Hidden Paradise Lodge — Hotel in Bahía Drake

4 of us stayed for three nights at Hidden Paradise earlier in February 2024. It was our first hotel on a 20 day trip, so we were apprehensive, but that didn't need to be the case!||The owner Jorge came to pick us up from Drake airport and it was a 40ish min journey back to the lodge. As others have mentioned, the roads around the Drake area are not great, so even though the distance is not long, it can take a while to get to places. Jorge expertly navigated some tricky roads and told us a bit about the area. For context, our group was made of 3 Spanish speakers and 1 English speaker, so all comms were in Spanish.||The cabins were simple and rustic (wood built with slightly dated bathroom), but they were big and fitted 1 double bed and 1 single bed with plenty of space for hanging clothes and putting the suitcases. Mosquito nets were well maintained and the fans were sufficient (we only used it once as the cabins were surprisingly cool at night). Everything was spotless too, the mattress on the double bed was very comfortable. The lighting wasn't great as it was a bit too high, but not a huge problem. A little tip I would always recommend is to get in the room before turning the light on as otherwise you will get a few 'guests' - you are in the jungle after all!||Speaking of jungle, the setting of the lodge is very pretty and you do feel like you are in the middle of nature. The sounds from the cabin near sunset are something else, and all you can hear at night are the crickets which is very peaceful. The small pool was very welcome in the warm afternoon and you spotted a lot of animals in the surrounding trees from there including hummingbirds, monkeys, iguanas etc.||The food was all included, with set times, but they were flexible in case you needed to go early for an excursion or arrived late from one. All the food was absolutely delicious and home made. We complimented the chef every single meal! The only issue is that you'd only get that choice, so if you are a picky eater, it could be tricky. I am sure they would be able to adapt with a little bit of warning, so if you have any requirements I would let them know in advance. You always got a juice with the meals, and any other drinks (coca cola, beer, cocktails etc) could be purchased for a nominal price||Now to the staff: Jorge the owner was very kind and organised all the excursions for us on behalf of an agency. He's well known around the area, so boats were always waiting for him (and us!) in case something was running late - we felt like VIPs in that sense. We didn't have a car so a couple of times we also used him for a 'taxi service' and he took us to a couple of beaches to see the amazing sunsets and recommended things along the way. After one of the excursions we were still hungry and lunch time had already passed at the lodge, so he took us to a place in town to get some takeaways. 5 star service! Also Ryan & Kate, who both speak English, were always at hand back in the lodge and would explain about the excursions in detail and could answers any questions you might have. Nothing was too much trouble, and they always tried to accommodate any requests to make your stay better. We felt like family by the end of our short stay!||In summary, much like the Drake area, the lodge is rustic and simple, but you feel at one with nature and appreciate the kindness of the people around you. Would 100% recommend for any friends & family...

I stayed here eight days in order to be in the jungle and close to Corcovado and central in the Osa Peninsula. I had an incredible stay. Very happy! Mariela, Jorge, Antonio, Fabiola and Emily were a kind warm-hearted family who are very accommodating and flexible. They made it so easy. Everything is included such as great food, beautiful rustic wooden cabins in tropical gardens, and very well organised excursions. These were perfect: two day and one night hike into the jungle animal spotting and discussing ecology and biodiversity, two other hikes including rivers and coasts, waterfalls, cabling through the canopy, boating to islands for snorkelling with turtles and sharks, and an amazing tour of the winding mangrove swamp myriad river mouth channels. And after each outing, to come home to a hidden paradise quietly placed within real jungle, to the sounds of birds and cicadas. Heaven. A...

We stayed 3 nights at hidden paradise, which is located about 15min drive away from bahia drake beach. Oddly enough we were the only guests, which was both cool and a bit sad at the same time. The host family, although they did not speak any english were sooo very kind and helpful. Excursions were planned to a T and we always got driven to and picked up from the different spots.||The jungle noises at night were very impressive. The bungalos were the best we stayed in during our two week trip (spacious, mosqito nets, wifi, nice surroundings). Food was solid and always freshly prepared. ||The only reason this is not a 5 is due to the fact that you feel a bit stranded and dependent without a car, the roads in the area are quite rough and the fact that nobody really spoke english.||So as you can tell, not really anything negative to say about the...