La Paloma Lodge

In early December of 2025, we stayed 5 wonderful nights at La Paloma. What a peaceful retreat! Getting there was an adventure in itself, which added to the charm. The property is a short boat ride from the nearest "town" of Drake Bay to the resort's dock at the mouth of a small river. We were welcomed in person at the dock by one of the resort managers. From our room and pretty much every seat in the common dining / living area, you have stunning views of the ocean and the feeling of being blanketed by the surrounding jungle. The grounds are well maintained (the walkways between the rooms and the common areas) and brightened by tropical flowers and foliage. We saw toucans up close in one of the trees right outside our room. We also saw and heard monkeys (on one day, two of them made an entertaining attempt to steal some fruit from a table where guests had just left their breakfast dishes). The staff members were all very warm and friendly and attentive. I can't praise them enough! Everything felt very homey and personal. The common area was comfortable, tidy, and welcoming. There are some books and games available. Any time you need to dry something faster than on the clothesline, you can ask a staff member to put your items in their drying room. There are enough seating options that you can be apart for a little quiet time or be close to other guests to make new friends. Most nights, dinner was served family style with most of the other guests. We enjoyed this. There is good wi-fi in the common area (not in the rooms) and this was a nice way to balance getting away from it all but still staying in touch a little. For me, a real standout for La Paloma is the activities. We did 4 of their naturalist-led experiences: the night jungle bug tour, the daytime hike in Corcovado national park, the boat tour of the mangroves, and the snorkeling trip. Each trip was guided by a very knowledgable and personable guide. I'm afraid I don't remember all their names, but they were just fantastic. We saw and learned so much! Last but not least, I had a massage there that was the best massage I've ever had. I've stayed at some fancy resorts that had world-class spas, but I am telling you, the masseuse they have at La Paloma is in a class by herself. I would honestly go back to La Paloma just for her! For us, it was a bucket list, once-in-a-lifetime jungle adventure, but I can see why people return to La Paloma many times and someday, we might do that, too!

I went to La Paloma and it’s my wife. We are fairly well travelled and enjoy active trips. This trip provided plenty of activity, most of it walking over largely flat terrain or on boats of 8 to 12 people. It was a wonderful experience at a great lodge. One caveat: We arrived in San Jose and stayed at a hotel overnight before embarking for the trip to the lodge the next morning. I would recommend flying by small plane rather than the drive, but if you want to drive, I would recommend doing it yourself in a rental. We booked a ride to the hotel which turned out to be in the back of a pickup truck for nearly 6 hours. The flight by 12-seater aircraft takes approximately 45 minutes.

I took my retreat group to the lodge in January. The experience was wonderful, even better than anticipated! Professional worry free experience. Food and service were beyond expectations. Their attention to detail and safety were appreciated by all of our clients.