Bosque Del Cabo: Did you "Scan the Perimeter" of your BED for Wildlife?
Mar 8th, 2009, 05:24 PM
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Bosque Del Cabo: Did you "Scan the Perimeter" of your BED for Wildlife?
I'm close to booking Bosque del Cabo for a romantic second trip to Costa Rica for my husband and I. 
I've been reading trip reports & hotel reviews.
Bosque del Cabo sounds friendly and comfortable, and it's in an ideal location amidst a rainforest paradise, it seems!
But...I'm a bit nervous about little things that sneak up on you in the dark...such as insects or other small creatures.
I'd love to hear from fodorites who have stayed at Bosque del Cabo. Did you nervously scan the perimeters of your bed each night with a flashlight? Did you have trouble falling asleep due to a feeling of excess vigilance?
Or did you fall into bed and slumber, oblivous of the rainforest wildlife surrounding you? Confident to share your bed with a tiny visitor, if necessary?
This might seem like a silly question, but I suspect that it's one lurking in the minds and hearts of many a city folk!
I hope you won't be afraid of sharing your experiences, and there isn't any wrong answer, since this is really a question of perspective and individual experiences.
I'm looking at booking Bosque del Cabo for January or February 2010. Our first trip to Costa Rica, we stayed at El Sapo Dorado at Monteverde; Lost Iguana at Arenal; and Hotel Si Como No at Manuel Antonio. My favorite hotel was Lost Iguana, but my favorite experiences were hiking at the Monteverde Cloud forest, and hiking on the Hanging Bridges trail at Arenal. I found Manuel Antonio to be overdeveloped.
Thanks to anyone who wishes to share their experiences!
I've been reading trip reports & hotel reviews.Bosque del Cabo sounds friendly and comfortable, and it's in an ideal location amidst a rainforest paradise, it seems!
But...I'm a bit nervous about little things that sneak up on you in the dark...such as insects or other small creatures.
I'd love to hear from fodorites who have stayed at Bosque del Cabo. Did you nervously scan the perimeters of your bed each night with a flashlight? Did you have trouble falling asleep due to a feeling of excess vigilance?
Or did you fall into bed and slumber, oblivous of the rainforest wildlife surrounding you? Confident to share your bed with a tiny visitor, if necessary?
This might seem like a silly question, but I suspect that it's one lurking in the minds and hearts of many a city folk!
I hope you won't be afraid of sharing your experiences, and there isn't any wrong answer, since this is really a question of perspective and individual experiences.
I'm looking at booking Bosque del Cabo for January or February 2010. Our first trip to Costa Rica, we stayed at El Sapo Dorado at Monteverde; Lost Iguana at Arenal; and Hotel Si Como No at Manuel Antonio. My favorite hotel was Lost Iguana, but my favorite experiences were hiking at the Monteverde Cloud forest, and hiking on the Hanging Bridges trail at Arenal. I found Manuel Antonio to be overdeveloped.
Thanks to anyone who wishes to share their experiences!
Mar 8th, 2009, 06:11 PM
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Melissa,
We are city people, and got back from BdC a few weeks ago. We had a blast! Yes, the howlers are waking you up at 5:30 am, and we did have a gecko in the cabin the last night, and a few other bugs. But no creepy crawlers, no roaches, no other creatures.
The nights are surprisingly quiet, considering the amount of wildlife there, but they are pitch black.
The bed has a good mosquito net, but you are in the jungle, all doors and windows are open during the day, so things might get in. Nothing too much, though. I think you will be fine, BdC is really nice.
We are city people, and got back from BdC a few weeks ago. We had a blast! Yes, the howlers are waking you up at 5:30 am, and we did have a gecko in the cabin the last night, and a few other bugs. But no creepy crawlers, no roaches, no other creatures.
The nights are surprisingly quiet, considering the amount of wildlife there, but they are pitch black.
The bed has a good mosquito net, but you are in the jungle, all doors and windows are open during the day, so things might get in. Nothing too much, though. I think you will be fine, BdC is really nice.
