Nothing prepared me for the gracious hospitality, sublime surroundings, and wonderfully fun time that my family enjoyed at El Remanso. It was a remarkable week! My two daughters (16 and 20 ) and I made a list of everything we wanted to do in Costa Rica and I was amazed that we found it all in one place. From galloping on the beach to exploring tide pools, from walking peaceful miles on the beautiful beach to lounging by the pool with a book - every detail of our stay was perfect. We hiked and rappelled waterfalls, relaxed in the hammock, and learned about the fabulous biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula. I was impressed by the quality of the staff, as the attention to our needs exceeded anything I expected. All of the staff appear to take joy in being helpful. It was a real vacation for all of us, as it was possible to truly unplug. Because of its remote location there is not enough power to connect to the internet- thank goodness. The girls and I enjoyed each perfectly prepared meal and we noticed that the meals were always just the right size. Completely satisfying but not wasteful. There was an expression of balance, beauty and connection to nature that made the week both restful and refreshing. An extra bonus is that El Remanso was awarded a 5 star rating for it's sustainability practices. For a busy lodge it leaves a very small footprint in the forest. If you want bright lights at night, this is not the place for you. But if you enjoy the calm that dim evening lights bring, then you will enjoy. A headlamp or flashlight for walking to your cabin at night is essential. My constant thought since we returned is "how soon can we go back?"

A college friend had cut out an article about El Remanso from a travel magazine several years ago and tucked it away. A few monts ago she found it and asked our gang of seven if they would want to go to El Remanso to celebrate our 60th birthdays and 40 years of friendship. Four of us booked our plans with no expectations of what was in store for us. It was UNBELIEVABLE! The staff is so friendly and helpful and we felt right at home that first evening. The other guests became like long lost friends as we ate meals together and shared adventures. In fact, it reminded me of being at camp 50 years ago, which I loved. We had our camp directors, Adrianna and Daniel. We had our counselors (guides), Gerardo and Rinaldo. We had our adventures of hiking, zip lining, rappelling down the waterfalls, tidal pools, etc. We had quiet time by the pool or with the massuese. Best of all, were the three excelent meals that were served each day (complete with dessert). We met at the lodge each evening for Happy Hour and snacks to view the beautiful sunset. There are no evening activities after dinner which aren't needed as much as rest. The cabins are rustic (in a good way) with beautiful views of the ocean and jungle. Instead of the ringing of a bell to wake us up each morning, we were greeted with the very loud crys of the howler monkey. The nature was, again, unbelievable! A highlight was when the beautiful macaws flew into the trees by the lodge each day. The biggest highlight was when a group of capuchin monkeys decided to settle into the trees rifgt next door tothe lodge after breakfast. One monkey entertained us by peeling a coconut and eating it. And, of couse, being with one's best buddies was special. We acted as if we were still in college but in a totally magical enviornment. I will encourage anyone to spend some time at El Remanso but the girl trip was a blast. We felt very taken care of and trusted the staff that doing scary was going to happen. We pushed our limits and went outside of the box in this adventure. It was a trip of a lifetime! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I ventured off with three other friends to the El Remanso lodge with no idea of what lay before me. I looked at the pictures on their website and I also knew it was an Eco-Lodge. What I found was an extraordinary place in the most beautiful setting. Some highlights for me were: our room, the friendliest staff I have ever encountered, meeting other guests from all over the world and adventures that I will never forget (specifically the water rappelling). The memories of my experience there will linger on forever!

El Remanso is the epitomy of what an eco lodge should strive for. If you are travelling to the Osa Pennisula, this is a must.The planning and effort to make the lodge both sustainable and functional is a model that is an outstanding example of what can be achieved.We have a house in Costa Rica but hadn't been to Puerta Jimenez. We are used to the rough roads and jungle noises. The 4:30am wakeup call from the howlers becomes almost white noise after a while and you miss it when you return back home. What I found unique to El Remanso besides the eco nature of the lodge is their caring human nature. Each staff member makes the effort to make sure that every guest is well looked after. From the time of booking with the personable Gabby to our final departure time we were cared for.There isn't any pressure to participate in the many activities that are available but instead the opportunity to have your vacation planned on an individual basis if you would like that. My family enjoyed nature hiking and bird watching with Geraldo ( a truly inspired naturalist,) a canopy breakfast and waterfall repelling. My daughter and I went on an early morning river walk and were thrilled to see a juvenile puna drinking in the river. Our reason to come to the Osa pennisula was to see the Scarlett Macaws and Toucans. We were not disappointed.
The essence of El Remanso is to be part of nature through living in the jungle setting and experiencing what that entails with all the perks. The food was delicious and healthy. We were well fed and pampered.
I will mention that we didn't know there would not be internet or a cell signal at the lodge. This is beneficial to attaining the goal of wanting to be away from it all. We had a pet dog in Costa Rica that had taken ill and I was very concerned.( Never feed your dog chicken strips or jerky made in China or Thailand.) I asked if there was any way that they could contact the person caring for our dog.Adriana the young woman that runs El Remanso said she would right away radio in the request. Adriana called 3 times a day and reported back to me what condition Fred was in at that time. .Although it was a roller coaster ride of sometimes good and sometimes not good news,(Fred did pass away) I will be forever thankful to Adriana for making the effort to help us in a stressful time.
We will hopefully return to the lodge someday soon.