As short-trip budget travelers, staying at a lodge in Carate / La Leona was a step up in price, but we were very happy with Corcovado Tent Lodge. Costa Rica Expeditions, who book Corcovado Lodge, offer charter service from San Jose (as part of your overall package), but if you fly into Puerto Jimenez on your own (NatureAir or Sansa) why not spend a day there exploring the Golfo Dulce. We kayaked in among the mangroves and in the gulf itself and had great day there. Getting to Carate, then, Costa Rica Expeditions offered a private taxi ($80) to make the drive but the collectivos ($8 p.p.) running along the same road offered a sensible alternative, especially since we were traveling light.

Meanwhile, the Lodge itself offers guided hikes (at outrageously expensive per person rates) and utilizes a core group of two or three or lead those excursions.

The tents themselves are small and charming, and quite perfect. Ours looked through some palm trees to the sea. We watched sunrises and sunsets on the same beach -- it's really a remarkable setting!

We spent two days and two nights -- the first day we hiked for 2 hours in the Lodge's private reserve. The second day we took the guided hike into Corcovado National Park. On the morning we left we walked for a pleasant hour in the Carate Wildlife Refuge, a great place for bird watching. If we had spent another full day there, we would have walked to the Luna Lodge to explore their trails, but really, we were satisfied with our two full days and two nights.

Finally, we were able to arrange a reasonably-priced charter flight directly from the Carate airstrip. This saved us quite a few hours and a bit of money, too, rather than taking the 2-hour collectivo back to Puerto Jimenez and paying for a last-minute commercial flight to San Jose. But after this bit of pampered paradise it was back to public buses and cheap hotels for us! We had a fantastic time during our stay, and wouldn't hesitate to return there again.

We started our two week Costa Rica vacation at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp and it was absolutely our favorite location. The lodge has 16 tent cabnis spread out across a bluff directly above the beach. The rain forest is right behind you. We took the canopy tour and watched a three toed sloth for a couple of hours as well as monkeys and birds, including toucans. We also took the Salsupuedes hike through the rain forest and beach and saw anteaters, percaries (wild pigs), deer, monkeys, and several species of birds. The tent cabin was very comfortable and I enjoyed hearing the waves all the time. The best part of the trip was a very unexpected blessing of being able to see about 15 turtle hatchlings who just popped out of the sand make their journey towards the ocean. It was the most glorious and moving sight.

We had no problem with the shared toilets and bathrooms, but you did have to get used to the cold showers as they do not have hot water.

FYI, there is a tent lodge next door called La Leona Lodge, but we much preferred the Corcovado Tent Lodge. These two lodges seemed to be the only lodgings in the area which accentuated the remoteness and privacy of the area.

We visited in late February of 2006 and had a fantastic time. Our friends had previously recommended the place and they told us how wonderful it was. And they were right!

Here are the ammenities
Sunsets - remarkable
Food - fantastic
Views - unforgettable
Surf - as warm as bath water
Hiking - Macaws, poison dart frogs, monkeys kotumundi, bats - you name it.
Stress - deciding between Bavaria Gold & Imperial. (local beer)

Leave your blackberry and cell phones at home because they won't work here. Do bring a flash light and your iPod.

We had such a good time that we're going back again this year and staying 4 days and 3 nights.

There was one review on here that said that there weren't any animals/wildlife. I find that hard to believe. If you want to see the pictures of all the animals we saw - contact me and I'll send you a link.

The effort it took to get all the way there was worth every second! This place is paradise if you think that miles of black sand beach lined with a tropical rain forest and the temperate blue ocean is for you. Scarlett macaws and pelicans fly overhead and there was not a soul for miles. Perfect place for an al natural swim in the waves.

I tend not to be very keen on camping and enjoy having amenities but at the tent camp, non of that matters. These small but bug-free platform tents are like heaven as you fall asleep and wake to the sound of the crashing waves and howling monkeys. The place was immaculate and the food quite good for being out in the middle of no where. Try teh juices and frozen drinks!

We planned to stay for 1 maybe 2 nights and stayed for 4 days instead. It was hard to leave! And going during the rainy or "green" season was great as we were practically the only people at the camp. Make sure to bring your flashlight! I highly recommend the tent lodge if you're in Osa!