Name: Golfo Dulce Lodge
Address: Golfito, Golfito, Golfito, Golfito, 60701, Costa Rica
Rating: 10

Restaurant

Meals

Location

At the hotel

Golfito Airport

Puerto Jimenez Airport

San Vito Airport

Palmar Sur Airport

Drake Bay Airport

Buenos Aires Airport (Costa Rica)

Golfo Dulce Lodge

Golfito

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kitchen

Our stay at Golfo Dulce exceeded expectations. Simon and Chantelle have created a retreat in the rainforest that is beautiful, elegant and completely at one with the landscape and the ecosystem. The cabins are designed for comfort, while allowing you to feel, see and hear the rainforest all around. The locally sourced food was spectacular (I would buy a cookbook if there was one): true gastronomy meeting Costa Rican fruits, vegetables, cheese and fish. The serenity created at the retreat allows for a genuine appreciation of the rainforest. Gracias to Simon and Chantelle for all their Conservation Work.

Transcendent Rain Forest

Such an amazing experience/adventure! Real heaven on earth. Type of a vacation you look back and can’t believe you actually been there. Loved everything about this place, from design to food to location and of course the amazing owners. Watching sunsets and sunrises on the private beach are beyond amazing.

True paradise

My mother and I stayed here for one week for a Mother/Daughter “Trip of a Lifetime.”  We have been home from Costa Rica for a little over two weeks, and I still find myself spontaneously welling up with tears at the incredibleness of this experience.  We can’t stop talking about it, and we probably never will.  The special memories of our time here are for us to keep, always.  In all of my travels, I have never experienced such wonder, beauty and peace as I felt being at the Golfo Dulce Retreat. 

There is a reason why EVERY SINGLE REVIEW is five stars.  That is a stunning feat that the owners Chantelle and Simon have accomplished, and it really says it all.

So much has already been said in other reviews multiple times over, and it’s all true.  The food was incredible.  The accommodations were soulful and beautiful.  We were taken care of seamlessly, from pick up at the pier until we were dropped off a week later.  They take care of every  detail, so that you don’t have to.  The staff are absolutely lovely and exceed in taking care of their guests.  The excursions were beyond what we expected, and so memorable.  The grounds, the pool, the oceanside cabinas, the dining area…relaxing, lovely spaces created with such thoughtfulness and beauty.

Some of the “little” moments were our favorite.  Seeing the most incredible blue butterflies while we sipped our morning coffee on our little porch.  Spider monkeys passing by in the trees while we lounged by the pool.  The incredible flocks of Scarlet Macaws and Parrots that flew by regularly.  The fresh cakes and tea that were served every afternoon.  Swinging in the hammock listening to the sounds of the rainforest around us at dusk.

There are only four cabinas on this property, and plenty of space for everyone.  We always got a lounge chair when we wanted one, or one of the oceanside cabanas, or a couch to sit on in the upper observation deck.  It is incredible how they have created their space to truly meet the needs of all of their guests.

This is an Eco Lodge in the best possible way.  Their love and care for the surrounding rainforest is clearly evident.  I am so grateful that they have given so much energy to preserving the area.  And they have done all of this while creating a soulful space that others can enjoy.  Thank you to Chantelle, Simon, and all of the incredible staff at Golfo Dulce Retreat for a Trip of a Lifetime!

Trip of a Lifetime!

We are a suburban family with two girls (8 and 9). This was our first big international trip, and Costa Rica delivered the hospitality and adventure we were promised. We loved the wildlife, but the bugs (especially the giant locusts that seemed to be everywhere in Ojocjal) were a lot for us. 

We saved the Dulche Golfo retreat for our last stop of our travels. We heard about this place through friends who had visited with their kids, and they had nothing but amazing things to say about it. What Simon and Chantelle have created in this special part of the world is perfection. It is emphasized that we are guests of the jungle, and our job is to treat the jungle with respect and find peace and life in the awe of it all. 

As a mom who loves a modern convenience and never camps, being a "guest of the jungle" put me way out of my element. I showed up knowing that there would be pieces of this trip that would make me uncomfortable, and that discomfort would be good for me. While I was battling my own rigidness, Chantelle has the retreat organized in such a way that brought us all to a place of feeling centered and catered to. There is a strict meal schedule, and itinerary of activities. It was wonderful to not have to think about what we were going to do next or what we would eat. I was thrilled to have Chantelle free up that planning brain space in my head! 

