Bajos del Toro’s cloud forest setting gives families a genuine change of pace and climate from the coast, and El Silencio Lodge & Spa has built specifically for that — family casitas with extra space, a butterfly garden on the property that’s a hit with younger kids, and a restaurant sourcing much of its produce from the lodge’s own organic garden.
The lodge’s trails are graded for a range of ages and lead to a few different waterfalls, short enough for younger children and scenic enough that older kids and adults get something out of them too. The cooler mountain air here is also a practical advantage — outdoor time doesn’t need to be timed around midday heat the way it does on the coast.
Two to three nights is typically enough for families to enjoy the trails, the garden, and the spa without needing a longer stay — it pairs naturally with a beach or Arenal stop on either side.
