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La Paloma Lodge: Traveler Reviews

Drake Bay, Costa Rica, Drake Bay, Costa Rica
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La Paloma Lodge
Ranked #3 of 6 hotels in Drake Bay
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230 reviews from our community

Traveler rating
    196
    21
    7
    5
    1
See reviews for
Families
68
 
Couples
107
 
Solo
8
 
Business
0
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Service
    5 of 5 stars
  • Value
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
2 reviews
“Hidden Jewel in the Jungle”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 22, 2013

The perfect spot for a rainforest adventure. Getting there is half the fun. From landing at Drake Airport, the taxi ride through the river, to jumping into the boat between waves, to the cayman sunning by the landing dock, the adventure builds!
The staff awaiting our arrival were so gracious and enthusiastic that we hardly noticed the climb to the club house. The entire staff with whom we interacted during our four day stay were fabulous. All spoke English and praised our lame attempt tp communicate in Spanish. Our every need was immediately met with a smile.
The grounds are exquisite. The buildings are all nestled into the natural setting. Sitting on our balcony watching birds, butterflies and monkeys within arms reach was one of our favorite activities.
The food was delicious, plentiful and locally sourced. Each meal featured wholesome, healthy choices. The meals provided by the guides on our daily adventures were fantastic. Each guide demonstrated superb culinary skills at lunch time!
Every guide was knowledgable, enthusiastic, and committed to preserving the ecology which makes the region so special.
Some reasons why some folks might not love La Paloma are some of the things we treasured:
The place is very isolated.
You will want a flash light to find your way back to your room after dinner.
The beach is about a five-ten minute hike along a steep and somewhat uneven pathway through the forest. It is beautiful once you arrive but don't expect to find anyone serving cocktails to cabanas!
The pool is clean though small. Again, no swim up bar here.
The days start and end early. Most trips leave by 6:30 am so folks turned in early.
There are no TV's or phones in the rooms.

Room Tip: Room C was lovely. Great views, close to clubhouse, quiet while attached to other rooms. No bathroom...
See more room tips
  • Stayed March 2013, traveled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Charlotte K about La Paloma Lodge
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Houston, Texas
1 review
“An authentic experience”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 22, 2013

We wanted our first trip to Costa Rica to be an authentic taste of the country and all that it has to offer. We didn't want to stay at one of the huge resorts near Guanacaste. A small lodge was in order and La Paloma has so many stellar reviews online that it was an easy choice. We stayed at the lodge for a whole week and loved the experience. The staff is friendly and enthusiastic and arranges everything for you, giving you a rundown of the next day's events/tours the night before. The villa was spacious, clean and offered beautiful views of the Pacific from both levels. The food was delicious and fresh at every seated meal and we especially enjoyed the beautiful candlelit dinners where we had a chance to meet many different guests from all over the world. We were even treated to an hour of Capuchin monkey antics at the pool one day. Those are photos we will treasure forever. If you want a truly Costa Rican experience nestled in the rainforest with monkeys, Macaws and Toucans around every corner--You must visit La Paloma Lodge!!

  • Stayed March 2013, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Jennifer F about La Paloma Lodge
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Baltimore, Maryland
1 review
“La Paloma Lodge made my honeymoon perfect!!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 20, 2013

La Paloma is the perfect blend of luxury and being completely 'off the grid'. My wife and I stayed at La Paloma for a portion of our Honeymoon last June. Of all the places we visited while in Costa Rica, La Paloma and the Osa Peninsula were our favorite by far. Our room was amazing...the view was perfect and we loved the indoor/outdoor design. Having a thermos of fresh coffee brought to my room every morning was also a highlight! The staff treated us like gold and made us feel completely comfortable and welcome the whole time. They do a perfect job of taking care of your every need without ever getting in your way. I can't say enough how wonderful they were.

We also had a great time doing the optional excursions. We went horseback riding, snorkeling at Cano Island, and spent a full day doing a guided hike of Corcovado. Also, the night hike with the Bug Lady was incredible.

Food was great and dining with the other families was a great time. We got to know a lot of great people during our stay there.

And again, I absolutely cannot say enough about the staff. They made us feel so welcomed and so comfortable. We absolutely can't wait to make it back to La Paloma.

  • Stayed June 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask zoepat about La Paloma Lodge
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Chicago
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
9 hotel reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Near Perfect”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 17, 2013

Super views of jungle and ocean from rooms. All kinds of wildlife on or near property. Beach and plenty of walking trails on property. Easy walk into town but no need to go there. Service was the best.

  • Stayed March 2013, traveled solo
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Calgary, Canada
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“Amazing Experience”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 15, 2013

Spent four nights here in February 2013 with kids that are 11, 9 and 7. Had and an amazing expereince and it was the highlight of our three week trip to Costa Rica. No doubt this is more expensive than other options, but once your excursions are paid for, you don't have to pay for anything other than a few drinks at the bar. Favorite excursion was to the Mangrove. Saw several troops of monkeys swinging through the trees and lots of other amazing wildlife. Also really liked the day trip to Corcovado and snorkelling at Cano island. Seeing other tours at these places, you come to realize that La Paloma has hired the most professional guides and has the nicest and least crowded boats. Service at La Paloma is very discreet and subtle, but also very good. Food was excellent and our Rancho was gorgeous and spacious. We weren't sure about dining with other families, but once we did it, we really liked it. Was interesting to meet people from all over the world. If it doesn't break your bank account, I would highly recommend La Paloma.

Stayed February 2013, traveled with family
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Ask ARKGang about La Paloma Lodge
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about La Paloma Lodge

Also Known As:
La Paloma Hotel Drake Bay
La Paloma Hotel
La Paloma Drake Bay
La Paloma Lodge Costa Rica/Drake Bay
Address: Drake Bay, Costa Rica, Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Phone Number:
Region: Costa Rica > Province of Puntarenas > Osa Peninsula > Drake Bay
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Beach Free Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Kids Activities Restaurant Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#1 Romantic Hotels in Drake Bay
#1 Family Hotels in Drake Bay
#2 On the Beach Hotels in Drake Bay
Price Range: $$$
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Our standard rooms are large and include a private bath and an ocean view balcony. They usually accommodate 2 people. Our ranchos are one or two-story private cabins that also offer balconies and ocean views. They hold up to 6 people and are very spacious. Some are equipped with a bathroom on both the upper and lower level, and are therefore suitable for families or two couples traveling together. ... more   less 

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