I'd been
procrastinating writing this review only because it would mean
our out of this world fantastic time at the heavenly Encanta
La Vida is really over.
i have traveled extensively all over the world and Encanta La
Vida is at the very top of my all around favorites list. The
staff were terrific and the food (all home cooked, fresh,
catered to the guests) was out of this world exceptional. SO
delicious. My husband and i are STILL thinking about it and
it's been two months since our stay. I'm a vegetarian and they
were more than accommodating to all my crazy food needs.
We were looking for an exceptional 'far from home' experience
(we're from brooklyn) for our honeymoon that was not touristy,
that had LOTS of animals and that would blow our minds. THIS.
WAS. IT.
There were monkeys in the trees feet from where we were. LOTS
of them. And toucans. And scarlet macaws. And iguanas. And
some creepy crabs that came out at night (not dangerous, but
wild... it's the middle of the jungle/rainforest after all).
And a really cute parrot. And an awesome dog. And a salt water
pool (which was a perfect end to the day/before dinner treat)
from which you could see the stars and watch the sun fall.
The hotel was more than accommodating in helping us fill our
days (for the times we didn't want to just walk around and/or
go to the nearly completely unpopulated ocean) and we did
amazing things such as zip lining, visiting a nearby island
where an American was rehabilitating all these monkeys and
sloths and other amazing animals.
It was as close to paradise as i could have ever imagined.
Please note: this is NOT a touristy place. and this IS in the
jungle. and the people who run Encanta la Vida are exceptional
and the food (three home cooked meals included in the VERY
reasonable price) was so incredible my mouth waters just
thinking about it.
Do yourself a favor. GO THERE.
Costa
Rica Beachfront Rainforest Lodge
Beachfront Accommodations
Cabo Matapalo - Osa Peninsula
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Encanta La Vida Client Comments
“Little paradise”
Encanta La Vida Hotel
4 de 5 estrellas
JoziCat
Johannesburg
8 nov 2009 | Tipo de viaje: En pareja
We recently spent six nights at Encanta la Vida (arriving at their doorstep without having booked - courtesy of the low season). We were utterly charmed. It is - obviously, being on the Peninsula de Osa - set in beautiful grounds; the accommodation was great (with the exception of some hot water problems - it was raining a lot, so got a bit chilly in the evenings); food was at worst tasty and hearty home-cooked meals; at best it was fabulous (and this more often than not). Finally, the staff, ably led by Brian, were friendly and helpful all the time and made our stay a real pleasure. Kitchen staff were very accommodating with dietary requirements; Brian was always helpful in phoning around to organise trips / get best prices. With a few short (and always wondrous) minutes walk down to the beaches, we truly had a magical time in a magical place.
“The most magical experience I have ever had was at
ENCANTA LA VIDA!!!”
Encanta La Vida Hotel
5 de 5 estrellas
Un miembro de TripAdvisor
19 feb 2009 | Tipo de viaje: En pareja
I am still in a dream land after being home for over two weeks! Encanta La Vida was over all the best trip of my life!!! I owe it all to the hotel, staff and Manager Karlos. After 8 trips to Costa Rica and traveling all over the world, I have found my favorite place. Karlos welcome us we a big smile along with the rest of the staff. The pool (with Monkey Bar poolside), the wildlife sightings everywhere you look, the amazing plants and flowers, the surfing, the tours we took, the 5 course dinners (best food I ever had!), the service, and my room was to die for! The beds were so comfortable and perfectly made. At night the howler monkeys were going off and you can't miss a Friday night at Martina's! The owner, Brian sat down with us and had us laughing for hours!!! Wow, I am going to book my next trip this week and I may not ever leave!
This would be a great place to have a small quaint wedding! It is so romantic. We are thinking of renewing our vows there on our 5th year anniversary! This will also allow us to share this experience with friends!
Please contact me if you are searching for a place to stay or have any questions and I would love to share our experience!!!
Thank you to Brian, Karlos and the rest of the staff for making my trip magical!!! See you soon! Pura Vida!
