It's hard to express in words how perfect the Golfo Dulce Retreat is. It won't be a hidden gem for long once word gets out that it is AMAZING. Traveling with toddlers (a 2 year old and 4 year old) is never easy, but at the Golfo Dulce Retreat our family was able to relax and enjoy every second of being in the rainforest. Simon, Chantelle, their children, and staff welcomed us with open arms; they cooked special (and delicious) meals for the children (they emailed before we arrived and asked what the kids liked to eat), provided toys for them to play with (their eating area/lounge was perfect for the kids to play legos while my husband and I enjoyed our delicious adult meals at the table), and modified the guided tours to fit our family's needs. They went so far as to construct a wooden fence around the plunge pool that was in our cabin (for child safety), and build high chairs for the kids so they were comfortable at the dining table. One night my little one was so tired I had to take him to bed in the middle of dinner. The staff brought the rest of my meal to the cabin. They had coffee and tea delivered to our porch every morning at 6:30am as they knew our children woke up early. 4pm tea and cake was a favorite for all of us. Chantelle always welcomed the children to stop by the kitchen for snacks if they needed them (almost never- they kept us so full!) They were just incredible, and knew exactly how to support our family in order to have an idyllic vacation. We couldn't have asked for more.
The actual retreat was stunning- by far the most luxurious stay we have ever had. Every morning we woke up and couldn't believe what a beautiful place we were in. We stayed in the cabin with two rooms. They put two twin beds together in the kids' room with railings on the sides (perfect), and our king bed was so comfortable. The cabin was full of light, so very clean, and the rustic, light wood was beautiful. It was a very calming ambiance. We all enjoyed the outdoor shower! There is a lot to see just walking around the beautiful grounds- we spotted monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws (they actually came right up to us!), leaf-cutter aunts, and tree frogs.
Our favorite tours were to the waterfall and mangroves (the wild dolphins jumping up all around our boat was a highlight of the trip). We learned so much from our guides (both the local experts and Cambridge biologists). One of our guides, Rodolfo, knew we wanted to see crocodiles, and because we didn't see one on a tour, he took us out one night on a crocodile hunt to the lagoons where we spotted them! The beach at the retreat is rocky, but we kayaked a ways down the shore and found a great place to swim. The water is warm and perfect for the kids as the waves are small.
The entire staff at the retreat didn't miss a beat; they were so detail oriented, kind, and helpful. There is so much more I could write about this little piece of heaven, but you should go see it for yourselves. Worth every penny and then some!
We will be back someday!!!