Just purchased our ticket to Costa Rica for next January (worried about rising oil prices affecting airfares). After thoroughly scouring this forum, I am intrigued by Osa and the Bosque del Cabo Lodge. The nearly $400/night price tag is pretty steep. Is there a more reasonably price (under $250/night) accommodation that can tick off many of the same boxes?

Don't know what your requirements are (which boxes you need to tic off) or how many in your family/group, but you might google Casa Bambu and consider renting that private home or one of the others owned by same folks. You'll see wonderful reviews. Two of us stayed there a few years ago and loved it. It's comfortable, but rustic - have your own minimal kitchen (but with option to have meals fixed for you, great porch, monkeys and scarlet macaws in your yard daily. about 50 metres? from the beach. Just off the road that goes on to Bosque del Cabo.

Look at Luna Lodge, El Remanso, and Iguana Lodge. They are probably more than your $250 a night, but still they are cheaper. We have been to all four (including Bascabo), and find that each of the four has enough to please and reward its guests. Even cheaper are Encanta la Vida and Lookout Inn. Even less than those are really barebones places. We did a trip this Jan./Feb. that included 5 days each at Luna Lodge, El Remanso, and Bosque del Cabo, and found them all super. An earlier trip to Iguana Lodge allows us to compare the four. Personally, I would stay a few nights at a club room in Iguana Lodge and then a few nights in standard room at El Remanso. I love Boscabo, and will return (for a fourth visit), but it's not the only place with acessible wildlife, great food, and good service.

As glover mentioned Casa Bambu is an excellent choice if you want to save some cash and don't need meals to be prepared for you. I haven't stayed there but have walked by and surveyed, it's in a great spot. Luna Lodge is another that comes highly recommended. BDC does offer the two bedroom house, which again could save you money if you are willing to buy groceries in town. It's definitely worth the cost...I've been there every trip but also stay in some lesser cost places as well to balance trip budget.

Thank you for you replies. We are looking to experience the rainforest and do some hiking. We don't want to do any cooking and are hoping for some beach time (we are coming from Chicago in Jan) . This will be the second half of our trip. Originally, I thought that 4 days at BdC and 2 at Iguana Lodge would be the perfect combination. Perhaps 5 or 6 days at either Ojo del Mar or El Remanso would be good options. Both seem a reasonable distance from PJ. I can't figure out from their websites if food is included. Would we be able to see a lot of wildlife at either place?

You will not see the abundance of wildlife that you do at Bosque. BdC is blessed in that regard, and in my opinion, is one box you can't tic off if you choose other places. Wildlife, yes. . .the abundance of it, no. For us, this justifies the price tag--that and the overall quality of the experience. Like hip, we balance it with by cutting corners elsewhere.

I agree with kinkazote that the club rooms at Iguana Lodge are an excellent price. Especially during low season when we usually stay.

Good luck in your decision. . .probably good that you snagged the airfare now. Hope you got a decent price. I'm finding that already there is a huge increase for us.

Shillmac- you make an excellent point. Perhaps we can consider staying just 3 days at BdC and adding a day to Iguana lodge to help defray the total cost. I will see how many corners I can cut in the meantime...

Bookmarking.

Well, just so you know: our first stay was only 3 nights. It was so fabulous we have returned every year, almost. We never do less than 4 days now, preferably 5. Every couple of years we opt for 7, and those are the BEST of times! It is truly a magical place. We save up for it during the year. It's a priority!!

And what was my point? Beware--you'll get hooked!!

Shillmac- the point that you made that struck me was concerning the abundance of wildlife. It sounds like a once in a lifetime experience that we shouldn't miss. Is there a Classic cabina that you would recommend? I notice that many posters like Mariposa and Congo which cost a little more. I am also wondering if someone could tell me about the reliability of the Sansa flights. Our flight leaving San Jose is at 4pm. Will a Sansa flight arriving there at 2:20pm be cutting it too close. There is also a flight arriving at 8:30 am but that would make a long day at the airport.

