“Just wonderful and 100% recommended”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

This was our first trip to Costa Rica. Leaves and Lizards was selected for 3 nights based on excellent Trip Advisor reviews. These reviews were right on the money...it was wonderful. Steve and Deb were helpful hosts and there is an atmosphere of 100% relaxation in the setting provided by the cabins. It doesn't come across in the photos, but the cabins are very, very nice. Actually, "deluxe" in alot of ways. The view of the Arenal volcano from the porch is amazing. Great location, great food and a great experience. We loved Costa Rica and made a good decision to stay in the La Fortuna area. There is lots to do and lots to see and you're right there for all of it at Leaves and Lizards!

“Just wonderful and 100% recommended”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

This was our first trip to Costa Rica. Leaves and Lizardswas selected for 3 nights based on excellent Trip Advisor reviews. Thesereviews were right on the money...it was wonderful. Steve and Deb were helpfulhosts and there is an atmosphere of 100% relaxation in the setting provided bythe cabins. It doesn't come across in the photos, but the cabins are very, verynice. Actually, "deluxe" in alot of ways. The view of the Arenalvolcano from the porch is amazing. Great location, great food and a greatexperience. We loved Costa Rica and made a good decision to stay in the LaFortuna area. There is lots to do and lots to see and you're right there forall of it at Leaves and Lizards!

“Perfect starting point for our trip!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

My mother and I vacationed for a week in September in CostaRica and after reading so many great reviews about Leaves and Lizards wedecided to make it our first stop. We are so happy we did because it was aperfect 'introduction' to Costa Rica! The location was great, not too far fromArenal but just far enough to feel secluded. The drive up to the place waspretty bumpy so make sure to get a 4x4 vehicle! Steve and Debbie, the owners,were absolutely wonderful and eager to help with anything we needed. They feedus great meals (mango juice and empanadas-yum), signed us up on last minutetours (rafting and horseback riding with Giovani-must do's), gave us greatpointers on traveling, and even helped us book our next hotel! They have alsobuilt beautiful bungalows on a hill overlooking the volcano. All were equallynice with plenty of room to spread out and a great deck with hanging hammocks.The showers were always warm, the fridge was stocked, and they even had shoedryers...they really thought of everything! And waking up to the view was thebest part. Overall we were really happy that this was the first destination ofour 'journey' because Steve and Debbie really made us feel welcome in CR!

“A great experience-short but sweet!!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Well having 1.5 days is not enough to stay at Leaves andLizards.

We arrived off a cruise and decided to get picked up by"Kenneth" who was recommended by Debbie. He was a friendly fellow wasvery hospitable and basically took us everywhere for the time we where there.

The journey took >3.5 hours to get there from the port,(longer than we thought) however it was wonderful to see the Costa Ricanlandscape.

Once arrived at the retreat, we had a brief chat with Debbiewho shared with us the back ground and plans on Leaves and Lizards.-It is greatto see a couple of people who are passionate about restoring the localenvironment- The land was previously used as a dairy farm, however you wouldn'tknow it as they have planted >1000 trees etc..

We had lodge number 1 which was basic in its set up, howeverhad a direct view of the volcano which was fantastic. The bed was comfortableand overall ambience would suite a couple who are on a honeymoon or looking fora romantic private get away.

As we didn't have a lot of time, we opted for a short breakafter arrival and then off to see some wild life and the night lava flow of theArenal Volcano by our guide "Enrique" organised by Debbie.

We were lucky to see some great lava explosions -it wasclear for a good part of our viewing.

I would highly recommend that if you complete a private tourwith Debbie to request for Enrique-he was funny, spoke great english and had areal passion and knowledge of the local area.

The following day we went on a short horse ride through to aneighbors property where we completed a 2 hr hike. This property is a primaryforest which was virtually untouched.-It held some unique plants and animals.Enrique escorted us through the forest as did the owner who provided some greatinsights to the land + we sighted some wildlife like howling monkeys and some"blue jean" frogs.

Upon our return from the hike, Debbie organised with Mariellawho works for them to prepare a local lunch for us-It was sensational -By theway the breakfast was very hearty too.

Overall recommendation: Considering we only had 1 night and1.5 days, it was pretty packed schedule, I probably would recommend to spend atleast 4 days here so you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and surroundingsites.-Also make sure you give yourself ample time to get to and from theairport, as the traffic can be quite bad.

We were very happy with our short stay -it was a highlightof our 3 week holiday.

“Great Honeymoon Experience!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We stayed at Leaves & Lizards for the first part of ourhoneymoon and had a wonderful time. The drive from San Jose to the hotel wasvery enjoyable with lots of interesting things to see. We went during the CostaRican Independence day so there lots of festivities in all of the cities. Theroad to get from San Jose to Monterrey (the small city before you head toL&L) is well paved and easy to navigate, however I would recommened rentinga 4WD if you stay at Leaves and Lizards because the road is rough for the last7 km to get there and it is fun to get out and about to see things on your own.