“Excellence is hard to leave”
Encanta La Vida Hotel
5 de 5 estrellas
fiesty10
Rockford, Illinois
29 Abr 2009 | Tipo de viaje: En pareja
Spent the 2nd leg of our 3 week "drive Costa Rica " trip here. Had booked 3 nites, stayed 6. Saying that everything at Encanta was perfect just doesn't cut it. To wake in the morning to monkeys and birds, sitting on your balcony watching the wildlife move about their jungle while sipping excellent coffee and waiting while a fabulous breakfast is being made is one heck of a way to start your day. Exploring or just sitting, wildlife, butterflies, jungle sounds were everywhere. The beach is clean, the surfing remarkable.
The on site owner loves his home, that is obvious from the first moment you meet him and everything that he has built and the life he shares with his guests reflects the power this area imparts on any visitor. 3 glorious meals a day, impeccable service, outstanding staff ... The pool is kept super clean, the grounds gorgeous, the rooms airy and nice. Give yourself enough time..you wont want to leave. Thanks everyone, we will be back. John and Wendy
:"The very very very best place on the planet. really.”
***** Anónimo De: United States 1/12/2009 Encanta La Vida was a dream! The staff was friendly and welcoming! The food was excellent, and the chef accomodated for myself (and many others) being a vegetarian. Our room, the Honeymoon Cabina, was rumored to be the only one with consistent, 24/7 hot water, so no complaints. We were awakened everymorning to the sounds of birds and monkey and the smell of hot coffee drifting down from the kitchen. Carlos, the manager, was very friendly and knowledgeable as well. He set us up on a great kayaking tour through the Mangroves. Our guide was a bird watching enthusiast and got us quite close to some herons and macaws. The only problem we had was with the bugs. We just learned to shake things out and find out what the locals use for repellent. I look forward to making a return visit!
El propietario de este hotel es Brian, que es un tipo fantástico... respetuoso, apuesto, agradable.... un tipo genial.
Carlos era nuestro gerente y tuvimos una experiencia impecable. Organizó las excursiones (surfing con Axel, alpinismo en las cataratas con Andy y la excursión a la jungla con Alfredo, ¡todos son fabulosos!) Fuimos a pasar nuestra luna de miel a principios de la estación lluviosa y no importó que lloviese, este sitio es fantástico. Nos alojamos en la "suite de luna de miel", que es un poco más grande pero realmente, todas las habitaciones son estupendas. Los monos corrían enfrente de nosotros, tucanes en los árboles, guacamayos sobrevolando... Todo eso mientras disfrutábamos de una bebida de frutas en el bar de la piscina. La cena en plan comunal era estupenda y la comida era deliciosa.
La relación calidad-precio es muy buena. Si te lo estás pensando, simplemente haz la reserva.
¡Gracias a todos! Jason y Christine
“It's all about the wildlife.”
Encanta La Vida Hotel
5 de 5 estrellas
boston, Massachusetts
26 dic 2008 | Tipo de viaje: En pareja
The area of Matapalo where Encanta La Vida is located is absolutely pristine. The beaches are solitary and beautiful, and the wildlife is abundant. It is not easy to get to, and I suppose that is part of the draw. You are virtually guaranteed to see the 4 monkeys native to the region, scarlet macaws, toucans, hawks, iguanas, frogs, etc. Many people say they see more wildlife at Encanta La Vida than at the National Parks around Costa Rica.
The Lodge is on some beautiful grounds, and the staff is incredibly accommodating. They had a somewhat slow start to accommodate our vegetarian diets, but they were very quick to correct any mistakes. The food is fresh, tasty and usually of local flavor. Fresh fruit every morning!
Karlos, the lodge manager was very willing to accommodate any of our needs, and even made a special trip to one of the local waterfalls to find our lost wedding ring!
We will definitely return to Encanta La Vida many times over.
