Our other sites
Get A Free World Heritage Guide »
SeatGuru
Family Vacation Critic
Cruise Critic
BookingBuddy
We recommend:
We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.
We support the following browsers: Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox. Mac: Safari.

Drake Bay

Free Newsletter

Interested in Punta Marenco Lodge and Drake Bay?

We'll send you updates with the latest deals, reviews and articles for Punta Marenco Lodge and Drake Bay each week.

  • Save Punta Marenco Lodge
  • E-mail this page

Explore other Drake Bay resources:

Punta Marenco Lodge: Traveler Reviews


Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Best fare found from Philadelphia to San Jose: $399

Reviews you can trust

74% Recommend
4.0 of 5 stars 39 reviews
Excellent
Very good
Average
Poor
Terrible
By trip type
All (39)
Business (0)
[ Date ] [ Rating ]
Absolutely Wonderful Experience

Punta Marenco Lodge

Save Review
5 of 5 stars
travadvisor   6 contributions
California
Jun 5, 2008 | Trip type: Friends getaway
1
person found this review helpful

This is one of the most beautiful and fun places I've ever been. The staff/owners were so friendly and courteous. The food was excellent and served family style with other guests who were very nice. (This was a few years ago, but I just joined Trip Advisor and wanted to comment.)

The trip to Punta Marenco Lodge was half the fun. We flew from San Jose to a tiny, dirt and pebble runway carved into the jungle. It was scary but fun. Doing it again, I might try to book a twin enging plane instead of the single engine - but it was a blast. Then came the exhilarating boat ride across Drake Bay into the river (Sierpe?). Getting there was half the fun!

We went as a group of 5 in February and it was perfect. Plan on waking early unless you can sleep through the sound of howler monkeys. :-) Hikes were great (we arranged for a guide the whole time - he was fantastic). We saw tons of macaws, howler and white faced monkeys, a huge boa constricter, a pit viper, a 3 toed sloth, and more.

The only let down our snorkeling experience at Cano (I think) Island. The trip was great and the island beautiful, but our guide was not trained/experienced for snorkeling. He took us into some pretty rough water/waves that could have been dangerous for some. Just make sure if you have a guide -they are 'water people' and know where and when to go (or if the waves pick up to cancel it).

The huts at the lodge were very nice. Obviously, no hot water and no electricity after 10 (as I recall), but it didn't bother our group. WIth the mesquito netting, I didn't get one bug bit the entire time there (4 nights). Relaxing on the hammock with panoramic ocean views and watching maccaws fly up to the tree in front was quite memerable.

  • Liked — Safe, friendly people, great location
  • Disliked — No hot water for shower
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay February 2005
  • Visit was for Hobbies / interest / culture
  • Traveled with Friends
  • Age group 25-34
  • Member since June 05, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Outdoor / Adventure
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
  • View profile
  • Compliment reviewer
Punta Marenco Lodge review

Punta Marenco Lodge

Save Review
5 of 5 stars
jojocalifornia   1 contribution
oakland
Mar 31, 2008 | Trip type: Couples

This was one of the best vacations I have ever had. I highly recommend this lodge to anyone who wants to experience the Osa peninsula. This lodge is remote, but the staff go out of their way to make this an enjoyable experience for all. I would recommend this lodge to anyone who wants a nice,quiet experience with a bit of adventure added in. Be aware that this is a secluded place and all of the usual hotel amenities may not be available to you. You should come prepared for the humid temperature and the rugged terrain. If you want a pampered Club Med experience, this is not for you. If you want to see the natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula and experience the wild with an experienced guide (Jorge is wonderful!), this is for you. The food was better than expected. I loved the Pinto gallo, and the plaintains! I've been looking for recipes on the web since I returned.
Please consider this lodge if your travels find you in the Osa Peninisula. I will return many times!!!! Thank you wonderful staff! I'll remember this experience forever.