Our honeymoon "volcano" cabin was so cute andprivate and had a gorgeous view of the volcano. Each morning we had a deliciousbreakfast prepared for us. Debbie and Steve were extremely helpful andknowledgeable. They helped us plan activities that we would enjoy taking intoaccount our interests.

Our first full day we went horse back riding on the horsesof the property with Enrique and Chito to a private waterfall. We had so muchfun and saw many interesting things along the way including a fairly raretigrillo. After the horseback riding trip we relaxed with a couples massagewith a beautiful view of the volcano at the new $300M resort called The SpringsResort & Spa which is a couple of miles away and extremely beautiful.

The next day we woke up early to try out milking the cowsand collecting the eggs at Leaves and Lizards and then took off for our firstwhite water rafting trip with Wave Expeditions. Our guide Gerald was very funnyand experienced in rafting. We saw monkeys swinging from the trees above us aswe rafted down. The trip also includes a trip to see a small iguana and frogreserve and a lunch with the traditional Costa Rican casado.

The next day we had to leave for the beach leg of our trip.We had such a wonderful time and the place is truly one of a kind and full ofnatural beauty.

“The nicest hosts and staff”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

I can't say enough what a great EXPERIENCE this is. (Yes,not just lodging...an experience.) Unlike the most of Costa Rica which is stillvery natural and rugged, La Fortuna has become very touristy (e.g. BurgerKing?!) So Leaves and Lizards being unspoiled and out in the country isperfect. I loved the peace and beauty while still having access to the volcano,hot springs, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding.

The view, landscape, wildlife, and farm animals all give youthe opportunity to experience something unique. I'd go to bed staring at theglow of the volcano, and every morning see it through my window like a framedpicture puffing smoke. Then there was helping Carlos with the animals: watchingthe 3 day old pigs stumble around; hand milking the cow and making cheese withthe milk; washing down the horses after our ride. Even just walking around thecabins and the trails on the property gives you the chance to see nativeflowers, birds, and trees.

Debbie, Steve, their staff, and tour guides are the nicestpeople you'll ever meet. It's like they all have a great life and place inCosta Rica, and they share it with you for a few days. I've never been to aplace on vacation before where I felt like I was home. They even made me atraditional tres leches (3 milk) birthday cake and sang happy birthday!

One last thing...I've traveled all over the world and thisis the only place that I've stayed where I really want to go back and do theexact same vacation when my kids are old enough to appreciate it and do theactivities. The horseback ride to the private waterfall was the first time thatI enjoyed horseback riding. (Most trail rides are dull...this was truly anadventure and unique experience!) Seeing the volcano at night and watching theflaming rocks tumble down and smash into glowing pieces is amazing. Thewhitewater rafting is world-class. My only regret is I didn't plan more timethere!

“A wonderful Oasis”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

This was our first visit to Costa Rica. I used Trip Advisorto help me select possible areas to stay. From my initial contact with Debbie ,she offered valuable advice and answered any queries.

We certainly had the most amazing experience by staying atLeaves and Lizards. The cabins is wonderful, clean and spacious ,withincredible views across the valley to the volcano. The first day we justabsorbed the location, the sights and sounds!!

You will not be disappointed .Steve and Debbie are such aninspirational, caring couple sharing their Costa Rican dream. They haveachieved so much in such a short space of time.A truely unique experience.

“Honeymoon Adventure PLUS!!!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Picking Costa Rica as our honeymoon destination wasmulti-faceted: Adventure, education and of course-HONEYMOON!

My new bride is a science teacher and roaming around anactive volcano was just the beginning. Add monkey spotting, bird watching,horseback thru the rain forests and all the flora & fauna we could packinto 4 days, we couldn’t have imagined that Deb & Steve made it all happen.And they did!

The drive to Leaves & Lizards has a different view ofArenal at each turn of the road. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by Deband given a tour of the main house. After a brief review of our schedule forthe next few days, Deb took us out to our cabana. Each of the three cabanas hasthe best hi-def view around: two large windows with unobstructed views ofArenal. We forgot about TV and were constantly checking the volcano for theever changing view! We forgot about our laptop and Wi-Fi. With hummingbirds andtoucans flying about, we were never bored of the view.

The staff at L&L delivered the goods. Each day startedwith a full, hearty breakfast (no wimpy Continental style) of fresh juices,fruits, local eggs and the Costa Rican favorite dish Gallo Pinto (LOVED IT!).First morning we were treated to a guided horseback ride thru a local rainforest with Geovani, a favorite local guide with an amazing knowledge of theforest and wildlife. Bonus for us was a swim at a river with a beautifulwaterfall cascading into the pool below. Another day Geovani led us on thehorses to another local forest for birding and other wildlife watching. This iswere Geovani really showed his knowledge of the local birds. On the return wespotted a sloth in a tree and were frozen to watch his calculated &deliberate movements.