Mar 8th, 2009, 06:20 PM
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Melissa,
Are you planning to stay in one of the tropical garden cabinas? One of those open ones?
I admit, I would not be comfortable there (also because I would not like the hike there and the hanging bridge at night), but a regular cabina would be fine. You'll love it.
More adventurous sould would probably love the tropical garnen cabinas, for the same reasons I stated above
Are you planning to stay in one of the tropical garden cabinas? One of those open ones?
I admit, I would not be comfortable there (also because I would not like the hike there and the hanging bridge at night), but a regular cabina would be fine. You'll love it.
More adventurous sould would probably love the tropical garnen cabinas, for the same reasons I stated above
Mar 8th, 2009, 06:22 PM
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Always look, never have found much, use the nets. There will be bugs, here & there, but not like the expedia ad. It is what you make it.
xyz - that was one of my favourite things, waiting for the staff to go & all the lights out. All the stars - amazing!
xyz - that was one of my favourite things, waiting for the staff to go & all the lights out. All the stars - amazing!
Mar 8th, 2009, 06:43 PM
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Mel, we kept our headlamps by our bedside. If we had to get up in the night, I scanned the room with my headlamp. Never saw a thing but little tiny bugs. The big bug attractor is light, so the less you have it on, the fewer little buggies you'll get. I'm a total city girl, and I did it! No critters in our cabin or in our bed. We did keep our sliding doors closed, but a lot of people leave them open. We kept the louvered windows open for a breeze, but there are screens on the windows.
Mar 8th, 2009, 07:30 PM
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We had a firefly in our cabin one night, but he was a welcome addition! We also had a few smallish bugs each night, but nothing alarming. We used the mosquito netting and like VG, kept a flashlight by the bed. I would also slip on some flip flops if I needed to get up in the night.
I will warn you that we did have a scorpion in our bathroom sink one evening. That was rather alarming, but more from the surprise factor than anything else. We scooped him up in a drinking glass and escorted him outside.
I think you have to try and look at things from a different perspective than you're used to when you visit a place like the Osa peninsula. The forest is home to all of these fascinating critters (in all of their various forms, shapes and sizes). <i>You</i> are the visitor. The diversity of plant and animal life is one of the things that makes the Osa such an incredible destination. If you're lucky you'll see all sorts of animals, birds, reptiles and insects living their lives as important and necessary components of the rain forest ecosystem. That's not something everyone gets to experience and it's amazing, imo!
You've already been to CR, so you know how wonderful it is. If you can pluck up the courage to venture to BdC, I can't imagine you'll regret it. It really is as wonderful as we all make it sound. The multitude of glowing reviews don't lie!
I will warn you that we did have a scorpion in our bathroom sink one evening. That was rather alarming, but more from the surprise factor than anything else. We scooped him up in a drinking glass and escorted him outside.
I think you have to try and look at things from a different perspective than you're used to when you visit a place like the Osa peninsula. The forest is home to all of these fascinating critters (in all of their various forms, shapes and sizes). <i>You</i> are the visitor. The diversity of plant and animal life is one of the things that makes the Osa such an incredible destination. If you're lucky you'll see all sorts of animals, birds, reptiles and insects living their lives as important and necessary components of the rain forest ecosystem. That's not something everyone gets to experience and it's amazing, imo!
You've already been to CR, so you know how wonderful it is. If you can pluck up the courage to venture to BdC, I can't imagine you'll regret it. It really is as wonderful as we all make it sound. The multitude of glowing reviews don't lie!
Mar 8th, 2009, 07:51 PM
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xyz99, it's reassuring to hear from a city girl! Howlers at 5:30 am sounds like atmosphere to me. Geckos I can handle, as lizards and such come in our house here in southern california. I'm more worried about things like scorpions or poisonous snakes... No, I wouldn't book one of the more open garden cabinas... Thanks for helping to clarify something that hasn't been clear to me...it sounds like the tropical garden cabinas are more open than the deluxe cabins with the ocean views? I think I'd feel more comfortable in the deluxe cabins.
