Upon driving up the hill/mountain to the private estate, you are surrounded by beautiful flowering trees planted by the hotel's owner, Rick, and this should only whet your appetite for more beautiful views to come. I strongly recommend asking to stay in one of the rooms (6 and 7, I believe) that sit highest on the mountain. The estate overlooks Coco and the magnificent bay and the Pacific Ocean. At night, Rick brings out his telescope and shares a quick astronomy lesson with his guests (on our stay, we say the rings of Saturn and a beautiful, nearly full moon).

Additionally, I strongly recommend listening to Rick’s suggestions about activities that will most interest you. Unfortunately, our stay was limited to 2 nights but following Rick’s suggestion we went on a scenic river cruise, went to a cat rescue and to Miravelles Volcano. All 3 activities took the entire day (we were driving back at 8:00 which is not for the faint of heart), but we were so glad we did all 3—a perfect mix.

The estate combines both modern-conveniences (Internet access, satellite TV—neither were used by us) and a true Costa Rican feel through the art, sculptures, plants, and architecture. You’re bound to see all sorts of wildlife on the estate (numerous species of exotic birds, coatimundi, howler monkeys, etc.).

Rancho Armadillo is a warm and endearing place to stay. We will be back!

I feel very compelled to write a review for this private retreat, for many reasons. First I want to describe the serene surroundings, and gardens, and the way the estate lives with wildlife instead of against it. I learned many things about the third world on this trip, and I so appreciate the rainforest, primary, secondary and the dryer climate of the Pacific north west coast of Costa Rica, all beautiful in its own way. I couldnt get enough of the views from here and the quiet nights. I loved our room it was big and open and it felt hand crafted and real, no faux finishes here. The howler monkeys coming through the property regularly, the iguanas, the fertility garden, the private pool, the hammocks, the rustic beauty, is still is in my thoughts even though I'm at home now. I miss this place and I want to see it again, I want my friends to see it. The flower gardens and trees are beautiful, the fruit and pastries taste better here, so does the beer. I felt like I was at a friends home, not at a hotel. It changed my outlook on how I live in my enviornment I came home and filled my birdfeeders. If you are luck y enough to get to be a guest at Rancho Armadillo and meet the owner Rick, it will change you too. Maybe you'll get to see "Twitchie" the Coati. All very special experiences because of the attention to detail and a passion for this very special place on the planet.

When was the last time you hugged the hotel owner when you checked out? That sums up our stay pretty well. Rancho Armadillo is a great estate style hotel in a nice area of Costa Rica. There is a pool and nice outdoor area to relax in, and the rooms are clean. The owners know pretty much everyone in the area and all the best routes to get everywhere.

I would recommend this hotel more for couples, than single friends travelling, but nevertheless, they treat you like you're part of the family.

Hard to add to what's been said in other reviews - you come as a guest and are quickly made to feel like a friend. If you want impersonal service from an anonymous staff then this is not the place for you. My wife and I recently spent the first few days of our Costa Rica vacation at Rancho Armadillo and weren't sure what to expect. By our first evening, we were sitting around the pool sipping wine and watching the sunset over the Pacific and then the night stars with Rick - our host. Rick is a wealth of knowledge about Costa Rica flora and fauna and is happy to share what he knows. He'll also go out of his way to help hook you up with whatever tours, hikes etc. you might be interested in taking. The estate is set back from the main road on a mostly unpaved road so is nicely secluded but only minutes from town. The rooms are comfortable (with air conditioning if desired) and well maintained. As has been said elsewhere, you feel like you're staying at someone's house but they have a really cool house!