Off site, Deb recommended and made reservations for us atseveral attractions in La Fortuna. Deb & Steve have built greatrelationships with other businesses in the region and each relies onoutstanding service to maintain their referral business. Their advice onactivities in the area was phenomenal and we never doubted they had our bestinterests at heart.

One afternoon, Deb led us around the property and wediscussed their on-going efforts to re-forest the area and invest in the localcommunity. Their love of the area and people shows and pays off with abeautiful compound and extraordinary service.

Are we going back? Absolutely! We wish Deb & Stevecontinued success and hope to be back very soon!

“The BEST place to stay!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

My Mom and I stayed at Leaves & Lizards for just 3 nights,though it seemed longer. 20 mins off the beaten path and away from the touristspacked into Fortuna, we had the best time. It's so quiet with absolutelybreathtaking views not only of the volcano but also of their property, we wereso thankful to be staying there after driving through Fortuna. (A note aboutthe dirt road; it is quite rocky and bumpy, a 4WD vehicle is best, especiallyif it rains, but it's all part of the experience of visiting another country,plus it's only 12 minutes of bumpiness; just think of it as therapeutic!) Steveand Debbie are great hosts, arranging all of our outings for us (at the lastminute!) and making helpful suggestions to ensure we had a great time. Thetrips we took were very reasonably priced and a couple were much less than tourcompanies were charging. Debbie suggested we rent a 4WD SUV and we are sothankful that we took her advice! It enabled us to come and go as we pleasedand not have to rely on a taxi or keep extra cash on us. We went on a wonderfulhorseback ride to a waterfall with Chito, Geovani and Debbie. Saw sloths, manybirds, monkeys and blue jean frogs. Spectacular lava watching with Geovani atnight, with Geovani calling out to and finding a tree frog at night and in therain! A super relaxing time at Eco Termales, thanks for sending us there! I hadsuch a good time there, that I've reconsidered my retirement plans and havelooked into moving to CR. Steve and Debbie have an amazing property and theplace we stayed after there paled in comparison, made me want to turn aroundand drive right back to L&L!

Check out their website, many pictures, tons of info and alist of suggested items to bring ~ very helpful!

“A great place to use as a base to explore the wildlife inthe area”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

In the past twelve months, we stayed twice at Leaves &Lizards as a part of two very different groups. The first was a group organizedby an Audubon chapter. This trip was arranged to have lots of bird activities,but also included other things like general wildlife, rainforest trips, andvolcano treks (all are more my thing - I was quickly birded out!).

The second trip was as a part of a University of Dallasresearch project - I was the volcano and mapping expert. Our results can beseen at ecomapcostarica.com

This group involved a very different set of people - youngstudents instead of older bird watches, but non-research activites were easilyorganized by Steve & Debbie for this more adventurous group - everythingfrom white water rafting to service times for Mass.

Leaves and Lizards is for people who want to be close towildlife and the rainforest. The property is great for people who wantsomewhere quiet and out of the way (you can watch birds and the volcano fromthe comfort of your cabin), or as a base for other things in the area. Geovaniis an invaluable guide - use him if you're interested in the area's wildlife.There is always something going on - whether it is a 'rescue' sloth or a foalduring the night!

“perfect for outdoor adventures without feeling like justanother tourist”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We had a perfect honeymoon at Leaves and Lizards. We wantedsomewhere quiet and secluded, but with opportunities for tons of adventure andwe definitely got it! We stayed at L&L for 6 days and loved it. The viewswere absolutely spectacular. Debbie was like our own private travel agent... wejust let her know what we wanted to do, and she set up an itinerary and helpedus book everything. We went rafting, zip lining, rappelling, hiking to thewaterfall, and even had massages in our cabin to soothe our aching musclesafter all the adventure! The food was great, and our favorite part was the"refrescos" - the sweet juice drinks they whipped up for us at everymeal or snack time made from pineapple or other fresh, local fruits - even onespicked from their own trees! They were amazing! Steve and Debbie were truly themost helpful and caring hosts anyone could ask for. We really valued theirattentiveness, suggestions, and advice. All in all, they made us feel as thoughwe were visiting old friends, rather than just staying at a hotel, and thatreally made all the difference!

“fantastic place to stay”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Our cabin had a great view of the volcano. We stayed atLeaves and Lizards for five memorable nights, each day different to the last.Activities that we really enjoyed were: Horseback riding to the waterfall (onSuzie and Dorado who were very understanding of our novice skills!) Cano Negrotour with Geovani was excellent-we saw caimans, sloths, Jesus Christ Lizards,the Golden Howler Monkey and many other birds. In fact, we even managed to spota Rufus Kingfisher that Geovani had been waiting eight years to see! TheCaptain of the boat had last seen this particular kingfisher six years and heis on the river everyday-so it was a good spot. EcoTermales was particularlyenjoyable after we had completed a tough hike up Cerro Chato. We walked up onan overcast day, but we imagine that on a clear day the view of Arenal Volcanowould be spectacular. Steve and Debbie (the owners) were very helpful inhelping us to enjoy our stay at Leaves and Lizards to the maximum

“WOW”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Costa Rica in a word: WOW (The country is a World ofWonders). Beauty, tranquility, adventure all in one small place. Thank youSteve and Debbie for sharing your beautiful piece of Costa Rica with us and thetours you arranged for us were great.

