Are you wanting to visit Drake Bay in Costa Rica? Check out this La Paloma Lodge review to see if it’s the right fit for your Costa Rica adventure!
This La Paloma Lodge review was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Okay so. Mid-December 2025, my friend Lindsay sends a message to our group chat: “Thoughts on a warm winter escape?”
I didn’t even ask where. I just replied YES in all caps.
My other friend Cindy did the same.
Six weeks later, that’s how three women who desperately needed to escape winter ended up taking a tiny prop plane, then a boat, to reach La Paloma Lodge in Drake Bay, Costa Rica at the end of January 2026.
And look. I’ve been a family travel blogger for years.
I’ve stayed at boutique hotels in Guatemala, all-inclusives in Mexico, cute hotels all over Europe.
I know what makes a destination work and what makes it fall apart in reality.
So when I tell you La Paloma Lodge is one of those rare places that feels both adventurous AND comfortable, I’m comparing it to dozens of trips.
But I’m also going to tell you the parts that were hard. Because getting there involved stepping into the actual ocean to board a boat. The WiFi situation stressed me out.
And our bathrooms had these massive open-air cutouts that were theoretically big enough for monkeys to climb through.
If you’re trying to figure out whether this lodge is worth it for a girls trip, a romantic escape, or even if you could bring your family someday, here’s everything I wish I’d known before we went.
The Part Where We Almost Didn’t Go (Because the Logistics Sounded Insane)
When Lindsay first sent us the details, I read through the arrival instructions and thought, “There’s no way.”
You fly into San José. Then you take a small prop plane to Drake Bay. Then a shuttle on a dirt road. Then you wade into the ocean and board a boat. Then a golf cart takes you up a hill to the lodge.
It sounded like the kind of trip that looks amazing on Instagram but feels exhausting in real life.
But here’s the thing: We used Green Spot Travel to coordinate everything, and they handled the prop plane booking, the boat transfer, the lodge reservation, and even scheduled our excursions in advance.
So we just showed up.
And every single step (even the parts that sounded chaotic) was completely organized.
What the Travel Day Actually Looked Like (End of January 2026)
We flew into San José late at night and stayed near the airport. If you’re doing this trip, I’d strongly recommend that buffer night. Don’t try to do an international flight and a regional prop plane on the same day.
The next morning, we took a 40-minute flight on Sansa Air to Drake Bay.
I’m not going to lie. I was nervous. It’s a small plane. Maybe 12 passengers. And yes, you feel every bit of movement.
There was turbulence about halfway through, and for a few minutes I was gripping the armrest thinking, “Why did I agree to this?”
But then I looked out the window and saw the coastline, rivers cutting through the jungle, the Pacific Ocean stretching out forever. It was stunning.
And honestly? The flight was short enough that even though I felt nervous, it was over before the nerves turned into full panic.
Packing for the Prop Plane (Carry-On Requirements)
One thing we didn’t fully prepare for: The prop plane has size and weight requirements for luggage.
All three of us packed carry-on bags plus personal items (totes or backpacks). And that worked perfectly fine.
But we saw other travelers with full checked luggage, and they just had to pay extra fees. It wasn’t a huge deal, but if you can pack light, it makes the whole process smoother.
Honestly? I could have packed way less. But more on that later.
From the airstrip, we got into a shuttle van for about 35 minutes on a bumpy gravel road. This is not luxury travel. But it’s also not terrible. It’s just part of getting to a place that’s truly remote.
At the boat launch, we waded into shallow water (maybe knee-deep) and climbed into a small boat.
Pro tip: Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet. I wore my Fit Flops and they were fine, but hiking sandals would’ve been better.
The boat ride along the coast took maybe 10 minutes, and then we pulled up to La Paloma.
Staff helped with our bags. We took a golf cart up to the property. And when we got there, cold drinks, fresh fruit, and cool towels were waiting for us.
After all those steps, I expected to feel wiped out.
But I didn’t. I felt like we’d arrived somewhere special.
What It’s Actually Like Staying at La Paloma Lodge (The Good and the Weird)
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a remote jungle lodge.
