The mission of the Calandria Lodge is to embrace guests into the natural world of the tropics, providing comfortable lodging in a beatiful setting while protecting and restoring habitat for the natural inhabitants of this ecosystem.  Guests can actively participate in habitat restoration during their visit or simply take pleasure in knowing that their lodging fees enable this important work.

 

The Calandria Lodge sits 1200 meters (4000 feet) high on the Monteverde mountainside and has an outstanding view of the Gulf of Nicoya. In front of the lodge is a canyon of the Lagartos River watershed and behind the station is tropical humid forest. The famous cloud forest is seven kilometers higher up towards the continental divide. The town of Santa Elena is two kilometers east.

 

La Calandria is a name for the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), an endangered species in Costa Rica. In 2000, the Mallory Family Foundation purchassed 27 hectares as their commitment to protect tropical habitat and the flora and fauna that depend upon it. In addition to protecting critical haibitat for the bellbird, over 52 species of neotropical migrant birds need this area for their over-wintering survival. More than 185 species of plants, 12 of which are new to science and many are endemics to the zone or to Costa Rica, have been catalogued here. Through the work of collaborating scientists, we know that over 600 species of butterflies use this habitat, as well as numerous other insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including an unclassified species of frog (possibly now extinct).

 

La Calandria Lodge has hosted worksho ps from professional orginizaions, student groups from leading universities, ecotourists, and private retreats. We support community events by providing lodging. Other guests include families looking for a unique place to enjoy nature thats off the beaten path.