Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge

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...

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.

We absolutely LOVE Bosque del Cabo. We have vacationed at Bosque every year since 2005. It is exceptional in its beauty, wildlife and tranquility. The staff are always friendly, warm and helpful. The owners, Phil and Kim and their sons, are down to earth and welcoming, and take pride in...

We absolutely LOVE Bosque del Cabo. We have vacationed at Bosque every year since 2005. It is exceptional in its beauty, wildlife and tranquility. The staff are always friendly, warm and helpful. The owners, Phil and Kim and their sons, are down to earth and welcoming, and take pride in sharing their gorgeous extensive property with their guests. The accommodations — casas and cabinas — are each unique and very comfortable, most with gorgeous views. The food is varied, healthy and always delicious. I recommend staying at Bosque for at least several days to be take in the activities it has to offer (hiking, beaches, bird watching, wildlife viewing, catamaran tour …. ) and to soak in the beauty and peace of the experience.

Warning: long, over-enthusiastic review coming up (words just don't do Bosque del Cabo justice but I'll do my best!) Everything you read in these reviews about Bosque is true… and then some! One reviewer mentioned a slight hesitation re giving too glowing a recommendation because they don't want it to...

Warning: long, over-enthusiastic review coming up (words just don't do Bosque del Cabo justice but I'll do my best!) Everything you read in these reviews about Bosque is true… and then some! One reviewer mentioned a slight hesitation re giving too glowing a recommendation because they don't want it to get so popular they wouldn't be able to get a future booking - I can understand that! Situated on the very tip of the lush Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, you'll find yourself immediately immersed in abundant wildlife and resplendent colour, that has to be experienced to be believed. An assault on the senses in the best possible way, a stay at Bosque del Cabo will etch lifelong memories into your soul that will have you yearning to return. We happened to visit Nov/Dec 2024, over Thanksgiving being somewhat oblivious until the day before! Kim and Phil the owners and innovative creators, and every one of the warm and friendly staff, made us feel so welcome - it was wonderful to be included in the family celebrations. We had travelled around 4 locations within Costa Rica, each place completely different from all the others and beautiful in their way but if we'd only been to Bosque it would have been just as incredible. There are so many stunning places around the world, with phenomenal wildlife that we would love to see, that our philosophy has been that we wouldn't want to go back to the same place twice. I take it back. Four nights of pure paradise, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from a stunning cabina, surrounded by lush scenery, watching wildlife - such as hummingbirds, Toucans, Scarlet Macaws, the occasional Anteater - if you're lucky! - butterflies, monkeys and so much more! What else do you need?! The day after arriving home, we had booked to come back later this year for a whole 2 weeks and persuaded our son to join us! I don't want to wish my life away but I can't wait to come back. The short 40-minute flight from San Jose, operated by Sansa Airlines, which we had all to ourselves, was fantastic with jaw-dropping views coming over the Peninsula. Not only is Bosque is an oasis of calm and tranquillity; a dream for naturalists and wildlife lovers. It's even more than that, with beautifully appointed, charmingly individual cabinas, the most wonderful friendly staff who simply cannot do enough to make your stay a truly special one, delicious gourmet menus with freshly cooked mouth-watering ingredients, and an atmosphere of paradise found. There are several trails around the location and the hotel is only too happy to organise guided tours and other experiences to enhance your visit. We went on a couple of tours with Carlos, an incredible guide and source of knowledge - who we'd very much recommend. There's so much I have probably left out, I feel words are inadequate to share how wonderful a place Bosque is. I'm not going to lie, it's not a cheap vacation but I’m so glad we invested in ourselves and got to experience this little area of heaven on earth.

If you want to experience the “real” Costa Rica, Bosque del Cabo is the place to be…it’s paradise found…truly magical! My husband and I have stayed at this unique and breathtakingly beautiful lodge several times (our latest visit was six nights in Dec. ‘24) and each stay has been an...

If you want to experience the “real” Costa Rica, Bosque del Cabo is the place to be…it’s paradise found…truly magical! My husband and I have stayed at this unique and breathtakingly beautiful lodge several times (our latest visit was six nights in Dec. ‘24) and each stay has been an amazing experience that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else. Owners Phil and Kim’s huge property showcases the biodiversity of the Osa peninsula, and they continue to be wildly successful with updated amenities at the lodge. Drivers (staff) transported us to/from the airport, and also anywhere else we wanted to visit, like additional beaches and wildlife/bird sightings. The cabinas are perched on the edge of the rainforest, with incredible views of the ocean; simply sublime. The engaging staff treats each guest with a personal flair and the food is fresh and delicious, at every single meal. We loved just relaxing onsite, lounging in hammocks and listening to the sounds of the jungle, or at poolside with a great tropical drink in hand (I’m partial to the Pina Coladas and Mocha Locos). The wildlife is abundant: in one day, we saw all four species of monkeys, and while enjoying an afternoon massage on our deck a pair of scarlet macaws graced me with a fly by. There are a wide variety of activities to engage in each day: we’ve been bird watching (morning and night) with a guide, horse-back riding on the beach, and waterfall rapelling. And what’s really cool is the natural trail system that has been created, miles that meander around the property. Guests are allowed to hike and explore these trails solo, without taking a guide…believe me, you feel like you have the entire rainforest to yourselves. We love walking down to the vast, deserted beach, and playing in the tide pools. On our most recent visit, a highlight was spending a full day sailing on the owner’s catamaran; the kitchen packed us a great lunch, and it was so cool to have dolphins swimming right next to the boat. Bosque del Cabo is truly a special place…it leaves you feeling peaceful and invigorated…all at the same time!