Punta San Jose, 60503 Drake, Costa Rica
#42 of 49 hotels in Drake
Guests' ChoiceBased on 45 hotel reviews
8.0Cleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.0
Location
9.3
Facilities
7.2
Staff
8.8
Value for money
7.4
Free WiFi
5.3
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Showing 1 – 25
Reviewed: 28 March 2024
Mauricio
United Statesi did all tour bookings through them, and staff was very accomodating. But the tour operators (external company, not Marenco) themselves were not great. Our snorkelling tour was given by foreigners on a sort of exchange trip, not local, knowledgeable guides. It would be better to have more visibility and interaction for organizing the tours.
incredible place in the jungle overlooking the ocean. its very quiet and embedded in the trees, lots of wildlife around. The rooms are great with stunning views and comfortable beds. Food at the restaurant consistently exceeded our expectations.
Stayed in March 2024
Reviewed: 25 February 2024
Lynn
United KingdomThe windows only have netting and we witnessed a monkey pulling it back to get into next door when it was empty. The door to the balcony had a 3cm gap, so if we put the inside lights on at night a myriad of insects joined us, so we only lit the veranda. There is no hot water so you need to like a cool shower. The walk up to the lodge is steep and very slippery when wet.
The location was great, right on the coast with crashing waves to listen to at night. It’s close to pristine forest so lots of birds and monkeys. Really good food (similar price to restaurants), wonderful friendly staff. We had a superior bungalow facing the sea which was very clean and a comfortable bed. We were collected from the beach below the lodge for the Isla de Caño tour.
Stayed in February 2024
Reviewed: 10 February 2024
Elisabeth
United KingdomThe room had no power points. You needed to charge phones in the reception area with only few sockets for the many guests. In the evenings we needed a torch to guide us to our cabin as there were only few lights and no lights on the balconies to be able to switch on and guide you home after dark.
The lodge has a great location. We could see a passing whale and its calf. The rooms are clean and were cleaned every day. The food in the restaurant was good, staff were friendly and helpful.
Stayed in February 2024
Reviewed: 29 January 2024
Mark
United KingdomDid not seem to be anyone in control so anything complex (eg booking tours ) became a major problem
Beautiful location a short boat ride away from the main Drake Bay hotels etc. The central cabana with bar / restaurant was a great place to hang out and let the world slide on by. Food was good and the restaurant staff were a credit to the place.
Stayed in January 2024
Reviewed: 14 January 2024
Lukas
GermanyIt was really nice, but as it's not quite cheap, we didn't expect a school class to be the other guests there. The staff had a lot to do with them, it wasn't quite as contemplative and relaxed as we had hoped.
Phenomenal location, great view, a paradise!
Stayed in January 2024
Reviewed: 13 September 2023
Ben
United KingdomMosquito nets were not mosquito (or scorpion!) proof in our room, but we gave feedback and I'm sure they're fixed now.
Views of whales from our balcony. Fantastic trails around the property and an almost private beach where we were picked up directly for diving on Caño Island, very convenient. If you have a 4x4 you can drive directly to the lodge but arrange for the gate to be open in advance.
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 21 August 2023
Ella
SwitzerlandWe came by car and when we arrived the gate to the property was locked. This happened a couples of times when we wanted to go out or come back so the staff could be more organised to give guests with cars a key to the gate. Also note that the facilities are quite basic, no air conditioning or plugs in the rooms but we didn't mind that too much.
The location was stunning above the ocean and the jungle. We saw macaws, hummingbirds and toucans all the time from our incredible balcony. We also got to see the whales in the bay from the restaurant and the sunsets were amazing. The semi-private beach we had access to was beautiful too. The staff was friendly and food quite good.
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 20 August 2023
Richard
United KingdomNothing
The staff were wonderful and attentive. The view from our room to Canos island was magnificent. The height gave a fantastic view of the rain and thunderstorms which were brief but exhilarating. The walks along the coast either left or right were full of adventure wild life and discovery. We saw Whales and dolphins eagles pelicans and green and hawkes bill turtles.
