A REMOTE RAINFOREST STAY AT EL REMANSO LODGE
Last Updated on 18th April 2020 by Bejal
If you’ve spoken to me over the past few months, you will know It’s no secret that there were a couple of places we stayed in Costa Rica that I cannot rave about enough. Now without a doubt, the El Remanso Lodge is definitely one of them!
WELCOME TO EL REMANSO…
The location I will admit is not for everyone but for myself and Dr C it was perfect! I honestly could not believe that a place as wonderfully remote, so full of biodiversity and able to provide those tiny sprinkles of luxury in the form of comfy beds and delicious food, existed! If you’ve read my post about the activities on offer here and you loved them then you will not be disappointed by the rest.
The lodge is owned and managed by Daniel and Adrianna who threw in their Parisian corporate careers in the city to relocate and manage operations at the lodge. It was actually Adrianna’s parents who bought the lodge back in 1991 (being Greenpeace members themselves) and worked effortlessly to sustain and conserve the environment of the Osa Peninsula. It therefore seems fitting that the extraordinary family legacy is kept alive. Adrianna and Daniel actually live on site with their twin daughters, their new baby and their friendly German shepherd, Lola.
It was a lovely touch that the husband and wife team personally came to introduce themselves and welcome us to their lodge. It was heart-warming to meet a like-minded couple who were so passionate about conservation and sustainability and just how much their surroundings mattered to them.
The whole ethos at El Remanso, is to come, relax, have maximum respect for the surroundings and create a memorable experience. There are no televisions and Wi-Fi is only available in the reception office but believe me, you will not feel like checking your phone once! All the emails, messages and social media can wait!! Life is at a much slower pace here!
TYPICAL RAINFOREST ABODES
The lodge can host just over 33 guests on it’s 200 acre Osa National refuge, consisting of a selection of classic cabins, deluxe cabins, deluxe suites, standard rooms and a Caso Osa. We stayed in the deluxe suite or the Casa Poniente, which is a double story house and our room was on the upper level, providing breath-taking views of the most beautiful sunset on the Pacific Ocean.
The house was surrounded by the most luscious exotic gardens which attracted many birds and wildlife. Infact, from our balcony terrace we would often see howler monkeys, macaws and toucans numerous times a day.
The walls in the bathroom are covered with natural stone and feature a mosaic bath with lovely views of the forest and you can even see the wildlife whilst you’re taking a cooling shower.
At El Remanso lodge, there are no window! Yes you heard that right, no windows. This is to ensure birds do not fly into the glass however there are wooden shutters and flowy white voile curtains.
If you fancy scoping out the other rooms on offer El Remanso, head on over to their website.
RELAXATION AT THE POOL & BAR
The lodge has the perfect pool to spend hot humid afternoons in where you can cool off and enjoy a drink from the adjoining bar area. You can even see a magical sunset from here. We were very luck as our room was pretty close to the pool, and with such few guests around, it was exclusively for our use! It’s the best place to unwind and relax after those strenuous hikes.
Due to El Remanso’s sustainability policies, the water from the pool is constantly filtered with a solar powered pump, treating the water to a swish ionisation system. You can even have a tour of the water system installation during your stay!
Beside the pool is the Los Encantitos bar where you can grab fresh smoothies, local beers or some pretty fine cocktails from. My favourites, all battling for top spot were Pina coladas, Caipirinhas and Margaritas. I particularly enjoyed how guests naturally congregated around the bar area pre-dinner and exchange stories about their daily adventures and who had spotted which species of flora and fauna. It was a lovely place to interact with everyone and get inspiration for the next day’s activities.
Kailyn making the perfect Caipirinhas!
Margarita’s pre-dinner
El Remanso signature frozen lemonade
CULINARY DELIGHTS AT THE RESTAURANT
At El Remanso, all meals are consumed within the bamboo structured restaurant which comprises the heart of the lodge. The deck housing the restaurant is built upon a forest canyon and therefore there’s no doubt about it that whilst dining you get awe inspiring views of the forest canopy.
