Frequently Asked Questions

Our Rainforest & Beach Ecolodge is located in the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, one of the least explored areas of this beautiful country. Golfo Dulce Retreat is set in 1,000 acres of pristine rainforest, enjoying direct access to a wild, palm-fringed beach within the calm waters of Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Our land is enveloped by Piedras Blancas National Park which itself covers 30,000 acres of undisturbed tropical lowland primary rainforest and 5,000 acres of secondary forests, pasture land and rivers.

There are no roads around us and our boat is the only means of reaching us. The two closest towns are Puerto Jimenez and Golfito, both of which are easily reachable by boat in about 25 minutes. Everything that you will see once you are here has been brought with our boat to our beach then on our shoulders to the Retreat.

We have two main paths to the beach, both of which are just an easy five minute stroll and will take you through either our rainforest or our beautiful tropical garden. There are no steps or significant inclines as our buildings and facilities are all at sea level.

We are sheltered within Golfo Dulce away from the Pacific and hence the ocean here is calm, warm and very safe for open water swimming. The water is easily accessible at both high tide, when the ocean comes up to the very edge of the rainforest, and low tide, when our long beach is revealed. This is an ideal sea for kayaking and stand up paddling (both of which are at your disposal) or simply a relaxing swim.

Playa San Josecito de Gallardo is one of Golfo Dulce’s longest beaches at roughly 2 miles. At high tide the sea reaches right up to the wild vegetation, which in this initial part of the rainforest consists mainly of palm trees, wild almonds, gallinazos, cashew nuts and many fruit trees. The beach is made up of small rocks and can be walked on with appropriate footwear at mid or low tide. There are no large rock formations on the shore hence the entry to the sea is very straightforward and safe. Remember that we will provide you with complimentary beach towels, aqua shoes and sport life vests, stand-up-paddling boards and kayaks and you are welcome to use our two gorgeous beach cabanas whenever you like - the perfect spot for a glass of wine especially at sunset!

The vast majority of times, the turquoise waters of Golfo Dulce are warm, calm and very clear. Golfo Dulce takes its name from the large amount of freshwater flowing into it, mainly from four large rivers. As such, the clarity of the water in close proximity of Golfo Dulce’s beaches is highly dependent on the amount and severity of rainfall in the region. Our beach is no different and, indeed, after an unusually strong or long downpour, our nearby dry river bed swells up with water from the rainforest, bringing soil, stones and fallen branches onto our beach. The water transparency is then usually restored within one or two days.

We have decided not to build a pier on our beach as we wouldn't want to spoil the pristine and wild nature of our beach by building a structure onto it. This means that you may have to get your feet wet while you embark or disembark from our boat. This is a small price to pay and we are sure once you get sight of our beach you will agree with us. In any case, please remember not to wear closed shoes (or shoes that you don't want to get wet) when you arrive or depart from the Retreat.

This is the first question we ask when visiting hotels that make environmental claims… and we are often surprised at the answer we receive! We take great pride in saying that all our electricity needs are satisfied by a carbon-free hydro electric system. While the system is very stable and produces enough electricity to power the equivalent of two large western-style homes, we do need to limit the electricity we consume to make sure it’s enough for the entire Retreat but also to combat wasteful practices. We use the electricity we produce to keep an array of batteries fully charged and it’s to the latter that the Retreat draws electricity from. This means we can at times consume more than we produce giving us tremendous flexibility in how we generate our electricity and at what time of the day we consume it. The downside, however, is that the rate of depletion of our batteries needs to be controlled and for this reason we can only use a small number of high wattage appliances. Hairdryers or individual kettles, for example, are a no no.

Our electricity is very reliable; however, we are to an extent at the mercy of mother nature for its generation. Heavy storms or downpours can sometimes affect the production of electricity. When this happens our battery system is the first line of defence: we have about four hours worth of electricity stored up. Once our batteries run dry, we have the option of using a back-up generator. We like to use this as a measure of last resort and run it for as little as we possibly can in order to minimise noise and emissions. In short, complete blackouts are extremely rare.

