La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort in Pavones offers beach front accommodations in the pristine Golfo Dulce of Costa Rica. La Ponderosa's established gardens are a great place to see wildlife. Choose one of our individually designed rooms. Relax and rediscover your adventurous spirit. Find Pura Vida Relaxation: with on-site private restaurant, massage, swimming pool and game room. Find Adventure: with local activities such as surfing one of the longest waves in the world, yoga, horseback riding, bicycling with a view of the sea, jungle tours, boat tours or great fishing.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
This hotel is an absolute dream, located about 10 minutes from the main surf break we rented ATVS to get around for pretty cheap. Since it’s all dirt roads around here this seemed to be a better choice than a car. The pool is perfectly serene with macaws flying overhead, and beautiful hiking trails in the back of the property with stunning views. Extremely nice staff and delicious food provided upon request, everything is clean and quiet. I will never forget this place. Thank you Ponderosa for a beautiful vacation.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela McCarthy, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded May 28, 2022
Awe, thank you for staying at La Ponderosa and for such a sweet review. PURA VIDA
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Our stay at the Ponderosa Hotel in Pavones was absolutely amazing! From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this is a special place.
The room was exceptionally clean and incredibly comfortable, providing the perfect retreat after our days of exploring. Each morning, we were treated to a delicious made-to-order breakfast, and the afternoon smoothies were the perfect refreshment after soaking up the sun.
The hosts, Angela and Marshal, were wonderful. They made us feel so welcome and took the time to share the fascinating history of their beautiful hotel. Their hospitality truly added a personal touch to our experience.
The location is ideal, with a stunning rocky beach cove just a short walk across the road. We loved taking evening strolls to catch the spectacular sunsets—they were unforgettable. We also had the chance to see the famous Pavones wave, which was as impressive as everyone says.
If you’re looking for a serene getaway with top-notch hospitality, delicious food, and breathtaking scenery, the Ponderosa Hotel is the place to be. We can’t wait to return!
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The roads getting to this wonderful location are a bit rough but part of the Costa Rica experience. Le Ponderosa is right on the beach we enjoyed our morning coffee there, not a bad way to start the dqy! The beach is magnificent with rocks, tide pools, surf and only the occasional human. The hotel grounds are very tropical with attention paid to the planning and care of the gardens, pool and the trails. Our room was very large,squeaky clean and It accommodated 4 adults and a baby . Meals were excellent and served in the gathering room. Places to eat are limited in the area so it was easier to eat breakfast and dinner there. We were to stay 2 days but ended up staying 4 because of vehicle issues, but believe me it was not a hardship and our hosts Angela and Marshall were most accommodating.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from pavones, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded Mar 5, 2020
All aspects of La Ponderosa are a labor of love. I'm glad this and our desire for guest to have a great travel experience shows in our rooms, facilities and hosting. Sharing your Pavones and La Ponderosa experience with the trip advisor community helps future guests plan for their trips to Pavones. Thank you for posting your review. We hope to see you all again. pura vida, Angela
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This location is as about as far south as you can go in CR, you have to traverse about 20 kilometers of dirt road and one scary bridge with no guardrail to reach it, and well worth the trouble. The beach is what I always imagined a tropical paradise to be, beautiful coastline with black sand and coconut palms, jutting lava rocks and driftwood. No one trying to sell you anything, much quieter than the beach scene in Dominical. We rented a stand alone cabin, "the iguana" for a reasonable price, beautiful grounds, on site good food, hiking trails up the hill behind the buildings to a small waterfall and lookout overlooking the ocean. The owners, Marshall and Angela, came here in the eighties and built this place and run it with pride, two of the nicest hosts you will ever find, they will take time to talk to you about anything you ask. Angela recommended an Italian restaurant about a five minute walk away, what a plus! Known as Pina, or Rosellas, or La Brushetta is some pretty incredible Italian food in the middlle of nowhere. Great dinner with the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. I have got to get back to this place sometime.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from pavones, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded Feb 20, 2020
Thanks for your visit and this wonderful review! I couldn't agree more, the beach here is a real life tropical paradise. We hope to see again you soon. pura vida! Angela
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Spent three days at La Ponderosa this July. Lovely gardens and location steps from the beach. If you are like us and like spending time in remote and off the beaten path and have the entire beach to yourself to walk, this place is for you! (took us 1h40 minutes from Golfito airport by car). We were in the Lapa room. Great space and nice balcony. We keps wine and beer in the fridge to enjoy. Walked 30 min to Pavones to shop in small grocery store and 6 minutes to near by great italian restaurant. Bring your flashlight (thanks to previous reviews), we encountered a 4 feet snake (not venimous :)) on the road at night walking to the restaurant! We enjoyed the pool a lot when the tide was too high to swim safely. Great breakfast, lunch and one choice of dinner meal per night (you have to inform them before 4:00 pm if you plan to dine). Very nice owners. Highlights? Loved walking a long time on the beach at low tide between the big rocks... and looking at the makaws fliying above the pool in the afternoon :) !
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela M, General Manager at La Ponderosa
Responded Aug 21, 2023
Thank you for your review. I love walking on the beaches here too. The interesting rock shapes, wildlife and views across the gulf never cease to amaze me. We hope to see you again sometime. Pura vida
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Loved this place. Comfy beds, great views, an actual stones throw to private beaches, and a fair price for a great room. I booked this bc it had a great pool and I’m really glad I did. We’d go from surfing the point back to the pool for a recharge and to escape midday sun. La ponderosa is 5-10min drive from town, allowing maximum relaxation but close to restaurants and town. Scarlet Macaws flew overhead and hung out in trees by the pool. It was a really enjoyable experience.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â No gas or atm so plan ahead from golfito!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela McCarthy, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded Feb 21, 2022
Thanks for your visit and your review. I love the title "nature-pool-nature-repeat" Pavones is all about being outdoors! I am pleased to know that you liked the room too and had an enjoyable, memorable experience. Pura Vida!
