Puntarenas, 60702 Carate, Costa Rica
#4 of 5 hotels in Carate
Guests' ChoiceBased on 28 hotel reviews
8.6Cleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.5
Location
9.5
Facilities
7.8
Staff
9.4
Value for money
7.6
Free WiFi
5.0
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Showing 1 – 25
Reviewed: 7 May 2024
Dave
GermanyThe view from our room was stunning. We saw monkeys, Macaws and crocodiles (from a safe distance!). A truly wonderful experience.
Stayed in April 2024
Reviewed: 3 May 2024
Kristina
GermanyA few things need to be renewed/repaired or can be enhanced: - protective nets in the bathroom and in the sleeping quarter so that less insects can enter the room. - Additional hooks for towels are needed and - maybe the bathroom at least need to be cleaned twice a day because of the opened window/bathroom a lot of animals (insects, Geckos) can come in and are loosing their excrements. - Maybe it is worth to think about to also install protective nets which can be switched to the sides when you want to have it opened. The problem is mainly at nights. - The road is in a very bad condition, it takes > 2hours to get there from Puerto Jimenez (by perfect weather). - Maybe they can work together with a local tour agency to offer more tours and - make it easier for the guests to get to such tour into the Parque. - Also it would be helpful to get together as property owner and maybe try to repair the wholes in the road to Carate (the road is in a very bad condition). - The money should be transferred to a international bank account, which costs additional fees for Europeans (easer enable credit card payment or host a local bank account in Europe)
The view is exceptionally. The most beautiful we ever saw. The nature with all the wild animals, tons of macaws, coatis, agutis, tons of zopilotes, monkeys, Kolibris, crocodiles in the lagoon. The staff went above and beyond also we were almost the only guests but the staff made the stay extremely nice! The food of Renee was so delicious, Renee is really a great chef!
Stayed in April 2024
Reviewed: 29 March 2023
Patrick
United Kingdoma little bit of work would make it even better: eg making sure the screens in the bungalows are all working, the Sun loungers in the pool area are all functional, the shower heads are properly descaled and give a uniform spray again
amazing location, genuine wildlife, exceptional hospitality, lovely guests, just the right size, there is literally nothing around other than jungle, it’s obvious a lot of love has gone into the design of the entire place, the pool and restaurant would win a Picture postcard competition, feels like family run business, shockingly good piña coladas!
Stayed in March 2023
Reviewed: 12 March 2023
Katie
AustraliaNothing!
Had such a lovely stay here. The perfect place to relax and view the incredible Osa peninsula. The pool was magic! The food was also delicious (and is included). We even had a little plunge pool. Staff all lovely.
Stayed in March 2023
Reviewed: 9 March 2023
Cynthia
United StatesThere really was nothing that we didn't like. Fair warning; since the rooms are private, there may be a number of steps to negotiate when going to the main lodge area.
Visiting Lagunavista Villas is definitely a rainforest/ocean get away. The rooms are wonderful and very private. You are close to nature with incredible views. The meals are very good and served family-style with other guests or separately, if that is your preference. The staff is excellent and your hosts, Greg and Keiko, are warm and inviting. It's a bit like being invited into their home with lots of great conversation, music, and stories. They were very attentive and helpful in setting up activities for us when needed. It is a remote resort - perfect to disconnect (for the most part; they do have wireless) and get to know the creatures of the rainforest. Daily appearances by monkeys, scarlet macaws, toucans, and coatis add to the entertainment. We had a great time.
Stayed in March 2023
Reviewed: 3 March 2023
Lynn
CanadaMonkeys - right outside our outdoor bathroom in the morning!!!!! hosts were very gracious - property was beautiful!
Stayed in February 2023
Reviewed: 28 February 2023
Susan
United StatesWe loved the location. The grounds, buildings, owners, & staff were wonderful.
