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Posted By Administrator on 4/14/2008 8:39:09 AM
Great for adventure.
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| Posted By Claire on 7/17/2009 1:34:56 PM
"This was my second trip to the Osa Peninsula in little over a year and has now officially become my favourite place in Costa Rica in terms of the experience it delivers. The views from the flight along the Pacific Coast all the way to Drake Bay are simply stunning and it's not until I was having a great lunch at Aguila de Osa did it dawn on me that the area has probably not changed a whole lot since the time Sir Francis Drake was a visitor!
When we arrived we were welcomed by the manager and then brought to the restaurant which overlooks the entrance to the Aguitas River and out into the bay. I chose seabass with my casado and it was fabulous, their chef Dixon, a recent addition to the team of 35 down there, did not disappoint with his food throughout the stay. The meal prepared on Saturday night in particular was fantastic with a wonderful papaya salad to start followed by surf 'n turf shish kebabs, BBQ pork chops, veggies and baked potatoes with several great fillings and a delicious, blackberry cheesecake for desert, the perfect end to an adventurous day.
And an adventurous streak is certainly what one needs to be down in Aguila as the rooms are quite a trek to get to while your choice of getting to town is either kayak or a walk along a hidden path. The rooms themselves are beautifully appointed with hardwood finishes throughout and a great deck area equipped with a couple of rocking chairs and a hammock. The only issue I would have are that there is no privacy on the deck area and while it didn't bother me I could see the mosquito screens instead of windows being a problem for some people.
As this is an Eco-lodge be prepared to separate yourself from the outside world and get immersed in one of the most biodiverse areas anywhere on the planet, but if you just can't take it or God forbid need to check your email then they have an internet service available, but shame on you!
The journey to Corcovado for our jungle trek was most enjoyable and we saw a couple of dolphins playing quite close to shore. While the trek itself was great and we saw quite a few birds, reptiles, etc. and I personally had a very close encounter with a Fer de Lance which I don't want to repeat anytime soon. It's just a shame we did not have an opportunity to visit Cano Island for some of the best snorkeling in Costa Rica.
Overall, an amazing experience and one that I would highly recommend to anymore who is looking for a genuine "off the beaten track" trip and doesn't mind sharing their space with nature." -- Alan Prendergast
| The beautiful, undeveloped area and excess of delicious, fresh food!
| I love it all, but I could see some complaining about the steep paths to the rooms and no blinds around the bedroom.
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| Posted By cailey on 8/8/2008 6:53:00 PM
Aguila de Osa is an experience. A small boat waits for you after you disembark from your plane and takes you speeding through the water to the hotel. The hotel is located right in the rain forest in separate bungalows spread throughout the hillside. Views from each bungalow stretch out above the treetops to the ocean. While I was here, monkeys climbed on our terrace and rooftop, very welcome visitors. One of the best parts of Aguila de Osa is that it is all inclusive. All inclusive in the sense of yes, three meals a day, but also tours! Tours range from low to high impact and include: hiking in the Corcovado National Park, bird watching, whale and dolphin watching, snorkeling, scuba diving, sport fishing, mountain biking and more! While I was here I got to enjoy a snorkeling trip during which I saw a whale, sea turtles, a myriad of fish and sharks! I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the sharks, but I came away unscathed and boy was it worth it. Visiting Aguila de Osa and the Osa Penninsula is a nature lover and adventurer’s dream. The hotel blends seamlessly with nature, its wooden structures are non intrusive and seem almost tucked away and hidden in the trees. Beds have mosquito nets around them which I think provides a romantic, yet practical touch. Food as well as service is also excellent here and there is never a dull moment.
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| Posted By rbexon on 6/11/2008 6:13:01 PM
Aguila de Osa is located in a unique area of Costa Rica that holds 5% of the worlds biodiversity. If you are coming to Costa Rica to see the wildlife and enjoy the nature then the Osa Peninsula is a must.
The hotel itself is located close to Drake Bay and right next to the Corcovado National Park. I would suggest trying to get to the back entrance of the park as this is more secluded and beter for wildlife.