Mar 8th, 2009, 08:53 PM
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Yes, I scan every night, under the sheets, with a flashlight. Then get in bed and go to sleep. I keep flip flops by the bed and use my flashlight to check them before getting up during the night. We keep our luggage zipped. I seldom use the mosquito net. And did leave the door open when I was alone; DH prefers it closed. He worries about a larger animal getting inside, like a coati. That doesn't bother me. They are very spooky, and I suspect wouldn't venture near if they had a inkling a human was nearby. He snores (of course I never do!), so that takes care of that.
We had to remove a large spider one time. Seldom see anything, even small stuff.
We had to remove a large spider one time. Seldom see anything, even small stuff.
Mar 9th, 2009, 03:09 AM
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We never had problems falling asleep. We were up at 5:30 a.m. each morning, so we were proud if we stayed up until 9:00 p.m.! One couple did have a bat in their cabin while we were there, but they managed to shoosh it out.
Mar 9th, 2009, 04:39 AM
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The only critter I saw in our room (Tucan)was a little squirrel, who got in at night, and created quite a racket. I don't think he wanted to be inside, and was just trying to find the exit.However, my husband and I slept with doors and windows wide open every night (we prefer it that way) and did not even use the mosquito net. I was never nervous, not for a second. I think the idea of flashlight and flip flops is a good one, though.
Mar 9th, 2009, 06:37 AM
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Melissa5,
Enough already! Its unanimous. Everyone has told you how wonderful BDC is. How much reassurance do you need? Everyone says you will be fine and you will be. If it was as scary as you are picturing, you wouldn't find so many people crazy in love with the place.
We stayed in the garden cabinas and did not have one problem with snakes or scorpions in the cabinas. We did see snakes outside, but you just have to watch where you are going. I originally was a little nervous because the website and others said the cabinas were for the "adventurous", which I don't consider myself to be. But once you get there you will see that all the worry was for naught. You will fall asleep without a problem because you will have been so active during the day. Listening to the sounds of the rain forest is awesome.
Its an incredible place. You are going to lose some of that beauty and serenity with incessant worry. Relax.
Enough already! Its unanimous. Everyone has told you how wonderful BDC is. How much reassurance do you need? Everyone says you will be fine and you will be. If it was as scary as you are picturing, you wouldn't find so many people crazy in love with the place.
We stayed in the garden cabinas and did not have one problem with snakes or scorpions in the cabinas. We did see snakes outside, but you just have to watch where you are going. I originally was a little nervous because the website and others said the cabinas were for the "adventurous", which I don't consider myself to be. But once you get there you will see that all the worry was for naught. You will fall asleep without a problem because you will have been so active during the day. Listening to the sounds of the rain forest is awesome.
Its an incredible place. You are going to lose some of that beauty and serenity with incessant worry. Relax.
Mar 9th, 2009, 06:49 AM
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Wow, reilly, that was some tough love - lol.
Mel, why are you more afraid of BdC than you were of the other CR spots? You know that a lot of people have spotted pit vipers at the Hanging Bridges right? But that was one of your favorite spots. You were brave enough to do that, so I guess I don't view BdC as all that different. We love the Lost Iguana too, but I'm sure there are critters all over that property. I'm a born and bred city girl, so if I can do it, I know you can too! What does your husband have to say?
Mel, why are you more afraid of BdC than you were of the other CR spots? You know that a lot of people have spotted pit vipers at the Hanging Bridges right? But that was one of your favorite spots. You were brave enough to do that, so I guess I don't view BdC as all that different. We love the Lost Iguana too, but I'm sure there are critters all over that property. I'm a born and bred city girl, so if I can do it, I know you can too! What does your husband have to say?
