dfarmer

Has anyone recently visited the Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge in the Osa?
All information appreciated.
Thanks

Florida1

I'll take this opportunity to write a trip report that I have been meaning to post for a while...I stayed there this summer for 3 nights. We flew in on Sansa to Palmar Sur. The manager picked us up b/c his family was on the flight as well. He filled us in on historical and other information about the area. I enjoyed the boat ride up the Sierpe River into the Pacific. Saw monkeys and birds along the river. The coastline along the Pacific was so beautiful! Blue water, with jungle coming right up to the beach. I though Casa Corcovado was a lovely place. Our cabin was very spacious and clean. Staff were very friendly and enthusiastic, food good. (Not gourmet, but that isn't why I came here...would have liked more "local flavor" to the food, however). They provided umbrellas and flashlights, both of which were needed. We did the Cano Island trip and a day hike in Corcovado National Park. Saw dolphins jumping in the ocean on the way to Cano Island and saw a shark while we snorkeled by the island. The hike in Corcovado was tougher than I thought it would be, but was very interesting. We saw coatimundi, scarlet macaws, spider, howler monkeys, hummingbirds and baby hummingbirds in their nests, blue morpho butterflies (bigger and brighter than I had imagined), agouti, lizards, other birds. The heat wasn't bad at all, but the humidity level was not to be believed! And I thought there couldn't be anywhere more humid than Florida! We really enjoyed our stay at Casa Corcovado and I would recommend it. What other information would you like?

glover

I'll second dfarmer's review of Casa Corcovado. We were there in February 2002 and really enjoyed it. Getting there, as dfarmer said, was half the fun. We did similar day trips and saw lots of wildlife. The grounds are beautiful. Our cabina was nice, staff couldn't have been nicer. I think you'd enjoy it!

dfarmer

Thank you so much Florida1! Sounds like you had a great time.
We are considering Osa for our 4th trip to Costa Rica. I have heard lots of great things about Bosque del Cabo, but have also heard that Casa Corcovado was another great option.
After doing a search of this board, I was unable to find much personal feedback on this place.
Questions?
Was 3 nights enough?
Did you snorkle at Cano?
Do the cabins/rooms have a view of the Pacific?
And can you get to the beach easily?

I always try to plan on a few days in the jungle, few in the mountains and a few on the beach.
So my questions are to see if I can get my beach fix in Osa!
Thanks

kthyrn

Does anyone have any recommendations for a more budget lodge on Osa or near Corcovado?? Casa Corcovado looked really cool, but I'm not sure about having everything as a package deal. I also checked out Bosque del Cabo and although beautiful, would like to see some lower priced options. Any suggestions?

glover

Three nights was fine. Could have done another maybe -- but 3 was ok. We snorkeled at Cano and enjoyed it. But people who have done snorkeling all over aren't that impressed with it in CR. Good, but not special like Hawaii, Keys, or some other spots I believe. Was a nice trip over there to the island though, we too saw dolphins, birds, etc. You don't have any beach/ocean views from Casa Corcovado, because it is set way back and up a dirt road from the beach. But you're nestled in the rainforest. It was very cool one night when we had a downpour and I was nestled in my bed! They do however have a ridge half way up the road - a very basic (a hut really) outside bar and area where you have terrific sunset view over the ocean. Everyone convenes there before dinner.
Casa's beach is quite private and nice - though the current is often very strong. Nice chairs set back in the shade. Scarlet macaws frequently seen there. The beach is a longish walk down the road from the lodge grounds -- or you can hitch a ride down with staff.
I think you can get your beach "fix" there. You'll also get some beach time on both the Cano Island and nature hike trips.

icygreg

My husband is taking our 12 year old to this lodge in February. Do you think this is a good place for a 12 year old too?

Did you happen to see many children around this age while you were there?

Florida1

I agree with glover's answers to the questions. I enjoyed the snorkeling at Cano, but it wasn't spectacular...the appearance of the shark was the highlight! In retrospect another day would have been good, to walk the grounds of the lodge, which we didn't have time to do, but with 3 nights we got to see what we wanted to. There was one child, perhaps 10-12 years old, while we were there and he seemed to enjoy himself. I would have like to go here as a 12 year old. I think on my next trip to the Osa, I'd like to try Bosque del Cabo, after reading so much about it here!

dfarmer

Thanks everyone, good information!
As for snorkeling - we have snorkeled in many great places and no, the Pacific side of Costa Rica is not great, but still fun.
I was thinking 4 nights might be best - Got to have at least one day being lazy!
kthryn - This will be our first trip to the Osa, however my understanding is that the package (flight, transfers, accomadations, meals) is the best and sometimes only way. But I am sure if there is another someone here will know - good luck!

Ally

Kthryn,
For a less expensive option in the Osa, we enjoyed Rancho Kapu. It's a very small property so you might find yourself there alone, which was fine for us. The Honeymoon Cabina is very nice and private, and unlike other lodges in the area, this one is only a few yards to the beach....no hike to get there as in other lodges, but that also means you don't have an ocean view, as you are on flat land 100 yards from the water, but too much vegetation to see the water. There are plenty of hiking trails around, one even goes to a waterfall. Check it out at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~kapu/

Jessie_

One of the nice things about Rancho Almendro is that it is just below Bosque del Cabo so you could hike up and take a look anyway. The Harpy Eagle was spotted for the first time in many years in that area also. It is still around but thankfuly no one is telling where. We hike down that way all the time from Bosque.Lots of monkeys in the area as well as boa constrictors and other wildlife.

shillmac

For what it's worth, there are options to the package deals on the Osa. We booked Bosque del Cabo separately, but made our way down there on our own. If flying, I'd for sure do the package; but if not, most places will book room only for you. For us, it was more economical than the packages and there were areas we wanted to see on the way down anyway. The biggest advantage to flying is when you don't have 2 extra days to spend driving there and back--obviously.