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It has been just over a year since we spent almost a month with Angela and Marshall at their place, and we thought the review was long overdue! We had the best time, from surfing to hiking to just hanging at the hotel. A and M were the perfect host: getting involved and giving advice if necessary otherwise just leaving you be. Thanks Marshall for the various surfboards and bike and all the 'pro' advice. Hope the knee has healed suitably. What really made the trip for us were the ladies in the kitchen who were lovely and caring and always had time to chat. I am so terrible with names and myself and family wanted to specially thank ? Maria who we spent so much time with, was so gorgeous with our kids and even brought us little cakes on Christmas Day. Hope you are ok and enjoying your wild camping with your partner and practising your English. We would love to come back one day. Ed and Natasha and Zara and Soraya
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela M, General Manager at La Ponderosa
Responded Mar 1, 2024
Thank you for your review. It's good to hear from you! I am glad that your experience here left you all with fond memories and a desire to return. Pura vida!
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We are a family of four who like off the beaten path Costa Rica adventures. La Ponderosa offered a peaceful, beautiful base in pristine, untouched Costa Rica. My kids ages 10 and 13 played endlessly in the waves out in the front of the hotel where there is a small Sandy section in between the rocks. Our favorite spot however was a mile down the road in Punta Banco. The beaches, waves, snorkeling, and wildlife are incredible at PB. We ate all our meals at LP and were happy. The food can best be described as Costa Rican comfort food. Nothing fancy but hearty and tasty. We stayed in La Lapa room and it was very nice and spacious for the four of us. I really liked hanging out on the screened balcony that faces the ocean. The highlight of the trip for me was watching humpback whales breach for a solid 20 minutes off the beach directly in front of LP. Incredible! You will need a rental car here. We drive down from Golfito. I highly recommend taking the dolphin tour with Phoebe with Changing Tides Tour. Another trip highlight!
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela McCarthy, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded Jan 5, 2022
I loved reading your review about how your family enjoyed staying at La Ponderosa and experiencing all the area's natural beauty! Thank you for staying with us, we hope to see you again. Happy 2022
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We loved our four nights stay at La Ponderosa and wished we could have stayed longer. This is our second visit to Pavones so we were familiar with the awesomeness of this part of Costa Rica. The location was perfect for our family. We have one avid surfer in the family. While Pavones is paradise for surfing, it also has much to offer to non-surfers. La Ponderosa’s Oso Perezoso Villa was perfect for the five of us and the pool so welcoming any time. Doña Amada always attentive to the morning coffee and anything that we may need. And our marvelous hosts were flexible, helpful and non- intrusive. Perfect combination! It was handy to be able to rent surf boards on the spot. The grounds are carefully maintained by a very polite crew. It was easy to relax, ocean front and gentle tranquility immersed in nature.Definitely visiting again!
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela M, General Manager at La Ponderosa
Responded Mar 1, 2024
Thank you for your visit and your comments. I am glad that your family enjoyed the villa and had a relaxing stay. Hope to see you again soon. Pura vida
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Perfect location, people & amenities to enjoy this jungle paradise. The rooms were perfectly equipped & cozy with hooks to hang & dry everything after our ocean fun. The pool was delightful & peaceful. The grounds allowed you to be right in the jungle, with wildlife & flowers abound. To top it off, Angela, Marshall and all the staff, make you feel extra special & spoil you the entire time. The food is delicious & spot on! I'm going to miss my morning fresh fruit plate. We are lucky to have spent our time in Pavones at Ponderosa & even though we just left, we are already looking forward to our next trip back.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angela M, Owner at La Ponderosa
Responded Aug 21, 2023
Thank you and your family for staying at La Ponderosa. I am so happy to read that you enjoyed your stay and to hear that you are thinking about another trip back! We love to see familiar faces return for another stay. Pura vida
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Pavones, Costa Rica19 contributions15 helpful votes
The beach directly in front is great for: swimming, body surfing, tide pool exploring (low tide), beach combing or sunset watching but not so much for surfing.
Pavones, Costa Rica19 contributions15 helpful votes
You can fly into Golfito with surfboards no longer than 6'10". In Golfito (1.5 hours from Pavones) there is a National car rental. Most guests enjoy having a car during their stay to explore the area's restaurants and different surf breaks. We are located between 2 breaks (the point and the beach break). Our dining room is open, for guests, everyday 7 - 3 (dinner requires a reservation).
Pavones, Costa Rica19 contributions15 helpful votes
Hi, It's hard to say how far in advance. 2020 people were booking very last minute but if we get a sign of BIG swell things fill up fast. We have boards for rent and there are 2 local shops with rentals too.
Pavones, Costa Rica19 contributions15 helpful votes
Hi, good question. You will find shampoo and bar soap as well as bath and pool towels in your bathroom. We do not provide conditioner, body lotion, beach towels or hair dryers.
There are more places to choose from in the Pavones area.
PRICE RANGE
$108 - $146 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
cabinas la ponderosa hotel pavones
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Cabinas La Ponderosa
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasPavones
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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