Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge
This secluded jungle lodge is my favorite place in this neck of the woods. The individual cabins are all spacious and attractively furnished, have wooden decks or verandas to catch the ocean views, and are set amid beautiful gardens. Bosque del Cabo is located on top of a steep ridge overlooking the water at the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, where the Golfo Dulce meets the Pacific Ocean. The deluxe cabins come with king-size beds and slightly larger deck space. The Congo cabin is my choice for its spectacular view of the sunrise from your bed. All cabins have indoor bathrooms; tiled showers are set outdoors amid flowering heliconia and ginger. About half of the units also have outdoor bathtubs.
There’s a trail down to a secluded beach that has some tide pools and ocean-carved caves. Another trail leads to a jungle waterfall, and several others wind through the rainforests of the lodge’s 650-acre private reserve. The wildlife viewing here is excellent. If you’re too lazy to hike down to the beach, there’s a beautiful pool by the main lodge. Surfing is a popular activity here, as are hiking and horseback riding. Attractions include a canopy platform 36m (118 ft.) up a Manu tree, reached along a 90m (295-ft.) zip line, as well as a bird- and wildlife-watching rancho set beside a little lake on the edge of their tropical gardens and surrounded by forest. Local naturalists and environmental activists give talks each Wednesday night on various conservation and wildlife subjects. Trips to the national park or fishing excursions can be arranged, as can guided hikes, sea kayaking, and a host of other activities and tours. These folks also rent out two separate, fully equipped houses that are quite nice and popluar, along with a couple of cabins set inland by their gardens.