Mar 9th, 2009, 11:04 AM
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tully: The stars at night sound fantastic! That's one of the things we enjoyed in parts of New Zealand, far away from any city lights. I'm glad you didn't find too much "wildlife" in your bed on your nightly checks. Thanks for replying.
volcanogirl: I'm glad to hear the louvered windows are screened. Where did you get your headlamps? That sounds like something useful. Do you like them better than flashlights? On the other hand, since bugs are attracted to the light, I wouldn't want them flying towards my head instead of flying towards a flashlight in my hand... Can you see better with the headlamp? I've never tried one. I do have more trouble than I used to seeing in the dark.
cmerrell: If a scorpion wants to visit, he's welcome in the sink as long as he stays out of the bed! A firefly sounds nice...haven't seen one since I was a child. So I wonder where humans fit in the rainforest ecosystem at Bosque del Cabo on the Osa?
I can appreciate your perspective.
shillmac: Thanks for the details in your reply. You seem to have found the right balance between being practical and checking things out with your flashlight, and then going peacefully to sleep.
costaricalover: Interesting that you weren't nervous. Were you nervous before the trip, and then settled in once you arrived? Or were you never nervous at all?
reillygee: I can picture enjoying listening to the sounds of the rainforest. I loved the frog and monkey sounds on our first trip to Costa Rica. How much reassurance do I need? Generally enough to either get me to the destination I'm dreaming of, unless I decide it isn't the time and place for me to visit. I tend to have anxiety before all of our great trips...for some reason there is always more before I visit anyplace that is tropical. Maybe because it is so different from where I live in southern California. In fact, if I'm not nervous before a trip, it is a sign that the trip will be boring! So in my case, nervous is good. It means I'm dreaming of something exciting, worthwhile, and challenging for me. Of course it's unanimous here on fodors...this is where the Bosque del Cabo/Osa lovers gather! That's why I came here to absorb your good vibes! I also went over to tripadvisor to see if I could be talked out of the trip but it hasn't worked so far.
volocanogirl: Luckily for me I didn't realize that there were pit vipers at the Hanging Bridges before I visited! But since my husband is a herpetologist/biologist, snakes generally aren't my biggest fear as I feel safer with him along. Why am I more afraid of BdC than other Costa Rica spots? Partly because I'm at a time of life when everything is changing...I'm gonna be a grandma for the first time very soon! Woo-hoo! All my young adult kids who came with me to our first Costa Rica trip are so much more independent now. Big changes. Some of that natural anxiety of life seems to get shifted over to whatever trips or projects I'm planning. Also, the Osa is definitely more isolated.
What does my husband have to say? He and I are making lists of all the places we want to go. He wants to go to Africa, and Patagonia. I want to go back to Ireland and New Zealand, and Paris. We both want to go back to Costa Rica.
He wants to go wherever we can both have a good time together. He also knows that if he wants to go somewhere for the biology, if I don't want to go, he can go with a friend, with my blessing. He has some friends who are also herpetologists.
We are considering whether we will go ahead and visit the Osa on our January/February 2010 trip, when we are headed to Costa Rica for a destination wedding. OR we could visit other areas of Costa Rica, which are closer to the destination wedding at Villa Caletas near Jaco, and then visit the Osa in January 2011. We could then fly directly down to the Osa, and not have the complications of visiting other areas on the same trip.
Thanks for everyone's input. Many of you are very experienced Costa Rica travelers. What other spots in Costa Rica do you like as much as Bosque del Cabo?
We were also considering New Zealand, which we both love, for January 2010. But then we received the destination wedding invitation for Costa Rica.
volcanogirl: I'm glad to hear the louvered windows are screened. Where did you get your headlamps? That sounds like something useful. Do you like them better than flashlights? On the other hand, since bugs are attracted to the light, I wouldn't want them flying towards my head instead of flying towards a flashlight in my hand... Can you see better with the headlamp? I've never tried one. I do have more trouble than I used to seeing in the dark.
cmerrell: If a scorpion wants to visit, he's welcome in the sink as long as he stays out of the bed! A firefly sounds nice...haven't seen one since I was a child. So I wonder where humans fit in the rainforest ecosystem at Bosque del Cabo on the Osa?
