El Remanso Lodge

Hotel Overview
Reviews

Location

Osa Peninsula (The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica)

Description

The lodge offers a wide range of activities such as hiking along remote trails and rappelling down waterfalls (there are five on the property) so it is more geared for youthful or active guests. There is a canopy tower which is only reached by zip wire.

Activities

There is a large open restaurant, bar and a swimming pool. There is a list of activities on a blackboard at the lodge and guests book them on arrival.

Accommodation

The cabins (12 units in total) are spacious, and are mainly Classics (standards) set apart throughout the gardens. The La Guinda and La Vainilla deluxe suites have two storeys, both with stunning views across the trees (although the latter was completely open to the elements/wildlife in terms of absence of windows). There is a viewing platform in the grounds (looking out over a huge drop) which has no safety handrail so children would be very at risk (not to mention adults in the dark or after a few drinks!).

Our comments

A genuine nature experience with incredibly friendly staff. A wonderful place to explore the primary rainforest of the Osa Peninsula.

Client comments and reviews

We were met at Puerto Jimenez airstrip and transferred to an El Remanso pickup point.The tarmac surface soon degraded to a stony lane and then as we turned down at the Remanso sign a deeply rutted cart track. This did not look good and we breathed a sigh of relief when the impressive architecture of the wooden reception building, nestling in dense rainforest, came into view. Two friendly young receptionists welcomed us with a cool fruit drink and gave us a brief outline of what we could except to see and do. They then showed us to the adjacent, equally impressive, restaurant building for a late lunch alongside the macaws and toucans in the surrounding forest.

Our villa was nestled on the side of a steep dense forest valley facing a fantastic pacific view over the canopy below, and was accessed down a steep forest ridge footpath. The lofty, large stylish bedroom with mesh windows on two sides was adjacent to an equally large teak deck with a plunge pool and outdoor shower and loungers. Behind the bedroom was a large walk in wardrobe and bathroom with a natural stone tiled shower. As we relaxed in our pool with a view we marvelled at how successfully the creators of this luxurious, sustainable paradise had managed to integrate harmoniously with the wildlife and the natural rainforest surroundings. Of all the wonderful places we have visited on this trip this was the outstanding highlight and we vowed to return someday. - SB (February 2026)

In Puerto Jimenez I was met by a naturalist guide from El Remanso in a 4x4. During the bumpy ride he stopped to let an iguana cross the road, and later showed me an owl asleep in a tree. This was just a little preparation for all the wildlife at El Remanso, a wonderful hotel, truly ecological. It was essential to have one’s own powerful torch not only to get to and from the restaurant in the evening, or when leaving the hotel at 5.30 am to go bird watching, but also to return up the very long, steep path from the beach at sunset. I would have liked to have stayed longer at El Remanso and missed out the two days at Manuel Antonio. - DP (February 2017)

This was the best hotel of the whole trip. The staff could not do enough for you (most speaking adequate English). There are lots of walking trails and activities - I did waterfall abseiling and we both did zip-lining and felt safe while doing so. Also plenty of different bird life, monkeys, coati... - YV (February 2017)