Rafting on the Balsa River was awesome (we enjoyed this tripeven more than rafting the Arkansas River in Colorado). This was a technicalriver and our guide kept us busy (it's definitely not a float trip). The CanopyTour was exciting-flying over the tree tops and waterfall– we captured someamazing video. Eric and his family were very gracious to open their home to usand let us live like a Tico Family for a day. We never did get the hang ofmilking the cows, though – but the cheese we made and the tilapia we caught werequite tasty! We enjoyed the horseback ride with Debbie-racing up the hills,jumping the log and touring their beautiful place. We had rain on our naturehike with Geovani, but what would a rainforest be without rain. We still sawsome wonderful birds and animals. Canyoning was our next adventure - it was anew experience for us, our son questioned our parenting as the guide told himto jump off a 50 foot cliff and rappel down - but in the end fun was had byall. On the volcano hike, we saw hot lava rocks, and yes rain again. Thank youGeovani for always looking out for our safety. Geovani found a red-eyed treefrog in the rain at night! What an amazing guide (congrats on the write-up inthe New York Times)!

Thank you again Debbie and Steve you've got an awesome thinggoing here. Maybe we can make it back one day!

“Amazing Time at Leaves and Lizards”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Leaves and Lizards was a wonderful breath of fresh air. Weare from Florida and the lack of air conditioning was a concern for me but hereyou don't need it. The evenings were about 60 degrees and it was the so greatto wake up hearing all the animals every morning. We stayed here for the firstthree days of our trip and we wish we could have stayed a few more. Thepictures on their website don't do this place justice - we were very pleasedwith the cabins and surroundings. Giovany is an amazing guide - he really knowshis animals and it is freakish how he can call them and they respond! Steve andDebbie were very nice and great hosts. We enjoyed fresh juice martini's atdinner each nite and Medeya makes tasty meals. I don't understand the reviewwhere they pushed tours on guests - we never got that and we didn't feel theprices were expensive - I don't know where else you can pay less to getpersonalized tours. The second place we stayed at was a resort and the resorttour prices were more for similar activities. I would highly recommend Leavesand Lizards to anyone that doesn't want to be in a touristy location - yes itsout of the way - but its worth it!

“A very memorable time... great.”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We absolutely loved our time at Leaves and Lizards. Be sureto check out their website. It gives you a good idea of what you are in storefor. We wanted a "Costa Rican" experience without feeling too muchlike a tourist... and Leaves and Lizards delievered big time. Hard to believethat Steve and Debbie have been doing this only two years! The cabins theybuilt are great... quiet and comfy with a great view. Their naturalist guideGeovanni is fantastic! Very, very knowledgable , especially aboutbirds....loved his bird calls. He took us to the waterfall, Arenal night hikeand to the Orlando preserve. Another of their guides "Chito" wasgreat as well. He took us on horseback to the waterfall... a very memorableexperience. Our children (12 and 10) loved their time at Leaves and Lizards,they even got to help Debbie wash a couple of young horses.

Steve and Debbie are wonderful hosts. They are warm,friendly and want to make your experience the best it can be... and it was!

“Debbie tries to sell too many expensive tours”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Leaves and Lizards is a clean, pretty, secluded cabin with agreat view of the volcano. Unfortunately, instead of being able to relax andenjoy the surroundings, the owners try to sell you extremely overpriced toursthat they sponsor. Everyday they want to know what you have planned and thenthey suggest tours that will leave you wondering how it could have cost a fewthousand dollars when the accomodations seemed reasonable. I hope they stopoverpricing their tours and they stop pushing the tours at guests, because itis a lovely place otherwise.

“Loved Leaves and Lizards”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We planned a 10 day first trip to Costa Rica and did theresearch on Tripadvisor and travel books. I decided to try out Leaves andLizards based on the wonderful reviews on this site. Bottomline... we were veryhappy with our 3 day stay. Debbie suggested that we stop en route at VillaBlanca in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest and it was just perfect! We thentraveled to Arenal and stopped to take pictures of the volcano "blowingit's stack" before traveling to the cabin, The road is"interesting"! Make sure you have a 4X4 and you are fine. The bestpart of our trip was staying here. Our son enjoyed the horses, pig and otheranimals. However, the best part was the day trip with Geovanni. He took us onthe Rio Frio and we saw just about every monkey and other animal we wanted to!We ate two nights at the Polleria in the small town below the cabins. It wasgreat!! We actually didn't feel like we were in the U.S. (as we did at ourother stops in Costa Rica). We had great food and it was really inexpensive.All in all we had a great time. I would like to return when our son (5) is abit older so we can do more of the adventure tours.