I can appreciate your perspective.shillmac: Thanks for the details in your reply. You seem to have found the right balance between being practical and checking things out with your flashlight, and then going peacefully to sleep.
costaricalover: Interesting that you weren't nervous. Were you nervous before the trip, and then settled in once you arrived? Or were you never nervous at all?
reillygee: I can picture enjoying listening to the sounds of the rainforest. I loved the frog and monkey sounds on our first trip to Costa Rica. How much reassurance do I need? Generally enough to either get me to the destination I'm dreaming of, unless I decide it isn't the time and place for me to visit. I tend to have anxiety before all of our great trips...for some reason there is always more before I visit anyplace that is tropical. Maybe because it is so different from where I live in southern California. In fact, if I'm not nervous before a trip, it is a sign that the trip will be boring! So in my case, nervous is good. It means I'm dreaming of something exciting, worthwhile, and challenging for me. Of course it's unanimous here on fodors...this is where the Bosque del Cabo/Osa lovers gather! That's why I came here to absorb your good vibes! I also went over to tripadvisor to see if I could be talked out of the trip but it hasn't worked so far.
volocanogirl: Luckily for me I didn't realize that there were pit vipers at the Hanging Bridges before I visited! But since my husband is a herpetologist/biologist, snakes generally aren't my biggest fear as I feel safer with him along. Why am I more afraid of BdC than other Costa Rica spots? Partly because I'm at a time of life when everything is changing...I'm gonna be a grandma for the first time very soon! Woo-hoo! All my young adult kids who came with me to our first Costa Rica trip are so much more independent now. Big changes. Some of that natural anxiety of life seems to get shifted over to whatever trips or projects I'm planning. Also, the Osa is definitely more isolated.
What does my husband have to say? He and I are making lists of all the places we want to go. He wants to go to Africa, and Patagonia. I want to go back to Ireland and New Zealand, and Paris. We both want to go back to Costa Rica.
He wants to go wherever we can both have a good time together. He also knows that if he wants to go somewhere for the biology, if I don't want to go, he can go with a friend, with my blessing. He has some friends who are also herpetologists.
We are considering whether we will go ahead and visit the Osa on our January/February 2010 trip, when we are headed to Costa Rica for a destination wedding. OR we could visit other areas of Costa Rica, which are closer to the destination wedding at Villa Caletas near Jaco, and then visit the Osa in January 2011. We could then fly directly down to the Osa, and not have the complications of visiting other areas on the same trip.
Thanks for everyone's input. Many of you are very experienced Costa Rica travelers. What other spots in Costa Rica do you like as much as Bosque del Cabo?
We were also considering New Zealand, which we both love, for January 2010. But then we received the destination wedding invitation for Costa Rica.
Mar 9th, 2009, 11:17 AM
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Ah, so the key is not knowing! That's one of the reasons I didn't do the night hike at BdC. I really didn't want to know what was out there! I got brave enough to go on one in Monteverde, and it was wonderful.
We got our headlamps at REI. I really like them a lot more than a flashlight because they leave my hands free. If I don't want to wear it, I carry it just like a flashlight. Mine had 3 different settings for brightness. No bugs flew at my head while I was wearing it, so I think you'd be okay there.
We got our headlamps at REI. I really like them a lot more than a flashlight because they leave my hands free. If I don't want to wear it, I carry it just like a flashlight. Mine had 3 different settings for brightness. No bugs flew at my head while I was wearing it, so I think you'd be okay there.
Mar 9th, 2009, 12:52 PM
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We used booklights we got at REI also as our night flashlights. We had a mouse in our bathroom one night, and probably a few small bugs but nothing really alarming. We slept with the walls wide open too, so anything that wanted to come in could have.
