We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Hotels.com
Expedia.com
Lol.travel
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Nearby Hotels
Reviews (1,353)
Filter reviews
1,353 results
Traveller rating
1,291
47
7
7
1
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageAll languages
More languages
Traveller rating
1,291
47
7
7
1
Show reviews that mention
All reviews pacific trail breakfast and lunch deluxe cabina scarlet macaws other guests costa rica resident biologist owners phil and kim tropical garden tree climbing hiking trails buffet style suspension bridge horseback riding outdoor shower tide pools the cliff
Selected filters
Filter
Updating list...
962 - 967 of 1,353 reviews
Reviewed 10 February 2013

While choosing Costa Rica for the vacation destination we didn't know that our transportation inside of the country would rely not on a car but the internal airlines like Sansa and Nature Air. On our way from the Peninsula de Nicoya to Peninsula de Osa we saved lots of time and nerves by taking a domestic flight from Liberia airport and making quick stops in Tamarindo & San Jose before making it to the Port Jimenez, which cost us only $90 per person. After 4 hrs of flights we were gritted by one of the Bosque del Cabo drivers named Graybling at Port Jimenez airport.

Port Jimenez has only one runway that is suited right next to the small cemetery. The scenery was so ironic that my boyfriend made a joke about us being buried here in case we did not make it through the rain forest.
The driver took us on a bumpy 45 min ride during which my boyfriend was turning green and blue while I was recalling the childhood memories about suburb roads of Ukraine and Russia. While riding the outskirt roads of Siberia during my summer visit to the grandma my father always joked that it's only a complementary massage. It didn't seem that my boyfriend could take the roughness of the road the same way my father did.

Upon arrival lodge’s personnel greeted us with the freshly made juice.
We booked the Sunset Tour with the concierge before seeing our cabin. Curiosity made us want to get involved into the exploration of the new land as soon as we could.

The Aracari lodge at BDC was evidently simpler than the room at the four seasons however it took us less than 24 hrs to understand its advantages and fall in love with the new habitat. At that time of the year the weather on Osa Peninsula characterized by a fewer showers but the nature of a tropical forest never looses its life. We could smell the freshness of the earth and hear dynamic sounds of the birds and cicadas in the air. On the contrast we saw how much greener the Southern part of the country is compared to the Northern. Both of us were intrigued by the new location and felt egger to get to know the new surroundings that looked vividly green and vital.

For the next few days we enjoyed the freedom and the adventures of the Peninsula de Osa. We saw so more living creatures on the territory of Bosque del Cabo in one day than we saw on Nicoya Peninsula in 4 days. I regret that I didn’t take a tripod for my heavy camera. On the trip I always kept in mind what photographer Dan Goldberg told me, who’s class I took last summer: ”If you want to take good wild life pictures - you have to become an animal.” What he meant is that you have to be patient, observant, alert and be able to freeze in pose when needed.
While I was waiting with my camera for the perfect moment without the tripod my hands were shaky and getting tired therefore, a lot of pictures came up out of focus.

We had an outstanding time at BDC. Among our favorite activities were public dinners where we were sharing a long table with other lodge visitors from all over the world and we spoke about our discoveries of the day. The crowd varied from a photographer and Disneyland worker to a doctor and an accountant.

One of the first nights, I was chatting with our bartender who mentioned a complaining couple of freaks from New York that visited BDC a few months before us. Apparently, the couple was chronically irritated by insects and asking the personnel of the lodge to check their cabin for spiders and snakes every time they were entering it. I took the story personally and for the rest of the trip was trying not to scream when cicadas were bumping into me during the dinner, and was trying not to make a big deal about safety in public. After all I should say I saw a snake only once at the last day of vacation and the feelings were both exciting and disappointing at the same time. Exciting because I finally spotted at least one snake that I was aware about during the all hikes and disappointing because the snaked looked diminutive.

One of the days we woke up with the sun for the morning bird watching, our guide Carlos had fantastic skills to find birds where any ordinary human could see nothing but lots of trees. I was so impressed by his extraordinary talent that it appeared clear to me why Costa Rica doesn’t have an army; simply because foreigners don’t sense the wild spirit of the land that is evident to the natives.

Some of our favorite activities: a great 4 hour hike to the rain forest we took with a highly educated botanist Philip from Australia narrating about the rain forest as one huge organism, followed up by horseback riding through the forest and absolutely secluded virgin beach where our guide opened us a coconut using his sword! The trail during the ride was so extreme that my boyfriend exclaimed: “ If horses would accept it, I would tip them!” Another amazing hike we experienced on the Pacific trail which is exhausting but rewarding by it’s exotic benefits along the way, including swimming in the volcanically rocky bathes that emerge on the shore surface during the low tides and a secluded waterfall. We were sharing the natural baths and enjoying braking waves with the trapped snails, crabs, see-urchins and tropical fishes.

The freedom, courage, adventurism of the Peninsula de Osa made our departure difficult. We look forward to a return trip to that amazing place on Earth …

Read the whole story on my blog: http://cosmopolite-walkingtheworld.blogspot.com/

Date of stay: February 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Service
1  Thank Evelinawithster
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 February 2013

We had the pleasure of staying at Bosque del Cabo in late January. Four of us got to experience the tranquility of Casa Blanca. We had beautiful sunsets and Howler serenades each sunrise. Seeing to many things to name, we left a day too early, as the puma was sighted the day after our departure. We will just have to come back!! Recommended for anyone who wants to get back in touch with nature!

