Pension Santa Elena - Monteverde Hostel

We stayed three nights at Pension Santa Elena. It’s central and has lots of character. The staff are lovely and helpful, and there is coffee and DELICIOUS complimentary breakfast every morning. It’s walking distance from many restaurants and activities. They offer tours and shuttles to and from Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena reserve. We had a garden standard room and it was simple, clean, everything we needed. It’s a wonderful spot ❤.

Excellent Value! Yes, it is basic but it has all you need. Cozy, quaint and clean. I stayed in a private room with queen bed, private bath. Free breakfast with several options, free yoga and excellent advice from staff on surrounding activities. They also help arrange activities and have a nightly briefing for new guests. Location could not be beat! Walkable to several smaller reserves, restaurants and shops. Shuttle and bus right out front for longer excursions. All this was $30 per night (with an advance reservation). I would definitely return!!

We spent five nights in a standard private room at Pension Santa Elena in early February, 2023. Staff was friendly and helpful, and the location was great for exploring the Monteverde and other preserves thanks to the bus that stops right in front of the hostel several times each day. There were several choices for breakfast (all good), and the sandwich shop was also convenient for a quick supper at the end of a long day. No AC, but evenings in Santa Elena were cool enough for a sweater. I’d definitely stay here again.

We just stayed 3 days at Pension Santa Elena and it was a wonderful experience. The staff is friendly and laid back and the room (we had a cabin) was cozy and clean. Hot water in the shower and birds chirping in the AM. Free breakfast was good sized and tasted great. The only con I can think of is it's on a busy street and motorcycles zoom by a lot but not their fault. Don't expect fancy or any pampering as it's technically a hostel so you'll have to clean up after yourself and you'll have a great stay.

I found the rates very reasonable for the service offered. The room was clean and modern, the bathroom had everything we needed and we were able to cook in the kitchen and eat out on the terrasse. Would go stay here again any time. Wasn't able to participate in the activities offered but would have loved to. The lady at the reception lacked enthusiasm a little and the noisy street is not too far away, otherwise it would have been 5 stars for everything.

Everything you need is close to hand

Breakfast was good.

Helped us arrange our excursions - very knowledgeable

Shower excellent, powerful hot water and great design

Amazing hostel in Santa Elena with great breakfast included. Great value for money. I loved the backyard and the garden. Everyone very friendly. I would highly recommend this place for anyone wanting to explore the Monteverde natural wonders!

I had a great stay. The people were super helpful and the breakfast was delicious and filling. Very centrally located and quiet at night.

Returning guest! Excellent location in the center of Santa Elena. The property is cozy and clean. The staff was extremely helpful arranging excursions and recommending things to do around town. The free breakfast is nice too!

We loved our stay at Pension Santa Elena! Our family of 4 (with adult children) stayed in one of their rooms with private bathrooms. The location is perfect, close to so many things in Monte Verde, and the decor is beautiful, funky and homey. This is not a resort, it is more like a simple home, which is exactly what we wanted. The homemade included breakfast was delicious and saved us time and money when heading out to our rainforest hike! Thank you for welcoming us into your family, Pension Santa Elena!

Great hostel in center of Santa Elena. We stayed for 4 nights. Staff was kind and helpful with booking excursions, restaurant suggestions, and free things to do in the area. We appreciated the free tea all day as it was rather rainy and cool during our time so after a day of exploring to sit on the couch in the common area with hot tea and chat was very relaxing. Nice courtyard with seating for sunny days and small covered front porch with seating for street viewing. I was chilly the first night and asked for an additional blanket and one was provided. Bathrooms were always clean. Both the gallo pinto and yogurt/granola breakfast options were delicious. Highly recommend this hostel.

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. For a hostel, the accommodations were terrific. Free breakfasts were another nice benefit.

I recently stayed at Pension Santa Elena hostel with my family and we had a great experience. The staff was very helpful and accommodating, even though we made a last minute booking. The rooms were comfortable and we had a good night's sleep. The breakfast was delicious, with a variety of typical dishes that we really enjoyed. The hostel had a cool vibe and we would definitely stay here again in the future. Overall, we had a great experience at Pension Santa Elena and would highly recommend it to others.

Friendly atmosphere, welcoming vibe. Very helpful staff who helped us book shuttles and tours. Clean room, hot water in bathroom and nice to have a shared kitchen space so you can prepare some food and socialize. Only downside was it would be nice to have more hooks in room so clothes could dry.

Very friendly staff, great rooms and community area, lovely garden, perfect location. Good place to stay for anyone!

Great place to stay when visiting Santa Elena- Allie is an amazing host and can help you coordinate any outing or travel arrangements for your next stop! The breakfast is amazing and the communal seating area is great!

I love the pension and the whole vibe around it. It’s perfect whether you wish for a calm place to stay, a base for adventures and even working remotely. The staff is so helpful with everything you need and know exactly how to advise you depending on your plans. Oh, and great coffee all day long!

Fantastic spot in the center of Santa Elena - awesome personnel, cozy rooms and fantastic breakfast. Cannot beat the price for Monteverde!

I stayed her for 4 nights at the end of April/2022. The location was central to supermarkets and restaurants.

The staff were very helpful and accommodating, they helped me book the night hike which was amazing and also answered my questions regarding things to see in Monteverde and other parts of Costa Rica as well as the bus schedules.

They serve a hearty breakfast

The rooms were clean and spacious, the washrooms were clean as well and towels were provided.

I definitely recommend staying here

I stayed in Pension Santa Elena in February 2020 for a couple nights and was head over heels in love with that place! The staff there is like nowhere else in Costa Rica. The cutest gift shop attached to it offers pretty much everything you need in terms of gifts. Restaurants are all within walking distance from there. Food offered within the pension itself is also nice. Rooms are clean and very unique (our 4 guest room had a bed on top of the bathroom. It had thrown us off a little at the beginning but it's not much of an inconvenience if you only stay a couple nights). Highly recommended!