I’d been to Guatemala before, so I figured Costa Rica might be similar. But where we stayed in Drake Bay was way hotter and more humid than I expected. Like, soaking-through-your-clothes-in-five-minutes hot.
And the bathroom situation? That took some getting used to.
The Rooms Are Way More Comfortable Than I Expected
Our room (technically called a “rancho”) had three beds, air conditioning, and a balcony overlooking the jungle and ocean.
The beds were actually comfortable. The space was clean. And there were surprisingly few bugs inside.
We were only visited by two ants and one tiny lizard the entire stay. That’s it.
Given how deep in the jungle we were, I was shocked.
The Open-Air Bathroom Situation
Okay. So the bathroom.
It has a ceiling. But there are these massive open-air cutouts as windows. Big enough that a monkey could theoretically climb through.
The upstairs bathroom also had a ceiling but had giant open cut-outs so when we showered, it really felt like we immersed in the jungle.
The staff warned us: Keep the bathroom door closed when you’re not using it, because monkeys sometimes wander in.
So every single time one of us opened that door, we were half-nervous, half-excited that a monkey might be sitting on the toilet.
Spoiler: It never happened.
But the anticipation made every bathroom trip feel like a tiny adventure.
You can also hear birds and jungle sounds while you’re showering, which honestly felt really cool once we got used to it.
The Food Was Shockingly Good
This was one of the biggest surprises.
Meals at La Paloma aren’t buffet-style. They’re plated, restaurant-quality dishes served at set times.
And here’s what made it even better: We had three options for every meal. So we got to choose what we wanted.
At lunch, they’d take our dinner order, which made everything move faster in the evening. It was such a smart system.
Every day included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Afternoon snacks (fresh fruit, little appetizers, sometimes ceviche)
- Dinner
- Dessert
- One glass of wine at dinner
My friend Cindy is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian, and I was worried she’d be stuck with sad salads the whole time.
But the kitchen handled her restrictions without making it feel like a burden. She had full, creative, delicious meals at every sitting.
One night they made her a beautiful plate with grilled vegetables, rice, beans, and plantains that honestly looked better than what Lindsay and I were eating.
If you’re wondering whether a remote jungle lodge can handle dietary restrictions, the answer here is absolutely yes.
The Pace Is Slower Than You Think
This isn’t a resort where you’re rushing from activity to activity.
But it’s also not completely unstructured.
Meals happen at specific times. Excursions leave on schedule. So there’s a light rhythm to your days.
We originally scheduled two excursions per day (snorkeling in the morning, kayaking in the afternoon, that kind of thing). And after the first full day, we realized that was way too much.
We were tired. We wanted to sit by the pool. We wanted long, lazy conversations on our balcony with nothing to do.
So we canceled a few activities.
And the staff was completely flexible. They didn’t make us feel bad or charge us extra. They just adjusted the schedule and moved on.
That flexibility made it feel like our trip, not a rigid tour package.
The WiFi Situation Was the Hardest Part for Me
Okay. Here’s where I struggled.
There’s limited 3G in some parts of the property and WiFi mainly in the clubhouse or restaurant area. For most of the trip, I couldn’t reliably text, check email, or scroll Instagram.
Normally, that would feel amazing. Unplugging! Living in the moment! All that.
But my timing was rough.
My uncle had passed away right before this trip, and his funeral was happening while I was in Costa Rica. I wanted to check in with my family.
My 12-year-old was home sick with the flu the entire week, and I kept worrying about him.
And I run an online business, so I was constantly stressed that something might blow up and I wouldn’t know.
So while I loved the idea of disconnecting, the reality was hard for me during this particular trip.
If you need constant connectivity (for work, for family logistics, for peace of mind), this lodge will feel stressful.
But if you’re genuinely ready to unplug, it’s incredibly peaceful.
What We Actually Did (And What I’d Do Again)
La Paloma offers guided excursions as part of your stay. You can schedule them through Green Spot Travel in advance (which we did), or you can adjust once you’re there based on how you feel.
Here’s what we did and what stood out.
Kayaking Down the River (My Favorite Thing We Did)
We kayaked along a calm river surrounded by jungle on both sides.