Stayed in February 2023
Reviewed: 20 February 2023
Maggie
United KingdomNothing
Everything! Best pool and view ever. Wonderful hosting from Greg and Keiko. Exceptional service, views, comfort, wildlife. I have travelled a lot and one of the most amazing places I have ever stayed
Stayed in February 2023
Reviewed: 17 February 2023
Sonja
New Zealandhad to pay for kayak rental, quite expensive and I feel this should be included in the package. only went out for an hour and it was $40 US each. it is quite isolated out there with nowhere to go so great if you want a quiet relaxing time but not if you want to do lots of stuff
amazing views, beautiful pool, lovely private plunge pools
Stayed in February 2023
Reviewed: 17 July 2022
Ana
ColombiaNot Wifi in the rooms, restaurant and terrace should have vents because mosquitoes were too much.
Espectacular view, good dinner, nice pool, very comfy room. Staff was very gentle.
Stayed in July 2022
Reviewed: 15 June 2022
James
United KingdomThe bugs! It was the rainy season which produces a ton of bugs at night which are attracted to light. So, have a room repellent and just remember this is nature
The staff was great! Very welcoming and accommodating to our queries and needs. The views are incredible and the most beautiful scenery I've seen. The animals and bugs were in abundance and interesting to learn along the way. Serene and quiet with nature.
Stayed in May 2022
Reviewed: 3 May 2022
Fernando
Costa Ricanothing
nature is all around you
Stayed in May 2022
Reviewed: 12 April 2022
Zuzana
AustriaThe price is far too high for what you get. The food was less than average. After receiving for lunch spaghetti with some cheap tinned sauce (no appetizer, no dessert) we asked to be served fresh salad for lunch and dinner instead. That worked well. The so called lodge manager we met only once while upon our arrival he came to collect payment for our stay. Probably he knew that as there is no service it is highly improbable that we may spend money on drinks. If something brakes down it is not being repaired, e.g. one shower at the pool did not function at all, the other one was half broken. The ladies toilet at the pool had a string instead of flush button. A lot of tiles in the pool are missing. The same is in the bungalows. What a pity that the property is not taken proper care off. It seems to be running on minimum cost for staff and inventory principle. Thanks to its location it could be a true paradise if managed professionally.
The location is truly unique. Very relaxing to enjoy the views of the lagoon and listen to the sounds of ocean. The lodge is close to the Carate air strip from where also our guided tour to Corcovado NP started. We however did not arrive by air but drove ourselves. The gravel road from Puerto Jimenez was much better than we expected, the drive took only about an hour. Warned by the reviews of previous visitors our expectations regarding service were limited and being the only guests during our 3 night stay we had the full attention of two volunteer girls staying at the lodge for 2 weeks and being a kind of point of connection to the more or less invisible staff of the lodge (the owner lives in Italy, hasn’t been at the property since 2 years). Large swimming pool in beautiful setting. Great place for nature lovers.
Stayed in April 2022
Reviewed: 28 February 2022
William
United StatesThe staff is not welcoming and lacking in direction. The food is very unremarkable, heavy, and unappealing. Overall, the property needs renovation and it is obvious the owners are not present. There is no attention to detail, or help with scheduling activities. Electrical power is limited, so don't expect ice or a mini-fridge in the room, as in other lodges at the same price range.
The location and views are fabulous. The swimming pool was fabulous as well, however it is deteriorating daily, and will need an overhaul very soon. It is a great place in an amazing area for wildlife if you are a self-sufficient traveler and not expecting to be pampered.
Stayed in February 2022
Reviewed: 25 January 2022
Bruce
Costa RicaFood
Food was good but not great staff pretty good I’ve been a neighbor for years and the place looks great better than it has in a long time we saw a tapir on the property Gregs vision has definitely come to be to bad he can’t get there more often to experience it much love Bruce
Stayed in January 2022
Reviewed: 30 November 2021
Raphael20
SwitzerlandAmazing staff, perfect location right in the jungle with a crazy view, great food
Stayed in November 2021
Reviewed: 30 November 2021
Friederike
GermanyGreat location, super-friendly staff, transparent communication and excellent food
Stayed in November 2021
Reviewed: 10 October 2021
Nils
GermanyStunning Location. Perfect to relax After 3 days of walking through the rainforest
Stayed in September 2021
Reviewed: 8 December 2022
Kirsten
Costa RicaFacility did not meet our expectations for a $300 dollar per night lodging. Should be more in the range of $150. The grounds and cabinas are fairly rustic, no curtains on the windows so you will wake at 5:30am with light, very old bathrooms, hot water usually did not work. The view is insane, and thats what you are paying for, but the wifi does not work most of the time and there is very little to do at the hotel, only a few costa rica guide books to read. The pool was undergoing maintainence while we were there so we could not use it, but it looks very nice. Also it says its a beachfront hotel on booking but it is not. You have to walk down the main road 20 minutes to get to the beach or pay for a ride.
