Hotel El Bambú

3.0 star property
Family-friendly 3-star hotel near La Selva Biological Station

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Hotel El Bambú

Superior Double Room, Terrace | Terrace/patio
Aerial view
Superior Double Room, Terrace
Superior Double Room, Terrace | Terrace/patio
Outdoor pool, sun loungers

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Air conditioning
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Laundry

Explore the area

Map
Frente de la Plaza Deportes, Puerto Viejo, Heredia, 41001
  • La Selva Biological Station
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Costa Rican Bird Route
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque
    ‪7 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double Room, Terrace

  • 36 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed OR 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Superior Double Room, Terrace

  • 35 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

About the area

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

In Puerto Viejo .You'll find La Selva Biological Station and Costa Rican Bird Route within 3 miles (5 km) of this hotel. Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque and San Juan–La Selva Biological Corridor are also within 3 miles (5 km).

What's nearby

  • San Agustin Church - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • La Selva Biological Station - 6 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Costa Rican Bird Route - 7 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque - 7 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Tirimbina Rainforest Center - 14 min drive - 12.6 km

Getting around

  • Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 130 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rusti Ticos - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Soda Lucrecia - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Pizzaria La Terraza - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Típico La Carreta - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Casita Típica - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Hotel El Bambú

Family-friendly 3-star hotel near La Selva Biological Station
Hotel El Bambú offers its guests an outdoor pool and a children's pool. There's a restaurant on site, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is served. Public spaces have free WiFi.

A terrace, barbecue grills, and an arcade/game room are also featured at the family-friendly Hotel El Bambú. Free self parking is available.

  • 40 guestrooms or units
  • Meeting rooms
  • Continental breakfast (free)
  • Deli
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Game room or arcade
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Gift shop
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
Hotel El Bambú offers 40 air-conditioned accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and hair dryers. Rooms open to balconies. Cable television is provided.

Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers with deep soaking bathtubs and complimentary toiletries. This Puerto Viejo hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Irons/ironing boards and hair dryers can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Languages

English, Spanish

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Outdoor pool

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator (single-level property)
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • TV with cable channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop-compatible safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Up to 2 children 11 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding. Children may not be eligible for complimentary breakfast.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and cash. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Up to 2 children 11 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding. Children might not be eligible for free breakfast.

Property is also known as

Bambu Hotel
El Bambu
El Bambu Sarapiqui
Hotel Bambu
Hotel El Bambu
Hotel El Bambu Sarapiqui
Sarapiqui Hotel
Hotel El Bambu Costa Rica/Sarapiqui
Hotel El Bambú Sarapiqui
Hotel El Bambú
El Bambú Sarapiqui
Hotel El Bambú Hotel
Hotel El Bambú Puerto Viejo
Hotel El Bambú Hotel Puerto Viejo

Hotel El Bambú Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 42 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
The staff are very friendly ! The food is excellent and service great !!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Annelies

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
3-night trip to the Sarapique area
It's a basic but nice hotel. We stayed for 3 nights to explore the area. The rooms in the back are right in the forest. There is not much in the room. A chair and a shelf in the bathroom would have been nice. We visited the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a 40-minute drive from the hotel. It was very quiet (Dec. 27th). It is a great park with an aerial tram and two short walks. We saw a lot of animals. The hotel booked a private boat tour for us (six adults) for around $100. The dock is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, and again, it was very quiet. We saw many monkeys, alligators, and other animals. The pool was under renovation, so that was a disappointment. The staff was friendly, the breakfast was a buffet, and we had enough choices. If you want to explore a beautiful area in Costa Rica that is quieter than some other parts of the country, I recommend staying a few nights at Hotel El Bambu.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Tor

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Interesting place, when we pulled up in front on a busy street we thought we had the wrong place but after parking around the back it had extensive raised covered walkways going into the forest with many units farther back. The greeted us with a complimentary crushed ice drink that was excellent on a hot afternoon. Nice pool and staff and a good restaurant too.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

helena

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The property is located in a busy area of town, which makes it convenient to explore and has many local dining options. It also adjoins unspoiled land where we were able to see and hear many wild animals from our room. The hotel is a bit dated but very clean and comfortable. Our bathroom door would drag on the floor and get stuck. And we noticed a few outside doors of other rooms with large gaps in the framing, which let bugs and heat in the room. The ac gets wonderfully cold, and the balcony is spacious with chairs and a table. All of the staff is accomdating and friendly. They were even willing to help us place a food order for delivery to the hotel despite having their own restaurant. Breakfast is included and gives 6 options to choose from, which is nice since it is green season and not busy enough to offer the buffet. The only things I did not care for about the accommodation is the noisy creaking wood flooring in the room which makes it impossible to not disturb your companion, no mini fridge to keep cold water or beverages, and despite having a coffee maker in the room, they only provide 2 pods for your entire stay (there were 2 of us staying 3 nights) so you had to go to the restaurant for your morning coffee. When we asked about additional pods, we were told we would have to pay extra, and housekeeping doesn't replenish them when servicing your room. Overall, a nice and comfortable property for a short stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

