El Remanso Rainforest Lodge

We took the light aircraft from San Jose and were greeted by a lovely driver from El Remanso. After an hours drive along a rutted unmade road we descended to the Lodge and were overwhelmed with the beauty of the place. The reception is an open expanse, all the construction using wood and blending with the rainforest setting. A gravel path took us to our magnificent room, Chilemate. The decor is sophisticated but simple. No glass windows, but totally open (mesh shutters kept insects out) to the exotic patio garden with outdoor shower and tropical planting. The restaurant is perched above forest on a platform looking out to the ocean. The food is Michelin star level, all so imaginatively presented and delicious. The staff all seem genuinely so happy to be part of El Remanso, and their joy and enthusiasm made our stay so special. Eli guided us along the river and we learned so much about frogs, mammals, birds and nature, and the next day took our zip wire session which was very memorable. We loved the peaceful, far from anywhere, exclusivity and sheer luxury of this absolute ‘one off’ haven. I very much hope to return.

My wife and I went to El Remanso for our honeymoon in May, and we couldn't have been happier with that choice. From the minute we were picked up in Puerto Jimenez, the staff were extremely friendly and genuine. On the car ride to El Remanso, our driver stopped when he noticed monkeys in the trees and pointed out birds that he noticed along the way. It was great chatting with our driver and getting to know him and the local area more. When we arrived at El Remanso, we were greeted with a cold beverage and a tour of our bungalow. The bungalow was perfect. The view was amazing, and the sounds of the ocean mixed with the jungle were incredible. We spent many hours just lounging on our porch, watching the birds and other wildlife through our binoculars. The restaurant was all really great. The service was always fantastic, and we really enjoyed every meal and every drink that we got there. We both ate vegetarian only during our time there, and that never felt like a limiting factor. It's also a beautiful space to just hang out in. We went on multiple excursions through El Remanso and really enjoyed each one. Our favorite was the waterfall hike. We really love the simplistic, but beautiful design of our bungalow. It had everything that you could need while staying at El Remanso, and the open design made it feel like you were a part of the jungle. Falling asleep to the rain every night was really magical. It was simple, but one of our favorite things was being woken up by the sounds of the jungle and having fresh coffee and tea delivered to our front door every morning to enjoy on the porch. What made our stay truly special was the staff. Every single staff member that we interacted with was very friendly, genuine, informative, and seemed to be having a good time working there, which is always good to see. It was really enjoyable just talking with the staff members and getting to know them. My wife is fluent in Spanish, and I am not even close, but they were very nice about it when I practiced. :) They even gave us a special jungle bouquet and dinner on our last night there to celebrate our wedding. Everything about our stay was a 10/10. We have already decided that we will be back to celebrate our parents' retirement and probably for even more future occasions.

If I could give it 6-stars, I would. Staff and guides were wonderful. We stayed in two separate villas and in both as well as on property it was as if we were participating in a National Geographic live stream with wildlife at every turn. My 11-year old and I would take a daily trek down to the beach, challenging but worth the effort. If you’re learning to surf, there is a gentle break just 15 min drive from the resort.

My experience with El Remanso Rainforest Loge was more than i imagined. By the pictures I knew my stay would be amazing but the pictures do not do justice when it comes to the overall stay at the lodge. This was my first international solo trip and I cannot think of a better place to travel to solo. If you are adventurous and a ‘bug friendly" person this is the place for you lol. The rooms do not have air condition or windows so inevitable there will be visitors so do research and ask questions before hand if you are concerned about not feeling comfortable with that specific accommodation.| The driver that took me to lodge was very attentive and very eager to show and educate me on all the wildlife. When we arrived to the lodge i was greeted by sweet Candelilla with a refreshing drink as the driver to my luggage to my room. I wish I could remember all of the names of the staff I came in contact with during my stay. From what I can remember the restaurant staff was amazing: Enrique, Joshua, and a few others were very down to earth. They all ensure that all of your accommodations and dietary restrictions are met. The meals from breakfast to lunch were all very flavorful, no item on each menu missed. |All the staff for the guided tours were very interpersonal and educated on the rainforest. During my entire stay I’ve had many moments where the staff exuded compassion and empathy. For example, the walk to the rooms are dark from the restaurant so a flash light is needed, I was not aware of this so Candelilla shared her flash light with me without hesitation. I highly recommend this Lodge for solo travelers, families and couples. Personally words cannot describe how much I enjoyed my stay, God willing I will be making another trip to the lodge with the time presents itself!

Truly incredible place in all respects. A very immersive lodge with charming staff. The view from our family room was spectacular and the room itself was very comfortable. We did the zip lining in the resort with a great group of guides. Safety was taken incredibly seriously while maintaining a fun and relaxed atmosphere. They were brilliant with our young children, some of whom were nervous. The guides are very knowledgeable and generous with their time. Wildlife is everywhere. Our favourite destination and lodge in Costa Rica. Highly recommend.

This is one of the best places and most beautiful hotels I have visited. The location is wonderful, surrounded by primary rainforest and close to an enchanting, wild and deserted beach. Nature and wildlife are abundant and can so easily be seen around the hotel and through marked trails in the surrounding forest and across high walkways and bridges. |The rooms are very tastefully designed and decorated, with a natural flow of air and ceiling fans. The staff are amazingly attentive and helpful. The guides are so knowledgeable. The meals are delicious.|what is not too like?

This was my first experience of the rainforest in Costa Rica and I could not have asked for more. El Remanso is a 16 room property in the heart of the Osa Peninsula. It has a strong eco philosophy and approach. It feels intimate, very personal and very private. I was travelling with a friend and we had our flight to Puerto Jimenez cancelled. The staff helped us quickly find an alternative route via a flight to Golfito and they helped arrange a boat ride across the bay to PJ. A bonus - we saw dolphins on the boat trip (the driver was amazing stopping to allow us to see them up close). The rooms themselves are simple & low key. There is no air conditioning, but there are ceiling fans and the airflow is perfect. TBH in that environment personally I would not want it as this approach really connects you to the outside environment (which is the point !). There are outdoor showers which was beautiful. I did a few of the guided forest walks & the waterfall repelling which was a fantastic experience (thank you Eli & Herrol !). The beach is gorgeous (nothing like the sounds of the open ocean - the Pacific). Delicious coffee is dropped off at your room around 5.30am (it's left outside) which was a brilliant touch ahead of breakfast. The staff are universally amazing - shout out to Edyn, Joshua, Bryan, Rosa (TBH everyone). Very accommodating of all our dietary requirements & quirks (all sauces on the side !). I was celebrating a birthday and on our final night they set up a beautiful arrangement at dinner, some bubbles and a delicious passionfruit flavoured cake. Overall a beautiful location, gorgeous lodge, food wonderful and everyone working there makes the place so special ! Do yourself a favour and stay at El Remanso !

We truly enjoyed our stay at El Remanso! The location is breathtaking, surrounded by pristine rainforest and wildlife. The casitas are beautiful, comfortable, and perfectly integrated into nature. But what really made the difference were the people — warm, welcoming, and always ready to help. A fantastic place for anyone looking to relax and connect with nature. Highly recommended!