Le Cameleon is touted as a 5-star resort on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The website was certainly attractive. With much anticipation, we made a reservation for 4 nights. The first hint of trouble came when we received the confirmation of our reservation, when we were informed that we would only be able to cancel if we did so more than 8 days prior to our reservation. Well... as we only booked 2 days in advance, that wouldn't help us much. But we never anticipated that we would actually want to cancel. After just 1 night, we were ready to leave. The room was dingy, the cabinet housing the mini-bar fridge was broken, the toilet paper holder was broken, the towel hooks were loose, we could hear the conversation of our next door neighbours coming up through the shower drain, and when we went to bed we had to stuff towels around the door seal to try and block the light from the hallway..... and it just got worse from there. The first morning we were woken up at about 6:30 AM by housekeeping staff out in the hallway who were calling up and down the stairwell. In the afternoon, we couldn't rest due to the boisterous happy yelling of kids in the pool, which was about 20 feet from our window. I'm all for kids to have fun, but when you can't even relax in your room at a 5-star hotel due to kids yelling, something is wrong with the picture. We asked at the front desk about checking out early, but were told that due to the cancellation policy, we would have to speak with the General Manager, but he wasn't available until the next day! In the meantime, all they could do was offer to move us to the room across the hall, which would have been just as noisy, so we stayed out. During our forced stay at the hotel for the 2nd night, we were able to observe broken lounge furniture, mildewed and discoloured beach furniture, kerosene fuel being spilled on the ground as the pathway tiki torches were being filled for the night (and this from a resort priding itself on it's "eco' approach to things. To try and enjoy the afternoon a bit more, we decided to order in 2 extra-strong lattes to our room. What arrived were 2 small pots of strong coffee, and one small pot or warm milk. Apparently we were supposed to mix them together, and presto... it would be a latte! We tried to explain to the room service waiter that they weren't lattes, and he tried to argue with us that they were. And then he presented us with a bill for $30 US. For 2 "lattes"!!! After a 2nd unsatisfactory night, at $360 per night, I went to speak with the General Manager who was now available. I explained how dissatisfied we were and that we would like to leave early. He said that the cancellation policy would not permit us to leave early. All he could do was offer us a different room, or perhaps a massage, or perhaps some complimentary drinks. And so we packed up and left. We stayed 2 nights... they billed us for 4. A very terrible experience and I would not recommend that anyone else ever stay here. If you do, be very careful and be aware that they will hold you hostage with their cancellation policy.

We went to Puerto viejo to celebrate my wife's birthday. From the moment we made the reservation, you could feel the personalized service, friendliness, and quality of this boutique hotel.
We had dinner at the beach, with outstanding food, a woodfire, a personal waiter and decoration that made us feel pampered. All under a sky full of stars.

Rooms are very well kept, and designed in its unique style.

All the staff was friendly, and we speciallynlike to thank Edward (The manager) who went beyond what was necessary to make us feel welcomed. Our waiter Brahim even purchased marshmellows so that we could roast them in our woodfire.. This is only possible in hotels like this one.

Simply outstanding!!!

this place is a bit out of place in Puerto Viejo but it is a breath of fresh air! one night I heard Jessie Chick singing at the bar... Amazing.
drinks are good if a bit high. other afternoons I have had lunch at the beach bar and drinks at the very Riviera -like tables on the beach. the decor is lovely, kind of European whimsical, or Wailea wanna be- and I always feel good there. the staff and especially the manager really knock themselves out for customer service, something you can't say about most places down here.

their beach is gorgeous and it's worth the extra $ (most of the time) to just hang out in the atmosphere. Although many locals cannot afford it, so I wish they had a local discount like many places here do. I think it would make for a more interesting conversational mix..

We enjoyed the lounge for severals beers and beside the pool. Decided we would have dinner..all inclusive for $35 each. Very poor food poorly cooked. Waiter was very sensitive to it and actually gave us a bottle of wine at the end. The entertainment were not musicians but tried to sing Latin songs.. A sad performance. All in all, too much money without the quality of food.