The FOOD!!!! If Chantelle ever releases a cook book, I'll be buying multiple copies to gift. We were so well fed. The variety and quality of the dishes and knowing that everything was sourced nearby made it the some of the best parts of our days.

The SERVICE!!!! Simon and Chantelle have curated the best staff. Everyone is so helpful and courteous and kind and hard working. We felt so catered to all the time, and it was nice to not have to think about tipping throughout the day because Simon and Chantelle ask that the gratuity be added all at once at the end of the trip, so they can distribute it the way they see fit. They host student biologists who help with the tours. Emily was a wonderful addition to our experience. She is a wealth of knowledge and fun to be around. Our hosts, Simon and Chantelle, are in charge and I would follow them anywhere. They are brilliant minds who have pulled off 5 star hospitality while honoring, preserving and restoring the jungle.

The GROUNDS!!!! This place so chic and beautiful and well kept. There are so many gorgeous details. The coconuts that line the pathway as you approach the retreat from the beach. The rocks that line the pathways throughout the property. The comfortable and stylish  furniture. The selection of books available at the retreat. The table settings. The comfortable beds and pillows. The pool and plunge pools for cooling off. The cabanas on the beach. (By the way we didn't realize there was going to be such a lovely, private little bay on site. We spent an entire morning swimming and paddle boarding out there, and had the best time ever.)

The list goes on. If you are looking for a true jungle experience while also feeling completely catered to and cared for, then this is it. We left feeling restored and significantly more knowledgable about the jungle and how to be good guests.

Jungle Love

Our stay at this beautiful, relaxing Retreat will be one of our most memorable and fun getaways we’ve enjoyed in a long, long time!  The owners, Chantelle & Simon are amazing hosts, treat you like family and go above and beyond to make certain your stay is perfect. Their hard-working staff is great. The food (perfectly prepared by Simon & Chantelle) was amazing!  The little guest cabins were very comfortable, with an outdoor shower, relaxing hammock on the front porch and fresh coffee magically appearing on our porch each morning as we awoke to a symphony of macaws, parrots, doves and monkeys. You get to enjoy being close to Costa Rica nature!  Our fishing trips, nature walks and kayaking excursions were awesome, as was cooling off in the peaceful, ‘hidden’ pool. This was our preferred type of vacation;  relaxing in nature, away from any crowds, with exceptional food, beverage and accommodations!
We will be back!!

Unforgettable!


This was an experience of a life time. The jungle, the ocean and the retreat itself have exceeded our expectations. Chantelle and Simon went out of their way to create the environment that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the nature and at the same time still maintain a high standard of cleanliness.  The food (even though set menu) is delicious and plenty of it. The cocktails even better after the day of exploring. We were very taken by Chantelle’s very obvious appreciation of the surroundings and every living creature there was. She was very happy to share her knowledge. Well, We simply loved it… LOVED IT… I would and will recommend this place to everyone! 
Oh I’ve almost forgotten to mention the excursions! Sign up for as many as humanly possible. The guides are very knowledgeable and customize it to your ability and interest. I will never forget the walk in the Primary forest. 
Thank you and I dare to say … See you soon! 

Pura Vida!

What a fabulous experience- isolated luxury with magnificent healthy Italian influenced food and truly luxury accommodation 
You can relax under a cabana near the sea, swim in the warm pool that you have to yourself or take advantage of the numerous tours 
My favourite was to relax in the hammock on our veranda and listen and look to the sounds of the rainforest

Jungle Paradise

From the moment we walked into the clear, warm water to the boat, we felt such peace.  Genuine, gracious hospitality received from Chantelle, Simon and their incredible team.  Those connections alone are unforgettable.

The four private cabinas are all stunning and subtly compliment the incredible nature that surrounds them.  Our bed was extremely comfortable and the sounds of nature were amazing.  We loved our very private plunge pool and outdoor shower but don’t worry if you aren’t able to secure the plunge pool.  The pool is also gorgeous and refreshing.  

The absolutely delicious food over our 8 night stay exceeded our expectations.  It is so beautifully presented and made with love.  

The adventure offerings are very enriching.  The bioluminescence experience was positively unforgettable.  Natural light coming through while kayaking in the mangroves was beautiful.  The boat ride to reach the mangroves was also wonderful, including Pablo, our Captain and our Guide, Rob.  We saw turtles, dolphins and beautiful fish in the clear, warm waters on our way.  (We saw dolphins or turtles every time we were on the boat.) The waterfall adventure with knowledgable Augustino was so enjoyable and informative.  His respect and love of nature is evident.  Rob and Dom did an amazing job on the night tour where we saw so many creatures that we would not have seen without their expertise.  