Our 15 meter (50 ft) jungle pool is surrounded by tropical vegetation and sits at the edge of our tropical gardens. The pool is surrounded by a large wooden deck, the ideal place to admire the towering trees around or simply catch a spot of sun. The water of the swimming pool comes straight from our spring and we took the very deliberate decision to minimise as much as possible the use of chemicals in order to avoid any detrimental impact on our wildlife (indeed the water we discharge goes straight into our wildlife ponds). We work hard to make sure the water stays as clear as possible; for example, we built two different sets of rock/sand filters upriver and we constantly feed fresh water into the pool. We also test our water externally to make sure it adheres to the strictest standards of water sanitation. Despite our best efforts, the clarity of the water is sometimes affected by unusually strong rains and storms. Also, we know that the clarity of our pool water may not compare to that of pools where stale, recirculated water is heavily treated with harsh chemicals. However, we do think this is a small price to pay in order to minimise our impact on the wildlife around us and on our own health. Plus, there is absolutely no comparison to the feeling of swimming in fresh spring water!

We are passionate about our surroundings and love sharing our spectacular corner of paradise with our friends, family and guests. Everything that we offer is run exclusively by us for you. Please check our Excursions page to get a better feel for what’s on offer as well as the various prices.

Our basic rate, what we call ‘Cabin & Meals’ includes pick-up and drop-off in either Puerto Jimenez or Golfito’s landing strips, scenic return boat transportation from Golfito or Puerto Jimenez, three delicious, served meals, early morning coffee and biscuits brought to your Cabina and 5 o'clock tea and cakes, access to our Jungle Pool and Beach Cabanas, use of kayaks and stand-up-paddling boards, self-guided hikes in our rainforest reserve (boots, water bottles, tree maps and walking sticks will be provided) and Wifi access in our common dining and living areas. For more details please check here.

Yes, we think so. As well as all the perks included in our basic rate, our packages offer a selection of our favourite activities both at sea and on land and are great value for money with a discount on individual tours and include activities which are not otherwise available. Our packages also include a night tour run by our resident naturalist and a complimentary cocktail the first evening of your stay. Have a look here for more details.

Not really. With just four cabins dotted across a vast amount of space and hardly any neighbour, you may feel like you have the Rainforest and the beach all to yourself.

Our aim at Golfo Dulce Retreat is to preserve and share with our guests our pristine rainforest and ocean, some of the most biologically intense ecosystems on earth. And we cannot think of a better way to achieve this than to host young generations.

The rainforest is all around us. Our land comprises almost 1000 acres of pristine rainforest (think Central Park or twice the size of Hyde Park… but incredibly more green and biodiverse!) which itself is enveloped by Piedras Blancas National Park and its 30,000 acres of undisturbed, tropical lowland primary rainforest.

Once the sun sets, the bay of Golfo Dulce becomes host to an incredible natural phenomenon. Disturbance of the water, from the passage of a boat, trailing hand or jumping fish, leads to a unique biological light show: minute organisms producing their own ethereal bioluminescence (click here if you want to find out the science behind this incredible spectacle). On a clear, moonless night, the sky is spectacularly scattered with stars, mirroring the twinkling lights below. Golfo Dulce is one of a handful of places in the world where bioluminescent is always present. Please check with us if you want to see bioluminescence, we can let you know the best dates.

There are insects in the Rainforest but not as many as you might think. There are surprisingly few biting insects at Golfo Dulce Retreat, partly due to its proximity with the ocean and the ecosystem being so finely balanced. Nonetheless, all our cabins have mosquito nets on the main windows as well as on all the beds. While we could minimise further the presence of insects with harsh, poisonous chemicals, this would go completely against what we stand for and our mission of preserving the Rainforest and adopting sustainable practices. We suggest you bring some insect repellant to have on hand, in case you need it.

Snakes play a crucial role in the Rainforest. The areas surrounding Golfo Dulce Retreat, as a matter of fact, do not have a high concentration of them, certainly not higher than other parts of Costa Rica. Snake bites almost always occur because someone steps on them, so when walking or hiking, watch where you step and never stray from paths. Also, it is absolutely imperative in the evening to use a flash light, which we will provide. If you encounter a snake, give it space so that it can leave the area quickly. Although there are only a few species of poisonous snakes in this area, treat all snakes with caution.

