Rainforest Tree House w Hot Springs

Our family of four (kids ages 11 and 13) stayed 4 days in the "tree house". Nothing like waking up to howler monkeys and watching toucans fly by as you drink your coffee on the veranda. The owners were away when we were there but we were well cared for by Johan the caretaker. If you go, I highly recommend staying during the week when it's less busy. We loved the tree house, but not so sure I'd want to be in one of the cabins. We were also very glad we brought earplugs and eye covers as the sun comes up early and the cicadas are LOUD! Having the hot springs to ourselves "after hours" was lovely. The grounds are clean and very well cared for. It's at least a 45 min. drive to the La Fortuna/Arenal area so take that into account if you go. We loved it :-)

We loved it! The treehouse was super cool, the hot springs on site were fantastic and (property manager) Johan and his family were incredibly welcoming. Kathy and Bernie were away travelling at the time of our arrival but we were 100% taken care of with extremely detailed driving directions and helpful car rental / food information ahead of time and the wonderful staff on site when we arrived. The drive through the cloud forest from San Jose was amazing. There's a great grocery store nearby and we had the rest of our food delivered from their reasonably priced local caterer. Hot spring pools all to yourself at night under the stars!!! You should book this!!!

This place was exactly what we were looking for: clean, comfortable, simple, and in the forest. We didnt get the pleasure of meeting Kathy and Bernie, but their Tico manager Johan was fantastic. He assisted us in preparing for our trip up to Nicaragua and gave us some much needed lessons on culture. The hot springs are gorgeous and the lack of light pollution really makes the sky amazing out here. We saw monkeys and tons of different birds. The catered food was also very good.

The catch - this place is out of the way, approximately 45 minutes from La Fortuna. The road is acceptable but rough, there are not many amenities close by. For us, we wanted to be in the jungle, we arent scared (email hidden), and love to soak in the hot springs with no one around. This was 100% better than any city hotel.

I will definitely be back and was happy to have this as part of our Costa Rica experience. Thanks Kathy, Bernie, and Johan for your obvious care and pride in this property.

We spent 4 glorious days at the tree house. It was me and 2 children, 7 and 12. It was so peaceful (not quiet, but all natural bird calls and cicadas) and beautiful. The pools were amazing. It was everything we hoped for and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet Kathy or Bernie, but Kathy was so helpful before the trip and with arrangements.

Her suggestion of hiring Frank to drive us from San Jose was perfect. A wonderful gentleman. We also arranged to have a rental car delivered there and that worked well also.

It is defintely a place to relax. I would love to go back. Thank you!!

We stayed at the Rainforest Tree House with hot springs from March 7-10, 2014. We LOVED it! It was great for our family (2 adults and 2 kids - aged 8 & 12). We loved being surrounded by the jungle, which does mean you can hear cicadas, animals and the river flowing - especially at night.
The kitchen was small but has everything you need. Dish soap, sponge, and dish towels were provided.
The upstairs loft does not have curtains on the windows, so if you're sensitive to morning light bring an eye mask.
We appreciated that there were composting and recycling facilities available.
The Ticos (locals) do visit the hot springs, but we found being immersed in the local culture an asset not a deficit. The Ticos are friendly and leave by 6 PM. As a renter, you have access to the hot springs at night. It's really cool to have a warm soak in the dark to the melody of the jungle. Ticos mostly come on the weekends. We had the place to ourselves during the week.
La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano are approximately 40 minutes away so we found the tree house to be a great base camp.
We found Kathy's directions to be excellent. The route she suggested from San Jose to the tree house was stunningly beautiful and a wee bit scary. The road is paved but has many zig zags and hairpin turns. Warning - traversing this road may bring out the driver's inner Mario Andretti! Traveling this route allows you to see small villages and touristy things not listed in the guide books. We would travel this way again in a heartbeat. There is a great grocery store in Aguas Zarcas, which is 20 minutes away.
The road up to the hot springs is very bumpy. You will need a 4 x 4.
We would highly recommend the Rainforest Tree House. We would stay here again for sure!
Enjoy.

a very nice tree house, lovely built, with care for every little detail. in the afternoon you can watch the birds in the trees and in the early morning the animals in the jungle. Amazing. And the hot springs are so nice and relaxing. You can stay for hours and watch into the green canopy.
During the time of preparing the holidays Kathy was so warmhearted concerning and worrying about us, so we came very well prepared to this great adventure costa rica!

Two days like a dream !
The nest into the trees is perfect to stay in phase with the nature !
Kathy and Bernie had been perfect hosts !
Thank you again.

We had the great pleasure and the real treat of spending 3 nights at Bio Thermales last week. Our hosts Kathy and Bernie were wonderful, immensely knowledgeable and responsive to all of our needs.They have built a truly marvelous and unique property situated conveniently between Muelles and Aguas Zarcas, an hour from the chaos of La Fortuna and Arenal.The Cabinas are comfy and fully equipped with all the kitchen wares and appliances you'd need (be sure to bring all your food and supplies). We stayed in the treehouse - 31 steps up to the most amazing views of the property out front and the jungle out back from the 360 degree balcony. It is capped by a loft wrapped in the most amazing windows I've ever seen! The centerpiece of the place of course are the stone crafted natural hot springs and pools which beckon you all day and all night long. Springing right out of the mountains behind the Cabinas, the mineral waters are just perfect with a range of temperatures to satisfy anyone's preference. We are definitely going to stay there again!

