Bosque del Cabo Rain Forest Lodge

It's hard to say anything that hasn't already been said in all the rave reviews on Tripadvisor. I've been coming to Costa Rica for almost 30 years now, since studying abroad back in the '90s, and I was skeptical that this place could live up to the hype. But it did, and then some. What really distinguishes Bosque del Cabo is the location and the people. The wildlife viewing opportunities on the hotel property are like none we've ever experienced. We saws monkeys (howler, capuchin, and spider), coatimundis, peccaries, agouti, snakes, bats, poison dart frogs, macaws, toucans, an anteater, and much more. To top it off, on our last morning we saw a puma out in the open on our way back to Casa Coco. Amazing! If you want to see wildlife, this is the place to go. Aside from the setting, the owners have created a really special guest experience because of the amazing staff. Without doubt, the people behind Bosque del Cabo are what make this place so special. From the owners to each and every staff member, the hospitality was amazing. It's hard to describe, but you'll understand when you visit. The vibe is pura vida at its finest. In terms of activities, there are plenty to chose from. We did a guided hike with Carlos on our first morning, which allows you to see all the hidden wildlife that you might miss and get a lay of the land. We also did the catamaran tour of the Gulfo Dulce--we saw hundreds of dolphins and the captain (Cali) was awesome. The rest of the time we hiked in the mornings in later afternoons, rested by the private pool in between, and enjoyed great dinners at the main lodge in the evenings. It's easy to understand why BdC has so many return visitors. It really is an exceptional place.

Bosque del Cabo was one out of four spots where we have stayed during our Costa Rica Trip with our two children (8 and 5y old). And to cut a long story short - it was absolutely the best experience we have made - our personal top pick. And everything has begun with hesitations and lots of considerations..... dealing with Costa Rica we have decided quickly that the Osa Peninsula as an isolated place in Costa Rica with stunning nature is a must to include into the trip..... more time we had needed to consider where to go exactly so we had narrowed it down to La Paloma Lodge at Drake vs. Bosque del Cabo..... (pls. also read my La Paloma survey). As it was impossible to deicde between those two we have just planned to stay for eight nights in Osa and have booked both of them (5 nights BDC and 3 nights Drake Bay). And this has turned out to be the perfect choice for us! Later more I provide a short comparison. But now to BDQ. We have rented a rental car from Natcar that was brought to Drake Bay (can strongly recommend Natcar, fantastic people - so flexible and helpful!!!). BDQ does have a discount code for Natcar Bookings. Pls. check with the Lodge if you are interested..... and pls. book as much in advance as possible as price go pretty much up later. In any case you must make sure to get a 4x4 in order to access the lodge with a vehicle. Several miles are in a very bad (but adventurous) condition. Yes, we love it!!! :-) Especially as we have stayed in the isolated Casa Coco, having a rental car was compulsory for us. The Casa Coco is the most private / isolated experience you can book at BDC and it has turned out to be the right accomodation for us..... what a mind blasting experience! And we are well travelled and not easily impressed! Maybe it takes 3-4 minutes by car to go from the main reception to the house.... during daylight you can walk if you like.... we have never done. The house is situated on a wide premise with green surroundings, partial pacific view, sounds of the forest and from the pacific..... so versatile. On the premise there is also another building that includes 3 or 4 open parking places like in a carport and abviously two more little sleeping rooms if needed. I have only had a very short look into one of those as when opening the door, some bats have hectically flown out and touched me on the head so that I have closed the door quickly (yes, you should have a certain self-confidence regarding wildlife contact at such an isolated place - if so, it's an adventurous place). The main buidling itself has a huge outdoor terrace with plenty of comfortable seating, two hammocks and a pool that looks smaller on some of the pictures provided by the lodge than it actually is - well you cannot do laps but you can definitely have some fun with four people inside there. Inside the house there is a well equipped kitchen area with a big fridge and a living area with couch and couch table...... eating is only possible outside on the ter

Just finished a week as Bosque with our family. Amazing jungle lodge experience, we stayed at Casa Coco - which is about 1 mile drive from the main lodge. I'd recommend if you're looking for secluded experience. We got groceries in town and cooked our own breakfast/lunches. We hiked down the trail each afternoon to watch the sunset, awesome, no one else on the beach, true wild experience. The staff was amazing, we got a flat tire one night, and the next morning maintenance was at the house checking it out. They took the busted tire into town and swapped out for a new one, the car was ready to go again that afternoon. Amazing service in the middle of nowhere, highly recommend!