Piedras Blancas hosts one of the most diverse arrays of wildlife on the planet and you will have seen our camera trap video showing just a small proportion of what lives around us. Scientists at the University of Vienna now believe that its biodiversity is very similar, if not higher, than that found in Corcovado National Park - described by the National Geographic as "the most ecologically intense place on earth.” It is important to remember, however, that our very special ecosystem is not a zoo and naturally one of the main characteristics of a (truly) wild animal is to hide from its possible predator… you. This might not be the case in more touristic parts of Costa Rica where, unfortunately, high levels of human interaction and habitat loss means that encounters with animals begging for food are plentiful and sometimes dangerous. We ask our guests to appreciate the majesty and diversity of our rainforest, our ocean an our mangroves ecosystems and treat any wildlife encounter with an open heart, gratitude and humbleness.

Golfo Dulce experiences two main seasons, mainly dictated by rainfalls. The dry season begins in December and ends at the beginning of April, while the green (or rainy) season runs from April through to November. Temperatures are fairly steady at around 28C (82F) and humidity generally high, with December and January being the cooler and drier months and April and May the hotter and more humid. In terms of rain, January and February in particular see the least amount of rain with downpours limited to a few scattered showers per month. The months between May and August are, instead, characterised by dry mornings and early afternoons with clear skies followed by a downpour (usually heavy but short in duration) later in the day.

Every season brings something special to Golfo Dulce. The period from December to the beginning of April is characterised by very few showers. The rainforest is lush but wildlife might not be as abundant depending on how hard the previous rainy season has been. This is the best time of the year to snorkel in Golfo Dulce and further afield like Caño Island. This time of the year is when most visitors come to Costa Rica, although you won’t find crowds in Golfo Dulce given it is still a relatively unknown part of the country. April and May tend to be the hottest months and together with June, there is generally more wildlife around and young offsprings can be seen. Some of the most majestic rainforest trees are in full bloom, and this is the time when, with a bit of luck, you may encounter one of the most magnificent and mysterious sea creatures in the world: the whale shark. There are very few visitors around and you might very well find yourself in the middle of Golfo Dulce with the entire ocean to yourself. August and September are truly special months for us. While downpours become more frequent (but are usually confined to late afternoons), the Antarctic humpback whales make their yearly visit to the Gulf to mate and give birth. Encounters with these majestic animals are frequent and we often find ourselves witnessing this spectacle with no other boats around, a truly magical experience.

The amount of rain changes dramatically throughout the year; however, it’s best to be prepared for some downpours, we are in a rainforest after all! While, in a city, we often associate rain with traffic chaos, bleakness and being trapped inside four walls, we have come to think of rain in the Rainforest as the great enabler, without which neither this pristine ecosystem nor we could exist (we depend entirely on rain for our electricity and water). How could we not love it? All our structures are designed to keep you dry so you can actually enjoy the rain around you without the constraints of walls or glass windows. Whether it's in your Cabina, around the pool, on the beach, or in our main living structures, you will always find a little shelter with somewhere to lie on and take it all in. So, we ask you to embrace these majestic downpours: the perfect soundtrack while lying on a hammock with a good book to read.

At Golfo Dulce Retreat, we don’t feature different levels of accommodation such as standard, premium or deluxe. Indeed, all our cabins are built with passion, great attention to detail and in total harmony with the rainforest and all combine a simple, yet elegant and organic design.

The Master Cabina Suite is our largest cabin at 90 sq.m (970 sq.ft.) and features its own spring-water plunge pool, an outdoor shower and spacious open air living. The cabina can be configured as an intimate one bedroom with oversized living area, or a comfortable two bedroom casita, an ideal choice for families. The Master Cabina Suite accommodates up to four adults and has a maximum occupancy of six.

The One-bedroom Cabina Suite is our second largest cabin at 65 sq.m (700 sq.ft.). It is also our most secluded cabin being completely surrounded by rainforest. The accommodation, which can host a maximum of 2 adults, features an outdoor rock shower as well as an outdoor sunken bath, a majestic spot to enjoy the sounds and views of the rainforest. This cabin is perfect for those seeking total privacy and a full immersion in the surrounding tropical beauty.

