De La Casa

We wished we could have stayed forever. The setting is breathtaking, and the elegant presentation and relaxed atmosphere made the price feel worthwhile. Edward, the server supervisor, arranged a very special birthday and romantic evening for us by the pool, with flowers, music, and beautiful lighting. Luis at the Overlook Restaurant was witty and made us feel welcome, and Marco, the manager, has clearly done a great job bringing together such a helpful, friendly team. He lights up a room.

We stayed in a treehouse, and the accommodation was sumptuous. The staff felt like family, the place wasn’t crowded, and the food was delicious. We saw so many animals, even though Marco couldn’t quite get us a glimpse of the elusive puma despite trying his best. It was a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife holiday.

The practical side of getting here takes some planning. Our Sansa flights changed several times, which was stressful, so I’d book flights and tours through Katiana at Costa Rica Collections. She works directly with the local airline and can help if schedules shift. After landing at Drake Bay, expect a beautiful flight followed by about half an hour in a van on a rough road, then a boat to the beach by the resort. Wear water shoes or socks and clothes you can roll up for wading. Bring snacks, plus ice and water in a metal cup if you’re flying Sansa. If you have back problems, ask the resort for a yoga mat for the boat and van. We were met at the landing strip with cold water, which was welcome in the humidity. November and the shoulder seasons can be lovely if you don’t mind some rain. The resort and Corcovado National Park are busier in high season. It’s remote, but you can text, use WiFi, and stay in touch on WhatsApp. The extra effort to reach it felt worth it to us. We were here in November, and the lush grounds and wildlife made the rain worthwhile. The setting looks like a movie scene, and the property has lovely self-guided hikes. Our treehouse was beautiful, recently updated, and on par with other luxury accommodation, with air conditioning, screen doors, a nice breeze, and the sound of the ocean. Housekeeping even made a flower arrangement for our last dinner on the deck. The food was excellent, including delicious gluten-free meals the chef made for me. I eat gluten-free, and these were better than meals I’ve had at top restaurants in the US. They’re flexible if you don’t see what you want on the menu. The hotel and staff also helped tailor activities and meals to what we wanted. Katiana helped plan a trip around our family’s preferences, and Marco went out of his way to make sure we had what we needed. Our guide Tibi was patient, knowledgeable, and a real pleasure. We saw lots of animals on hikes to Corvado Sirena station and San Pedrillo. If you have health limitations or particular interests, a private tour is well worth it. We also had a wonderful guide for the property’s trails and outings. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout, and we’d recommend this for an epic, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

What stays with me most is how warmly the people looked after us. It felt like being part of a family, not getting impersonal hotel service. Thank you to Marco, Reception, including Karina, Sol, and Osmar; the guides Jose, Steven, Johann, Mikey, and Rafael; the chefs and waitstaff Luis, Josue, Leonard, Edwar, and Andres; Kathy and Tatiana at the Spa; and everyone in Housekeeping, Boat Crew, the lodge drivers, Porters, Groundskeepers, and Maintenance. We spent nine nights here, and it was the best vacation I’ve ever taken. We saw a puma for a long time at close range, as well as coatis, toucans, scarlet macaws, turquoise cotinga, mannequins, hummingbirds, and many more birds around the grounds. On five excursions to Corcovado National Park at San Pedrillo and Sirena, we saw an anteater, sloth, tapir, crocodile, and four kinds of monkeys. Our Cano Island snorkeling trip brought dolphins, tortoises, and lots of fish. The food was amazing, with fresh fish every day and Costa Rican dishes done beautifully. I loved that the meals reflected where we were instead of leaning on standard American or European recipes. Save room for the ice cream at the Bar. The grounds are gorgeous, from beach to rainforest, and the team keeps them that way. The restaurants were all good: the beach bar is right by the water, Terra Kitchen has an open kitchen and wide views, and the dark wood Bar feels just right for a jungle retreat. Both pools had clean, sparkling water and cushioned loungers or daybeds. The spa is a beautiful place to relax after a treatment, with a comfortable double chaise and tea or even a margarita if you ask. Our Five Elements Oceanview room felt wonderfully luxurious, with a big private hammock, deep soaking tub overlooking the ocean, shower open to the views, a very comfortable bed facing the scenery, and lovely linens. All of it was marvelous. This is a special place with special people.