When staying at Bosque the experience was absolutely wonderful. From the moment we arrived, the service was top-notch. The staff went out of their way to make us feel special, even taking the time to learn our names. It really added a personal touch to our stay. The room was incredibly comfortable, ensuring a great night's sleep. The food at the hotel was also fantastic, offering a variety of delicious options. During the day, there were plenty of activities to choose from, like bird watching, visiting the nearby typhoon pools, and taking walks to the beach. Each activity was unique and made the stay even more memorable.

Bosque del Cabo was a life-changing experience for us. The central lodge building and its guest cabins are beautifully sited in a 700 acre private jungle preserve. Guest cabins are comfortable and lovely, with an open, airy feel, pretty good (not flawless) screening, and overhead fans. Mosquito netting around the bed ensures no insects get in at night, and fans cleverly mounted inside the mosquito net help keep it cool. Our cabin had a deck and chairs overlooking the ocean. From this deck we were able to see and hear howler monkeys and many species of birds, and the stars at night. The cost of our stay included three meals a day; the food was very good, fresh, flavorful and well-prepared, always served with a healthy variety of vegetables. Dinners are proceeded by a cocktail hour and were served family style; sitting and chatting with other guests we made many new friends and enjoyed sharing our wildlife viewing experiences. The cocktails were delicious and very reasonable (full board does not include alcoholic beverages.) The gardens in which the lodge is set are beautiful, well maintained, and full of birds and wildlife--a friendly Caracara (bird) joined us at every meal. From the deckside breakfast tables you can see coatis, peccaries, agoutis, and the occasional anteater wandering through. Many birds flock to the nearby trees; we particularly enjoyed the honeycreepers feeding on figs. Howler and spider monkeys swing through. Small colorful frogs, bats, lizards, various spiders, and many other animals inhabit the nearby spaces. The lodge offers excellent guided walks through their jungle area, and many well maintained paths along which one can wander unguided, too. There is a charge for the guided walks led by experienced and knowledgeable guides, who can show you dozens of birds, mammals, frogs, insects, bats, etc. The pace is slow and comfortable for anyone who is able to walk. It's hot and humid there in February-March! There is no air conditioning, in accordance with their sustainable principles. However you can cool off in the lovely swimming pools and lounge on comfortable chairs drinking lovely cocktails or coffee drinks. The lodge is sited on a cliff above the ocean at the point of the Osa Peninsula. You can walk down a set of stairs to the ocean to look at tide pools or explore a waterfall. Or you can walk (or the hotel will provide a lift) to a swimable beach. (Water shoes highly recommended.) Many of the staff have been there for many years, and are devoted to the concept of sustainability practiced by Bosque del Cabo. All are extremely friendly, most communicate well in English, and call guests by name. After three days there we felt like part of a big family--in a good way. There is plenty of privacy for those who prefer it.

Well what can we say apart from bosque del cabo is a pure paradise. The staff are like family and the whole experience was incredible the moment we arrived until we left. The wildlife in the grounds was our favourite part of the stay with various monkeys crossing daily, coaties feeding on the lawn and so much more. We loved the open lawn area which allowed for some lovely opportunities for photos as we were there primarily to photograph the wildlife. The lodge itself we stayed in was perfect, tucked away in the shrubs and the trees with a view of the sea, what more could you want? Clean, comfy and wonderfully setup. The staff remember your name, are friendly, kind and treat you like family. We will be back!!