We stayed at this cost efficient garden accommodation just minutes walking from the national park beach which allows small donations for entrance. The owner is Dutch and easygoing and has friendly housecats and a dog. The rooms are large with sliding patio doors, but the double room we stayed in did not have a separate door to the bathroom (open on the side and top) and we had daily trouble with the toilet which the owner tried to fix. Clean towels were replenished daily which was absolutely crucial in this small, quiet beach town. The accommodation is directly next to a national park, whitesand beach, hiking and you wake up to the howler monkeys nearby in the morning. The garden area is beautiful and while there is no breakfast provided, there is an open-air kitchen for self catering including small fridge. Very friendly environment and minutes from a small grocery store. About a 20 minute walk to the black sand beach and easy cheap local bus options further south to Puerto Viejo. Overall a great location for a cost effective price for enjoying the beach and nearby park.

I stayed there for 3 days, sleeping in the 5 bed dorm. The owner was friendly, the location is fantastic (2 minutes to the national park and also 2 min into town - some hostals are a 10 min walk from town with the risk of being muged at night) and the setup very beautiful. My bed was very comfy but I saw that not all are... So maybe take a look first (bedin right hand back corner in dorm is comfy :-) ). Towels included (even 2 if needed...), internet fine, kitchen ok. It was quiet at night and a pleasant atmosphere when i was there (which was during the week).
When you want to do the 8km walk through the national park - starting in Cahuita and bus back they only ask for donations while from teh other rdirection to Cahuita they ask for a 10 dollar entrance fee. The national park is great as you see many monkeys, sloths, some pelicans flying along the beach. Really nice

The good things are the location, the garden,,security,and good internet. The bad things are the dirty room,the dirty kitchen, and the owners saturday night parties til 3 a.m. Perhaps we just had one of the bad rooms here. Our bathroom was very moldy and not very clean. All of the baseboards in the whole room were covered with dirt and mold. This is probably due to very poor ventilation and lack of through cleaning. Our last night here; which was ,granted, a saturday, the owner partied with some friends and the noise was loud enough to wake us, especially when she stood on the outside patio and had about 20 minutes of loud send-off "discussion". The last time we were here, maybe 6 years ago , it was very clean and well managed. That is why we booked it ahead for 7 days. We left as soon as we could find a better place in town. There are many clean, inexpensive places to stay here. Even in the high season. Trust me.

In October of 2011 my wife and I stayed at the Hostel Secret Garden. We would go there again. The house is clean, quiet and above all secure. I had no fears about leaving money pasports and camera gear locked in our room while we explored. The owners were helpfull and let us use their cmoputer for e mails daily. the hostel is in easy walking distance to all of Cahuita activities. Be advised only one room has A C (not a hudge problem in Oct) and the plumbing is a little creaky. Go down and visit. Scott and Kathy Brown