bird-watching. Rooms are spotlessly clean, if not particularly memorable looking, with tile floors, ceiling fans, and quality mattresses. There’s a refreshing mid-size pool off the main lobby, with low-lying Balinese-style chaise lounges. The Pandora restaurant serves surprisingly creative (and delicious) dishes rooted in locally grown ingredients, and sometimes has live music on weekends. This hotel can be a bit hard to find, so be sure you’re armed with good directions or a GPS.