Our first venture out into the Costa Rican rainforest was all we were hoping for and much more - the simple but perfect hospitalty offered by Daryl, his family and staff, the magical peace and quiet of simply sitting on the riverside deck, watching the river flow by and listening to the birds and howler monkies, the roar of the surf on the outside of the barrier in the background, the serenity and excitement of an early morning boatride through the channels in the rain forest, experiencing it all in the total silence permitted by the boat's electric motor as Roberto pointed out one forest resident after the other - all experiences of a lifetime! Thank you Daryl for everything - the only thing we regret is following your advice and only staying 3 nights with you!

We stayed for 3 nights at Casa Marbella. I think you would be hard pushed to find a better place to stay in Tortuguero. The rooms are simple and have all that you need - nice bathroom, comfy beds, fan. The room staff made the best towel sculptures we have ever seen which delighted our daughter. The breakfast is great and you can have it after returning from a 3 hour boat tour of the canals. We took this tour three times with a superb guide called Roberto. He was knowledgeable, patient, full of fun and created a lovely atmosphere (my favourite guide from our time in Costa Rica). The B&B has its own dock where you can sit and watch the world go by. Daryl is a great host and has created a wonderful business here. The electic motors that he introduced are wonderful. (Thank you Daryl and all your team for a great stay!)

Casa Marbella is situated right in the middle of the Tortuguero village. Rooms are simple but clean. Outdoor terrace right by the river is the best spot in the whole of Tortuguero for a good drink and relaxation. I didn't get to meet Daryl Loth who owns the place, but his help before booking and later when he was sending us forgotten accessories to San Jose was outstanding. Don't pay more then you need for tours and accomodation - Marbella is a great option for demanding but budget-conscious travellers. Cons - maybe a slightly more varied breakfast would be nice, but for the price we got more than we deserved, anyway.

The hotel was beautifully situated on the main canal and a quick walk to the beach. The room was cozy and quiet and breakfast was included and delicious. There is a morning canal ride the hotel offers that was amazing. We were lucky enough to see a lot of different animals, so much so that our "3 hour ride" was closer to 4 hours and ended with breakfast. Daryl also sent us to meet Ross, a guide who toured us through the area around Tortuguero Hill. It was one of the highlights of our trip and we learned so much. Tortuguero is exactly what you would expect a secluded wet forest village to be so if you are one of those "drive through" tourists it might not be the place for you. On the other hand if you enjoy spending hours outside and exploring the wildlife then it's perfect.