Birds flew overhead. The water was so peaceful. And on the way back, we barely had to paddle. We just floated.
It wasn’t physically hard at all. I’m not particularly athletic, and I never felt strained or out of breath.
This was one of those moments where I thought, “Okay. This is why we came here.”
Snorkeling (Which I Skipped But My Friends Loved)
Here’s the thing: I don’t like snorkeling.
I just don’t enjoy it. So when we did the snorkeling excursion, I stayed on the boat, which was totally fine. I don’t get seasick easily, so I just sat there, relaxed, and watched the water.
Lindsay and Cindy went on the first snorkeling trip and loved it. Then we all went to the beach for a break. After that, half our group stayed on the beach while the other half went out for round two of snorkeling.
The guides were super flexible about the whole thing. Nobody made me feel weird for sitting it out.
From the boat, I was able to see sea turtles, fish, and the most poisonous snake in the world.
But the best wildlife was seeing two adult and one baby whale (maybe 2 weeks old) playing in the water on our way back. We all were geeking out about it!
The Sunset Beach Picnic (100% Worth the Extra Cost)
One of the best decisions we made was adding the “Surf. Sand. Sunset.” experience.
Staff drove us down to the beach in a golf cart, set up chairs and a blanket, and left us with appetizers, a full bottle of wine, and the entire beach to ourselves.
We asked for mojitos instead of wine, and they were SO good.
We sat there drinking mojitos, watching the sky turn orange and pink over the Pacific, and it felt like the kind of moment you remember forever.
I don’t know what this add-on costs (the Lodge coordinated it for us), but I’d pay whatever they’re charging. It was perfect.
Pool Time and Balcony Hangs (The Unscheduled Moments)
Some of our best moments weren’t planned at all.
We spent entire afternoons at the pool. We sat on our balcony talking for hours. We walked down to the beach just to watch the waves.
There’s a small town about a 30-minute walk from the lodge, but we honestly never felt the need to leave. Everything we wanted (food, relaxation, scenery, good conversation) was right there.
One Thing to Mention About the Beach
This is worth noting: We saw three or four women swimming topless at the beach.
It was totally fine! Nobody cared. But we tried to keep that in mind as we took photos and video.
Just something to be aware of if you’re traveling with kids or want to be mindful about what ends up in your camera roll.
The Wildlife (And What We Really Wanted to See But Didn’t)
One of the main reasons people visit Drake Bay is for the wildlife.
And this part mostly lived up to the hype.
What We Actually Saw
From our balcony alone, we spotted:
- Scarlet macaws flying past (bright red against green jungle, absolutely unreal)
- Toucans perched nearby (this was my absolute favorite sighting)
- Tropical birds constantly
On excursions and around the property, we also saw:
- A boa constrictor near one of the paths
- Tiny bright green frogs on a night walk
- Red land crabs everywhere at dusk
- Lizards constantly
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and you feel that immediately. Nature isn’t something you have to hike for hours to see. It’s just there.
What We Really Wanted to See (But Didn’t)
Here’s the thing that bummed us out: We never saw a monkey or a sloth.
We kept looking. We kept hoping. Every time we heard a loud call in the jungle, we’d run outside thinking, “Is that a howler monkey?”
But it never happened.
And I think that’s part of wildlife being unpredictable. It’s real jungle, not a zoo. Some days you see incredible things. Some days you don’t.
But yeah. I really wanted to see a monkey wander into our bathroom through those open-air cutouts. It didn’t happen, but the anticipation made every bathroom trip a little more exciting.
What I Packed (And What I Wish I’d Brought)
I wasn’t sure what to pack for this trip.
I figured Costa Rica in late January would be similar to Guatemala when I went a few years ago.
But Drake Bay was way hotter and way more humid than I expected.
What I Brought
All of this fit in a carry-on bag plus a personal item (for the prop plane weight requirements):
- 3 dresses (only wore 2)
- 3 pairs of pants (only wore one pair, and only back at the hotel in San José)
- A couple pairs of shorts
- A few t-shirts
- A white linen button-down shirt (this got a lot of use)
- 2 swimsuits
- A kimono wrap
- Sturdy flip-flops (Fit Flops)
- Nice sandals (never wore them)
- My Hoka shoes
What I Wish I’d Packed
Hiking sandals instead of Fit Flops. My Fit Flops were fine (they had decent traction), but hiking sandals with straps would’ve been better for the terrain and stepping into the boat.