“Loved our time at Leaves & Lizards”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We just returned from an 8 day trip to Costa Rica and ourtime at Leaves and Lizards was the best part of the trip. We were travelingwith 2 18 year olds, and they loved it too. Deb and Steve are wonderful hosts,the cabins are comfortable with an incredible view of the volcano, and thesurroundings are beautiful. We especially liked working with their guide,Giovanni. He is so knowledgeable about all of the wildlife, working with himwas a highlight of our stay. Deb made arrangements for us to do a canopy tour,soak in hot springs, and go white water rafting, and all of the activies were alot of fun. We would definitely like to return and stay with them, the nexttime for a longer stay!

“The Best Part of Our Costa Rican Vacation”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

My family and I spent four of the best days of our vacationin Costa Rica at Leaves and Lizards. Our boys are ages 10 and 13. The cabin westayed in was simple yet elegant. We had a perfect view of the Arenal Volcano.After an excellent breakfast each morning at their main house, we spent ourdays enjoying the natural beauty and wonders of the area. The owners, Steve andDeb, provided us with an excellent guide, and they helped us plan our tours andadventures. We truly enjoyed their friendly, warm hospitality. We were thereduring the rainy season but it really didn't matter. During our four daysthere, we were able to go horseback riding, zip lining, swimming near awaterfall, swimming in the hot springs, nature walking over hanging bridges,and we even got off our horses to enjoy a local soccer game that was beingplayed near the Leaves and Lizards retreat. We truly had a great time. We wishwe could have stayed longer. You may want to rent a vehicle when you go there.It really made things even more convenient.

Vernon A.

Marietta, Georgia (USA)

“Amazing!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Leaves & Lizards was exactly what we hoped it would be.It is off the beaten path which is what we wanted. Driving through La Fortuna wewere so glad we weren't staying there. The drive wasn't bad probably 40 minutesfrom La Fortuna.

Unfortunately Deb was in California while we were there.Steve was great though. He didn't know we were expecting dinner when we gotthere. So we had to drive back to town for dinner.

Our cabin was awesome. Very clean and very comfy bed.Gorgeous property. Would have had perfect view of the volcano but it was toocloudly while we were there.

Our first day we did a horse back ride to the waterfall withGiovani and Cheeto. They were awesome! Pointed out all kinds of wild life,frogs, sloths. Ate fresh papayas, and swung on vines like Tarzan & Jane.Then we got to a gorgeous private waterfall and got to swim in the rain. By farone of our favorite things that we did while in Costa Rica.

Loved Leaves and Lizards and will definately be back!

“Totally Awesome!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

My husband and I stayed in the Monkey Cabin for 2 nights andwished we had a few more! It was towards the end of our 2 week stay (firsttime) in Costa Rica, and we decided we should have allotted more time for thisarea. I really don't know what we can add to previous reviews, we agree withall the good things everyone else has said about Leaves and Lizards! We verymuch enjoyed Debbie and Steve's hospitality, and the entertaining expertise ofGeovany, the guide on our early morning bird watching excursion (worth gettingup at 5 AM for!) and also translator on our horseback ride to the waterfall. Weplan on coming back..... although we had a fantastic view of the volcano, wedid not have enough time to actually get closer to it. We'll have to save thatfor a return trip!

Muchas Gracias!

“Good vacation”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

My husband and I stayed at Leaves and Lizards for 2 nights.We had a great stay but what made our visit the best was our day out with theguide Giovanni. Giovanni works for Steve and Debbie and is truly a fascinatingand kind individual. He took us out for an entire day of animal watching, Withhis high powered telescope we saw tucans, sloths, monkeys, birds, you name it.

Our accomodations were nice and clean, we stayed in thevolcano cabin. Breakfast was the same two days in a row, I didn't think it wasanything special. We ate dinner at La Pollera which is at the base of the dirtroad- I reccommend eating dinner there or getting it to go- for the two nightswe had an inexpensive and delicious dinner that we brought back to our cabin.There were no volcano views because of the clouds and overall we had a nicevisit. From Arenal we went to Monteverde which was the best part of our trip. Ihighly reccommend staying at El SOl in Monteverde!!!!

“Great family experience”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

This is rural tourism at its best. If you want to see thereal Costa Rica, interact with local people, and have nature right outside yourdoor, then Leaves and Lizards is for you. The accommodations were clean,spacious and the beds very comfortable. Steve and Debbie are great hosts andare very accommodating in helping customize your vacation. Nothing beats theserenity and traquility of sitting out on your balcony (we stayed in the Monkeycabin) viewing the volcano and having toucans, hummingbirds and other birdsflying by.

Don't miss the horseback ride to the private waterfall to aneighbouring farm. What a unique experience to swim up to the waterfall withoutthe crowds you get at other sites.

The food was great - it's nice to experience local cuisine.

