This place is absolutely amazing. A double bed room was $50 a night, and though it was very small, the hotel grounds are incredible. The very friendly staff, including the security guard on duty all night, make you feel very welcome and safe. There are literally macaws, fireflies, parakeets, parrots, monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, and many other species that can be seen regularly cruising through the property. The landscaping is phenomenal. The open air, cabana style seating area in the middle of the property provides the perfect place to enjoy a cup of free coffee while you watch birds and animals run around. Free wifi helps too! If you are going to Puerto Jimenez this is the place to stay!!!

This will be both a review and a sort of elegy.

I had always wanted to stay in an ecolodge in the middle of a rainforest, but it was outside my means. La Choza really filled that need. Reasonably priced, and backing on the mangroves so that the birding is excellent--I saw scarlet macaws, red lored parrots, hummingbirds, flycatchers, cranes, toucans, and many more, as well as many white-faced monkeys--La Choza is also just a 10 or 15 minute walk from town. The rooms are just okay, but that's not what I went there for, and the air conditioning was welcome! Although I did go on some outings, I could have happily spent my whole week strolling the grounds observing the birds and animals. The town is quite small, with mostly unpaved roads; if you're looking for a place with great nightlife or many restaurants to choose from, this isn't the place--but for closeness to nature, birds, and other wildlife, it can't be beat. It was really one of the best vacations of my life.

Now for the elegy part. The owner says that he is planning to develop the property into something much more upscale, with time-shares, hotel, etc., and, depending on various contingencies, construction could start as soon as this June. He also said that currently the website is programmed to state that the place is booked through the end of the season in April, but you might have better luck if you call the hotel directly. If it takes longer to get development started, it's possible there may be one more season left next year (the owner promises updates on the website as the plans progress), but otherwise this is the last of La Choza's current incarnation. If this is the kind of vacation you've wanted, get it while you can!

Looks like they are trying to redevelop this place - the bar/restaurant was closed (the nearest restaurants are about a 10-15 min walk), there was no hot water, window panes missing etc. The cheapest rooms ($49 for two) are minute. But the garden is lovely, the staff and dogs very friendly and it's very peaceful in the evening.

I filled out the reservation form only to receive a dialog box afterward tell me the place closed March 2011.