Casa Merlin Lodge

It was nice to see plenty of locals staying here, instead of feeling like we were in another tourist hotel. The hosts were helpful without hovering, and the price felt good for the accommodation. We rented a two-bedroom house by the pool, with an outdoor kitchen, air-conditioning, a good bathroom and rooms, plus outdoor space at the front and around the side. It’s set back from the road in the jungle, with animals, bugs, and frogs right outside. We saw more wildlife while relaxing here than on our daily outings, including three sloths dropping by in three days. Yes, the sloth photo was taken from the outdoor kitchen! It’s a relaxing place with rustic charm and amazing surroundings. Small complaint, the beds squeaked, but the frogs did too 🤣

There’s plenty of room in this jungle accommodation, but it could use more care and attention. The kitchenware was very basic, cleaning wasn’t thorough, and an old broken barbecue had been left lying around.

The pool is lovely and well kept, the hotel itself is maintained well, and the staff were friendly. It’s a good escape from the bustle of central peurto viejo, though still only a 15-20 minute bike ride from the center. Far enough out that it feels like you’re in the jungle. My one criticism is that the mattresses are really firm, so keep that in mind if you prefer a softer bed.

We had a small ant problem, but they moved us to another room quickly and reimbursed us for the difference in room rates. There’s no breakfast, so we made our own in the outdoor kitchen. My toddler had a blast in the pool, and the AC was definitely a plus. A lovely place and much better value than other nearby lodges. Highly recommended!