The hotel rooms are rustic and have no windows, there is mesh over the windows to keep the bugs out however the rainforest noise in. There is something to be said about falling asleep to the sound of the rainforest.
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| Posted By Guest on 7/15/2009 1:43:42 PM
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to travel to nearly every corner of Costa Rica and I’ve seen a lot of very nice hotels. I’ve even been to the Osa Peninsula twice before, but last week this ’seen it all before’ old dog learned something new. I had the pleasure of spending a weekend at the beautiful Aguila de Osa Inn, which more than lived up to it’s expectations. Long regarded as one of the most luxurious hotels in what is Costa Rica’s most exotic and remote areas, the Aguila de Osa features 13 rooms, a can’t beat waterfront location, and some of the best food you can find.
After just a quick 40 minute flight to Drake Bay, we were met at the airstrip by an air-conditioned van and taken 15 minutes to the beach where we were passed off to a waiting motorboat who then took us the remaining five minutes to the hotel. I’m still amazed that in this “developing” nation you can go from a busy capital city to one of the world’s most exotic rain forests in under an hour. Upon arriving at the hotel we were met by Carlos, the bilingual and extremely outgoing host, who quickly got us a fresh passion fruit smoothy (with rum, of course) to set the tone for the weekend.
I’ve been to the Osa Peninsula before so I had some idea of what to expect as far as the rooms and decor, but I was pleasently surprised by what I found. Our Deluxe Room came with two queen sized beds, hardwood floors, standard electrical outlets, cieling fan, and a big bathroom. What makes the Aguila ‘eco-luxury’ as opposed to just ‘eco-friendly’ are the little touches a stocked mini-fridge, hot water showers, and my personal favorite - a big balcony overlooking the rain forest and Pacific Ocean that comes complete with a hammock and two rocking chairs. This is not the place to come if you are looking for Egyptian cotton sheets, flat screen TVs, and 24-7 room service, but if you want comfortable, clean accommodations but don’t want to sleep under mosquito nets while experiencing everything the Osa has to offer then this hotel is for you.
The other pleasant surprise was the incredible food that was served there. Typical for most hotels and lodges in the Osa Peninsula they served communal meals three times a day and used the freshest natural ingredients and fish. What I did not expect was the quality, variety, and sheer amount of food that we were stuffed with all weekend. I might have expected to have a typical Costa Rican meal of a casado (rice & beans) with fresh fish or chicken, but they offered so much more. For dinner we were served soup or salad, fresh homemade bread, fresh cooked vegetables, stuffed chicken, salmon fillets, BBQ pork, steak & shrimp kabobs, and even a baked potato with chedar cheese & bacon bits! I had met the chef, Dixon, once before knowing he was cooking all of our meals for us made me anxious everytime we headed down to the restaurant.
In addition to the luxurious accommodations and delicious food, the main reason for going there is the incredible wildlife and natural beauty. The Osa Peninsula is of course Costa Rica’s most famous national park and the place National Geographic refers to as “the most biological intense place on Earth”. For most three to four night stays guests will have a guided tour of the Corcovado National Park as well as a day of snorkeling out at Cano Island included in their package. Other options include scuba diving, horseback riding, or of course experiencing the world class Costa Rica sport fishing. On our day we did a hike into the national park near the San Pedrillo station and we saw countless small birds, tree frogs, crocodiles, white faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, scarlett macaws, and even the world’s second most deadliest snake - the fer de lance. On the second part of our hike we saw the San Pedrillo Waterfall and were able to go swimming a little bit farther down the river at a smaller set of falls.
All in all, last weekend’s adventure at Aguila de Osa reinforced my belief that the Osa Peninsula is my favorite part of Costa Rica and the Aguila de Osa is now my number one recommendation.
--review by Chris Atkins
| The all inclusive family atmosphere made me feel like I was staying with friend's all weekend
| The walk up to the rooms is a bit steep -- but who couldn't use the exercise?
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| | | | | | 1-5 of 5 records. | | |