We stayed at the VILLA not the hotel. The villa had burned down and was being redone.

This is NOT like a five star hotel. This place is all about nature, simple, clean, basic living and relaxation. We stayed here with our very large party of 9 people. mom, dad, 5 kids 8,7,6,4,2 , the sitter and his girlfriend. OMG we had such a relaxing time. The staff were amazingly helpful and accommodating. No mosquitoes!!!! The trek to the villa (which was uphill) was a good challenge that we tackled everyday with determination!!! :) Talk about a butt work out!!

The view is just amazing from the villa. The AWESOME LOUD tropical rain in the afternoon!! The amazing river 1min below the villa and the slow languid 10min walk to where the river runs into the ocean were simplicity of life at it's best. We got all kinds of bugs, tree toads in the house and one baby scorpion. Monkeys swinging in the trees and couldn't care less if you stare. The gorgeous paired Macaw birds flying and cracking almonds infront of you. This place is not for you if you are squirmish about nature and simple living. I am from jamaica so all this was normal and blissfully familiar of home for me.

The kids LOVED it!. We went for a 30min walk up river, where a fat 10" in diameter spider crawled on my sons leg :) That was the only down part of the trip. Tons of places to eat if you don't want them to cook for you at the villa. OMG the food at the restaurant down the road is AWESOME!!! Fresh fruit every morning with breakfast and again the amazing staff.

We hope to go back next year!!!

If you are not one for adventure, this is not your place. This hotel is in Pavones, a small little surfing town. The people who live there were super friendly. Zip lining, white water rafting, surfing, horseback riding on the beach, 4-wheeling along the coast... There was so much to do. The Castle is newly renovated and pretty much brand new! I liked the jacuzzi that had an ocean view. I would highly recommend this hotel.

I recently stayed in Castillo de Pavones from October 21 through October 27th with my best girlfriend. I can tell you that it is not called “the castle” for nothing. We had a WONDERFUL time, and we are already looking eagerly for an opportunity to go back. Our room was AMAZING, and it had an absolutely breathtaking view of the jungle leading up to the ocean. Rolling over in the morning to see this view never got old- it was truly paradise. The staff was wonderful as well! Most were natives of Pavones, which made touring the town and surrounding area a very smooth and pleasant experience. They were very eager to entertain you and show you around this beautiful place that they call home. While we were there, the staff taught us how to surf, took us to find baby sea turtles, took us on a boat tour, and hiking. Anything that we wanted to do they arranged for us. There are millions of activities to occupy your time in Pavones. From picking coconuts on the beach, to ziplining over the jungle- Pavones has something for everyone. So if you are like me, and constantly like to be busy- don’t worry, because there will never be a dull moment. The wildlife was also something to treasure. Sloths, jungle birds, and monkeys in the trees- sea turtles, whales, and dolphins in the water. The food was amazing, and the chefs were as sweet as can be. Brad the owner and the manager Hadya are wonderful! Super accommodating, personable, and entertaining! They clearly know what they are doing. Staying at Castillo de Pavones was an amazing experience that I believe everyone should experience. I came home feeling recharged, refreshed, and energized from such an awesome vacation. I also came home feeling very sad that this amazing trip was over. Now that’s how you KNOW you had a great vacation. Castillo de Pavones is definitely off the beaten path, but that is what gives it it’s charm. When you are there, you are in an escape from your reality, and you are truly in another world. I will say it one more time, Pavones is paradise, and what better place to stay in paradise than a castle? Right? I can’t WAIT to go back to stay at the Castillo! What a wonderful week, I will never forget it.