Could anyone compare the Drake Bay area to the Puerto Jimenez area?

Drake Bay is as it sounds- a Bay. It is more humid there and very lush and green. There is a pretty little river by some of the lodges. We didn't see much in the way of wildlife and birds but there have been reports from other people who have. As with all nature...timing is everything.

Some of the lodges are built up higher to catch the breezes. This was one of the things we really liked about La Paloma.

It is not a huge area. It has been a couple of years and there have been changes I am sure as to what is there. I imagine that now that the airport is open, there is growth out that way. There was a lot of building going on when we were there. There wasn't actually much to walk to other than to just look around. We did investigate the river area a little and it is really pretty. We did go way back into the rainforest and it had some of the most beautiful Heliconias, passion flowers, etc blooming. It was also some of the densest hiking we have done. We went out with a guide and a local campesino and still got lost. It was also a very heartbreaking hike as we got to see first hand the destruction the loggers were doing illegally.

The snorkeling was okay. Saw a few good things. After Belize and Cozumel, snorkeling,to me, is not as exciting off of Costa Ricas shores. Still, it was a pleasant day. It is a great place to get into Corcovado from.

Puerto Jimenez...just a dusty little town. Not a whole lot there. The main street is about 3 or 4 blocks long. There are several lodges along the coast such as Iguana, The Black Turtle, Crocodile Bay, Parrot Bay. Croc Bay and Parrot Bay are closer to town. I like the beach by Iguana. I see people from Croc Bay and Parrot Bay swimming around Iguana lodge all the time. It is not a super beautiful tropical beach but it is still very nice. The sand is not black and you can take nice long walks.

Tom from Escondido Trex has a beautiful botanical garden area going in with the help of many tourists and other lodge owners, Bosque del Cabo included. A trip with Escondido Trex through the mangroves is your best bet for wildlife viewing although, there has been a huge increase in the amount of Scarlet Macaws around. Instead of just passing by, there were several landing in the trees at Iguana last year.

PJ is basically a gateway to Corcovado and the lodges along the way there. Obviously some very nice ones.

Hope this helps. I am sure there will be others who can fill in any gaps I may have left.

Thank You Jessie,

I really appreciate your reply. Your information helps to narrow our search.

Do you know anything about Encanta La Vida, in Matapalo? If so, could you compare it to the Pearl of the Osa? Those two seem to look the best in our price range.

Thanks Again,
Gem

Hi Gem,
I have stayed at the Pearl a couple of times. It is very bare bones as far as the rooms go. Cold water showers, very tiny rooms but clean. No lamp in the room I usually stay in, just a light in the overhead fan. Some of the other rooms only have a portable fan so they may have a lamp. Good enough for me. There is an extra charge for having a room facing the ocean and there are outside chairs to sit on upstairs by each room to enjoy the view. The bar downstairs is fun at times and I like being right by the beach. The food is very good. The furniture is nice and some of it is brightly painted. There are hammocks to relax in. I also like being a little closer to town in case I want to check on e mail. I spend a lot of time away from towns with my husband so it is a nice break for me. The food is very good and if you want to treat yourself to one of Jose's wonderful candlelight buffet dinners next door at Iguana you can let Loren or Toby know. Don't know what the charge is. The bar gets a good bit of activity at times from people from other lodges coming to that area for beach time. I have also met several of the other lodge owners who come down just to hang out. It closes around 8:30-9pm. Friday nights there is a big italian buffet dinner and live local music. If you get there a day or so sooner, Giovanni can give you a salsa lesson.

Encanta la Vida, we were planning on checking it out, as well as my husbands long lost cousins place nearby, this year while at Bosque del Cabo. It is not far from Bosque so all the wonderful wildlife seen up there will be seen down at Encanta. I have walked by it several times and it was just one of those places that you keep saying you will check out one of these days. I was going to make it a priority this year. We visited El Remanso last year. I am slowly making my way through all of the places down there and Encanta seems like a good place to stay next year if I stay after my husband leaves. I am comfortable at the Pearl but like to stay in other places also. Certainly more for the money at Encanta. Based on the web site, the price is pretty much the same as the Pearl but also includes your meals which the Pearl doesn't. The price of the taxis to and from here will add to the cost. Don't know how much exactly to Encanta but I would plan on at least $50-60 for round trip. The cost of getting to and from town from the Pearl is going to vary. If their truck is going they may or may not charge you a few dollars. A taxi is going to cost $10 each way even though it isn't far. That is a full load so if other people are going also you can split the cost. Sometimes I pay for the ride in or just wait until someone from the Pearl is going and then walk back.

Because of the taxi costs you will pay dearly if you want to go on any tours from Encanta (there is a kayak place that you can walk to) because many of them start in PJ. You will still have taxi costs but they will be less from the Pearl. With all the hiking and wildlife right at Encanta, you may not feel like you need to do anything else.

Thank you so much for your help!!

Encanta La Vida is very appealing to me because of the animal veiwing. What do you think of the beach there?

When do you leave for your trip? I would love to hear what your opinion is after you visit it. I wonder which lodging option would be best at
Encanta La Vida they each seem so different from each other.

Very Best,
Gem