You must stay at Casa Balbi! Especially if yu are a birder. Your hosts, Larry and his son Oscar are such good hosts, very warm, hospitabe, engaging, friendly, helpful. They live on-site so there is aways someone there to help or just to visit with. Oscar was especially helpful with arranging shuttle rides for me to various reserves in the area. The grounds are huge! Tropical birds are plentiful and easy to see. I stayed here for 3 months. I was surrounded by toucans and parrots every day. It is a short walk downhill to town and then an easy taxi ride back up. The grounds are huge, full of flowers, birds, butterfies, and mammals. White-faced monkeys are regular visitors. No need to stay anywhere else in Monteverde - if you have any interest in nature - and that is why you are going to Costa Rica - this is the place to stay.