Do make sure you spend some time with Giovanni, their natureguide, whether it be on a volcano hike, Cano Negro boat tour, or a guidedbird/wildlife tour right on the property.

It was a great experience for our children (ages 12 &14) to see nature up close and realize the importance of preserving ourenvironment.

We would highly recommend Leaves and Lizards to anyonelooking for a more active and interactive vacation.

“Amazing experience--did not want to leave!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

If you want to feel like the only visitor in Costa Rica, goto Leaves & Lizards. Far from the touristy string of hotels around theArenal Volcano, but close enough to enjoy the area's activities, Steve &Debbie's three beautiful cabins are a piece of heaven. The views are stunning,and going to sleep and waking up to the sounds of birds and wildlife isblissful. No man-made sounds intrude on the serene atmosphere. Steve and Debbieare laid-back, gracious, and knowledgeable about the area. They were extremelyhelpful in planning our excursions--we just told them what we had in mind, andthey made helpful suggestions and booked everything for us. All we had to dowas show up. Hanging out in their kitchen/dining room was one of the highlightsof the trip, both for the conversation and the great food and drink. There wasso much to do without even leaving the property--plentiful bird & wildlifewatching, horseback riding, hiking to a beautiful waterfall, and walking to thenearby village of Monterey. If you're willing to sacrifice some of theconvenience of being closer to Fortuna for the experience of being a temporarylocal in a hidden gem of a spot, this is the place to go. We spent the firstfour days of our seven day trip here, and I ended up wishing we'd just bookedour whole week at Leaves & Lizards. Not to be missed: Giovanni's (the greatguide) howler monkey call!

“Comforts of Home”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

This is a great getaway from the tourist areas, with all theviews and more wildlife. Waking up in the morning to parrots in the trees andhummingbirds in the beautiful flowers. Make the most of the area by booking daytrips to Arenal Volcano, white water rafting or just have Debbie and Steveorganize any number of horse back trips. They have a stable by the main housewith many easy to ride horses, enough for all, don't be afraid, I did it!! Foodexcellent by an excellent cook. Cabins clean and views are all photographswaiting to be snapped.

“Don't leave out Leaves and Lizards!!!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Leaves and Lizards was wonderful and the highlight of ourtrip! Deb and Steve are great hosts and the meals were the best of our 10 daysin Costa Rica. The cabins were clean, well furnished, and included spectacularviews of Arenal. We were able to spot many native birds just from the porch.Deb and Steve were very knowledgable and happy to answer our many questions.The farm setting adds to the allure and they arranged a horseback tour of thearea which included a trip to a private waterfall. The sustainable approachtaken to their venture is an inspiration and the hard work and care put theyhave put into this property is abundantly evident. We look forward to returningto Leaves and Lizards and highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the Arenalarea!

Jim and Andrea

Minneapolis

“Amazing”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

It was my second time visiting Costa Rica and it happened tobe unexpectedly AMAZING!

Debbie and Steve: took care of us and the dog we took, theywere waiting for us with dinner ready:) Oh, and by the way, don't forget to askSteve for homemade pancakes:)

Activities: experienced great adventure horseback riding andhiking to waterfall, guides were very helpful and nice.

The cabin: beautiful view on Arenal volcano, peaceful andquiet.

Any help we needed either it was directions, advice,medicine, "dog ambulance" or just friendly company-we got it all!!!

Thank you, guys I am very happy with my trip and I thinkit's not the last one!

Natasha, Murray and Boo Boo:)

“Exceeded my expectations”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Leaves and Lizards exceeded my expectations. During the ridefrom La Fortuna I was wondering if I had made the right decsion staying inMonterrey. I was really glad that I did.

The pictures on the website are good but they really can'tdo it justice. When I arrived both Debbie and Steve gave me a warm welcome andshowed me to my cabina. There are three and they are perched on a hill and setbefore Arenal Volcano. The path is lined with native plants, trees and flowers.This area was once a cow pasture and they have been working diligently toreforest the area. The cabina's are beautiful. Although newly built, they fitright into the landscape. My cabina was large and nicely decorated with acomfortable bed, soft sheets and mosquito netting. There was also a bunk bed ifneeded. There is a coffee maker and a small refrigerator stocked withbeverages. The large deck has a table made from a local tree that had fallenand two hammocks.

The front of the cabina is all window. The morning after Iarrived I awoke to a rooster call and sat up in bed to see a clear andimpressive Arenal Volcano in front me. The view from bed was spectacular !

I had made plans to horseback ride and hike this day. Iarrived at Debbie and Steve's to find a wonderful breakfast being prepared.Coffee, freshly made star fruit juice, eggs, bacon and yummy pancakes. As I atemy breakfast I watched more birds than I can count also having breakfast on thefruit tray left for them.

