Selva Negra Lodge has a rich history and its owners, fifth generation German coffee producers, are still very much part of it.
The lodge blends perfectly into its natural surroundings as each room is protected and insulated by a bed of tropical cloud forest. The smart timber bungalows and chalets have polished wood interiors while the restaurant sits beside a tree-shaded lake and is popular with day-trippers and families alike.
Selva Negra is still a thriving coffee estate and what with its protected reserve full of walking trails is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area on foot or horseback. A working farm produces much of what is eaten at the lodge and a cheese factory produces first class Gouda and Manchego.
An unusual touch: there's a wooden fairy-tale chapel which was built for a family wedding.