Can anyone tell me if Casa Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is on a beach? If so, what is it like?

We stayed 3 nights at Casa Corcovado last February and loved it. It is not ON the beach. You arrive by boat on the beach and are picked up by the "Corcovado Limousine" a tractor that pulls an open wagon (of guests and luggage) up a two track cement path to the lodge grounds. In other words, the lodge is set back on a bluff above the beach. A lovely walk/ride up. In many respects this makes it nicer because the lodge is nestled back in the rain forest. You can walk to the nice stretch of beach that belongs to the lodge -- the only other things there are the owners home, a smaller home, and sheds for beach equipment. A large grassy stretch where a pair of scarlet macaws hang out. Their beach is wide enough and has a nice palm tree shaded area with chairs set back from beach. <BR>The lodge grounds are beautiful -- picture summer camp with nicer landscaping! The people are nice. The food is ok. The cabanas were clean and quiet. We stayed in #11 i think, one of the most recently built. But I'd ask for #1 if I went again -- a bit off to itself and more isolated than rest --surrounded by trees and fabulous fireflies. <BR><BR>Two great outdoor bars here -- one on lodge grounds and one with sunset view of Pacific. <BR><BR>We walked out the door of our cabana and saw a blue morpho butterfly the first day. Saw a mom and baby spider monkey in trees on one of paths on Casa property. Saw howlers in eve down by the sunset bar.<BR><BR>Nice day tours come with 3 night package -- snorkeling to Cano Island boat trip and day hike into Corcovado Park. Very good guides. In park we saw an anteater, a crocodile, monkeys, hummingbird/nest, boa constrictor (baby curled up on rock on beach), countless birds, coatis, etc. "Becky" was a great guide. "Carlos" also. Lodge has lovely spring fed pool -- beautiful setting. Not always full when we were there though and frequented by lots of frogs/toads. In fact, we had a great frog/toad tour down there in eve. Saw lots of exotic toads. <BR><BR>We highly recommend Casa -- it was a real highlight of our trip. If you have any specific questions let me know.

How much is it to stay at Casa Corcovado for what you've described?

We bought a 3-night package that I believe was about $800 person. This included r/t flight on Sansa from SJ to Palmar Sur. 20 min. van ride by lodge to Sierpe. 1 1/2 hr. boat trip (small boat) down Sierpe River and south along Pacific Coast to beach landing on Drake Bay where lodge is located. All meals and lodging plus the day snorkeling and day hike trips. The only thing not included was bar/purchases. I see their web site lists price as $815 now for high season (we went in Feb.) Details are all there http://www.casacorcovado.com/packs/pkmultiday.htm

Thanks for your reply, Judie. I was thinking of going there next summer - June or July. I didn't expect it to be right on the beach, but I like to be near the water (within walking distance).

Judie,<BR>Thanks for your report on Casa Corcovado. I just booked a Nov'03 6-night + 1 package in C.C. with http://centralamerica.com/cr/hotel/corcovad.htm<BR>I tried to use the http://www.casacorcovado.com address but it does not work. Did you make your reservations thru centralamerica.com (they're division of TravelNet) ? If you did, what's your opinion about them ? The part of the trip which worries me most is the connecting flight San Jose - Palmar Sur on our next day in San Jose. They only have two flights a day, both between 9 and 10 am. If they fail to put us on this flight we will get stuck in San Jose! Are they good at meeting people at cruicial transportation points ? Please let me know what you think of this. Thanks.