Treetop Dining Experience Above the Clouds in Monteverde
Suspended among the treetops of Costa Rica’s famed cloud forest, the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience offers more than just a meal. It delivers a multisensory journey through the heart of the nation’s culture, nature, and culinary heritage.
An Elevated Treetop Dining Experience Through Costa Rica
Eight glass cabins, reached by a narrow bridge 10 meters up, offer sweeping views of Monteverde’s misty peaks and the Gulf of Nicoya. This design mirrors the hanging bridges and zip lines for which the region is known.
The Treetop Dining Concept: Where Food Meets Storytelling
Civil engineer and hospitality visionary Diego Valverde envisioned a dining experience that fused local identity with immersive storytelling. Each course pays tribute to a different Costa Rican province, transforming the evening into a guided cultural expedition.
The Passport to Flavor
Upon arrival, diners receive a “passport” — a curated guide that maps out Costa Rica’s seven provinces and several islands. The meal begins with appetizers in a suitcase: taro chips, cocoa butter spheres, and fermented purple corn shots.
Nine Courses, Nine Stories
Chef José Daniel Hernández, known for reimagining Costa Rican classics, crafted the menu after exploring the country and collaborating with local chefs. Each province is represented in a dish — from green apple and chayote ceviche for Puntarenas to a smoky potato plate reflecting Cartago’s volcanic soil.
Vegetarian and traditional tasting menus alike showcase Costa Rica’s biodiversity and culinary richness. A quinoa croquette inspired by Limón features coconut milk foam and Caribbean spice. San José’s modern casado honors the capital’s comforting food traditions.
From Heredia to Monteverde: A Magical Finale
Desserts draw from Heredia’s farmer’s markets and Monteverde’s mystical surroundings. A delicate sorbet made of pineapple, lime, and coconut gives way to a dramatic finale of fire, chocolate, and coffee — tucked beneath tropical blooms in a wooden pot.
Science Meets Gastronomy
Psychologist Alejandra Brenes contributed to the dining concept by applying neuroscience and consumer behavior research to curate emotions through temperature, texture, sound, and sight — crafting what she calls “a small gastronomic adventure park.”
A Forest Once Lost, Now Reborn
The experience is deeply connected to the surrounding forest — a landscape nearly lost during the 1980s deforestation crisis. Thanks to conservation efforts like the Monteverde Conservation League and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, Monteverde has not only regenerated ecologically, but has become an international ecotourism and now gastronomic destination.
Where Conservation and Cuisine Connect
San Lucas doesn’t just serve food — it tells the story of a resilient land and culture. “We want diners to leave with a deep connection to Costa Rica,” said Valverde. And through flavor, storytelling, and the forest’s whispering canopy, that connection is unforgettable. Treetop Dining Experience.