The Treehouse, the hot spring pool in the rainforest are really great. In the morning i saw 8 monkeys "working" in the big tree, while i was relaxing in the hot nature pool. Its an extraordinary place, but dont go there on weekends. Biothermales is also a popular place for Tico families and its very crowded (more than 200 people around the threehouse having a barbecue and spending a good time there).
From Monday to Friday its a wonderful quiet place.

We stayed at the tree house. Had a great experience there. Kathy and Bernie address incredible hosts. Kathy went the extra mile, and then some. She helped me arrange most of my itinerary while at Costa Rica. She even called me before traveling to give me some tips on my stay.

My advice to travelers, which Kathy also gives, is try to come on weekdays. More availability to hot springs that way.

Thanks, will come back again if I'm in the area!

We stayed in casita 2, beautifully decorated wood carvings inside the unit with a large sized bathroom and bedroom! The kitchen had everything necessary to cook meals, and a porch outside with a beautiful wood table, hammock, swinging chair! Biothermales was beautiful , the attention to detail made this place very special! It was nature at its finest being able to hear the howler monkeys, birds humming and creatures buzzing made this a wonderful Costa Rican experience! We had a banana tree by our casita and once the darkness fell we could see all sorts of wildlife going for bananas just feet away! It was amazing to see!! We hiked through the forest by day and relaxed in the beautiful pools subsequently thereafter which we basically had all to ourselves! Catering is available and was delicious!

Kathy as a hostess is as amazing as they come!!! She made organizing and getting to biothermales a breeze! She basically organized everything for us, calling tour companies, shuttle services etc! She was very accessible and quick to answer and assist us with anything and everything under the sun!!! Upon arrival she was so sweet, down to earth and like an old friend! She gave us a tour and was very thorough providing us with information!

This was a great experience! with a great location, Bernie and co.'s functional art and Kathy's amazing hostess skills...made for a wonderful stay!!! I highly highly recommend staying here!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!

We had a great time staying in the casita! It was clean and quiet. The hot springs were wonderful, especially when you've travelled a long way to get there! Frank, who gives tours, is great. We kind of regret renting a car, because I'm not sure we needed it. But it was a fantastic place to stay, everyone was friendly, and it got our Costa Rica trip started on the right foot!

An absolutely special natural resource that has been well utilized for public use with thought and care. If seeing a toad crossing or a lizard saying hi in the bathroom makes you squeamish then this is not the place for you! The house was beautifully hand built with lovely touches.

Absolutely fantastic place. Do not venture road there without 4WD and do not deviate from Kathy's directions; once you arrive - you are in paraiso privado. Friendly, non-intrusive locals come in during the day to enjoy thermal pools and park setting; after 6pm - you will have any hot spring to yourself, for as late as you wish. There is also a long, deep swimming pool. Turn out your flashlight as you soak, hear the banana palm leaves rustle overhead, enjoy the amazing night sky views while fireflies dot the dark. Then retire to your exotic casita and listen to the tropical animal and insect life around as you fall asleep. There is a winding, hiking trail on the property that you may have completely to yourselves if you time it right. The pride, care, and skill put into every facet of construction of this property is stellar. If you have the extreme good fortune to have Johan (caretaker/craftsman) facilitate your stay, you will lack nothing. Even better is if his gracious family is on site - you will feel the best welcome possible to Costa Rica. As to the casita itself, if you are new to heat of CR, choose the Mariposa with air con - it can give you respite if needed, but fully screened with windows all around if not. Kitchenette fully stocked with pots/pans, keep the counters pristine to avoid expected critters or stash your stuff in the little frig. Take everyone's advice about Shirley's meals: order them to be ready for your arrival and/or breakfast to your door - fresh, tasty, comida tipica (we think the best comidas tipicas we had in CR so far). Day trips from casita always mean that rocky road in and out, but it seems easier and faster each time (4WD, 4WD!). The supermercado at Muelle intersection has a guard, is clean, well-stocked & friendly - stop/go here to load up for your stay. We are still traveling in CR but already wish we had booked a month at Rainforest Casita/ Bio Thermales. Do not overlook this jewel.

Imagine a beautiful, comfortable cabin in a jungle clearing, decorated with carved master works. Imagine hiking the jungle trail, spotting parrots, toucans and a tiny red poison dart frog, and hearing howler monkeys, bird songs and insect celebrations. Imagine pools of the hotspring, in the dark night, with a cool mist falling, the jungle alive with activity, and the only light being the stars of Orion overhead. This is the Rainforest Casita.

Prior to our arrival we received a comprehensive set of maps and directions from Kathy, who also promptly answered each of our email inquiries. Our on-site host, Johan, was very friendly and gave us a thorough briefing and tour of the facilities, both within the casita and on the property grounds.