Stayed in July 2023
Reviewed: 5 August 2023
Dagmar
SwitzerlandThe view, the rooms, the friendly staff
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 5 May 2023
Joshua
United KingdomI think there needs to be more transparency on the price of food and drink while staying. Although some meals were very nice, others were poor - for example spring pasta was just spaghetti and veg, no sauce or anything!! I think showing prices and also serving Costa Rican food would be a good idea! Also the cost of tax on top of the price of tours was not disclosed until time to pay!
Fantastic location with really helpful and friendly staff. Remote and away from the main town, which means it felt tranquil, but means you cannot eat elsewhere. Amazing view of the ocean and sunset, with private and quiet beaches all to yourself!
Stayed in April 2023
Reviewed: 17 March 2023
Jose
Costa Ricamosquitoes
the view
Stayed in March 2023
Reviewed: 21 January 2023
Thodberg
DenmarkWe booked 7 nights with two kids - THATs too long - its safe for kids but not much to do other than staying in the restaurant observing nature be aware that theft is happening at the beach even though its very remote (a lady got all stolen )
We most alive and diverse Nature we have seen on our 3 months trip . all the colorfull birds , hvales (seen from the restaurant) , Monkeys and the most spectacular insects! Food is also good ! would recommend everyone to see and stay on this place but for 2-4 nights tops take the Cano island trip directly from their place
Stayed in December 2022
Reviewed: 17 April 2022
Sharad
Costa Ricathey should have fans in the restaurant and in the rooms. our room didn’t have a fun however on request they put one immediately.
amazing location, very courteous staff, good food! the property is in a forest and I would classify it as ocean view property than a beach front property. the nearest beach is a 5 min walk but that’s a small and a rocky beach! josescito beach is an easy 1.20 mins walk though highly recommended.
Stayed in April 2022
Reviewed: 10 February 2022
Hendrik
GermanyYou should be aware of a few things: 1) To reach the lodge you have limited options. Either by boat from Sierpe (1hour ride for ~20US$) or by 4x4 taxi from Drake bay (~50US$) or by your own 4x4 car. Even Drake bay is hard to reach if you have no 4x4 car. 2) The lodge has a simple standard - shower only cold water - slow Internet only in the central area - no AC - the path from the beach to the lodge (~5-7 min) is a typical jungle path and quite slippery when wet - no fridge in the room (but you can store your food in a central fridge) 3) To eat somewhere else than in the lodge (Drake bay) this is an hour hike you do not want to do in the dark, so you basically have to eat in the lodge (But the dinner we had was always good.) We loved staying there, and hope they will not raise the standard because this is the charm of that place. But it's definitely not for everyone.
The location, the view, the nature around you are just marvelous. Perfect spot to go diving, snorkeling or just to hang out in paradise. The staff, esp. Jen, is extremely competent and helpful.
Stayed in February 2022
Reviewed: 20 January 2022
Michelle
Costa RicaIt’s not the easiest place to get to, but it’s well worth the effort
The location is simply stunning
Stayed in January 2022
Reviewed: 9 January 2024
Michel
NetherlandsCottage room very basic and no warm water available!
View on cano island
Stayed in December 2023
Reviewed: 2 January 2024
Julie
United StatesI rate my stay as a 2 because I do not think the property owners are accurately representing themselves in their listing on Booking.com and therefore are causing surprised and/or disappointed guests. Guests are charged a premium price to stay at this location but are given a very basic experience. The owners need to either lower their prices or enhance the experience using the themes listed in the poor reviews: update the rooms for better guest comfort: outlets, table lamps (with nightstands?), comfortable seating, real door knobs with latches, and I, personally found the freezing cold water (no hot water) particularly dreadful for bathing. They also need to be real about the journey it takes to get there. Whether one takes a boat and carries their own luggage up the steep slippery path from beach or drives the harrowing roads through the peninsula - this should be disclosed, described, and specific instructions provided on Booking.com. Further, I don’t think this is “beachfront”, as is listed on Booking, if it’s a 20 minute hike to the beach up/down steep, rough pathways. There is no pool. “Toiletries” provided should include more than a tiny bar of soap. This place has the potential to be a really premium place but is not there yet. Because of this, I struggled to feel like I received a value for the money I paid to stay there.
