Los Mineros Guesthouse

Suzanna and Channy are exceptional hosts, friendly and helpful. Suzanna speaks Spanish, English, German, French, and maybe more, and helps with whatever you need. Channy speaks Spanish, with only a little English, but he's a welcoming, knowledgeable guide. I learned more about the land, plants, and animals with him than with many English-speaking guides. The tours were incredible. We stayed in a room with a private bathroom in the former brothel at Los Mineros. It's rustic but functional, with good wifi, a comfortable bed, and a mosquito net. The setting is very quiet and almost in the jungle. The final 8 kilometres are dirt road, but a regular car can manage it without 4x4. If you want somewhere away from mass tourism and off the beaten path, this is the place.

Channy grew up literally in the jungle, and his knowledge of the animals, terrain, and plants used for food or medicine is enormous. He also has seemingly endless enthusiasm and humor. He showed us all sorts of wildlife, along with a couple of secrets you'll have to discover for yourself. He even spotted a sleeping stick bird, only the second one he'd seen in his 54 years! Los Mineros Guesthouse is a fantastic place to stay if you want nature and lively, enthusiastic company. There are wild animals within walking distance: many kinds of frogs, including the elusive poison dart frog and red-eyed tree frog; crocodiles; several types of monkey and bird; friendly lizards; stag beetles and huge, otherworldly butterflies. We also saw sloths, tapir, snakes, spiders, toucans, hundreds of pairs of parrots, egret, capybara, and iguana. There's almost too much to list.

My partner and I spent six days here, and it was our favorite place in Costa Rica. The vibe was low-key, everyone was super helpful, and it was budget friendly. We joined a few tours, including a night outing where we saw loads of wildlife and a kayak trip to witness bioluminescence. A great spot if you want to connect with nature and local people on your Costa Rica trip.

It rained nonstop during our stay, so the animals were less active, but Channy knew where to look and always had his telescope ready for close-ups. We saw everything we'd hoped for, and it was lovely to see wildlife in its natural habitat without the other tourists you find in Costa Rica's other parks. My husband and I loved Los Mineros. Suzanne was friendly, responsive, and very helpful on WhatsApp before we arrived, especially with figuring out rainy-season travel. The place felt homely and welcoming. Channy was an amazing guide who loves taking people into the jungle and showed us as many animals as he could, including a glass frog and its eggs on the night tour. He also told us a lot about Costa Rica. Channy and Suzanne really made the experience, and the location in the jungle right next to the entrance to Corcovado park was a big plus. Thanks, guys!