The One bedroom Cabinas measure a generous 50 sq.m (540 sq.ft) and feature a large spring-water garden shower. With double height ceilings, the spacious cabinas make the ideal choice for couples who will sleep in a king bed, although these cabins can also be configured to suit up to four occupants (maximum three adults) who will be accommodated in either an extra bed or a bunkbed in the same room.

No. When you book your stay directly through us you’ll be guaranteed the lowest rates, the best offers, the most flexible cancellation terms and a truly personalised service.

Our guest facilities are kept open but the Cabinas especially are very private and safe. However, we do insist that valuables (including cash, jewellery, electronic gadgets, phones, portable computers, cameras, passports, etc) should only be kept inside your Cabina’s safety box and never left unattended. Our safety boxes should give you plenty of space but if you require more, we’d be more than happy to store your valuables (or any other belonging you’d rather keep locked) in our own secure premises. We stress that we cannot be held responsible for any lost or stolen items.

No. While our electricity is plentiful we need to keep our consumption rate under control and hairdryers as well as kettles, for example, are incredibly power hungry appliances.

Yes, absolutely. All our Cabinas have plenty of power points where you can do just that. We also have additional power points at the restaurant.

Rainforest living shouldn't come with dark, gloomy rooms. We have put a lot of effort in making sure that our Cabinas are as bright as possible, without a detrimental impact on the surrounding nocturnal wildlife. So while our paths are not lit, our Cabinas are each fitted with more than 20 low consumption, warm, LED light points. Also, despite the heavy maintenance that it requires, all our wood is treated with clear varnishes which make our Cabinas always look bright and airy.

No. We are really keen for our guests to experience the rainforest, its beautiful smells and mesmerising sounds first hand and we think a TV just wouldn't do it here.

There are no cooking facilities nor fridges inside our Cabinas. We take a lot of pride serving delicious food throughout the day so that you don't have to worry about any cooking. You are also more than welcome to come to our kitchen any time for a chat and ask us anything you might need.

No. As with hairdryers or other power hungry appliances, we wouldn't be be able to power enough air conditioning units or fridges for all our Cabinas. However, we have designed our Cabinas with this in mind and all the structures have airy designs with very tall ceilings and ceiling fans. And, of course, one of the main attractions of staying at Golfo Dulce Retreat is to experience the rainforest, its beautiful smells and mesmerising sounds first hand. Having air conditioning units, and hence having to isolate oneself from the surroundings, would completely defy this very purpose.

Yes, all our Cabinas have hot water showers.

Bring many t-shirts, tank tops, and shorts. Light, fast drying, summer clothing is best, since it is never very cold and can be hot and humid. Also, a pair of lightweight, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are useful. Hiking boots are useful although note we will furnish you with rubber boots. Don't forget a hat and sunglasses for sun protection while a lightweight rain jacket is also a good idea. Flip flops and, even better, strap sandals are the most practical footwear for our beach and garden paths. Please note that you will get your feet wet when stepping off our boat as our beach doesn't have a pier.

You will probably need coral-safe sunscreen and insect repellant is always a good item to have. You may also want to take a head torch with rechargeable batteries (but we will give you a regular flash light if you forget) and binoculars. We will give you a water bottle while staying with us. We have a good range of wines, beers, kombucha and other soft drinks so please don’t worry about these.

You can reach us by plane, car or bus and the journeys are remarkably straightforward. Please have a look here to get more information on each journey.

Yes, you can rent or return a car in either of these two towns. If you need to rent a car to continue a journey in the Osa Peninsula then Puerto Jimenez is the best choice and we can take you there. If, instead, you need to drive up north we suggest renting a car in Golfito, which is better connected to Costa Rica’s main roads. Please have a look here for more information on renting a car.