Food at the restaurant is a good balance of international cuisine with a ‘tico’ and tropical twist. I can honestly vouch that each meal was an absolute surprise and you really can taste that only the freshest and finest of ingredients have been sourced for the preparation of food.
Meal times are quite structured at the lodge to accommodate all the various activities that guests take part in but never worry you WILL not miss out!
Morning coffee and Tea, would be typically ready at 05:30, followed by breakfast running from 06:00-09:00, lunch would be served from 12:30-14:00 and a fabulous 3 course dinner would be ready for 18:30-20:00.
Following a meal, the staff will confirm your choices for the next meal to ensure that they have all the ingredients and there are no delays in preparation. The variety is large and there are three menus to choose from at each meal and I can definitely confirm the vegetarian options are some of the best I have tried in the world, let alone Costa Rica! Additionally if you suffer from gluten intolerances then this place is the bomb! There is nothing the chefs cannot do with their passionate creative minds. Don’t forget to try the wines on offer as there are some fantastic pairings to sip on.
Breakfasts of Kings….The traditional Heuvres Ranchos
Light lunches to re-fuel in the form of salads and tortillas
3 course dinners to round off the day
The famous black bean soup
Interesting twists on Tuna and prawns
Vegetarian Delights
Firm favourites at El Remanso – The Passion fruit cheesecake and Rice Pudding
Not forgetting the selection of wines…
SUSTAINABILITY
I hugely support the necessity for sustainable tourism and supporting the environment and this was one of my deciding factors for staying at El Remanso. Dr C and I chose to stay here for its outstanding rainforest location and the abundant wildlife in the vicinity. The icing on the cake was that the lodge felt it an obligation to adopt ethical policies and work to protect the environment as well as the local community. The lodge doesn’t market itself as an eco-lodge however, but a ‘nature destination’.
El Remanso relies on 100% renewable energy for generating electricity at the lodge and its two micro-hydroelectric plants can provide adequate to allow for general us of lights and other electric equipment. Lights, laptops, efficient freezers and fridges are specifically chosen so that they consume very little energy and minimize energy consumption.
The lodge is made from naturally fallen timber where possible and the bar and restaurant area was built form locally grown and sourced bamboo and the no window policy means the birds can fly around freely.
Herbicides, pesticides or other dangerous chemicals are not used in or around the lodge. Zinc and tiles containing wood insulation are used for the roofs so fumigation is unnecessary therefore not harming local wildlife.
No bottled water is sold at the lodge as it can be accessed directly from its source and is periodically tested. Guests are encouraged not to use plastic bottles or containers also.
The lodge also has other policies surrounding responsible water use, biodegradable products, protecting the local habitat and interaction with local wildlife and its protection. You can read more about this here.
The lodge is also a great believer in supporting its local community and for this reason the staff who are employed here are from the local Osa Peninsula area. I was incredible humbled to learn that by staying at El Remanso, we were providing 25 local families with employment in one way or another.
Finally, the lodge only sources local providers for activities and tours that they provide. Ronnie, the local fisherman who we went Dolphin Watching with, is an example of how El Remanso help its community. They also support locally grown produce, gifts shops, fund and host conservation projects to preserve the beauty of their locality.
So, there we have it, El Remanso ticked every box for us. They are an endearing example of a family run business which provide unique unforgettable experiences.
SHEER UNADULTERATED PERFECTION FOR
couples, families, location weddings, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts, serious hikers, explorers and bird watchers
El Remanso Lodge
Road from Puerto Jiménez to Carate km 22
Osa Peninsula
Puerto Jimenez
Costa Rica
Tel: +506 2735 5569
You can read more about this rainforest abode on The El Remanso Lodge website
What do you think about El Remanso? Have you stayed in the centre of a rainforest and experienced its true glory? Lets spark up a conversation-let me know your comments below.
À Bientôt…
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