Iyok Ami (Madre Tierra)

–Excellent location - show map
+30 photos
Scored 8.5
Rated very good

Staff

9.4

You might be eligible for a Genius discount at Iyok Ami (Madre Tierra). To check if a Genius discount is available for your selected dates sign in.

Genius discounts at this property are subject to book dates, stay dates and other available deals.

About this property

Comfortable Accommodations: Iyok Ami (Madre Tierra) in Cartago offers family rooms with garden or mountain views. Each room includes a work desk, parquet floors, and a private bathroom. Exceptional Facilities: Guests enjoy a sun terrace, garden, restaurant, and free WiFi. Additional amenities include a lounge, outdoor fireplace, shared kitchen, indoor play area, and picnic area. Dining Experience: The family-friendly restaurant serves brunch, dinner, and high tea with vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Activities and Location: Located 67 km from La Managua Airport and 20 km from Cerro de la Muerte, the property is ideal for hiking and nature trips.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.1 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Most popular facilities

  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Free WiFi
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms

Property highlights

Perfect for a 3-night stay!

  • Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.3)

  • Top pick by families with children

  • Free private parking available on-site

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Availability

We have no availability here between Mon 17 Nov 2025 and Thu 20 Nov 2025

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Guest reviews

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Guests who stayed here loved

Luana
Switzerland Switzerland
“We stayed for one night and it was perfect. Cozy Hostel right by the street but you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. The staff is very friendly and made us some nice dinner and breakfast. Would definitely recommend.”
Lucie
France France
“Beautiful cosy place near the forest. Nice welcoming hosts and very good food.”
Alison
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Lots of games to keep our boy entertained and walks, great staff.”
Melanie
Germany Germany
“Beautiful place in a perfect location for some quiet days. Lovely and helpful staff, delicious breakfast with a view. Hiking trails starting directly in front of the house. Lots of birds around.”
Melanie
Germany Germany
“Beautiful place. Perfect for some quiet and peaceful days in the mountains. Hiking trails with lots of birds starting right in front of the house. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful.”
Cathy
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“This place is a gem: a wonderful eco-lodge in the midst of primary rainforest. You can trek straight out of the lodge along several trails, or sit with a coffee watching the hummingbirds. A highlight for us was seeing the resplendent quetzal from...”
Alberto
Costa Rica Costa Rica
“The person who was in charge during our stay was very kind and helpful. The place is far away from city, restaurants, markets and things like that, so plates for dinner or breakfast are not varied, but food was very good, They cultivate their own...”
Gabriella
Switzerland Switzerland
“Simple accommodation with a family who, in addition to their house with rooms, also offer other smaller huts with accommodation. Our accommodation was simple, functional but very pleasant. There are enough blankets for the night when the...”
Jessica
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Wonderful! - like living in someone's mountain lodge high in the forest for a while. I loved the house and the cosy little rooms. There was a view of Volcan Poas (erupting!) and it was great to have short trails available leading right out of the...”
Nadège
France France
“The location is just amazing. Being able to observe wildlife from Iyok Ami is such a bonus (no need to go to the national park). You can take a walk (they have various paths) or just do it from inside. The nature there is breathtaking. Flori and...”

Hosted by Bedrich Sruta

9.4
Host review score
Bedrich Sruta
Iyok Ami, which means Madre Tierre or Mother Earth, is located in a cloud forest in the high mountains of Cartago at an altitude of 2800m. The philosophy and main objective of the reserve Iyok Ami is the conservation and protection of its natural resources. The reserve (23 hectares) consists of a large house with several rooms and common areas, a garden of about half a hectare for agriculture, and about 10 km of trails in the cloud forest. The main trail (3 km one way) leads to a waterfall. Early in the morning quetzales, humming birds and other endemic birds can be spotted in the garden.
I graduated in natural resource management and am a guide with extensive knowledge of the local ecosystem. As your host, I will be happy to guide you through the reserve and answer your questions about the cloud forest, its fauna and flora. My aim is to share my passion for mother nature with you during your stay.
Iyok Ami borders the National Park Tapantí in the east and the Reserve Rio Macho in the northeast. The National Park Los Quetzales is located 5 km south from Iyok Ami. Outside temperatures vary between maximum 25 degrees during the day to around 8 degrees at night. From approximately November to January night temperature can go down to 0 degrees. The nearest small shop is about 5 km south and a larger market about 20 km north from Iyok Ami, so be prepared when you come for several days. Of course, we also serve breakfast (included), lunch and dinner (latter 2 not included).
Languages spoken: English,Spanish

Property surroundings

Restaurants

1 restaurant on site
Restaurant
  • Open for
    Breakfast • Brunch • Dinner • High tea
  • Ambiance
    Family friendly
  • Dietary options
    Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

House rules

Iyok Ami (Madre Tierra) takes special requests - add in the next step!
Check-in
From 14:00 to 20:00
You'll need to let the property know in advance what time you'll arrive.
Check-out
From 06:00 to 12:00
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please check what conditions may apply to each option when making your selection.
Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

Children 18 years and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

Cots and extra beds are not available at this property.

No age restriction
There is no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Cash only
This property only accepts cash payments.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Quiet hours
Guests must be quiet between 20:00 and 22:00.

The fine print

Need-to-know information for guests at this property

Payment can only be made in cash, colones or USD.

Please inform Iyok Ami (Madre Tierra) in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

Quiet hours are between 20:00:00 and 22:00:00.