Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge

Rooms

At the centre of the property, by the main lodge and restaurant, are 8 Deluxe and 2 Classic Cabinas, as well as the Vista Mar Suite and the Aracari Suite which are on the ground and first floor of a cabina respectively. The cabinas are simple constructions with thatched roofs, and doors that can be folded back to reveal the ocean view. They open onto a balcony with rocking or lounge chairs and hammocks. There are thoughtful touches, like the comfortable chairs and reading lights above the bed. Bathrooms are in 2 parts, with a basin and toilet inside, and an ample shower area outside.

The 2 Garden Cabinas and Casa Teca are in a separate part of the property, reached via a 300ft long suspension bridge (75ft above a creek) and spaced out generously, surrounded by rainforest in beautiful gardens. They are finished to a much higher standard and equipped with everything you need for self-catering. The Garden Cabinas each have a bedroom that is open on 3 sides to jungle and garden views; roll-down canvases protect the cabinas in inclimate weather. Casa Teca is an open, ranch style 2-bedroom house. You get great wildlife sightings here but are a longer walk from the main lodge.

In addition, you can live in the rainforest in 1 of 3 casas about a mile away from the main. Casa Miramar (sleeps up to 8 in 3 bedrooms) is spread over 3 small houses linked by heliconia-lined pathways and has an observation deck, a solar power system, and a small private pool, as well as wonderful panoramic ocean and sunset views. Whereas Casa Blanca, is a 2 bedroom home decorated in a classic tropical style with a large wraparound porch with Pacific views and a sundeck. While the newest house, Casa Coco is completely private, with its own trail to the beach and a private pool and large deck area. All have their own living room, dining area and fully equipped kitchen.

Ask reception for a torch to find your way around at nights as the paths are not lit.

Eating

All meals are included in the tariff if you're staying in the cabins, and are served in the restaurant. If you're staying in a Casa you can self-cater, or add a meal package to your stay.

Breakfast is served from 7-9am, though a simple early breakfast is available for those who are going off on early morning activities. There’s juice and fruit followed by a choice of hot breakfasts, including ‘the famous banana pancakes’, which went down very well.

Lunch is served from 12-1pm (and for up to an hour after that if you're late back from an excursion); there’s also an all-day menu of snacks, dips and chips between lunch and dinner. There’s tea and coffee available throughout the day for you to help yourself - in the afternoons, banana cake might be on offer too.

Dinner is at 7pm, a generous buffet with a choice of meat and fish dishes, together with salads and potatoes. Restaurant staff can be flexible if guests don’t eat meat or bread: just let them know. The food is Costa Rican and international in style; themed menus appear throughout the week: Asian flavours, Italian dishes, fish options or North American style.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant

Activities

• There are plenty of walks and hikes within the hotel’s own 750-acre reserve, but the best way to start is to join the primary forest tour with Bosque del Cabo’s English biologist Philip Davison (8am-12pm). This is fascinating so don't miss it (you need to be reasonably fit though)
  
  
• Go early morning bird-watching with Carlos (the hotel’s receptionist and bird guide). Keep your eyes peeled and you could spot scarlet rumped tanager, kiskadee, toucan, parakeets and macaws
  
  
• You can ask for daily yoga classes to be arranged nearby
  
  
• Take a sunset tour with Philip: see bats, kinkajou, possum, reptiles, up to 8 species of frog, insects and snakes around the hotel’s grounds
  
  
• There's a boat tour to see dolphins (all year). Most people do this on the same day as the Rio Esquinas mangrove swamp tour and the animal sanctuary visit
  
  
• Fishing can be arranged - inshore and offshore, billfish, rooster, snapper, jackfish. Inshore fishing leaves from Puerto Jiménez; offshore fishing leaves from 20 miles off Punta Matapalo
  
  
• Open-air massage can be arranged in the forest, near 2 immense trees
  
  
• You can visit Corcovado National Park: one of the most diverse parks in Costa Rica. Access is tricky though - either by road to Carate (40 mins from the hotel) from where you need to walk to the biological station at La Leona. Or take a light aircraft to Sirena
  
  
• Go snorkelling on reefs in the Golfo Dulce region
  
  
• Or horse-riding through magnificent primary growth rainforest ending with a fabulous 280 degree view of the Pacific and Corcovado National Park

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Wildlife
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

This is paradise for adventurous kids. Families will find the villas or the larger cabins with lofts ideal. There are lots of kid-friendly activities (horse-riding, zip wire, the pool) and they'll like the buffet-style meals. Pleasingly, due to limited power supply, there are no televisions and limited internet.

All ages are accepted, but toddlers are not encouraged, as some cabinas don't have railings on their decks. Babies are welcome; cots and high chairs are available. Overall we think it's best suited for adventurous kids aged 8 and over, largely because of the activities.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Families with 2 adults and 2 children can book one of the deluxe cabinas with a loft, so long as the kids are happy climbing a ladder to reach their loft bedroom. Alternatively, Aracari aand Orquidea Suites sleep 4 in comfort - on one level. For larger families, or two families travelling together, the villas are perfect: most can sleep up to 8, though in some cases 2 children might need to share a double bed.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 45 minutes
• Market: 45 minutes
• Medical facilities: 45 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Bosque del Cabo is on the beautiful Osa Peninsula, 22km (and a 1-hour drive on a dirt road, crossing multiple streams and ascending into rainforest slopes) from Puerto Jiménez.

By Air:
Puerto Jiménez (25km) is your closest airport, served by domestic flights. If you're coming from abroad you'll fly into San José Juan Santamaria International (350km) or Liberia (480km) - domestic flight connections from Liberia aren't as good.

From the Airport
Bosque del Cabo will pick you up at the tiny airstrip, for an extra charge.

By Car:
You could drive here from San José, but it would take around 8 hours, and the last stretch on Pensinsula Osa is very rough - see our car rental recommendations.

By Bus:
There is a daily bus service from San José (Barrio Mexico) at 12noon to Puerto Jiménez but it is 9 hours long and pretty tiring. The return service leaves Puerto Jiménez at 5am to go to San José.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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