I was so looking forward to the Osa. We had a few stays in Costa Rica but the Osa was the one I was looking forward to the most. It was late afternoon when we landed at the lovely little airstrip and were met without any hassle. I did have a slight reservation though when we were told that it would be cheaper if we shared a transfer with another couple. We had already paid for our transfer but were told that we would have to pay again for the transfer. We had no problem sharing a transfer but were concerned we were going to be charged again. In fact we weren't charged again but it was a misunderstanding we could have done without. This is the only gripe we had though. Everything was absolutley perfect. The staff especially Sylivia were superb. The cabin was magical. We arrived in the dark and the cabin was lit with candles and looked wonderful. In the morning we were awakened by the monkeys playing in the trees just outside the deck. The food was unbelievable [we know what good food is!] especially as we were in the middle of 'no where'. We would go to the restaurant an hour before dinner to watch the sunset from the lounge and have a beer. Without even asking we were given some tortilla chips & dips. We were really looked after. The day guided tour was great but we were a bit disappointed with the night tour. We didn't see a lot and we realise it is luck of the drawer with wildlife but the guide did talk rather loud and rather a lot. Not the best way to attract wild life. So much more to say but I can't recommend it enough. I would love to go back and wouldn't even think of trying another lodge. PS Read some of the not so good reviews. It seems that if you have a cabin then there will be no complaints. Might be different if you just have a room.

We just returned from our second trip to El Remanso in 2 years, and I have only excellent things to say about the lodge and its people. It really is a special place. It's very well run, is clean, with good food and excellent service. The cabins and rooms are very nice and comfortable and you can tell the owners and staff take a lot of pride in the lodge. The food is excellent, with many different choices for all three meals. It was innovative, high quality and delicious!

The activities are endless, and we traveled with young children ages 6, 8 and 10. We went zip lining, waterfall repelling, hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, dolphin watching, night hiking to look for snakes and so much more. It's true adventure travel and it's always fun, comfortable, fascinating, safe and a lot of fun.

What truly makes El Remanso special, however, is its people. Daniel and Adriana, the owners, are wonderful people and took such great care of our entire family. They were warm, helpful and caring, and they wanted us to enjoy every moment. Gerardo, the staff naturalist, is highly educated about the Osa Peninsula and he gave us tons of information about the birds, trees, wildlife, etc. He was fantastic with our young kids and made the trip interesting and exciting. They were all very organized about planning our activities, and everything went as planned from greeting us at the airport to dropping us off to go home.

We will definitely return and we recommend El Remanso highly.

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not to travel down to the Osa, visit El Remanso and you will not be disappointed. From the day we made our first enquiry to the day we regrettably had to leave after 4 nights and an incredible 'active' package, the whole experience was simply wonderful.
Primary and secondary forest rolls directly down onto the pacific coast, and the whole area is alive with wildlife (do not expect a lie in, the howler monkeys will have you awake and ready for the day before 5am).
The staff at El Remanso strike exactly the right balance and are able to confidently guide you to the best use of your time at the lodge, whether that is simply enjoying the fantastic views from your own veranda or trying out a number of the more adventurous activities (if you have a soft spot for scarlet macaws the horse ride along the beach is a must!). The resident ecologist is inspirational with his level of knowledge and enthusiasm for all things natural, and a walk with him will open your eyes to the sites and sounds of the forest that you seem to have walked through blindfolded before.
I would recommend El Remanso to anyone who is looking to experience Costa Rica at it's most magical.

Of all the places I've ever stayed (and it's been quite a few), this was the hardest one to leave ever. If there's something like paradise on earth, El Remanso must be it.
My family (my wife, our two daughters, 19 and 17, and myself) came here for six days end of December 2011/early January 2012.

So, should you ask yourself whether El Remanso is a place for you, especially as there are other nice lodges around, please check whether the following characteristics are appealing to you.

1) It's something for active people.
Yes, you can hang around, too, but there's certainly places with bigger pools and pampering offers. But at El Remanso, there's so much to see and do - whether it's one of the many organized activities offered by the lodge or you go down to the tide-pools on the beach, the lagoon or just stay around at the lodge - I promise you'll never get bored. We could have easily stayed longer, this is a place you don't get tired of. And I had the impression that this was what all other guests felt, too.

2) Wonderful service & food.
The owners, Adriana and Dani, are perfectionists in the most positive sense. You realize that they strive for the highest standards in everything they do. Moreover, they are completely unpretentious, approachable and modest about themselves. Yes, they have been awarded the highest eco-label for accomodations you can get in Costa Rica (five leaves - quite a challenge) and hardly make a point of it.
You'll see quite quickly, that they are really role models for their staff. Whether it's the driver José, the fabulous nature-guides Gera & Rinaldo, the waiters or the room maids: People are proud to work here and they do everything to make the stay at El Remanso an unforgettable experience for their guests. And while nobody's perfect and there may be little things that go wrong, in general the service is absolutely impeccable. Well, and I shouldn't forget: The food is most delicious. You've got several options for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Fresh, tasty and prepared and served with some creativity. So after a day full of new impressions, there's no shortage of indulgence.

3) Beauty.
Located in the middle of the jungle, approx. 80-100 metres above sea-level with a fifteen minute trail to the beach (it will normally take longer, as there's always so much wildlife to see on the way down there, whether it's the monkeys, birds or a frog), the setting is just stunning. The architecture of the main area with its open dining room and especially the cabins (if they are not booked yet: The cabins, especially La Vainilla and La Guinda are absolutely gorgeous) fits in perfectly.

There have been a few comments about pricing. A stay at El Remanso is not cheap. We've spent far less in the other three places we've visited during our 15 day Costa Rica-vacation. However, you'll get a lot of value for the money. And don't forget: Sustainability and eco-friendliness don't come for free. When we booked this, my wife had to swallow a bit when I told her about the money side of things. We are not used to spend this kind of money when travelling. After leaving, we all felt that this was one of the best holiday-investments we've ever made.