Rancho Margot Eco Lodge — Hotel in Peñas Blancas

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

To start we chose Rancho Margot because of their substantial farm, their social media pages, and website description. The ride to Rancho Margot from La Fortuna was a bumpy one. The reception area is very small and outdated. There is no drinking water in the reception area but there is a plastic pipe coming from the ground marked drinking water. The woman at reception told us the golf cart to our bungalow was not working and that the part they needed from the United States was too expensive so she would send someone to help with the luggage. We are a family of five so we had six pieces of luggage that we had to pull up the mountain walk to our bungalow. This trek is about 250 yards and took about ten minutes with all of us lugging a suitcase up a long, rocky, uphill path. Two suitcases wheels broke. It was not an easy trek. The room is not what we had expected. There was a cockroach greeting us upon our arrival that we had to chase and kill. There were screens in the windows to allow air flow but of course when you are in the jungle bugs do still find ways in. We had a queen bed, a twin, and a bunk bed. There is really no room to put your clothes away, even if you were just one person, you have to expect to live out of your suitcase. The bathroom is tiny and the water for the shower gets cold pretty quickly. There is a definite sewage aroma in the bathroom. The hotel provides you with two bars of handmade soap that are made on the premises that we later learned are recycled after use to Other than towels, that is all that is provided so be sure to pack enough toiletries. From there we headed down to dinner. Dinner is buffet style as are all the meals provided at Rancho Margot. It wasn’t a bad meal for being a buffet. There is a separate bar for drinks and the bartender is very nice and makes very good daiquiris. The bathrooms are at the bar and are directly next to the stables. They are not very clean and of course with the stables being right there the smell isn’t the best. We asked the receptionist for mosquito nets for our beds which she had maintenance install. We headed back to the room. The nets were there and worked fine for the bunk beds and the twin but the queen bed was too big to be covered by it. The sheets are rough and had some stains and the mattresses extremely thin and uncomfortable. It was not our best night of sleep. We did the tour the following day and were able to see the entire farm and resort property. The people working there are nice and have good intentions however they have no running a hotel/lodge let alone calling it “luxury” as stated on their booking page. This is very far from luxury. The pool deck has chairs for seven. While we were there we were told the pool is under constuction. There was construction equipment laying around and no working bathrooms by the pool. They have a massage treatment area where anyone that walks by can see you, don’t be fooled by anyone telling you it’s within nature. It’s a standard massage table under a roof where there is no privacy. If you are into camping and a very rough and rugged experience this place might be for you. However, If you are looking for even a basic hotel stay away. I hope this review paints an honest picture of Rancho Margot instead of the deceiving advertising portraying this as a luxury eco lodge , IT IS NOT. This is a self sustainable farm with basic sleeping quarters. The owner has no idea how to build or run a hotel. I know the owner or general manager will respond to this review trying to justify all the negative things I have wrote; just like in past negative reviews. However, this is a non biased transparent review from a family who just wants others to be informed of the reality of Rancho Margot and...

It's a very rocky road (literally) to get there, but it is so very worth it. Rancho Margot is a wonderful place for nature lovers and people who wish to learn about sustainability, and more. This place can appeal to all of your senses. Every day I was surrounded by the wonderful sounds of the rustling trees, singing/chirping birds, and crowing roosters. I was enveloped in green, with highlights of other beautiful colors, from the varied and lush greenery from the plants and trees, as well as lovely flowering plants. There are walking paths that snake their way through the grounds, also beautifully lined by flowering trees and plants.

Everywhere you look, trees, shrubs, and herbs were planted to serve to be both ornamental and beneficial for human, animal and land alike. Their mission to demonstrate self sustainability, teach about nature, agriculture and horticulture, and much more, is commendable and great for travelers and students alike. Everything is made to look as though it fits right into its natural surroundings. Keep in mind, you are in a rainforest and this is not your typical resort. Don't expect lux or high end. On the other hand, it's not glamping either. From my bungalow (#4), I could see and hear the life of the rainforest and the farm around me, both while inside the bungalow and outside on the porch.

