Drake Bay Getaway Resort by Sandglass Reviews

We cannot say enough about our time at Drake Bay Getaway. Hay Neer had newly taken over management of the resort and it did not show as he was so welcoming, knowledable and organized. We could not have asked for a better host. He helped us plan our excursions and made sure we had what we needed to maximize our experiences. We do not speak Spanish so it was so nice to have Hay Neers help with organizing adventures for us.We had so much fun talking to Hay Neer and his party Andy who also helped host. The food was absolutely incredible and blew us away. The staff we so mindful and accomodating of dietary restrictions and the food was all made fresh and was amazing. The room and view was stunning. Everything on the property was spotless. All the staff we so kind and hard working. We even got to see some wild life around the property!

What can I say about Drake Bay Getaway Resort and Drake Bay in general - Life-changing. We stayed in the Heliconia cabin and it was perfect. Great views of the ocean and a macaw couple nesting in the trees. We were worried about the lack of AC - we are Americans okay - but the ceiling fan and airflow of the cabin made it comfortable. In fact we had to use the blanket at night. Geinier, the new GM, is amazing. He went above and beyond to make our trip memorable. The food was impeccable and always 5-star presentation. The fresh fruit, smoothies, desserts. I really can’t explain how fantastic everything was at this resort. We made forever friends and plan to go back as soon as we can. Highly recommend!!

I went after reading near perfect reviews. While there were aspects I liked, it wasn’t the great experience I had hoped for Pros: meals were beautiful and delicious; Yens and Patrick were super nice and accommodating; the view from the bungalow was good ( not great); the other guests were friendly and interesting; good WiFi Cons: animal life not nearly as plentiful as expected (saw monkeys from our balcony at Tulemar; none at drake bay); Corcovado and mangrove tour were letdowns (Corcovado is crowded with limited animal life, 4-hour Mangrove tour saw monkeys for 15 minutes, nothing else except birds); 10 minute hike from dining room to bungalow is straight up, left us streaming sweat and heaving for breath and we are in good shape and young); really missed a/c in room, especially during day; no pool to hang out at after excursion and 30 minute hot hike to nice beach; no screen on bathroom windows (why?) leaves you dodging bugs at night even if you leave the light off as management recommends, I was stung by a wasp when I took a shower on my first night).

I was extremely fortunate to have my entire Family together at Drake Bay Getaway Resort for 5 nights. Two years ago my wife and I had a 3 night amazing taste of DBGR and knew our entire Family would love everything about the experience. It was the perfect choice to celebrate an important milestone in my life. My wife and I had been praising the resort to our family for so long. Somehow, Patrick and Yens managed to beat all expectations! The memories, tastes, sounds, adventures, trails, views, and conversations will be shared forever in my Family. Some of the favorites - Adventure of getting there - The food and drink (the bomb) - Cabins and views - Birds and vegetation - The trails, beaches, and water (Thats all you need) - Taking pictures of each amazing meal course set down in front of you - Watching the stars - Yens and Patricks company at all meals - Going to sleep with all the outside sounds - Waking up with all the outdoor sounds and sunrise view - So many monkeys and endless wildlife - National Park Tour - Sierpe River tour - Night Hike - Real CR beach village just down the beach - Great boat rides - "The presentation of each meal" - Having all 5 cabins and the resort to ourselves Thank You Yens and Patrick for a truly magical and unforgettable experience!

Drake Bay GetAway Resort and it’s owners Yens and Patrick provide an unforgettable escape experience. From the first greeting at the airport, to every interaction and meal, to the meticulous planning and briefings, you feel like you are part of a costa rican family with a decadent lifestyle. The personalised and engaging approach from the owners, the brilliance of the chefs, the conversations between guests and the simplicity and quality of the resort deliver a truly magical experience. Then there is the location - set on the edge of what I consider the last frontier of Costa Rican wilderness. My wife went off searching for frogs, snakes and spiders on the night tour and loved it. I immersed myself on the local walks, howler monkeys, pacas and beaches. My favourite moment was pods of dolphins joining us on the sunset boat tour. The boat leader and wildlife guide were excellent, on corvado tour and sierpe trips, again making sure you get the best experience possible. When there was a small problem like a body injury or an epic storm impacting safety or quality of a tour, it was handled very professionally. We found the locality and climate incredibly therapeutic, including the mesmerising hummingbird experience with every breakfast. We feel privileged to have had a week with the wildlife in this unique part of the world. We just hope the government, people of the land and tourists can continue to protect this pristine nature paradise, so that in another 300 years the jungle is just as healthy, expansive and full of vitality as it is today. Highly recommend a visit.