Chris & Lindsey's Honeymoon at Encanta La Vida
This morning we took a boat out to the Osa Peninsula, which is a little south of Golfito. There we stayed at an Eco-Lodge, Encanta La Vida, which is run by a friend of my aunts. This place was amazing! There are private villas all over the property, which is amazingly well maintained. The kitchen feeds you three meals a day. The beach is a five minute walk through the rain forest. There is wildlife all around you. It was so beautiful. We just sat in hammocks and watched the monkeys take bananas from the trees. Scarlet Macaw's flew over head in their pairs, toucans in the trees over head. It was like nothing I had ever seen. After a breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs, we all (Katie, Tim, Chris & I) took a hike through the forest, up to a waterfall. A neighbor's dog joined our group and hiked all the way up to the waterfall with us. This waterfall was smaller than La Fortuna, but just as beautiful. There were very small, blue crayfish swimming in the pool, I think on bit me in the ass when I was in the pool. Something got me and it stung really bad. On the walk back, we saw a baby sloth up in a tree. It was so cute; it looked like a little teddy bear up in a tree. We also saw a tree with six scarlet macaws sitting in it. Click for the rest of the story
"Encanta La Vida is a Fantastic Jungle Experience"
Three girlfriends spent the last week of June at Encanta La Vida. For two it was their first trip to the country and their first jungle experience. It is amazing that Encanta la Vida can be as upscale as it is, in its jungle location, off the grid, and so close to the beach. (All the other nice places are way up on the hill and too far to walk to the beach). We stayed in the upstairs of the newest house with great balconies. Staff was very nice and super accommodating. Meals were great! (BYO snacks if you are a "snacker.") The rooms are neat and clean. Lighting and fans are solar-powered. Be sure to bring flashlight and headlamp. It rained very hard during the nights. We left feeling we had a full jungle experience—squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, white-faced and howler monkeys passed through every day. Scarlet macaws and toucans were common, poisoned dart frogs were easily found. The beach is a short walk through chocolate and breadfruit trees on a well-defined stone-lined path. Lots of people come here to surf. We hiked up a jungle stream to a waterfall where we dipped in the pool and stood in the cascading water with electric-blue-clawed crawfish. An entomological and herpetological paradise as well—saw blue morpos and black witches and two species of snakes. Several guests saw scorpions, just a part of life in the rain forest. Cooling off in the pool is a big PLUS! We met interesting people from all over and will definitely go back again.
This TripAdvisor Member: July 4, 2007
Liked: Wildlife; pool; location; great accommodations and friendly staff
Disliked: Leaving.
"Awesome Location and 'Pura Vida' Staff"
Writing reviews is not my thing - but I'll make an exception this time. This place deserves to be known. The lodge has a wonderful casual feel about it. It actually feels like you are staying at a good friends place.... Well, a friend who knows how to do a lot of pampering! The owner Brian and his manager Roy are the nicest people! They know how lucky they are to be living in what has got to be one of the most AWESOME places on the planet. They put me in the newest cabin elevated up under the trees with a big terrace and windows looking into the rainforest. Monkeys were outside my window - I mean I was up in their face! Cool! The place is dense with animal life from red macaws screaming through to toucans and wild turkeys?! Three or four kinds of monkeys came through in a day. I don't surf, which seemed to be a big draw for a lot of the people living here- the beach and surf breaks are just down a path from the lodge- very private and beautiful with rock formations along the shore here and there. Like a postcard. The lodge is very proud of their new pool which IS beautiful and is a good option for those who don't like to get sandy i guess. Anyway I enjoyed having dinner sitting by it all backlit with landscaping out of a fantasy. The chef did a great job. Dinner was a fun event with soup and salad and main course and dessert. He picks out the menu each day and prepares the same thing for all guests - but I did notice he took special care of vegetarians who were there too. The food is included in the price- except the wine or coktails. I thought the food was excellent and the menu nicely varied. I got the feeling he'd do his best to accomodate me if I asked for something special but I was happy with everything he served. A family there at the same time was vegetarian and they were doing just fine with the alternatives. There was a birthday going on one night and everyone was treated to a special appetizer course of killer ceviche. I liked the concept of a common dining hour where you sit in an area with other travelers to share our days - or you could tell them you wanted to escape and there were private tables too. My only suggestion would be to get that coffee going earlier!? The howler monkeys were doing their thing- bellowing me out of bed in time to go down to the beach and see the sunrise and I really could have used a cup of the Costa Rican puro before 7am.
I can't stress enough the ANIMALS. I saw more animals- both variety and species- in one day at Encanta La Vida then I'd seen in 2 weeks combined in other places. You don't even have to leave the hammock. No joke. This is the place I'll tell people to go if they asked me.