The horses at Leaves and Lizards are well tempered andsweet. They are in excellent condition and well taken care of. I did severaltours including Cano Negro and a night hike to watch the lava flow. I was fortunatethat it was crystal clear that night and it was a truly unforgettable night.The highlight of my stay was the hot air balloon ride that Debbie and Stevearranged for me.

I would not hesitate to recommend Leaves and Lizards. Debbieand Steve are such warm and hospitable people, I can not say enough about them.As a single, female traveling alone, I felt completely at ease and comfortablewith them.

“Highly recommend for bird and nature lovers”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Our group had such a wonderful time at Leaves and Lizards(Dec. 27, 2007-Jan 3, 2008) that we're going back March 24-30! Everything wasgreat - our hosts (Steve & Debbie Legg), the birds, our cabin, our guide,the flowers, the view, the people we encountered, the food, the wholeexperience. We also loved the evening observations of lava and fiery boulders!

Visitors should know that although Arenal Volcano is activeall the time, it's not totally visible ALL the time. After all, it IS therainforest, and you gotta expect rain (& clouds) in the rainforest! Yourvolcano observations chances are improved at L&L because it sits a gooddeal higher than the hotels in La Fortuna. Sometimes the clouds come betweenthe base of the volcano and the hotels, while the top may still be visible fromLeaves and Lizards.

I highly recommend Leaves and Lizards to anyone with anaffinity for the outdoors who also likes great accommodations and good food!

“Jungle hideaway!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Steve and Debbie have done a fabulous job with theconstruction of the cabins. I was very impressed with how beautiful and lusheverything was. Highlights included:

Toucans

Lightening bugs lighting up the jungle at night.

Hummingbirds everywhere!

Sloths

Pancake breakfasts

Seeing the glow of the volcano late in the evening

fresh bromeliads in the room

The little town at the bottom of the hill was such anawesome little place too. We had a great and affordable dinner at 2 differentplaces in town. Our only mistake is not planning accordingly and leaving toosoon. There were a ton of things we wanted to do but didn't have the time.That's just more the reason to plan another trip back.

“...for viewing nature instead of other tourists”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

The last few km of 4x4 road are rough, but worth it to takeyou literally off the beaten (tourist) track. When we did pass through LaFortuna on our way to some tours, we were so glad we were staying at L&L.The privacy of and the views from the casitas are awesome. I would highlyrecommend the tour of local dairy farm. Our children, ages 6 & 8, had afantastic day! The host family was very relaxed and accommodating (shieldingsensitive 6 yo witness cleaning of tilapia we caught in their pond and then atefor lunch). The zip line, at ~15-20 feet in the air, was just enough to givethe kids the thrill of a zip line. The horses, named Canelo (its color) andPerezoso (Spanish for sloth, and entirely appropriate) had a great demeanor fornovice horsepeople. And of course, we saw the dairy barn, milked a cow and madefresh cheese, which we ate with tortillas that we also made (afterinstruction). If it seems pricey, just consider how much you would pay forhorse riding at home... that plus all the other activities and knowing that youare supporting local families instead of the corporations that attract themajority of tourist dollars, make it money well spent. Pura Vida!

“Ultimate Relaxation Resort”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

I was lucky enough to spend two wonderful weeks at Leavesand Lizards. Every morning I awoke to birds singing, hummingbirds flittingabout, toucans soaring past, and a wonderful direct view or the Arenal Volcano.Debbie and Steve were great hosts and made me feel like part of their family.Horsebackriding is onsite and the other tour options were about 40 minutesaway. The rafting and the rappeling were my two favorites. I can't wait to goback next year.

“Loved Leaves and Lizards and their owners, Debbie andSteve”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

What a wonderful friendly and accommodating couple! They arefrom Florida. They really try to meet all your needs to make your staycomfortable and memorable (they are relatively new and perfecting more all thetime). We had fun conversations, a great breakfast each morning is included,beautiful views from the cabins, views of the valcano on a clear day, pillowtop mattress bed (which was a complete blessing to have in central america),and plenty of activities to do. You can be as active in nature or as relaxed inyour hammock enjoying nature's beauty, tucans, humming birds, monkeys, horses,etc. etc. Go visit, you will enjoy yourself!

“Rustic Luxury”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

I had a great time. Everyone was extremely friendly. Debbieand Steve went out of their way to accomodate us in any way to make sure wewere able to explore and do as much as we can on our trip. Leaves and Lizzardshave many contacts for travel guides that know the best places to go. They haveexperienced many obstacles, such as repelling down waterfalls to hiking aroundthe volcano, themselves, which allows them to show us the places worth ourtime.

Waking up to freshly cooked breakfast and fresh squeezed juicewas a treat we looked forward to every morning, while waking up to a gorgeousview of the volcano. In my opinion, Leaves and Lizzards is the only way to goin Costa Rica.

