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The location, the house itself and the family that runs it. The road to reach it was a bit challenging but once arrived….wow! The garden is amazing! So well maintained and beautifully designed. A river functions as an outdoor swimming pool. Angelika and her team were utterly sweet and generous. We only had 2 days and felt sorry for that. We did a mangrove boat tour and went horse riding. Both great experiences.

Stayed in July 2025

Nothing!

Fabulous location, beautiful grounds and the food was excellent. The mangroves tour with Melvin was superb. We saw 3 types of monkey, crocodiles, turtles, a colony of bats, a boa and loads of birds, most of which we would have missed without Melvin's sharp eyes and great information. We also spent a lovely morning kayaking on our own along the smaller waterways. Macaws, aracari, woodpeckers, tanagers, herons, parrots and lots more right on your doorstep. We loved the swimming hole which we shared with basilisk lizards and the odd heron and ibis! The fan in the room really helped to cool us down at night.

Stayed in June 2024

It is a little gem in the rain forrest. It was a simple house tent with a bathroom and shower. What made it special was the park/garden. Is was so carefully designed and beautiful. There was a river where you van canoe, take a swim or hang. We‘ve seen many apes (capucins) and basilisks on the property. There is also a trail through the dense forrest where we could experience the nature and wildlife. The staff and food they serve is simple but delicious. And the staff was very welcoming and friendly.

Stayed in February 2024

Communication difficult if you dont speak spanish.

Mangrove tour with Melvin is a must. Although he speaks only Spanish and French (no English) we spotted pretty much any animal you can imagine including monkeys (titis, cappucins, howler monkeys), caymans, jesus christ lizards, herons, boas and the list goes on. Homemade delicious dinner at the lodge. Quiet spacious property, isolated in the jungle.

Stayed in February 2024

Certainly an interesting rough journey to get there including taking a ferry across the river. All prices didn't include the tax.

We liked the remoteness of it. It felt like a real Costa Rican expereince. Close to wetlands with lots of nature including birds and interesting natual swimming pool. Mangroove boat tour done by the family was great for us as we liked all of the birds. Rooms were rustic with no air con and howling monkeys as your alarm clock. Great Fish Lunch. The family were sweet.

Stayed in January 2024

Property and manager were great wildlife in the property itself and on the boat trip we ended up taking was fantastic - as was the boat trip itself. Food was on the expensive side. But, overall we'd have liked to have stayed longer (it was a stop over between longer stays).

Stayed in December 2023

Access to a guest fridge would be welcomed to have access to cold water during the day. The place is very humid ( even though this is nature) We missed having a sunny spot to dry our wet clothes.

The location is absolutely stunning! This is the most remote place we stayed in our lives and an absolutely unforgettable experience. Let’s put it that way, I’m not a camper. I did not want to stay in a tent but I might say this particular setting I enjoyed very much. The definition of Pura Vida: staying in the middle of the nature, with the sound of animals all around, completely disconnected from the busy, noisy life. The mangrove tour by boat is something we would have done every day if we could. We saw so many animals in their natural habitat and it was just us two and the boat captain. It felt extremely intimate and special. Breakfast and dinner were delicious as well, nice home cooked Costa Rican food with fresh produce. My boyfriend wanted to taste some of the river shrimps and they brought him some at breakfast before going away, simple human amazing customer service. It’s clearly a family owned business and they work really hard to make their guest’s stay as unforgettable as possible. At night in the tent you could hear the monkeys, during the day you could explore the surroundings and watch the diversity of birds and animals, chill by the natural pool ( the river ) or take a snooze in a hammock. We’ll be back to Costa Rica and to Sabalo lodge!

Stayed in January 2024

There was nothing we didn’t like about the property but visitors should beware that there are no shops anywhere in the vicinity so that you should stock up on things you might want to have, like snacks etc.

Beautiful site. Property is really well looked after and it is a pleasure to spend time there. It is in the middle of the forest - we stayed in one of the tents and it was fascinating bing in bed and looking out on to nature and hearing all the animals. The staff were lovely and very attentive. Don’t miss the mangrove tour with Melvin. While we were there, there was a family with two youngish children who enjoyed themselves very much. You must be prepared to drive on difficult roads - it takes about an hour to get to Puerto Jiminez on a very bumpy gravel road. 4 wheel drive is definitely worth having. The people run the place will really make you feel welcome. It might take a bit of getting used to being in the middle of nature with strange noises - but you will find it very rewarding.

