La Paloma Lodge is one of those rare places that still feels real. Remote, peaceful, and completely immersed in nature. It features warm hospitality and unforgettable surroundings.
One of the biggest reasons to visit the Osa Peninsula is that it remains one of the few places in Costa Rica that isn’t crawling with tourists. It still feels wild, untouched, and free of the big-name resorts that dominate other parts of the country. That is exactly what drew me to La Paloma Lodge. It’s a family-owned boutique-style property and has been run the same way for over 40 years. It is in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle on the Pacific Ocean. You can feel the authenticity of the place the moment you arrive.
Getting to the Osa Peninsula is an adventure in itself. If you have never been to Costa Rica, while it is a relatively small country, it does not have any highway infrastructure, so something 300 kms away can take a long time to get to. I checked Google Maps, and the drive would have been 375 kilometers and a full day of driving. We grabbed an early morning hopper plane from San Jose to Drake Bay instead. We were then picked up at the airstrip, driven to a beach, waded through shallow water onto a waiting boat, and then took a short boat ride to the lodge. La Paloma has no road access at all. It’s remote in the best way possible and feels like you’ve truly arrived somewhere special.
The lodge itself can be easily described as wild and lush, peaceful, and rich in character.
plane → taxi → boat → lodge
Boutique Accommodations
We stayed in a two-floor Sunset Rancho with three beds and two bathrooms. It was absolutely perfect. The views were incredible, the space was comfortable and airy, and the open-air bathrooms made the whole experience feel even more immersed in nature. There was also a patio and a hammock that we used at every opportunity to watch the wildlife.
Honestly, there was nothing we didn’t love. The beds were extremely comfortable, the air conditioning kept the room cool when needed, and there was so much natural light that it always felt bright and relaxing.
Food & Dining
All three meals are included in your stay, with alcoholic drinks available for purchase. The food was consistently excellent, and they handled allergies and dietary needs without any issue at all, which was great for my celiac travel partner.
Staff & Service
The staff were warm, professional, and genuinely pleasant. Every day we were briefed on our itinerary, meal times, and plans, which made the whole experience feel smooth and organized without ever feeling overly structured. It is the kind of service that only a boutique property can offer, and once you have felt that kind of service, you never want to stay anywhere else!
Beach
La Paloma sits in the middle of the jungle and on a hill above the Pacific Ocean. The lodge and accommodations are at the top, and the boat launch is on one side, and the beach is on the other. There is a public path that comes from Drake Bay past the lodge and down to the beach. You will find some people hiking down to the beach from town. But it was never busy. There are stairs, and you can also have a golf cart take you down to the beach anytime you like. For us, it was an easy hike down and back, but for those with mobility issues, the golf cart might be a better option.
Tours & Activities
Some tours are included with your stay, and the options are fantastic. We did snorkeling, a night walk, and river kayaking. It is highly recommended to also visit Corcovado National Park while you’re in the area. We chose not to as part of our trip was about downtime at the lodge, but for the most part, guests are busy adventuring during the day
The snorkeling at Caño Island was a highlight. It was beautiful and absolutely worth doing. We were also lucky to catch some humpbacks passing by as we were coming back from the island.
Another favorite experience was a picnic at the beach. We were whisked down to the beach by golf cart and had lawn chairs and a picnic set up for us. There was a bartender at the beach for refils and it was an incredible way to watch the sunset. Afterwards, we were taken back to the lodge by golf cart.
Nature & Wildlife
While on the property, we did spot toucans, snakes, scarlet macaws, pelicans and plenty of night creatures (including spiders and scorpions). This is truly a jungle lodge, and it feels like it. If you follow them on instagram you can see they typically have monkeys and tapirs.
Practical Notes
- There is Wi-Fi available in the lobby, but not in the rooms. There is some cell service but not reliable to work from your room.
- One detail we loved was their use of sarongs instead of towels. They explained that 19 sarongs can be washed in place of just 3 beach towels, which is such a simple but meaningful sustainability choice.
- pack less than you think you’ll need, bring good walking sandals (not flip flops),
- Look through the tour options ahead of time so you can plan out your ideal experience before you arrive
Who It’s For
This lodge is perfect for couples, friends, and adventurous travelers who want to feel like they’re truly in the jungle. Families can absolutely stay here too, especially with the larger accommodations.
However, if you’re looking for resort-style amenities like kids’ clubs, beach entertainment, or modern luxury decor, this probably isn’t the right fit. The vibe and character of the place is boutique in service, from the food to the service. It does not have modern amenities, but in this part of the jungle, it’s fine.
La Paloma Lodge is one of those rare places that still feels real. Remote, peaceful, and completely immersed in nature. It features warm hospitality and unforgettable surroundings.
Book your stay online: https://www.lapalomalodge.com/
We used Green Spot Travel to coordinate everything, and they handled the hotel on arrival near the airport, prop plane transfer to Drake Bay, the lodge reservation, and even suggested excursions in advance.
Want to read more? Check out Marcie in Mommyland’s review here.
We were hosted by La Paloma Lodge, but all opinions are our own.
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.