To make your journey as safe and as comfortable as possible and to minimise any chances of rain during your boat transfer, we aim to leave Golfito or Puerto Jimenez no later than 4:30pm. Please get in touch with us if you plan to arrive later than this. We are a small isolated retreat with no road access so please be advised that we will accept no responsibility whatsoever if your travel itinerary is disrupted by, for example, flight cancellations, diversions or delays; the same applies to road transportation. Our retreat is only accessible by boat and we cannot wait for guests to arrive in Golfito or Puerto Jimenez after dark; 4:30pm is typically the longest we can wait. If your travel is delayed beyond this time it will be your responsibility to find a suitable accommodation for the night and we will not be able to offer you a full or partial refund. Please remember that, by the time you are on your way to the Retreat, your reservation will have become non-refundable (see our cancellation policy for the exact timing) and as such we STRONGLY ADVISE our guests to ensure that travel disruptions are covered by TRAVEL INSURANCE. If not covered by travel insurance the responsibility still remains with the guest.

We strongly encourage our guests to plan for their arrival in Puerto Jimenez or Golfito by midday. The Retreat is only accessible by boat and we cannot wait for guests to arrive in Golfito or Puerto Jimenez beyond 4:30pm. If your travel is delayed or disrupted such that your arrival in Puerto Jimenez or Golfito is beyond this time, it will be your responsibility to find a suitable accommodation for the night and we will not, under any circumstances, be able to offer you a full or partial refund. Please remember that, by the time you will be on your way to the Retreat, your reservation will have become non-refundable (see our cancellation policy for the exact timing) and as such we strongly advise our guests to ensure that travel disruptions are covered by a valid travel insurance. If not covered by travel insurance the responsibility still remains with the guest.

We do have some 3G cellular signal but only closer to our beach which is enough to have a decent conversation. However, at the Retreat or in the Cabinas the reception is unreliable. On the other hand, our internet is very good and, if you really have to, it’s the best way to keep in touch with civilisation.

To make your journey as safe and as comfortable as possible and to minimise any chances of rain during your boat transfer, we aim to leave from our beach to Golfito or Puerto Jimenez at around 10am. Afternoon check-outs combined with an extra lunch at the Retreat are available for an extra charge. For afternoon check-outs please note that we are not able to guarantee you will have the use of your Cabina until departure however note that shower and changing facilities are available at the Retreat.

For any medical complications our main reference point is Golfito’s Hospital which will be able to deal with most emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can reach the hospital at any time of day or night in 30 minutes, by boat and then by (our) car. For any serious conditions, San Jose is a 45-minute flight away from Puerto Jimenez by air ambulance. Please remember to have a valid travel insurance with medical cover when you come to Costa Rica. The healthcare system is generally considered very good, but please note that it is free only to Costa Rican citizens and permanent residents of the country.

Yes, it wasn't easy to have a strong and reliable system in place for our internet, but we did it. Our system is based on a point-to-point telecommunication network whereby the signal is beamed from our own antenna 10 miles across Golfo Dulce in Puerto Jimenez to another one on our beach. From the beach the signal is then beamed to the Retreat via our own fibre-optic line. Unlike satellite internet, even during rainstorms the signal remains strong and we enjoy good upload and download speeds. Internet at the Retreat is accessible through a wifi network which we have decided to limit to the restaurant, communal areas and swimming pool.

You can pay at the end of your stay with cash, in US Dollars or Costa Rican Colones, or with Visa or Mastercard.

Yes we do offer laundry and fast-drying services for an extra charge.

By law, smoking is not permitted in guest rooms, social areas, pool, trails and the National Park. If you are a smoker, please enquire with us when you are here.

We really couldn't do it without our wonderful staff! We only employ very local people as we recognise the importance of supporting families on our beach and around us. Tipping staff at Golfo Dulce Retreat is purely at your discretion but we do encourage it to reward exceptional service. We do train, remunerate and reward our staff so that they can provide you with the best possible experience regardless of whether you decide to leave a tip or not. However, in our staff’s eyes, tipping is the best way to recognise that special extra effort that makes all the difference. If you choose to leave a tip we can add it to your bill at your request and we will distribute fairly among all our staff, not just the people you get to meet. However, please feel free to contribute as you wish.

We have poor cellular signal here in the rainforest so chances are that you will not be able to speak to us through simple mobile connection. The only way to communicate with us is by email or internet messaging/voice services such as WhatsApp (we will give you the number in the welcome email). If you need to communicate with us during your travels you therefore need to either find an internet/wifi connection or have a Costa Rican data SIM card activated or enable mobile data on your existing SIM card (but still check that it works in Costa Rica).