Stayed in January 2024

We really have nothing to complain - just a few comments to the future guests. They will need to make sure that they come by 4x4. The path to the property can be rough. Also, because we visited the property in an unusually hot May, some of us did not enjoy the heat at night. This property is for nature lovers, not for city boys/girls.

Above anything else, we cannot thank Anouk and Kevin for going above and beyond to ensure that our family of 6 has the best experience possible in Costa Rica. They are truly amazing. The next time we come, we will need to make sure that we stay longer. Considering the remoteness of this property, it did not make sense to stay only 2 nights like we did. I would have loved to do another kayaking in the mangrove forests, spent an entire afternoon chilling in a hummock, or taken a walk in the neighborhood for bird-watching. At night, there were fireflies everywhere, and you hear howler monkeys in the morning.... It was magical. I also have to comment about the food. Kevin accommodated all our requests (portion size, vegetarian) and still made all of us very happy. He uses local produce and gives his own twist to dishes, which all of us enjoyed quite a bit.

Stayed in May 2023

Nothing we didn't like!

Can't say enough about Anouk and Kevin's hospitality. Sabalo Lodge is off the beaten path but this is what we were looking for. After spending several days in La Fortuna and then Monteverde, our arrival to Sabalo Lodge felt like we had finally arrived to the Costa Rica we had come to experience. The food Kevin prepared for us was out of this world. No exaggeration! The large cabin we stayed in was very nice and spacious, beds very comfortable and a great porch to sit and relax or swing in the hammock. The grounds are very beautiful and we enjoyed the natural swimming pool each day we were there. Kevin arranged and took care of all the booking for our tours which were close by and didn't involve a whole lot of extra travel time in between. Free access to the kayaks was a bonus!! LOTS to explore close by. My son who is 9 had a fantastic time!

Stayed in April 2023

As stated in the description, air conditioning and hot showers are not available here, but we were glad to make a little sacrifice to be in this location With the warm, humid weather a cool shower feels good, and evenings cool off enough so the fan for sleeping is comfortable. Furnishings in the lodges are minimal but adequate. It would be nice to have a place to hang clothes and an additional electrical outlet would be useful.

We chose this lodge for its remote location in the forest of Osa Peninsula, so naturally the drive there was somewhat adventurous. It included a ferry ride to cross the river at Sierpe and the roads are bumpy (you do need to have a 4X4) but there are great views along the way and the directions were clear; we found it with no problems. It's a lovely compound in a natural setting and we absolutely loved it! Anuk and Kevin are warm, gracious hosts and were very helpful throughout our visit. The food was outstanding for both breakfasts and dinners - delicious and beautifully presented! We enjoyed the natural pool in a bend of the river. The lodgings are very spaced out and private; the rooms were very clean and the bed was comfortable; We took the "Mangrove Tour" (more of a river tour of the Sierpe) which was great fun and provided us with great views of birds and wildlife (squirrel monkeys, scarlet macaws, potoo, boa, etc.) in addition to many species of birds seen on and near the lodge grounds.

Stayed in February 2023

That we didn’t stay longer!

A magical place made all the more so by the lovely hosts, Anouk and Kevin. We had the place all to ourselves, but even if we hadn’t it is large enough that other guests wouldn’t have bothered us. Kevin is an excellent chef and we ate well (if too much!). Great little swimming hole to cool off in. We went on an early morning boat ride on the river with Melvin - so calm and beautiful. Take advantage when it’s high tide to kayak in the mangroves. We took the car ferry across the Sierpe river and then drove - a bit bumpy but very doable. There is nothing not to like about this corner of Costa Rica.

Stayed in February 2023

Lack of fridge - however, we were able to use the hosts' fridge to keep a few food items we'd brought with us. Plus fridges are due in rooms soon.

Beautiful grounds. Spacious lodgings. Truly excellent dining. Amazing generous hosts who genuinely wanted to make your stay as comfortable as possible - they arranged a mangrove tour and Corcovado tour which were fantastic. River pool with swing rope. Hammocks. Yoga mats. Very comfortable beds.

Stayed in January 2023

n/a

Everything about our stay at Sabalo was fantastic. The hosts were incredibly helpful and responsive from the outset. The location is special, right in the middle of the mangroves. The family that run it are so lovely and give the place a really nice vibe. We had some of the best food we’ve had during our trip, fresh ceviche, Tuna, yum We took the mangrove tour, and despite asking it to be shortened (we are travelling with two small children) we saw scarlet macaws, toucans, howler, capucin and spider monkeys, and lost of crocodiles (even a baby croc). Amazing. We were travelling with our two small kids and they loved being there.

