One of the best deals -- and meals -- in the valley is at this restaurant and cabins run by a Tico family, who all join in (kids, too) to help serve meals. Three simple, wooden cabins, one with a wood-burning fireplace, have red-velvet decor reminiscent of a bordello, but they are cheap and comfortable. There are some short, steep forest trails to explore. At the restaurant you can dine on fresh trout -- pulled directly out of the adjoining pond when you place your order -- with salad, vegetables, dessert, and juice for under $8. If you haven't got the time or the courage to face the steep road all the way down to San Gerardo, this is a good compromise, only 3 km (2 mi) in from the highway.
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