This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked: location and friendliness
Disliked: Coffee not ready early enough. Like to see them put out the coffee service at the crack of dawn.
"An amazing adventure"
Wow - all I can say is wow! My husband and I stayed at Encanta La Vida based on a suggestion from a friend. We were pleasantly surprised! We stayed in the Honeymoon Cabina which was spacious, with a large bathroom and beautiful view from our private porch. The food was outstanding, the entire staff was friendly, accommodating, and went out of their way with small but personal touches. We saw four types of monkeys, several kinds of birds, lizards, iguanas and other local wildlife unique to this part of the world. We were able to take tours arranged through the Roy - who was always available, knowledgeable and a really nice guy! Oh and the surfing was great. 3-4 killer spots to surf all with in a short walk! If you want to surf and experience the beauty of the tropical rain forest, and all that the Osa peninsula has to offer, you should stay here! We would go back
for sure!!! We had a great time and learned a lot about the area.
This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked: views, staff, food location to surf
Disliked: no hot water, but didn't really need it, far from airport
Katie from Land Sea Services in Golfito has fantastic connections and arranged for us to go on a trip to a surf camp/nature lodge Encanta la Vida. We went to this beautiful, remote resort on the Osa Peninsula. It was a fantastic two days of surfing for Lou and the kids and hiking and enjoying nature for all of us. We also enjoyed the great conversations with the other guests and the manager. Martin found a great new adult friend named Paul with whom he schemed about making a trip on a catamaran to all the surf spots in the world. Paul is very enthusiastic about this trip and I’m sure his wife, Lynn and his grown children will miss him a little bit. Lynn works at Trader Joe’s and had me salivating for all the wonderful food at Trader Joe’s. I suggested she could subsidize trips to any place that cruisers were anchored by bringing Trader Joe’s supplies to the cruisers.
The wildlife was breathtaking. We saw toucans, scarlet macaws, monkeys (spider, capuchin, howlers and squirrel) and iguanas. You would spot movement in the trees and you would see one monkey and then a whole tribe of them. Martin and I were walking along the road up to the resort and we saw some squirrel monkeys in the trees above the road. We were looking up and then I heard some water coming from above and heard one of the Ticos nearby say, “Urina”—and it slowly came to me that URINE was flowing down from the trees just inches from Martin’s head. I told Martin to move toward me and he did---without getting wet! I guess we know what the monkeys think of humans. Click here to read full article
Encanta La Vida Rainforest Lodge: surfer's paradise
Encanta La Vida is the ideal spot if you are in Matapalo for surf. The 3 best breaks of the area are a 5 minute walk from the resort. It is a beautiful resort. We chose the honeymoon cabina, which was the only one advertised to have hot water. Turned out, it didn't. We didn't complain, though, because it was such an incredible experience due to the wildlife. We saw every one of the 4 species of monkeys from the hotel itself. I saw more wildlife in Matapalo than I did in all the other places I visited in Costa Rica combined. I would wake up in the morning, and stretch on the deck and within 5 minutes, see a monkey.
The owner of the resort was always on hand. The food was very good, although not always authentic, and we were hoping for more seafood. The tours were not well organized and I would recommend to set some up thru Cafe Net Sol, prior to arrival.
Unique Qualities: Wildlife seen from the hotel: Squirrel monkey, spider monkey, howler monkey, capuchin monkey, sloth, scarlet macaws, 2 kinds of toucans, iguanas, agouti, boa constrictor, Jesus Christ lizard, blue morpho butterfly...etc etc.
The Waves were supreme. Eric surfed 3 x a day, 6 of the 9 days we were there, and the waves were clean and big with the longest rides. Incredible!
Please let Brian and Boli and the crew how much we enjoyed our stay at on the Osa. It was incredible. The service, food, atmosphere, grounds, accommodations and cold beer were like a dream come true. Hope they get the pool completed soon! We hope to return again to this lovely place.
Ann and Guy Klaas ~ Visited at the end of January.
Hola Maxine or Maureen,
We just arrived home from a wonderful 16 day stay at Encanta La Vida! we had a wonderful time.Gracias,Kim Speth