It don't think that this wildlife question is quite right yet. Number of species and abundaces of individuals depends greatly on what kind of food is available in a given location and how often the wildlife, monkeys in particular, patrol around to feed on it. As I mentioned, I've been to the 4 lodges I named, three of them just a month ago.

At Luna Lodge, a fruiting tree tree outside our balcony was occupied by spider, howler, and capuchin monkeys, in turn, almost all day, everyday. I was able to get fine photos of an aged howler eating with only three teeth and a mother spider monkey forming a bridge with her body for her juvenile to move from tree to tree on. Bird species were abundant, and there was a resident sloth. Tucans and scarlet macaws were constant visitors. Also spotted were a tayra and a snake.

By the time we got to El Remanso, (immediately adjacent to BdC) the garlic trees had bloomed and spider and squirrel monkeys were sucking the juice out of them all over the place. Howlers, capuchins, and spider monkeys visited frequently. Tucans were abundant, and I even got a photograph of a pair mating. We spotted two whales in the Pacific. A puma and her cub were encounted (she was crouching, facing the observers) on the trail to La Guinda a week before we arrived. I got to see and hear a three-wattled bellbird--one of my Costa Rica goals. Lots of various bird species seen, including the king vulture and of course, the scarlet macaw. Other people reported owls, snakes, and the small mammals. And most of our sightings were accomplished from the deck of our cabina. At Bosque del Cabo, we were in Mariposa and were entertained by spider monkeys daily. Most of this action was exclusive to Mariposa and Congo. The great Curasows, one coati mundi, scarlet macaws, and tucans, one "poison dart" frog, and a few howler-butts from below. I was also wandering around (looking for a plumber's friend) on the morning that the puma was spotted and photographed on the deck of one of the cabinas. People who ranged farther afield saw more at EVERY lodge, I am sure. Iguana lodge is just not the place to find lots of wildlife on the lodge property. We saw only a howler family and a large green parrot, as well as a good collection of iguanas.

I have been to BdC when the large tree near cabina pizote was bearing fruit, and it was filled with howlers, capuchins, spider monkeys, and coati mundis, all eating together like the Peaceable Kingdom. On two other occasions, when there was no fruit, there was no wildlife at all in the same tree.

I try not to be a booster of any one of the four, and when we return, it will probably be to BdC because of the owners' theme, vision, and management style, as well as the abundance of near level ground to walk on. I do want to report that I met at each of the four lodges, returning guests who were very enthusiastic about about the particular lodge they were returning to. I did not meet anyone who felt they were shortchanged in wildlife sightings, food, or any of the good stuff you go to the Osa for.

myturn, I don't think I'd take a chance on that Sansa flight. More than likely, it would be fine, but there are times when the flight is delayed (we've even had one cancel--one time) and then you would be out of luck. I know--it's a dilemma.

As for wildlife, I'm sure kinkazote is spot on. We do not have the experience at all of the places she does. That said, tully (another poster) did mention to me just the other day that the one time she was at El Remanso, there was no wildlife, period. We've just not ever seen that happen at Bosque del Cabo.

BTW, our favorite classic cabina is Sol. Fabulous shower--don't get me started! We usually stay there. Last summer we switched to Congo (at the last minute due to the construction and remodeling at Pizote, right next to Sol) and loved it. But we'd stay at Sol any old time--it's one of the ways we shave a few dollars off.

Thanks for all the info. Tax refund check came today so I am taking that as a sign and may email BdC tomorrow. Itinerary looks like this-
San Jose -2 nights
Arenal-3 nights
Fly to Osa
BdC-3 nights
Iguana Lodge-3 nights
Still contemplating borrowing 1 day from San Jose to add to BdC but then we would miss Poas/La Paz

There is no real comparison between Osa and Poas/La Paz experince. Even if lucky what you will see at Poas is what is presented on every promo material: a lovely green lake in a crater. La Paz is artifical. Osa is THE NATURE; changeing every minute, interesting every second.