Date of stay: January 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank MaryNM56
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 February 2013

It just doesn't get any better than this. The property, the accomdations, the food and the staff make for a perfect stay. We were in a house - 2 full bedrooms and baths, living and kitchen area. Great for 2 couples. Saw a cabina and it was great also. All meals are in the dining room - the food is simple but beautifully presented and served. It was easy to find healthy items. The pool is small but seemed to accomodate all that wanted to use it. The tours, trails, etc are all first rate. The property is far removed from anything else so you find all your activities at the Bosque but there is plenty to keep you enjoying it. We flew on a small aircraft (Nature Air) to Puerto Jimenez and then the Lodge trainsports you to the property an AWD trucks. If you plan to drive, make sure you understand the road into the Lodge. It is about 20 KM of very poor road and challenging road.

Room tip: Most houses and cabinas have ocean view but if that is vital to you, make sure you ask because a few don't.
Date of stay: February 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
4  Thank ron d
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 February 2013

This was my second trip to Bosque del Cabo and this time I was smart enough to go in the dry season! Everything was exactly as I had hoped and it all exceeded my boyfriend's expectations. The naturalist Philip, and awesome bird guide Carlos were helpful, patient and entertaining as always. Philip's knowledge of the Osa ecosystem is overwhelming and so helpful to all the hikes you take on your own, you must go on the 4-hour primary forest hike with him in the morning! And Carlos' "morning bird and monkey walk" includes lots more than birds and monkeys and is not to be missed - go as soon as you can during your stay to help you with identifying various wildlife.

It's been said before, but I will reiterate that this place is incredibly beautiful. I've been many places in the neotropics but few in a setting as perfect as this one. The grounds are mostly manicured close to the accommodations but include many primary and secondary forest trails nearby. A 25 minute walk down a trail made of steps and switchbacks gets you to a beautiful beach on the pacific side and another 1-mile walk down the beach gets you to a stream that leads to a waterfall that is a huge relief from the tropical heat (and gorgeous too!). To spend the early morning in the rainforest and the late morning exploring a tide pool is hard to beat. We took a "to-go lunch" with us and ate it sitting beside the waterfall. The avocado sandwich always hits the spot!

We took a trip with Carlos that went partway towards town to bird the road bordering the pasturelands and saw oodles of macaws, parrots and parakeets. Then he found a turquoise cotinga for us. But the best was a perched king vulture! The next morning I was out just walking to my room from the restaurant and he beckoned me over to see a sloth sleeping in the tree right outside our room! I have no idea how I missed it before, but thank goodness he pointed it out.

The food is great, the drinks are great, the rooms are great. It's all awesome! Having said that, I think the best way to describe it is "luxury camping". Be prepared for a lack of air conditioning in a tropical climate. We saw 2 mosquitoes during the 4 nights we were there at the end of January/beginning of February, but we also dropped the mosquito net around our bed each afternoon before sundown and slept with it down. Their power source doesn't handle a hairdryer and the lighting isn't designed for you to put on your makeup. Lean into it and become natural like the place you're visiting and you'll enjoy every minute of it. When it gets hot, get in the pool or hike to a swimming hole or waterfall. All your food is included, and there is no other option. You don't need one! Relax and enjoy not having to make many decisions. Go to bed early and get up early and you'll have one of the most incredible trips of your life!

As another guest who returns frequently put it, this place becomes the benchmark by which all tropical, nature oriented lodges are judged and few measure up. Go, just go. Now. Seriously, all of you, go.

Date of stay: January 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank cacutus
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 31 January 2013

Generally, we don't like all-inclusive resorts located miles from anywhere without any options. Yet based on the recommendation of someone who shares many of our non-negotiable requirements, we selected the Bosque Del Cabo for our winter escape. On the remote Osa Peninsula, it's surrounded by rich rain forests on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the fourth.

Basically, the place appeals to two types of independent travelers who want to stay for more than a night or two: those who want a wide variety of physical activities - from horseback riding to fishing to kayaking to waterfall rappelling - and those who are content with hiking through a pristine rain forest with its wealth of unique flora and fauna. If you're the former, be prepared: the menu of activities includes extra costs. But for people content with hiking with a pair of binoculars, the time you spend does not have to be extravagant. In other words, the Bosque rate only includes room, board, Wi-Fi, and unlimited access to the manicured gardens, remote beaches, and the magnificent forests.

Now, about those basic requirements: We found the accommodations above average for a civilized "Eco lodge." Certainly not overly luxurious, it wasn’t roughing it either. With a high thatched roof, our wood cabina consisted of a large room with a comfortable king-sized bed, a dressing area, and bathroom. Its best features: an outdoor shower and a large deck overlooking the ocean. From the deck, we spotted toucans, parrots, macaws, pelicans, vultures and monkeys. Because Bosque is located in a vulnerable environment, the owners have a passion for sustainability, even providing toiletries that are ecologically safe.

With just one comfortable bar area and an attractive, outdoor dining room, Bosque didn’t offer alternatives. But the menu for each meal provided enough variety to satisfy most tastes. Dinner was served buffet style with lots of vegetables, fish, meat and dessert. All were extremely well prepared. For couples who wanted to be romantically by themselves, there were tables set for two, but for those who enjoyed socializing with others, there was a communal table.

Bosque is not for everyone. Anyone who contemplates staying there should do a little research to assure that it’s just what they want. We did and it met or exceeded our every expectation.

Date of stay: January 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
2  Thank Winger2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
View more reviews