ann

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Initially this hotel seems placed on the noisy main road with the dining room open to it. But the rooms are at a distance in the forest. Thus complete silence. The pool was very good and the food excellent. My room had a shower that worked but needed some attention to the head. Having put an expresso machine in the bedroom it seemed odd to only get one capsule when was staying three nights. Staff so helpful. Sarapiqui is an ordinary Costa Rican town away from the main tourist route and thus an experience in itself. White water rafting excellent.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

6/10 Okay

fred

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Front desk and bar Restaurant service was great. the housekeeping not so good. Never the right towels or other supplies. No hot watert most of the time. Restaurant was excellent. Pleasant setting for rooms away from the street. Saw plenty of birds from my deck. This place is long in the tooth.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This hotel is rustic really but very quiet and serves the purpose. The restaurant has good food and friendly staff !! Reception was also friendly. !

8/10 Good

Bradley

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Rui

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Pleasantly surprised
Just passing through on our way to southeast pleasantly surprised jungle surroundings right in town.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Walter

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Thank you for all, we really enjoy the stay! ;-)
Very nice place, happy staff, unique, we loved the rooms, for my point of view is one of the must beautiful places in Costa Rica.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean air conditioned with restaurant on site. Rooms are on a beautiful walkway above the ground. Enjoyed a night walk with Angel observing local flora, fauna. He was very informative and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The town is very basic with little for the traveler. Hotel was expensive for the level of finish / area, but the staff were very nice.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The hotel is nicely situated in the forest. Friendly staff and good restaurant. We stayed in the more upscale part of the hotel in the back and the rooms were dirty. Doors were black with fingerprints, mold in the bathroom and garbage from other guests still under our beds. The bed was not very comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2017

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl, Lancaster Co PA USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a great vacation in Acosta Rica
We stayed at El Bambu hotel. Loved the long verandas and outdoor jungle feeling!😊

10/10 Excellent

Fiona, Hout Bay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We loved sitting on our very private balcony watching the birds in the forest. We also enjoyed the large swimming pool and the fact that the hotel was central for rafting on the Sarapiqui river as well as walking through the rain forests.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not impressed
Rooms smelled a bit moldy. Mattresses were very uncomfortable. Lots of street noise with blaring music at night. Hotel staff, including front desk and restaurant were very friendly and helpful. Also, there were howler monkeys in the trees right outside, which was awesome. But the condition of the rooms and the noise makes it a place we wouldn't return to.

10/10 Excellent

Vicki, ID

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fun spot...
Great food & wonderful pool. Room was unique & clean.

8/10 Good

françoise

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hôtel agréable
A part la salle de restaurant qui donne sur la rue et le nombre de cars sur le parking qui font craindre un hôtel à touristes, les chambres dans la nature qu’on atteint via des passerelles sont très belles et confortables. Dommage que l’insonorisation soit inexistante on entend tout des chambres contiguës et des clients qui passent devant la chambre. Prévoir des boules Quies
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

sophie

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hôtel très bien situé on est dans la ville mais les chambres sont dans "la keugle* cocktail d accueil, petit dej très bien et en prime les aras s invitent au petit déjeuner dans l arbre d en face.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Grettel

Stayed 1 night in May 2022

8/10 Good

Alessia

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Marc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Prima hotel met krakende bedden.
Zeer mooi hotel, hoewel je vanaf de straat een andere indruk krijgt. Het hotelgedeelte ligt in een tropische tuin achterin. Mooi zwembad en veel beesten te zien vlakbij. Wel krakende bedden.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Attention à la deception sur place
Hôtel vétuste et en décrépitude, nous avons réservé une chambre supérieure et avons appris sur place qu'elles n'existaient plus. Eau froide et douche à très faible débit. La piscine est délabrée et n'est plus en fonction. Il ne s'agit pas d'un 3 étoiles mais d'un deux étoiles. Sur place, on nous a informé que c'était hôtel.com qui n'avait pas mis ses informations à jour. Cependant, le cadre est charmant, on se laisse réveiller par les bruits de la jungle et la balade nocturne est sympathique, le guide est super.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018