We shoulda known when we saw the restrictive cancellation policy. It was my fourth trip to Costa Rica (my favorite place on the planet), and we were going to one of the more adventurous, undeveloped jungle areas--we were really excited. But only moments after we arrived at the Defin, we were informed that our *all-inclusive meals didn’t include all--or any!--meat. Sure, there's a deceptively cryptic reference to “special diets” on the website, but us omnivores apparently need to give plenty of notice well before we arrive if we want something as “expensive” as meat included in our meals at the Delfin. Soda and water will co$t you, too. Lights or lanterns along the pitch black walkways to the eating area might have helped assure safe passage to and from the cabins, but those “conveniences” can be pricey, too. Again, please refer to the website where it tells you not to forget your flashlight. They mean it. It does rain in the rainforest, so please bring your industrial ear plugs as the deafening sound of the rain pounding on the corrugated tin roof on your luxury cabin will play in your head All---Night---Long!!! The cold showers were a bit of a surprise, but they won’t kill you. The 4-inch scorpion in the bathroom at midnight was an even bigger surprise, and I guess that could kill you. The staff seemed unfazed when I told them about it. Sure, we were in the jungle, but there were no attempts at all at installing catch basins or plugging the holes along the cabin base boards that were big enough for a good sized snake to enter. Since there was no meat for the snakes to eat, we felt some reassurance, but still kept the bathroom light on for the scorpions. The Defin's owner is not the least bit Costa Rican, and she was unquestionably the most unfriendly resort staff I’ve met in the 10+ different CR places in which I’ve stayed. She ignored here guests, appeared condescending to her staff, and gave an unmistakable impression that this was ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. (I anxiously await her long-winded, deceptive reply to this post. DON’T believer her.)
To be fair, our Corcovado guide was one of the best we’ve had in CR. The Scarlet Macaws were fantastic. The food at the Defin was prepared well, despite representing little of what I might have chosen to eat. And the dolphin experience was tremendous.
In the end, nearly every “surprise” at the Delfin was a disappointment and every matter of convenience was decided in the way that would maximize profit. This resort packaged a penny-pinching approach and lack of upkeep as some sort of Naturalistic Minimalism. I bought it, but I hope you don't.
