Daniel and Adriana,

> While we have returned from our stay at El Remanso, we have yet to come down.

From the moment Geraldo met us at the airport, to the day we departed, our stay with you was truly a wonder. Our little Azul cabina was, as Adri had promised in a letter, your 'most beautiful'. We appreciated your attending to the little touches we requested (the mosquito netting added the perfectambiance), and the grounds and landscaping surrounding it were stunning. We were particularly impressed you went to the trouble of coaxing a troupe of spider monkeys to roost in the barren tree outside all week. They were the centerpiece of the view from our bed.
>
> Your young chef proved to live up to Daniel's billing...'he makes magic in the kitchen'. The dishes were perfectly prepared, showed variety, and were elegantly presented. The fact that you went out of your way to accommodate
our dietary restrictions, and the extra work it took to do so were greatly appreciated by Dijon and myself.
>
>The property itself proved endlessly breathtaking. Our platform breakfast, the waterfall rappelling, the trails and beach...each provided a signature moment of our stay.
>
Perhaps the most significant ingredient was your staff. From the top down,everyone seemed happy to work there, eager to please in any way possible,and consistently cheerful. The gardeners who toiled around our cabin seemed to wake with the howlers and had already spotted animals for us to see by
the time we awoke. Elliot, Esteban and the other waiters were always smiling and showed genuine interest in our well being...even concern if we arrived late for a meal and eager to accommodate our straggling.
Geraldo your excellent guide brought a wealth of knowledge and endless enthusiasm. (I still don't buy his story that the sloth's 'know' their crap feeds the tree-I think they're just opportunistic...!) While novices at rappelling, we each felt in excellent hands. Tell him I really would like to know if he
> ever finds the source of the red poop we found along the waterfall trail bythe beach...
> On our initial ride to the property, Geraldo asked if it was okay to give his father a ride. Although he spoke no English and we hardly any Spanish, it was obvious he was very proud to have not just one, but two sons working at El Remanso. It was touching and a testament to what both of you bring to the lodge and the people who work there.
From the Zen touches throughout the property, the angels, the statuary- the spirit you have imbued the property with was a tonic to the body and soul. Living off the grid for a week...no clock, no phone, no TV or radio, was like a I.V. drip for the spirit. We both consider ourselves fortunate to have seen the jewel of the Osa up close, to unplug and de-stress, and to have chosen the perfect destination to do so.
>
I'm one who believes there are too many places to visit in too short a time, yet I would be very tempted to return to El Remanso again should the opportunity arise. I'd also hoped to be able to christen your new bar, but perhaps another time.
>
Oh...and both of us are interested in applying for jobs.
Yours was the ONLY property to write me directly. That spoke
>volumes. > Peace,
>
> Bob and Dijon
> November 2007
>

If you are looking for a lodge that is remote and wonderful, this is definitely the find of the penisula! The owners emailed me before the trip, assuring me of the road conditions to Puerta Jimenez and assuring me of all the wildlife we would see. Boy, did we ever!!! Scarlet macaws right outside our balcony, sloths, monkies, all kinds of birds. It was fabulous!

Daniel was absolutely great, as was his wife who returned to the resort just shortly before we left. They picked us up in their Land Rover (definitely do this if it is raining at all) and gave us the largest room in the lodge. Open windows, great breezes and wonderful views of the ocean. I had stayed in Drake Bay before and never cooled off. Here, due to the location above the ocean, it was breezy and wonderful. The beds were comfy, the staff was wondeful, and the food was plentiful and great. My only suggestion is to bring a flashlight to walk after the sun goes down and a light to read by.

My friend did the zip tour to watch birds and animals in the morning. She said it was the highlight of her week. She loved it. The guide has been educated in wildlife biology and is a wealth of information. His name is Gerraldo and is wonderful. (I am not sure about the spelling of his name... sorry. ) All the staff is friendly and helpful and will do anything for you. I hear the waterfall repelling is great, but the guide was ill the day we were going to do it. One of the other guests said it was not that difficult to do if you are in shape.

This resort is not as expensive as Lapa Rios, but in the same forest with the same view. It includes food when you price the package. It might seem high at first, but it is not. You will love it.
Give them a try. I think you will be planning a return trip!!!

El Remanso is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the rainforest. It is not the most luxurious place but the cabins are spacious and clean. The owners are very helpful and friendly. My husband and I went on a very long hike and the owner was very nice about giving me bandaids for my blisters! The meals are not gourmet but the food is fresh and good. It was nice having drinks before dinner with the other guests but then having your own table for the meal. It was very hot, as to be expected, and slightly uncomfortable sleeping at night as the cabins are open air. The owners should install ceiling fans, although they may be trying to conserve energy. Also, as you are in the middle of the rainforest be prepared for big bugs in your cabin and being awoken by howler monkeys very early. The beach is wonderful and totally deserted. You can't swim in the ocean because it is too rough but there are waterfalls nearby. It is a pretty steep climb down to the beach. We didn't mind as we like to hike but others might.

My husband and I were looking for a peaceful vacation spot where we could enjoy birding and wildlife so we chose El Remanso in the Osa Peninsula. What a treat! We stayed at the Casa Poniente which had a lovely view of the rain forest and ocean.

The El Remaso staff was very accomodating and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. We felt very welcomed there. At one point one of the restaurant staff, who happens to have an excellent eye for birding, brought us to a great birding spot on his free time.

The accommodations were nice and well kept. The rooms had big open windows but we had no problems with bugs. There are amazingly few mosquitoes! The rain forest is surprisingly noisy and we were able to view a variety of birds, monkeys and other wildlife right from our room. We awoke to howler monkeys every morning!

The restaurant was peaceful and romantic and the food was delicious. Drinks are an additional cost and we paid $3 per smoothie. They were worth every penny. The restaurant staff was wonderful.

We went on one guided tour and the naturalist was very knowledgeable and friendly. We also tried the zipline which had a great view of the canopy. The breakfast wasn't great however and the containers and flatwear where stained and wet which was a bit unappetizing.

The rest of the time we spent hiking on our own or driving the dirt road towards Carate. I highly recommend renting a vehicle. The roads are rough and you will have to drive through several steams but the views are fantastic! We attempted to swim in the ocean a couple of times but the waves turned out to be too powerful so we gave it up.

Overall we had a wonderful time and plan to visit El Remano in the future.