Vista al Mar EL Aleman Lodge Hotel

It is a paradise, to enjoy with the family.

This is a hard review to write. Werner and his wife Maria are a very sympathetic host couple that really make you feel welcome. The cook for you and make you feel at home. Unfortunately the whole thing has a draw back. The “hotel” is only reachable by boat so for dinner you are “ stuck” with their food and it is pretty pricy and if varying quality. The last day we got burnt remainders and not the promised fish and kids went hungry and crying to bed. The biggest issue however is that the place actually is not hotel. It’s a very basic guesthouse. The houses have holes everywhere, so the rooms are full of insects, the rooms are not cleaned while you stay there, towels don’t get changed, the madras are partly so bad you can’t sleep on them, Wi-Fi never worked, you cannot pay with credit card, the shower water is cold, the zink almost falls down and the lock of the door jammed and when electricity falls out, no alternative sources of light are offered, there is no light on the balcony and the toilet paper piled up and stank in the bathroom for our whole stay without getting emptied and the access to the hotel is via a steep and badly managed staircase… The host couple are very sympathetic — but objectively this was the most expensive place we stayed at during our entirety 3 weeks — and at the same time by far the worst quality.

Stayed 3 nights, sadly couldn’t extend. But makes perfect sense, this place is pure heaven just everyone wants to stay… thanks to Werner and Victor, you are gold! 10/10 Pura Vida, we’ll come back for sure!

When you stay here, you feel like family. These beautiful cabins, built by Werner, are full of personal touches. Everything from Marí’s beautiful paintings, which adorn all the cabins, to Werner’s delicious cooking, exudes a warmth that makes you feel at home in the jungle. Werner, Marí, and their helper Victor went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, and their friendly dogs and cat helped ease the pain of missing our own pets back home. (They are the sweetest little pack! ) Werner and Marí helped us with laundry, arranging activities, and coordinating boat rides. Not to mention lots of great conversation and plenty of patience with our terrible Spanish. Our cabin had a beautiful view of the ocean, two hammocks on the porch, a full bed, plus double bunks, a tidy bathroom, two large windows, and a powerful fan to keep cool. Our meals were served buffet-style and were always delicious. Honestly the best food we ate in Costa Rica, and sharing candle-lit meals with the other guests led to great conversations and connections. We even had an evening jam session with my ukulele and a guitar they have on site for guests. The area around the cabins is beautiful. Drake Bay is fairly secluded, so you will not be surrounded by tourists. The jungle is full of beautiful plants and wild life. During our time in the cabins, we saw a sloth, several packs of Howler and Capuchin monkeys, iguanas, hawks, hermit crabs, and so much more.

These cabins are the secret treasure of Costa Rica. If you’re looking for lodging with private views of the ocean, forest, and the chance to see many animals — look no further. Werner, Marí and Victor are extremely kind and welcoming and will do everything they can to make you feel at home. They make breakfast and dinner each day and guests sit family style to eat and enjoy adventure stories with each other. The meals and snacks provided were the best meals we had and most reasonably priced we saw in Costa Rica. They really put their souls into their work. They even have a guitar for those who are musically inclined to play and enjoy. Marí holds a special place in my heart, as she was so personable and made us feel like we were family. The cabinas are charming — beautifully painted by Marí. The art scenes are of the photos they have received from patrons of the animals spotted locally. Impressively, everything that is here at the cabins has been brought in by boat, as there is no road access to the property. The path to the cabins is a bit uphill, so be ready for a short hike to get there. The cabinas are located on the trail to Drake Bay (30 min) and makes for a great hike to see the wildlife on the way to and from town. There are many other trails as well that lead to other beaches and chances to see sloths, monkeys, birds, etc.
Regarding Wi-Fi: they have a hotspot but it is not reliable.

Far too expensive for lazy operators the owners drink in the morning and smokes constantly in the non-smoking area disgustingly not recommended.

A paradise in the middle of nature, beautiful beach and very dear hosts thank you for that.
Pura Vida.

Absolute paradise!
wanted to stay 5nights, stayed 9 nights, but even then it was bloody hard to leave!
mari, werner and victor are really nice persons!
yuppie, sol and otto arethe nicest pets!
the food is excellent as the suroundings are!
thank you guys for everything!
we wont forget you!
hugs susan and christian!
p. S. :we might come back for a pfannekuche or two.

I had the best time here. My cabin was spacious, with several hammocks outside to choose from. Watched a couple of monkeys pick fruit from the tree beside me as I swung in the hammock one day :) Hot coffee in the morning & breakfast incl. Fresh fruit. I arranged for dinners as well and the food is fantastic. Super nice people, made me feel at home.

Excellent place, the contact with nature is the best gift of God, the cabins super comfortable and clean, the food, delicious and the attention to 100%

View was great and also Mari. Unfortunately, the Cabinas are terribly dirty, trash cans were never emptied and the bed varnishes stingray mottrig. We did not receive any information, only on request. Food was sometimes just cleared away when you wanted to go to Schupp. The transport did not work either, because Walker was unable to organize a boat. The neighbors do not like Werner, so that the next neighbor, every morning at half 5Uhr in the morning, organizes a huge noise with construction machines. We do not recommend this accommodation to anyone.

I'm fascinated by that place, the contact with the nature, the animals, the beautiful landscapes and trails, in addition to the excellent treatment from the hosts, make it compulsory to return to that paradise.

Excellent place, attention to 100, beautiful cabins just to rest the mind, super recommended.

Excellent service, excellent food, excellent facilities.

If you are looking for nature and tranquility, you have come to the right place. In the evening in front of his cabina in the hammock, when macaws and parrots fly across you, hear nothing but the sounds of the rainforest and the surf of the Pacific (and the sound of rain). The accommodations are simple, the décor is crafted with love. In the evening, a fresh breeze usually blows over the cabinas on a hill, so I never needed the fan. In the evening, the other guests and the hosts were eaten, like a large family. There was always a changing menu consisting of fish or meat, plus vegetables, salad, side dishes such as rice and beans, fruits and dessert, all fresh and tasty, muy rico! Below the property is a beautiful beach with great waves, with many more to follow if you follow the coastal path to the south. This path can be followed (with appropriate shoes) to the PN Corcovado, always in the coastal rainforest, from time to time there are some lodges. After Drake you can go by boat in the morning and at noon (Mari calls the boatman) or you walk in just under half an hour, which is also an experience, I saw two raccoons, a nose bear, a large crocodile, macaws and hummingbirds on the way. Both through the hosts and in Drake you can book various tours, in Drake also tours with 2 nights in La Sirena in the national park. You have to worry about this property that it is only accessible from Drake by boat or on foot, see O.

Excellent place for a full nature experience. Located in one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. 100 % recomended.

This hotel is the hidden gem of drake bay Costa Rica. The room was clean, the service was excellent, and the food was amazing. The view from the cabin over looked drake bay and was to die for. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone who isn't looking to break the bank.

A wonderful place to relax and forget the hectic live without television, telephone. It's easy to become part of the surrounding and enjoy nature.

This was my favorite place to stay in Costa Rica. It was a true jungle experience. The private beach was amazing to swim in at sunset, and there were monkeys and flowers, fruit, etc. I stayed in the cabina facing west, and so when I sat in a hammock I had jungles, monkeys, and ocean to look at it. I absolutely love this place! Werner makes the most delicious coffee in the morning and both he and Mari are very helpful and wonderful cooks. I highly recommend!