The staff and the volunteers were always friendly and always ready to help. I felt so welcomed and I was able to ask them for help with my tours and excursions.

There are awesome hiking/walking trails on the grounds. One is a forest trail, another loops around the river and pools, and a more challenging steep uphill trail leads to a lookout point, overlooking Lake Arenal and Volcano on a clear day.

The tour of the grounds was very informative and gave you a great view of the property and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The whole process of the lodge is just amazing from eating what's grown, to the animals getting the good food mostly from the vegetation on the land, and the even the use of their waste for fuel. Harnessing the power of water for electricity and for the pools. Most everything is recycled and reused in some way. Most of the furniture, windows and doors are handmade by skilled carpenters on the premises. This is also a great tour to take if you're not staying at the ranch.

The food was absolutely wonderful : very fresh and tasty. For those who have not had REAL, unadulterated dairy, this is the place to try it. I'm talking to you, butter lovers. lol I really like the fact that you can drink the water right from the spigot in the bungalows and around the grounds: I always carry a water bottle and was able to fill it easily while walking around.

I took advantage of the massages offered. The massage hut is set in the midst of trees and you can hear the stream from the river flowing by, along with all of the birds. It was so very peaceful. The Pools were nice, but unfortunately I didn't get to experience the warm pool, as it hadn't warmed yet by the times I got in.

Now, if you are squeamish about insects of any kind, know that they are going to be around and may be in your bungalow/bunk. A warning for those who aren't used to the effects of humidity: Don't bother styling your hair, it takes forever for anything to dry, and much of your things might feel slightly damp when you put them on...this goes for the sheets and towels as well on...

We stayed at Rancho Margot for 1 week with our two kids aged 7 and 9 years old. We absolutely loved our stay, and we all felt sad to leave (my daughter especially who fell in love with Koda, the very sweet farm dog). We appreciated eating only farm fresh food all week, being able to wander the grounds safely and "live" in a rain forest. Reading some of the previous reviews, I think perhaps some people/families may not be the type to enjoy this experience, which is reflected in their ratings. If you are a family that wants simplicity, enjoys simple, but good and freshly cooked food straight from the farm, is relaxed and doesn't need things/activities to stimulate you, then you'll love Rancho Margot. ||- We found the cabin to be simple but clean and cozy, and we all loved lounging in the hammock on the balcony and listening to the sounds fo the birds, monkeys and various insects. Hummingbirds were everywhere and we loved watching them come up to the flowers by the balcony to eat. |- The two pools (one heated and one natural) were perfect for our family, and we were often the only people in the pool, or joined by perhaps another family at times. |- Each night the buffet style restaurant has a selection of fresh veggies, salads, etc., which you can mix yourself, and then they offer a different hot meal for each meal time (i.e. braised pork, rice and beans, or BBQ pork and mashed potatoes, etc.). They also always have pasta (homemade) and pizza (homemade with cheese made from the farm) at each meal time, which always can satisfy the kids! For breakfast, they had fresh fruit, yoghurt made from the dairy cows at the farm and then hot options like pancakes, eggs with rice/beans, etc.. We found the selection to be great, and appreciated that everything was fresh.|- If you do want activities, the farm tour is a must! It is incredible what the team is doing to create a sustainable, waste-free, farm. There is also horseback riding, and a night-walk tour to find animals/insects you may not see during the day. |- The team that we met was very friendly, however you are not "served" like in a typical hotel. You will be welcomed , showed around, and each night the team will tell you what the menu on the buffet is, but the service is super casual. The feeling is more free-flowing, like you are treated to enjoy this special place on your own, but not doted on. It reminded me a bit of the feeling I had when working at ski-resorts as a young person!||Note it is a farm! You are off-grid, so this is something you need to consider whether you would appreciate. It's about a 45 min drive to La Fortuna (part of which is a dirt road), so yes, you are secluded in a rain forest...but for us that is why we went and what we loved most about it! Overall we loved it and are already planning...