I read reviews about the manager (owner?) being somewhat gruff, but figured I would try it anyway. When I first walked up to the window, not knowing where the desk was, he tried to ignore me and then I got his attention just motioned to a door and said "in there". Later, when I asked someone for a taxi, they told him to call and he did, but didn't even say a word to me after he hung up. Everyone stayed in the kitchen and laughed and talked and totally ignored me, even when I stood in front of them looking at them. When I first arrived about 2:45, my room wasn't ready. The lady yelled at someone to clean it and had me wait in the dining area (at least she did get me a coke). About 45 minutes later, I walked over to find my room ready to go, but I guess had I not gone to look I would have sat there all night because they didn't care to inform me it was ready. I got to my room, which was not too bad, a big bed and a bunk, but there were 3 windows, one of which was nailed open with no screen or grate. I have no problem with a fan and open windows when I am there, but I am supposed to leave all my stuff where someone can just hop right in and get it? Why even put a lock on the door? The safe was barely big enough to hold my camera, but my laptop would not even come close to fitting. On a positive note, the room was big and the shower was fantastic, and the shower was clean, although there was solid mildew on the painted parts of the bathroom walls. I took a quick shower, packed my things back up, and left. When I checked out, I simply told him to cancel my second night, keep my money for the first night, and we would call it even. It wasn't worth the 60 bucks to even try and argue with him. Sad, because it is such a good location and has such great potential, is a great looking place from the outside, but just a run down "I don't want you here feeling".

My brother and I stayed at La Isla for 2 nights in May. This was the second time I have moved to La Isla after bad experiences at another hotel and a private home. Petra and Jose have always been very accommodating and gracious. The rooms I stayed in were somewhat small but had great bathrooms and A/C, as well as a double bed and wood bunk beds. The breakfast was good and cooked to order. I also stayed here with my wife in 2009 and my brother in September 2010. I have family living in Puerto Viejo with small kids so we all really enjoyed the pool. La Isla is right across from the beach and close to town. I would recommend this hotel for the nice rooms, hospitable owners, and great location.

Our stay in the apartment at Isla Inn was great! We wanted "on the beach" and even though the apartment is on the second floor of the back building, there is a view of the ocean from the deck and from the sun room. The second-floor rooms in the front building have better views, but we preferred our more private deck with good wifi access. The open-air restaurant offers plenty of choices. Everything you're reading about cleanliness is true. We're kind of old and kind of lazy, so we chose to taxi to and from town (about $4 per trip) but after a few days we discovered good restaurants in easy walking distance (Azania was our favorite). We recommend La Isla especially for younger folks or families with teens. If we have an opportunity to go back with our grandkids, we will stay here again - where the surfing action is. If we're on our own we may opt for one of the lovely newer rooms on Black Beach. However that in no way reflects poorly on La Isla; Petra could not have been more accommodating from our first inquiry through our last day's requests. We have NO regrets about our choice of hotels for our first trip to Puerto Viejo.

We can NOT recommend this hotel. Based on the reviews here we booked a 4 night stay. We ended up leaving the first night. Room was stifling hot with a less than adequate fan. Wifi did NOT work in our room. Bugs are abundant. Manager Jose was downright gruff, unfriendly and offered no help/apologies. It may be right across the road from the beach but there are MUCH better hotels nearby. If the management had offered even the tiniest effort to rectify any of the issues, we would have stayed. Great location, horrible rooms, management.