La Leona Eco Lodge

This is an incredible location. We saw so much wildlife just around the lodge, and really enjoyed the trails. The crew at La Leona Eco Lodge is a group of wonderful people, who took time to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and had what we needed. They were super friendly and always available if we had questions, and helped us arrange tours and accommodations to work for our group. We enjoyed getting to know people there. For anyone interested in this region, this is an excellent place to stay.

The staff and guides were awesome. Staff go out of their way to make your stay amazing. The setting is fabulous and off the beaten track from the other touristy areas in the country. The food was very good. Surrounded by wildlife.

From Quepos/Manuel Antonio to Carate on the OSO peninsula next to Corcovado park entrance it is about a 5-hour drive. Three of the 5 hours are spent driving on pavement and the other 2 hours are on a well-maintained dirt road. A 4x4 is a good idea but not necessary unless. The drive from Manuel Antonio is beautiful once you get off the main highways. Incredible mountainous country roads through the jungle and fincas. It is truly stunning so don’t be in a huge rush. We saw Coatimundi, Toucans, and neat tropical forest birds like the Great Curassow. Never saw that before! You will also see an awesome display of every finca animal you can think of. Once you get to Carate, La Leona has a base camp where you can securely park your car as you set out for about an hour-long hike to the beautiful La Leona Eco Lodge. You need to get there by 3 or 4 pm. I would not suggest walking in the jungle at night. If you get there early enough or perhaps decide ahead of time, they can bring your stuff to the Lodge via a very charming horse carriage (see pic) that they use to bring supplies, weary travelers, and heavy bags. Nevertheless, if they know you are on your way, and it gets late, they will collect you to ensure you safely arrive. Normally, this would be no different from arriving at your campsite, but La Leona is so much more than that. My expectations were high and I was not disappointed. They have wonderful cabinas that provide what you need. For me, that was a beautiful view, with no Wi-Fi, street noise, and unlimited opportunities to see animals and nature and just get away and relax. There is no electricity in the cabin or WIFI. But you do get a lot of candles and the walkways are well-lit. I used my phone flashlight. A regular flashlight would be better. Also, maybe an easy-to-carry stationary light for the cabin. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner but there is no menu. We had breakfast and dinner and had smoothies in between. If you give them enough notice, they can probably accommodate any reasonable diet restrictions. The staff is truly fantastic. It was great to see everyone working well together. Sometimes, the restaurant was at full capacity, other times, it was maybe half full. Regardless. we received fabulous service. Felipe came and got us on your first day, Frank and Hidekel were like the ambassadors for the lodge. Always on hand to answer all our questions about the lodge, trails, the park, and animals. One of the best things about staying there was the Coconut Spa. They have 3 different types of body treatments (Chocolate, Coffee, and Coconut) that combines fabulous exfoliating and hydrating creams and serums. Plus, they have a full range of massage options. I got the Coffee therapy; my friend got the Chocolate. There is something wonderful about getting a message in the middle of the Jungle. We stayed for a long weekend so arrived on a Friday and left on Monday morning. When you get there, you will find fabulous trails, p

We had the best time ever at La Leona. The best feature really is that this is the “end of the road” and you are surrounded by pristine tropical jungle paradise. There are all sorts of trips that you can go on into the jungle with experienced guides (beware of the chupacabras) but from the comfort of a hammock you can see many forest creatures come to you. We had ant eaters, tayras, monkeys, huge sea turtles, basilisk lizards, other reptiles and all sorts of butterflies and giant moths just come to us and say hello. The staff are exceptional. They really made it for us, there is nothing they won’t do to make your stay as happy as possible. Olger is like the Dad and he takes care of everything, the bar staff (Edekel and Felipe) are charming and make the best cocktails and smoothies you’ll ever taste, the food is very healthy and delicious and the rooms are kept spotless by the cheerful cleaning team led by Maria and Juancarlos: they’re like super human scampering around from dawn until dusk. You wake up to the sound of the sea and the animals of the forest every day feeling completely refreshed. I went with my nine year-old daughter and she loved swimming in the cool and crystal clear waters of the little river next to the lodge. It’s a great place for kids - I recommend you stay a week to really relax and settle into it. Pura Vida!

Food was great and the wildlife just within walking distance was amazing

It is for sure a bit of a trek to get to La Leona, but we found it well worth the effort. The location is stunning...right next to the beach, and to the entrance to Corcovado National Park. The (tented) cabins are spacious, comfortable and clean, with the novelty of an open air shower. The beach is long and lovely and seems pretty much for the exclusive use of La Leona. Great sunsets at the western end, and sunrises at the eastern end. It's a family run enterprise, and Felipe the manager was a very helpful and gracious host. We took a guided walk in the Corcovado park, but there are also nice jungle walks within the extensive grounds of La Leona as well. If you value special experiences, somewhat off the beaten track, but still with a friendly and comfortable base, this is a place which is well worth considering.

If you don't mind the ~hour long hike in, along the beach, this is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Osa Peninsula! Candlelit pathways, screened in rooms, outdoor showers...all add to the feeling of escape! We wish we could have stayed longer! (As recommended by the very gracious and kind owner, don't leave valuables unattended as the cabins aren't secure - no locks.)

We spent three memorable days here. I would definitely recommend this for those who don't mind missing a few comforts of home (at night there is no electricity in the cabins, the bathrooms are outdoors, you don't get a choice of what to eat). We knew basically what to expect so had a great time. The staff go out of their way to make people feel comfortable and taken care of. My only suggestions to the owners would be 1) offer a few dining options; 2) perhaps give everyone a flashlight or solar lamp for nighttime (there are candles but those burn out quickly); 3) maintain the property's trails a bit better, since the rainforest is spectacular but the trails aren't clearly marked or maintained. There is a beautiful lagoon next to the property that was great for swimming on the hot afternoons, and the proximity to Corcovado Park can't be beat. The grounds are lovely with hammocks, a bar/juice bar open all day, and awesome ocean views.

This is a remote location and and visitors need to be fully aware of this. The walk down the beach other reviewers have referred to is not insubstantial however not arduous the issue for me is you have no choice but to get wet as you have to cross streams in order to get to the lodge and these can be quite deep. The lodge itself is lovely and a magnificent location for the national park ( next door). We never actually went (I know!), however by the time we reached this lodge we had spent a few weeks in Costa Rica and we didn't feel the need to go to another park when we had already seem so much. On the lodge itself you see monkeys, birds etc so it is possible to just sit in your hammock and be surrounded by beautiful things. The tent we had on the beach was fine however we did get bit a lot! and I think this was due to the netting having holes and it did need a bit of work! Floorboards weren't tight, door didn't shut properly etc. For a couple of city dwellers (although we travel) we did struggle with the rustic arrangements particularly with the lack of electricity. The staff are fantastic! Friendly, helpful, funny! Food was delicious and the management should be really pleased with the team they have built at this lodge. I would recommend to go however just be fully aware of the limited facilities at this venue.