The casita entrance is adorned with a beautiful hand-carved wooden door, and other artistic woodworking abounds throughout the interior. The kitchen is equipped with a mini-fridge, hot plate, microwave, and coffee-maker (with complementary coffee). The outdoor patio space provides hand-carved rocking chairs and a hammock for relaxation.

During our stay we heard howler monkeys, watched toucans, oropendola, and hummingbirds in the trees above the pools, and encountered a poison dart (blue jeans) frog along the woodland trail.

Hot-spring pools are arranged in a cascade pattern, with water ranging from hot to ambient air-temperature. Although the pools are open to visitors during the day, guests have exclusive access after 6pm and before 9am. We enjoyed visiting the pools located within the forest after dark to watch the stars and listen to howler monkeys while luxuriating in cascading warm spring water.

Wifi is available, but only at the outdoor reception area, not within the casitas. This could be inconvenient, e.g. during rain, but has the merit of potentially encouraging interaction between guests.

Wonderful place to stay. Beautiful place to stay, well kept villas with plenty of space for the three of us. We'd love to come back, without our 18 year old, who did not want to chill out. Would have loved to spend a day just enjoying the property.

The hiking trail was beautiful and the tubs at night, under the stars, with no one around could not be beat.

Johann, the manager (part time), crafts man, and all around nice guy was a pleasure to visit with. We spent a part of an evening conversing about Costa Rica, the history and culture.

Excellent stay at the Rainforest Casita. Location & surrounding's are beautiful and peaceful (a lot of birds to see just from the balcony!) The casita is comfortable with character and excellent amenities, kitchen, large, modern bathroom, AC in bedroom and large balcony.
Owners were not present when we stayed but the manager was very helpful, friendly & professional. Communication to help before and during the stay was excellent & full of useful details.
An excellent place to stay either to relax or as a base to explore the North at a very reasonable price for the quality of the offering.

This place is amazing--a real highlight of the trip. It was exactly what we hoped to find. It was clean, relaxing, and removed from the bustle of San Jose. We even woke up to the sound of a monkey outside our cabin.

Great place. Well worth the trip. A must for seclusion.

Very nice, comfortable and clean lodge. We really enjoyed the hot springs in the early morning when other visitors can not enter, especially the ones in the rainforest! Also good breakfast and dinner. We definitely would go back!

Heidi&Domien

In our month visit in Costa Rica, we had the opportunity to be immersed in true paradise. Fortunately for us, we planned a weeklong stay at the Bio Thermals with owner-operators, Kathy and Bernie. No website review or boast can prepare one for the genuine hospitality, gorgeous jungle surroundings, healing and relaxing rainforest hot springs and the cozy, comfortable casitas in which we were so fortunately lodged.
There is much to do here in this tucked away paradise near La Palmera. We took advantage of the many hot springs scattered through the 30+ acre property. They are built as if part of the natural environment, which truly gives the feeling of oneness while bathing in the mineral-rich healing waters. After a day trip in Quesada ( a nearby town), La Fortuna the volcano town, or just a day out exploring the incredible green mountain trails, you can come back and at whatever time submerge your tired body into the pleasantly warm hot spring. From the pools to choose from, I especially enjoyed the one “primitive pool,” as I call it, which is nestled in between jungle trees, the views alone from the hot pools are pretty picturesque. The landscape and design is carefully and artistically laid out. The house we stayed in was hand crafted by the owners, and engraved with such delicate design to detail. We saved a lot of money by utilizing their kitchen and kitchen ware here.
We really enjoyed making our Costa Rican inspired meals here and then dining outside to our much beloved patio space. Hammocks, swinging benches and beautifully crafted wooden chairs assisted in keeping you comfortable while enjoying the natural beauty outside. The diversity of plant life is truly remarkable here in the jungle. What a pleasant escape watching butterflies, colorful hummingbirds and even the occasional chicken to greet the new day!
We couldn’t be more accommodated, and kindly hosted by the owners, and their assistants at the Bio Thermals. They are quick to help out with any needs or curiosities you may have as well as offer incredible recommendations for the “must see’s.” They helped our family plan a wonderful river rafting tour with a local biologist who had rich knowledge of the land and wildlife. They are the true definition of “Buena gente,” and we were so lucky to have had such a great experience here at The Bio Thermals! As a woman who loves to travel (and not lavishly) I highly recommend this place. Make sure this Costa Rican getaway is in your plans, you will be so happy you did!!
Cassandra Noboa, Austin, TX

What a beautiful, relaxing, and serene vacation getaway! Imagine waking up in the morning and stepping out your door to soak in a natural hot spring surrounded by the beauty and sounds of the lush Costa Rican rainforest. My aching muscles were extremely grateful! The casita is very comfortable and a nice size that boasts a beautiful, hand-crafted wooden four-post bed and decor. Kathy and Bernie are wonderful hosts, very friendly and hospitable. If you need a place to unwind and rejuvenate, this is the place to come!