A rashguard for snorkeling. Lindsay and Cindy both got sunburned around their underarms and sides while snorkeling. A rashguard would’ve completely prevented that.
Way less clothing. It was so hot and humid that I rewore things constantly. I could’ve easily packed half of what I brought and been totally fine.
If you know me in IRL or follow my Instagram @marcieinmommyland you know I love traveling in dresses and themed clothing.
Honestly, if I did this trip again, I’d pack one carry-on with way fewer clothes and call it a day.
Is This a Good Girls Trip Destination?
Short answer: Absolutely.
This was one of the best girls trips I’ve done.
Lindsay, Cindy, and I had our own little world for three days. We had our own table at meals. We sat by the pool for hours talking. We drank mojitos on the beach at sunset. We laughed until we cried over nothing.
It felt special without being physically exhausting.
We could be active when we wanted to (kayaking, beach walks, exploring). And we could be completely lazy when we needed to (pool hangs, balcony conversations, coffee mornings).
The lodge also had a good mix of couples and friend groups, so it never felt like we were the only non-romantic party there.
Would I Bring My Kids?
Probably not yet.
My kids are 9 and 12, and while they’re decent travelers, this trip wouldn’t be their vibe.
The journey alone (small plane, bumpy shuttle, stepping into the ocean) would feel like too much hassle to them.
And the daily activities (snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife walks) are really better suited to people who are genuinely interested in nature.
My 12-year-old would probably complain about the heat. My 9-year-old would get bored without solid Roblox time.
But I know families whose kids would absolutely thrive here. If your kids love adventure, animals, and being outside, this could be incredible.
It just depends on personality more than age.
The Real Answer: Is La Paloma Lodge Worth It?
Yes. Without question.
But it’s not for everyone.
This is the kind of place that feels adventurous enough to make you feel like you’ve done something brave, but comfortable enough that you actually relax and sleep well.
What I Loved
- Waking up to jungle sounds and coffee delivered to our room at sunrise
- Spotting toucans from our balcony
- Kayaking down that calm river surrounded by birds
- Every single meal (even breakfast felt special)
- Having three meal options to choose from every time
- The fact that Green Spot Travel coordinated everything so we could just show up and not worry about logistics
- How flexible the staff was when we wanted to change our schedule
- Those mojitos at sunset on the beach
What Was Hard
- Limited WiFi and cell service (though that was more about my specific situation than the lodge itself)
- Not seeing monkeys or sloths (but that’s just wildlife being wildlife)
- The heat and humidity (I wasn’t prepared for how intense it would be)
Who This Is Perfect For
This lodge is ideal if you’re looking for:
- A girls trip to Costa Rica that feels special without being physically demanding
- A romantic getaway that’s adventurous but still comfortable
- A remote experience without roughing it
- Wildlife and nature without extreme hiking
- Somewhere to genuinely unplug (if you’re ready for that)
Who Should Skip This
This probably isn’t your place if you:
- Need constant WiFi or cell service
- Want a resort with pools, entertainment, and lots of activities
- Aren’t comfortable with open-air bathroom cutouts or jungle sounds at night
- Prefer destinations that are easy to get to
One Last Thing
I’ve stayed at a lot of eco-lodges and jungle properties over the years, and La Paloma stands out because it doesn’t make you choose between adventure and comfort.
You get both.
You arrive by boat. You sleep in the jungle. You see wildlife from your balcony.
But you also have air conditioning, restaurant-quality meals with options to choose from, and staff who coordinate everything so you don’t have to think.
That balance is rare.
And honestly? I’d go back tomorrow.
Ready to plan your own trip? Contact La Paloma Lodge here to book your stay, and reach out to Green Spot Travel to coordinate flights, transfers, and excursions. Having them handle the logistics made this entire trip seamless.