Mar 9th, 2009, 04:01 PM
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volcanogirl, the headlamps sound useful. There's an REI near me too. I like the fact that yours had 3 different settings for brightness. Thanks for the idea. Yes, you're right, when it comes to wildlife, the key is probably in not knowing! However when you are married to a biologist/herpetologist, not knowing is rarely a choice. However he has discovered lately the best answer to my fears involving insects, reptiles, wildcats, etc. is for him to say "I'll protect you," uttered in a confident voice! This, we find, works a lot better than if he were to say "Didn't you know that there are rattlesnakes right in your own back yard?" What...there are?! 
This tends to sound alarming, even when it is meant to sound reassuring!
I suppose it is somewhat reassuring to realize that since my husband is a biologist and herpetologist, he has spent his life (including childhood) actively searching for snakes, reptiles, wildlife etc. And he is still alive!
MonicaRichards: Maybe the wildlife didn't come in because they had already read the book you chose to read?!
Thanks everyone, I've enjoyed hearing from all of you. I'm trying to decide between 2 choices, both of which sound appealing to us. One would be to go ahead and attend the Costa Rica wedding plus visit the Osa. The other choice is to attend the wedding and visit other areas of Costa Rica (not so isolated areas.) Then, another year, maybe 2011, we could return to Costa Rica and visit the Osa. It also sounds fun to wait until our first grandchild is born and old enough to come to the Osa...then we could have a family trip to the Osa!
Here's a true story to entertain you:
<b>TOAD TO THE RESCUE:</b>
My daughter was a teen when we stayed at the Lost Iguana in Arenal. She was dismayed to find lots of bugs in her room. She was annoyed with her sister for leaving the light on.
Some teens would have demanded the bug spray at this point. But my daughter, a budding environmentalist, had a creative solution. She caught a toad and put him in her room! I'm serious!
Her plan was that the toad would eat all the bugs!
I wasn't sure this was a good plan. The toad was sitting there on the floor, frozen in fear. I told her to catch him and put him back outside. Well he escaped behind the furniture as soon as my son and 2 daughters tried to capture him.
We left him for a bit, since it was time to head for dinner.
While we were at dinner, that toad may have had himself a feast. When we returned from dinner, the room was bug-free! They captured the toad and put him outside. He did look a bit fatter too.
Remember this story if you are thinking about removing a toad or a gecko (or a bat?!) from your bungalow.
This tends to sound alarming, even when it is meant to sound reassuring!I suppose it is somewhat reassuring to realize that since my husband is a biologist and herpetologist, he has spent his life (including childhood) actively searching for snakes, reptiles, wildlife etc. And he is still alive!
MonicaRichards: Maybe the wildlife didn't come in because they had already read the book you chose to read?!
Thanks everyone, I've enjoyed hearing from all of you. I'm trying to decide between 2 choices, both of which sound appealing to us. One would be to go ahead and attend the Costa Rica wedding plus visit the Osa. The other choice is to attend the wedding and visit other areas of Costa Rica (not so isolated areas.) Then, another year, maybe 2011, we could return to Costa Rica and visit the Osa. It also sounds fun to wait until our first grandchild is born and old enough to come to the Osa...then we could have a family trip to the Osa!
Here's a true story to entertain you:
<b>TOAD TO THE RESCUE:</b>
My daughter was a teen when we stayed at the Lost Iguana in Arenal. She was dismayed to find lots of bugs in her room. She was annoyed with her sister for leaving the light on.
Some teens would have demanded the bug spray at this point. But my daughter, a budding environmentalist, had a creative solution. She caught a toad and put him in her room! I'm serious!
Her plan was that the toad would eat all the bugs!
I wasn't sure this was a good plan. The toad was sitting there on the floor, frozen in fear. I told her to catch him and put him back outside. Well he escaped behind the furniture as soon as my son and 2 daughters tried to capture him.
We left him for a bit, since it was time to head for dinner.
While we were at dinner, that toad may have had himself a feast. When we returned from dinner, the room was bug-free! They captured the toad and put him outside. He did look a bit fatter too.
Remember this story if you are thinking about removing a toad or a gecko (or a bat?!) from your bungalow.