Patrick and Yens were the ultimate hosts. We felt completely taken care of before and during our trip. Such a unique romantic location with so much natural beauty. There were families there as well enjoying themselves. The three meals/day were all gourmet - creative and delicious, fresh and locally sourced. They made food gluten-free for me which included amazing desserts and gluten free cakes/bread which was a treat. We loved the chicken with achiote sauce and the filet perfectly cooked with chocolate sauce. I remember the pineapple mint zucchini trio because I was astonished that they could taste that good together. The unlimited custom coffee drinks and fruit-based smoothies were hand crafted and so satisfying. They arranged for a snorkeling trip to Cano island where we saw 7 sea turtles, sea stars, sea cucumbers, parrot fish, trigger fish, schools of trumpet fish and many others. We saw multiple types of coral including a smooth blue coral I haven't seen anywhere else! They also arranged for a trip to Corcovado at the Sirena base with Jiro. He was the absolute best guide. We saw tapirs, juvenile and adolescents sloths, squirrel monkeys, white faced monkeys, and howler monkeys. Birds included black hawks, scarlet macaws, toucans, and tangers. We won't forget the croc and the crabs either. We also spotted a great curassow, yellow caracara, a very rare owl and trogon as well. We stopped at a magical place on the way back where Sir Francis Drake may have hid his treasure - yes he was a pirate apparently. Nearby we could see from the boat one of the only waterfalls in Costa Rica that spills out into the ocean. Both the cano island and corcovado tours were like private tours. We really enjoyed being catered to and will never forget this trip!

Spectacular. Inspiring. Our family had a wonderful visit to Drake Bay Getaway, one that not only immersed us in our natural environment (waking up to toucans! And Scarlet Macaws! And parrots!)!) while there, but a trip that has sat with us since we have arrived home, inspiring us to do more to live sustainably in our local environment in New England. The view from our cabin was truly amazing. My 11-year old daughter spent so much time in the hammocks while I became a bird watcher! The food, as other reviews will tell you, is fresh, creative, and divine. The "bomb" smoothie is a must drink on a hot day. I had been nervous about my daughter -and food - but with one thing on the menu, she ate things that she never would have thought to order..and she *loved* it. Yellowfin tuna (rare for me, not for my husband or daughter!), (baked) yucca chips, mahi-mahi, passionfruit chicken, shrimp. And the lava cake. Yum. She's still talking about it. We were a little nervous about sleeping without ac given how hot and humid it was during the day, but we truly did need a blanket in the middle of the night! I got cold under the fan! And there is something to just giving in and letting your sleep cycle match the sun cycle - we got up early with the sunrise and went to bed not too much later after dinner when the sun went down. We were well-rested. And in the mornings, we did amazing excursions - to Corcovado, to Cano Island (highly recommend the snorkeling! And Jairo, our guide for both, was wonderful! We saw coral reef sharks, tortoises, dolphins and fake orca whales!) We also did the organic farming tour. Tony was a wonderful guide - and the swim under the waterfall was amazing. His family is so sweet and offered us up some wonderful cake and coffee after our hike. But truly, what makes Drake Bay Getaway "next-level" = Yens and Patrick. It is really hard to understate the level of passion, attention, and wisdom the two of them have for their guests, their eco-resort, and their community. They are truly Jacks-of-All-Trades. Coffee makers (the cappuccino was amazing), servers, tour-arrangers, "uber" drivers, innovators, venture capitalists, community organizers, and knowledge-providers of all things Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay. We had the good fortune for the last few days of our trip to have the place to ourselves (we were there at the beginning of the rainy season, when it is less crowded). During meal time, my daughter would show off her magic tricks for them (and Yens taught her an amazing card one:) ) and during these times, Yens and Patrick shared so much with us about their decision to move to Costa Rica from Seattle, and the thought process behind all their decisions building the resort sustainably. Every last detail has been considered (the passive cooling, the teak wood they used in construction, their ability to not cut down one tree during construction). But we also learned so much about the history of Osa (and Cano Island!) from Yens whose

Yens and Patrick were very attentive hosts. They provided excellent guidance for our excursions, including for sun exposure and hydration. The cooks produced outstanding meals from locally sourced provisions that were a feast for the eyes and palate. Though unseen, it was obvious the support staff excelled at maintaining the rooms and grounds. We had terrific views of the bay and hills from our spacious cabin. Sitting on the deck, we enjoyed watching the many birds near us, in the trees, and above the bay.