I count on others’ reviews so I’m providing my perspective in case it helps others. I agree with many of the reviews including really pretty property (on the ocean side only - the parking area is trashed), killer views from the cabins and eating area, kind-hearted staff - although needing leadership, and I acknowledge the rest about poor internet connections, mediocre/limited food, and lack of comfort in cabins. See others’ reviews for full details.
Stayed in December 2023
Reviewed: 27 December 2023
Madhavapeddi
United StatesDon’t know where to start. This is perhaps best suited for people that want to experience wilderness in the true sense. We are a family of 4 with two young kids and it was not at all a good fit. We booked for 3 nights at a pretty penny but ended up leaving after the first night. Everything I describe below was unexpected and not at all clear when we booked. We took the boat from Sierpe to Drake bay as this place is not easy to get to. You have to get down in the water and take your luggage to the lodge, which is a solid 10-15 min trek uphill on slippery surfaces. Reminder, it gets dark after 5 pm, so if you didn’t know this (like us) you’ll be in for a “night tour”. After sweating through completely, we got to the lodge to realize there is no AC, hot water or cell reception in the room. The WiFi was also extremely unreliable and only worked spottily near the reception. We knew right away we needed to find another place, but no boat service till 7 am in the morning and no internet/wifi to find something local. There is only one fan, one dim light and no other outlets in the room. You have to charge your cell in the reception! We somehow got through the night but realized in the morning there were bed bugs. I got bit in 15 diff places and had to find allergy meds to not let the rest of the trip go wasted. We skipped OSA all together after this and went back to beach area. The onsite restaurant has very limited food options with ok taste and is medium pricey. Also, the beach is not that easily accessible - don’t fall for the pics. We asked for a refund and got about 25% back.
Really nothing - only bright side was the wildlife around the lodge
Stayed in December 2023
Reviewed: 25 December 2023
Pascal
SwitzerlandIf you're a person who's constantly on the smartphone, you will probably spend most of your time in the lobby, as there is the only power outlet and wifi. But the views from the cabin terrace should make your phone obsolete anyway. The bed is of a harder type, I do like it but must not be the case for everyone.
This place is incomparable. Wonderfully situated on the hill above the beach, surrounded by natural forest. There is a very familiar vibe between the guests, and the staff is doing their best. The food selection is not the greatest, but what they serve is very delicious and more than enough. You can book tours with a local guide into the forest with no transfer, just walk from the property into the jungle. There is a path down to the sea, and from there to multiple beaches in both direction.
Stayed in December 2023
Reviewed: 3 August 2023
Michelle
United StatesThe location is absolutely gorgeous. Our room was simple but beautiful and the back porch of our room was like a treehouse overlooking the ocean. The staff was very helpful and kind and the food was delicious. The location is very isolated, so just plan your activities with that in mind.
Stayed in July 2023
Reviewed: 30 April 2023
Tordesillas
SpainUnprofessional staff, very poor quality of food and bugs in the rooms.
Stayed in April 2023
Reviewed: 12 April 2023
Florian
Netherlandsseriously: there was nothing to complain
perfect! quiet, beautiful view, extremely friendly staff who helps organizeing tours, trips, arrival and departures, it’s in the middle of the forest (if you’re lucky you can see red aras, tucans, monkeys while having breakfast or going to the beach), an amazing view, nice food, would definitely come again
Stayed in March 2023
Reviewed: 5 April 2023
Corey
CanadaBooked for 2 nights first one had dinner there the steak and chicken was delicious but took almost 2hrs to get and the side veggies and potatoes were stone cold... the walk to the beach is treacherous down the cliff... room only had a fan witch was ok until they shut the power off at night was super hot didn't get any sleep. Left next day couldn't stay another night ...
Stayed in April 2023
Reviewed: 19 March 2023
Ingmar
SwedenWe could make long hikes along the coast. Beautiful beaches for a swim.
Location was very close to nature and still we had all facilities.
Stayed in March 2023
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