Nativa Bambu Ecolodge

We stayed two nights in early July 2019, when only three rooms were occupied each night, so the staff had plenty of time for us and were wonderful. They even moved us to a better room at no charge because they worried one of our kids might fall from the top bunk. The room was clean and comfortable, with a lovely view, cold AC and a hot shower. Breakfast was simple but enough: eggs, small rolls and granola with yogurt, or French toast and fruit. They also patiently kept up with our endless coffee refill requests. I’m not sure how the place stays in business with so few guests, but we were glad to benefit from it.

The only real drawback is the hill you have to walk up if the cart isn’t available to drop you off. Otherwise, I loved the place. It feels very fancy and is probably one of the three best places in the area. The pool is fantastic, with a bar and music until 9 pm, plus small plates such as ceviche.

We booked one night at this Ecolodge for a birthday weekend away from the kids, expecting a lot from what seemed to be the most expensive hotel in Montanita, especially compared with the nearby high-end Cerro Lobo. Instead, our Deluxe Double Room with Balcony and Sea View felt very dated and nowhere near worth the $220. The walls had chipped paint, there was dust between the bamboo headboard, black stains on the sheets, and black marks on the bamboo ceiling that might have been some kind of mold. That evening, bugs kept dropping from the ceiling or light. They turned out to be flying termites. We raised the room condition when we arrived. It didn’t feel like what we’d paid for or what we thought was advertised, but the rooms available for an even exchange were worse and had no sea view. A better room meant another $100. Since we already felt we hadn’t got what we paid for, I didn’t want to spend more, though we offered an extra $50 because it was a special occasion and we wanted to enjoy the trip. The manager refused, saying the room usually cost over $400 a night and that the $100 upgrade was already a generous discount. We didn’t think it was worth it, and didn’t want to spend our trip switching hotels, so we stayed put. After about an hour of killing bugs falling from the ceiling and learning they were flying termites, I had to pretend mentally that I was camping just to get through the night. They ruined our birthday weekend. Breakfast the next morning was very good, and the staff were nice. But I’d never come back, and anyone expecting a 4 Star hotel room should be aware. For the price, I felt the hotel deserved to be downgraded to 3 Star based on the room condition.

They made my birthday miserable. The room was dusty, had cobwebs, and the view was awful. When I asked for a better view, there wasn’t one available, and they didn’t even have a microwave. I asked if they could heat my food, but they said they couldn’t because they only had one stove and were using it. They also wouldn’t let my friends come up to sing happy birthday, and both my companion and I were made to feel bad. The kitchen only operates until 3 pm. Worst hotel I’ve stayed in!