We enjoyed kayaking on our own as well ~ so much to see along the coast. You can feel the breeze from the gorgeous beach huts which are out of the sun.  This was a truly unforgettable experience and we are full of gratitude to our friends for telling us about this gem.  

Rather than renting a car, we opted to fly in/fly out on Air Sansa, and truly relax (staying one night near the airport in San Jose on both ends).  Thanks to Simon for arranging the taxis between Air Sansa and the boat.  

If you love nature, you’re going to love it at GDR!  Pura Vida!  (Highly recommend reading the GDR Story on their website to fully appreciate their passion and resiliency to realize their dream ~ because you become a part of it.)

Genuine, gracious hospitality from the entire GDR Team.

Where do we begin with Golfito Dulce Retreat? Simon was so patient helping with organising our stay before our arrival, making sure we had a perfect time. 
From greeting us at the beautiful beach (after an exciting boat ride), to our farewell after a 4 night stay, everything WAS perfect. 

Chantelle is a beautiful lady, surrounded by a great team (in every sense of the word, they all seemed more like a family).

We were a little worried that my partner would struggle a little with the food but that was put to bed straight away as all the food was delicious, wholesome and more than plentiful. Discreetly delivered coffee and cookies to our villa first thing in the morning, so much variety served to your table in the restaurant for breakfast, you don’t know where to start. Delicious healthy lunches, afternoon tea and cakes (if you can find room),and to die for dinners all beautifully served amongst an array of wildlife surrounding you whilst you eat. (The boa curled on the chair was a treat, but sorry we missed the coral snake by seconds! The beautiful scarlet macaw on the bar and all the birds flitting by.)

The tours were stunning and informative. We partook in mangrove kayaking with the added bonus of dolphins and beautiful sunset, night tour where we were introduced to some of the night animals, and waterfall trek which was beautiful and we were lucky enough to spot a blue poison dart frog. We did a couple of extras which we would highly recommend, the bioluminescence which was magical, and SCUBA. (Thankyou so much Chantelle for refreshing our memory on setting up the gear, that was so kind and above and beyond). My partner was ecstatic to see white tip sharks. 
The wildlife was spectacular and exceeded expectations. Wish we’d had time to experience one or two more. 

The villas are just beautiful and honestly we hadn’t slept so well in such a long time or since!

This place is a rare diamond set in the amazing rainforest. This is not a standard “eco lodge” but a way of life. The attention to detail second to none and everyone and everything worked seamlessly.

We can’t find a single negative thing to say other than we had to leave so soon.

Just magical!

Remote, secluded little lodge that will blow your mind away.
From the minute you set your foot on the private beach to the day your leave, the experience is superlative.
If you are looking for a quiet time away from annoying tourists, loud toddlers, sad restaurants, shopping, TV’s;  if you want to wake up to a melody of rain, to hear amazing sounds of a rainforest at night, to have your coffee at your veranda, surrounded by lush green, to see fairy tale birds, monkeys, dolphins and, if you are lucky enough, a shy coati, wild little piglet, or anteater, this is your place.

The resort has only 4 villas with the maximum number of 10 guests. That means you will only interact with other guests at the main lodge, and that is if you want to. If not, there is plenty of space to be private. 
The owners, Chantelle and Simone, have done astonishing job of creating the enchanting paradise that is unique
The entire team takes care of you constantly, but is never intrusive. You don’t have to explain or repeat your questions twice; everything is done for you quickly and quietly. The resort offers you plenty of activities day and night, but you are not expected to do any of it if you don’t want to.
The food is excellent, ingredients are freshly sourced and organic in a true meaning of ‘organic’.
The property is vast and very well maintained. The decor throughout the lodge is exquisite, the attention to detail -subtle and solid.
To run the retreat like Golfo Dulce requires hard work, careful planning, training, foreseeing, allocating resources. But above all it requires passion, kindness and total dedication.
This place is not one of numerous trendy ‘eco-lodges’ that sell you a pretty idea about how well  they ‘care’ or how good they/you are. This place is REAL.

I write these words of gratitude for all genuine people of Golfo Dulce Retreat.  People who truly care about their faraway little dot on the map and for what they give us. A magical experience. Transformational.
Grazie per l’ospitalità, per il tempo che avete dedicato e per esservi aperti a noi come avete fatto. Un sogno indimenticabile 

Golfo Dulce Lodge

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