The food and chefs really superb.
Stayed in December 2022
Reviewed: 28 November 2022
Kris
United StatesThis place needs more basics - They need to invest in the hotel . They need window shades on the slider doors, deadbolts on doors, better towels.
Incredible views and location and excellent staff. the food is decent.
Stayed in November 2022
Reviewed: 19 July 2022
Girlson
United StatesFirst we received an email from them stating that ALL meals were included regardless of where you booked. I hadn't purchased the meal option but based on this email I assumed it wasn't needed. However when we arrived at the hotel we were told we would need to pay for all of our meals. There is no where else within 2 hours to get get food from once you are at the property and we did not bring anything with us because we were told that the meals were included. I reached out to the owner and he was rude and condescending. I ultimately worked out a deal with the receptionist and agreed to pay for the meals. The cost of the meals is outrageous. There is no menu, you eat what they make or you don't eat, but are charged for it either way. Example: lunch was a plate of pasta and small salad...for $18. Room temperature water, coffee, or tea (juice at breakfast) are the only beverages included in the price. The chef did his best to accommodate special requests however there were several meals that we were served that I couldn't eat at all (but were still charged for). Overall I would say the experience was okay but I wouldn't recommend the hotel or go back.
The location is beautiful, and the rooms have a great view. There are a lot of birds that "stop by" including toucans and macaws. The receptionist was very kind and understanding. He went way out of his way to make up for the mistakes of the owner.
Stayed in July 2022
Reviewed: 6 March 2022
Jutta
SwitzerlandThe whole property is in urgent need of a major overhaul. For this price, however, you can expect much more. The price-performance ratio is not at all adequate. The included full board is the most basic food we ever had in Costa Rica. The owner lives in Europe and cannot take care of the hotel. There are only 2 or 3 employees who work from morning to late night, but are completely unable to cope with the burden. I know that hotels were closed down for more than a year because of COVID. The description in booking should be adapted to the actual condition, or there should be a price reduction. I am 2 - 3 times per year in Costa Rica for work, but never ever I have seen such a property in urgent need of refurbishment in this high price range. There are huge spider webs (Golden silk orb-weavers, 12 cm) all over the property, including everywhere besides the pool, very disgusting. There is only ONE single lounge chair by the pool. You could’t lock the window, nor the door, because some parts were brocken. The rooms remained unlocked, because apparently never something has happened. We asked for the key to lock the door, but it didn't work. This key wasn't in use for years. When we left, I contacted the owner to inform him about the bad condition of his property, but he only appeals to our understanding that he remains in Europe due to COVID. Apparently, guests only come to this place because of the abundant and beautiful nature and the rich wildlife, and the hotel is a minor matter. Also the first contact with the owner was problematic. Contrary to the information on the website that all credit cards are accepted, this is not the case, because he doesn't want to pay the card fees. Instead, he sent an invoice with additional fees of USD 100, although the booking can not be canceled 30 days before arrival.
The property has an excellent situation close to the Corcovado National Park and a beautiful view over the lagoon. Stuff is very, very nice, friendly and helpful and do the utmost to satisfy guests.
Stayed in February 2022
Reviewed: 15 November 2021
Bryan
CanadaThere was no option for food choices. The menu was pre determined by the staff however the food was good. The costs of the food was expensive. $25USD for dinner but you did get 3 courses. $5 USD for beer is very expensive for local beer. $18USD for lunch is also expensive. $15USD for transportation to Corcovado which is only a 10 minute drive or less from the hotel, also expensive. The power went out every night resulting in no ceiling fan throughout the night. No lights on the path from your villa to the common area.
The staff was friendly and courteous. The view from my room was fantastic and a great way to relax and read a book.
Stayed in November 2021
Reviewed: 4 November 2022
Franziska
GermanyThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in September 2022
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