“Very rustic and remote woke up to beautiful volcano viewsand hummingbirds!!!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Our first stop on our two week trip in Costa Rica. This is agreat place if you are looking for horseback riding and relaxation and youdon't want to stay in La Fortuna. It is located approximately 40 minutes drivefrom La Fortuna in a town called Monterrey. Our hosts Debbie and Steve werevery accomodating and the food was delicious and the cabins very clean. Weenjoyed the Arenal area and stopped at Eco termales on our way to their housefor hot springs and dinner which Debbie so kindly booked for us and it wasamazing. Hiked Arenal

National Park and soaked at Tabacon the following day andhad dinner with them that night and dinner was fantastic! If you are lookingfor a stay off the beaten path but is still fairly close to La Fortuna and thevolcano than this is your destination. They also offer tours, reasonably pricedmassages on site and truly are great hosts. Just ensure you have a 4x4 vehicleas the gravel roads are crazy!!!.

“It was great!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

The stay we had with Steve and Debbie was great. We had justcome from the humid Pacific coast and the weather at their place was breezy,cool at night and in the 70's during the day.

The cabins were new with modern bathrooms, large tile showerand exotic wood floors and a huge picture window looking out over the porch anda great view of the volcano.

Debbie suggested several things for us to do including thezip lines. ( it did not cure my fear of heights).

I personally had more fun riding their horses and visitingthe waterfalls and jungles on the farms of their neighbors.

I was amazed at the trail that Orlando, their neighbor hadcreated through the rainforest jungle on his farm. It was a mile longengineering marvel and he apparantly had built it all himself. We got photos ofa white faced monkey, sloth, leaf cutter ants, huge jungle trees, poison dartfrogs and lots of volcano photos.

They catered to our schedule, nothing was set in stone, themeals were great and the only regret we had was having to leave. Pura Vida!

“Unforgettable experience at Leaves and Lizards”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We spent six nights at Steve and Deb's cabin retreat. Thelast 3km of

our journey was bumpy but soon forgotten once we arrived.Our cabin was perfect! Modern, but rustic, clean, comfortable, quiet, andpeaceful. The views of Arenal, the valley, and surrounding countryside werespectacular. And, of course, we heard the howler monkeys each and every night. Weate our meals, family-style, at the

"gathering kitchen", just a 5 minute walk from ourcabin. The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious, thanks to talented andbeautiful

Mireya. She is pure gold, as far as we are concerned. Eachand every day was packed with many tours, each one amazing and unforgettable.We had no worries with reservations or transportation. Steve and Deb took careof all details, making our stay completely stress free. We will never forgetour time at Leaves and Lizards and we will definitely return.

Thanks, Steve and Deb. You two are awesome.

John and Sandy Owen

Duluth MN USA

“Leaves and Lizards is a gem!”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing and one of the highlightswas our stay at Leaves and Lizards. It is quiet, relaxing, beautiful cabins andSteve and Debbie made us and our children feel right at home. The service andfood was personalized to our families needs and everyone was so welcoming andfriendly. The horseback ride to a secluded waterfall with local guides wasamazing - we had it all to ourselves! I would highly recommend this trip andLeaves and Lizards as a must on your Costa Rica holiday.

“Excellent Hospitality”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We loved our stay with Debbie and Steve. They have abeautiful piece of property that they have done amazing work to. Their mainbuilding and cabins are very nice. The food and drinks are amazing as well.They provide chioces to what you eat and when. They are very hospitable andprovide a home away from home! We will definately go back!

“WONDERFUL Personal touch! ”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

Debbie and Steve gave that personal touch to each one of ourfamily members that included my 75 year old mother. They went out of their wayto help us book the most fantastic and sensible tours. My mother enjoyed thetour of the primary forest. Our sons, who are 21 and 25 years old, had theexperience of their lifetime zippying through the canopies on a tourrecommended by Debbie and Steve. They also rode Debbie and Steve's horses on awonderful trail. We all enjoyed the flavors of Costa Rican cooking from theirfantastic cook. We were craving more of her delicious food which included freshfruit and juices. (Star fruit is grown right on the property!) My husband'sbirthday was celebrated in such a family style that we will never forget thevolcano cake! At night, we were able to view the lava flows glowing in thedistance. Our cameras were set to the proper shutter speed and we got somefantastic pictures! It was so romantic and quite a site to behold.Accommodations included large spacious cabins and brand new facilities. Thecabin we reserved had a wonderful mural that depicted a theme. It was great tocome "home" to after a fun-filled day of sightseeing. Waking up inthe morning to a spectacular view of the forest was awesome. We did not get tosee all the places that were available on the tour packages so we are planningour next vacation to Debbie and Steve's to continue our quest for more nature,more food flavors, and more family fun! Compliments to Debbie and Steve! Thankyou. Hope to see you next year!

“Loved the Personalized Service”

Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat

We thought this resort was wonderful!

The views of the the volcano erupting at night wereincredible!

The tour of Rio Celest is one we will neverforget......Leaves and LIzards was by far one of the nicest places we stayed inCosta Rica........ Everyone on the staff made us feel as if we were part of a family!