El Silencio travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Steeped in its own cloud forest reserve, El Silencio is a sophisticated retreat of just sixteen elegant villas. Each is poised on the jungle-clad hillside so that there are perfect views of mountain and forest through huge windows. The design is simple, using natural materials, and yet is utterly luxurious.

Expanses of polished wood and woven bamboo sit well with bathrooms of polished stone with rain-head showers. Step out onto the private balcony and there is an open hot tub. El Silencio is silent too. Whereas Costa Rica‘s most famous cloud forest at Monteverde attracts hordes and visitors, El Silencio offers the same breathtakingly wilderness but without the crowds.

When you visit El Silencio, you should use it as a base to go rafting, visit coffee plantations or see Poas volcano, with its steaming turquoise crater. But the magic of El Silencio lies in doing nothing – other than eating exquisite organic food created by chef Marco Gonzalez, and yielding to pampering the spa.