Stayed in January 2023

We can highly recommend staying at Sabalo Lodge. Anouk and Kevin were amazing hosts and we felt always very welcomed and taken care of. Breakfast and Dinner were great, Kevin is a great chef and especially his tuna tartar and beef were amazing. The surrounding is wonderful - jungle life a lots of animals and we took the chance to use the canoes they provide for free. We didn't need to take care about bookings for sightseeing. Anouk and Kevin arranged that for us and we had a great experience with the night boat tour in the mangroves or the tour to Corcovado. Even when we returned to our car, which we left in Sierpe, we had a chance to do a mangrove tour seeing a lot of animals. their captain Melvin found every animal even if they were hiding and took us close to them. We will definitely come back when visiting Costa Rica again.

Stayed in January 2023

Everything was perfect, can’t find any downside for this stay.

Sabalo Lodge was the best place we stayed in CR. The area is huge, you can fully enjoy the privacy and the jungle with all what it brings. You will see plenty of animals in the lodge itself, on top of it there is a private trail to explore. Anouk and Kevin are amazing hosts, they will make sure your dreams will become true! The lodge is in the middle of the jungle and I strongly suggest to explore all what it has to offer from various nearby activities and wider area to amazing cuisine made of the local products by Kevin and Esmeralda who discovered an art in mixing French and Costa Rican tastes! Highly recommend not to miss this place as rare and precious!

Stayed in January 2023

Our stay was amazing! The place is in the middle of the Mangroves and it’s just so nice. The staff are extremely helpful, and really make sure every question you ask is being tended to. They speak English, Spanish and French. We did their Mangrove tour, and saw more animals than on our entire trip in Costa Rica combined.

Stayed in January 2023

rain

location,staff, activities

Stayed in November 2022

So hot with no AC. The location in the middle of the jungle was awesome. The dirt road getting to it was exciting and the ferry that takes you across the river to get there runs from 6 to 6 fyi.

The property is gorgeous. The landscaping was impeccable. The people were so sweet. However, no AC made it very hard to sleep there. They had fans butvthe cabin was so hot and muggy (early June). The other hard part is there is really nothing to do at the property unless you pay for tours every single day which gets expensive quick. So have a plan.

Stayed in June 2024

If you are a normal traveller, probably this is not the structure for you. You are amazed when you arrive there because the information you get from the photos and descriptions are not well corresponding. There are 2 only long hard roads to reach the structure (no all cars are suitable! also wades), the cabins are poor (and this is fine in a wild site) but are clearly shabby, not well cleaned, the details are old and not well kept. The bathroom is very very poor, no hot water, the cabins are large but scarce the wardrobe is a dream, only one light, only one fan. We were perhaps unlucky to stay there in very hot days/nights but there were no way to find any kind of relief. The information we received from the description were incomplete, it appeared nicer than reality. Perhaps this structure is the fruit of a dream of the first owner that years ago decided to start a special activity were people liking the nature can find an oasis to explore the Corcovado region. After many years the owners changed, the keeping is not top, the structure became old and you feel that it is not the simple style you would there but something that is becoming neglected. That's a pity because with simple ideas and some small efforts it could really be a paradise for visitors.

To give a valuation of this structure you must go far away from the conventional Booking questions-parameters. If you are a strong traveller, you're people that like crude and wild sites, perhaps this is the structure you like. It can be reached only through at least 13km/40m of country roads (also a ferry from Sierpe is needed); there is nothing in the nearby (alternative restaurants, shops); the lodges are poor and cheap, some cabins have only external bathroom and cold showers; no conditioning only poor floor fan; only one faint light in the roof, no chance for personal lights near the bed. You should also abandon your widespread english language as the owners only speak spanish and some french but communications are not easy. The night is fantastically dark, you can hear forest and animal sounds. You are really immersed in nature. The garden of the lodge is nice. You can there book many various activities in the forest, along the mangroves, most needing a boat to start. They are well organized by Melvin who is the brother of the woman (Angelica?) who takes care of the kitchen. If all above is what you like the votation would be more than 8

Stayed in March 2024

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Stayed in December 2023

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Stayed in July 2023

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Stayed in December 2022

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Stayed in December 2022