JOJO from California
03/30/08

  • Liked — The beautiful location
  • Disliked — the peole who were ther who were not prepared for the adventure and remoteness of the lodge.
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay March 2008
  • Visit was for Hobbies / interest / culture
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since March 31, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
  • View profile
  • Compliment reviewer
Splendid time

Punta Marenco Lodge

Save Review
4 of 5 stars
LeovanStraten   2 contributions
Hempens
Mar 23, 2008 | Trip type: Family

This was our first impression of Costa Rica.

Its was a wunderfull time, we came from Holland and Punta Marenco was our first stay.
We had a room with ocean viewm, splendid.

The food was basis but good and well organised.
The owner of the lodge gave us a refund without asking.
The tour to Corcovado was not possible on our first day, so the second day we dit this tour. The snorklingtrip was cancelld, therfore the refund.

The surrounding of the property is splendid, it is only very dark outside whne you go to the restaurant in the evening.

Leo van Strateb

  • Liked — the splenid view
  • Disliked — nothin gspecial
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
    • 3 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay March 2008
  • Visit was for Other
  • Traveled with Family (extended)
  • Age group 50-64
  • Member since October 22, 2006
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Other
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
  • View profile
  • Compliment reviewer
Osa at its best

Punta Marenco Lodge

Save Review
5 of 5 stars
Beroe   1 contribution
Boston MA
Mar 18, 2008

My wife and I had a wonderful time exploring the Osa Peninsula at the Punta Marenco Lodge. Our bungalow was breezy, clean and comfortable with a deck with hammock and view overlooking the ocean and Cano Island to the west (sunsets were gorgeous!). Meals and hospitality were excellent. Especially helpful in organizing our activities and tours was Ileana, the owner, who got us a very knowledgeable and keen naturalist guide to show us the amazing wildlife and plants in Corcovado NP. We are very grateful to her and her lodge for making our visit to the Osa so nice.

  • Date of stay March 2008
  • Member since March 18, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
  • View profile
  • Compliment reviewer
the best place on earth

Punta Marenco Lodge

Save Review
5 of 5 stars
franchesco   1 contribution
nordia, israel
Mar 15, 2008 | Trip type: Family

i wanted to tell you about my trip to the most amazing place on earth that me and my family ever saw.
when we saw the pictures at the travel agency, we decided immediately that we need to visit this place.
one of the things wich is very special about this place is the way to go there, you need to take a boat wich is taking you in a nice river that leads you out to the pacific ocean.
when we arrived to punta marenco beach, the staff welcome us in a really nice way and took all our gear to the lodge.
when we saw the lodge we where so amazed from the way the cabins built, its built in an indian style and look so amazing on the backround of the pacific ocean.
in the moment we arrived ileana the owner of the lodge(a beutiful person) show us the place.
after we saw the place, lunch was ready and the food in the beutiful lodge restaurant with a view to the ocean was a delicious tipical costarican food.
i most say that the combination between a beutiful,comfortable cabin and a nice crew that take care of everything you need was just perfect.
one of the best feeling we had was to wake up in the morninig to the sound of a beutiful birds ,and the sounds of the ocean and drinking the coffe of the morninig in the porch while dolphins jumping in the ocean in front of you.
after a week there it was really hard to leave this place, but we all knew that we defintly comming back and soon as possible.
thank you punta marenco lodge
pura vida

  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 3 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay February 2008
  • Visit was for Quality time with family
  • Traveled with Family (extended)
  • Age group 25-34
  • Member since March 15, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
  • View profile
  • Compliment reviewer
Write Your Own Hotel Review

Been to Punta Marenco Lodge? Share your experiences!

Write a Review
Add Photos
Add Videos
Travelers Who Viewed This Property Also Viewed
Location: Drake Bay, Osa
€42*
Location: Drake Bay, Osa
€49*
Location: Drake Bay, Osa
€32*
*Average price

Do You Own Punta Marenco Lodge?

TripAdvisor has free and easy resources to help you enhance your listing and promote your property.

  • Start Here - Visit Your Owners' Center
  • Add Photo
  • Add Video

Punta Marenco Lodge Address

Drake Bay, Costa Rica