We spent four wonderful nights at Drake Bay Getaway. The landscape was gorgeous, hiking around the property so enjoyable and cabins fun, even when it rained. The view was fantastic and we relaxed after an active day, hanging out on the balcony or heading to the beach. Each meal was unique and lovely. Our multiple dietary requests - one with allergies, one vegan and one who ate everything was accommodated with creativity and flair, using beautiful, local ingredients. Drinks and smoothies were amazing. We enjoyed all tours - hiking in Corcovado, Snorkelling, bird watching and the night time bug lady tour. Yens and Patrick are warm and generous hosts. Their hospitality was unmatched, even re-arranging our transportation - behind the scenes - when there was an airport glitch we didn’t know about. We lucked out and enjoyed a beautiful mangrove tour as a result , making our flight back to San Jose in plenty of time. We had a ton of fun and would love to return. Our family would highly recommend.

Six stars for this intimate resort. With only five cottages on a handsome hillside, Yens and Patrick have created a sustainable and elegant resort in the jungle. Scenic views of the bay, the ocean and mountains are available throughout the cottage, including the plein air shower. The pristine cuisine was presented in a refined, elegant manner. The meals are customized; even my request for red snapper sashimi for dessert was cheerfully accommodated. Patrick and Yens have thought deeply of every element of your stay, so you can completely relax and enjoy the flower, fauna, and food.

Ok so you’re coming to the Osa Peninsula (awesome choice) but you don’t know where to stay….. Fortunately for you, your search is now over. So, I could go on and on and on about how amazing, welcoming, inspirational and passionate the owners; Patrick and Yens are. Or, about the Michelin star worthy gourmet delights (ingeniously designed by Patrick) that appeared meal after meal. Or, the staggeringly beautiful scenery, location, accommodation, abundant marine and land based wildlife, tours and ‘jungle getaway’! Or, the tireless work that the owners selflessly provide to their local community via their humanitarian organisation and its various projects. Projects that provided crucial financial support to a local community decimated by the lack of tourism throughout COVID. Projects that continue to build a better and brighter future for the local children, their families and the wider community. Or, you could stop reading this review, book your vacation and come and fact check this information for yourself. Like us, your only disappointment will be that you didn’t stay longer.

The owners Yens and Patrick have created something really special on one of the remotest spots of Costa Rica. On the land where Yens grew up as a kid they created a boutique hotel with just five rooms, each with a magnificent view and surrounded by lush gardens and a plenty of butterflies and exotic birds of all kinds. Even with such a small number of rooms they manage to create miracles in the kitchen three times a day. I haven´t had such tasty and innovative food using only local and fresh ingredients anywhere else in Central or South America. DrakeBay Getaway is perfectly located for trips to Canos Island as well as Corcovado National Park. Make sure to book Tracies Bug night walk right when you book your trip. It sells out very quick!

This place is magic! A walk on the wild side. Nestled on a jungle hilltop overlooking Drake Bay amidst orchids, scarlet macaws and monkeys, the resort owners Yens and Patrick perform at the highest level of hospitality and service. They have built an eco resort with a gourmet menu of fresh ingredients crafted from scratch, every meal was unique and delicious. We explored Corcovado National park, snorkeled near Cano Island, rode horses up a river to a waterfall, hiked a trail along the ocean and did a night tour with the bug lady and saw amazing wildlife. Yens and Patrick gave us a bravura performance! Mornings began with Coffee bomb smoothie’s and lattes and ended with tropical cocktails. If you are moderately fit, jungle curious and ready for a vacation you will never forget, check out the getaway.

Luxury is defined as “a condition of abundance, great ease and comfort” and I can find no better word to sum up my experience. Having had the good fortune of staying at many branded luxury hotels worldwide I have to say this experience changed my opinion of what it really means to be “treated like royalty.” After all, many of us choose luxurious chain hotels because we expect impeccable service, superlative gastronomy, spectacular accommodations and hopefully environmentally conscious policies. Yens and Patrick deliver on all these fronts with impressive natural ease and it is a TRUE luxury to be their guest. Every action taken has your best interest in mind and is oriented towards you having all of your needs met, not by a large staff trained at corporate headquarters, but by two brilliant, kindhearted, generous owners. It is an incredible luxury these days to have such a personal experience. Every morning I was greeted by the smiling faces of Yens and Patrick who genuinely care. Patrick has devoted the last 10 years to perfecting thousands of recipes to ensure outstanding performance from the kitchen, taste testing each meal, every day. Yens will arrange your transportation to the hotel, arrange for all of your tours and speak to you about your dietary preferences. They are not delegating this caretaking to an employee, they just want you to have the best vacation ever! Any question I had, they could answer, no concierge needed! I wholeheartly encourage you to choose this kind of luxury: outstanding gastronomy, fantastic excursions, unbelievable views brought to you with authentic care and attention to your every need. You will not regret it!