Boca Sombrero

I was charged resort pricing to stay in a dirty, bug-infested tent platform with a shared outhouse. It was the worst vacation ever; sleeping on the ground in a super hot claustrophobic tent with no privacy. The beach is ugly black sand, rocky, hot and dry. There is no proper path to get to the beach either. The yoga mats and equipment is old and worn. Plus you're isolated from everything else, so in my case, the hosts charged us double the going rate for extras like massages and excursions. Why anyone would choose to stay there when there are so many beautiful beaches and yoga sanctuaries in Costa Rica is beyond me.

We came for a yoga and surfing retreat and would return in a heartbeat! Excellent food, staff, and beautiful grounds. A truly immersive experience in the Costa Rican rainforest. It's remote and peaceful, the water is warm and the waves are small - perfect for beginner surfers. As others have said, this is not a hotel but a "glamping" experience at its finest. Be prepared for interaction with many of CR's wildlife of all shapes and sizes sharing their space with you.

We had a wonderful time at Boca Sombrero for a yoga / surf weeklong retreats. The hosts are amazing and very responsive (thank you Monika), the site is gorgeous, and the food on retreats is OUTSTANDING (thank you Lily). This is a gem!

This place is in a class of it's own. It's glamping, and feels like it's situated in a zoo. Be prepared for monkeys (capuchins, howlers, spider monkeys), ara's, iguanas, hermitcrabs, agouti's, butterflies and hummingbirds.... and those are just the conspicuous sightings! There is no airco, but the house doesn't really need it. There is usually a nice breeze. When we were there we were a bit unlucky, since the hot water wasn't working in the shower. The response assured us this was something that would normally be dealt with adequately (as it was it was Sunday and there was little to be done). Even so, it didn't bother us much. It was actually pretty nice :). If you're still on the fence about where to stay, stop overthinking it and book already!

My boyfriend and I stayed at Casa Rio Sombrero. It is total perfection. Would be great for two couples as well. The open kitchen and small pool were the homes highlights in my eyes. So close to the beach and countless iguanas and macaws. Beautiful sunrise!

My family and friends of eight stayed a week at Boca Sombrero. The complex is large with several acres of garden-like landscaping. We stayed in the main house and one of the tent cabinas. The house layout is a typical open concept next to the ocean. The sound of the ocean, birds, and thunderstorms; the fragrance of the flowers; and the colors of flowers and birds can transform anyone. The beach has part sand (high tide) and clay formations with tide pools that get hot during low tide that are like hot tubs. Our host, Monika knows the area well and led us on a nature hike that was adventurous. She also set us up for some surf lessons/board rentals ... just few minutes walk down the beach; as well as a boat tour in the gulf. My well-traveled Tico friends really enjoyed the stay, as did my three teenagers. The property is eco friendly with solar power for electricity. There is no wash machine, but arrangements can be made. If you are not familiar with the humidity, just know to bring clothes that wash and dry easily. The stove is propane and is huge, great for cooking in large groups. The refrigerator is big and works well. Dishes are washed by hand (normal for rental houses/cabinas). The sun sets around 5:30 - 6:00, so bring some rechargeable flashlights if you want to walk around at night on the beach, etc. The best comparison for those in the US and Canada is the idea of Glamping, or glamor camping. Basically you need to take care of your own stuff. It's not a hotel, so have the right expectation. If you want to relax, have fun, privacy, etc., the is a great place. There are many different adventures in the area. The roads past Puerto Jimenez are NOT paved, and 4x4 is the best way to go down the road toward Carate past the Sombrero area. Shopping for food can be down in Puerto Jimenez at the BM. The drive is about 40-45 minutes in daylight past the store. Next time I go I will stay for at least two weeks.

What a beautiful and convenient location. We stayed in the Playa Sombrero Cabina and it was like our own little resort! Private pool and a little remote indoor/outdoor kitchen that we hung around while making meals or playing cards. The beach break out back is a very fun and playful A-Frame that my 13year old and her friend and I loved!! Plenty of wildlife nearby and if you like adventure the drive to Carate is a lot of fun. We were close to the surf breaks and wildlife in Matapolo. We stayed for 5 nights to include an evening at the farmers market at Martina's. We all loved this place and will return!!

It was heartbreaking to have to leave Casa Troja at Boca Sombrero. We had such a wonderful time here with our 2 children. The property is (with the current state of the road) about 45 min drive from Puerto Jimenez. You definitely need 4x4, travel further south also requires crossing rivers via fords. Monika the on site manager was a delight and helped us with absolutely everything. We can thoroughly recommend a boat trip to the wild life sanctuary towards Golfito - we had a very informative tour and got to see numbers of dolphins on the way back. Casa Troya was designed by an artist and you do live in a work of art, open to the surroundings, so expect many uninvited visitors! Insect repellent is a must. Scarlet macaws and monkeys at breakfast, all sorts of other wildlife to be spotted from the terrace. The beach is beautiful but unfortunately not suitable for children due to the rocks. However, there is a great sandy beach just a couple of km up the road (Playa Tamales) where body boarding etc is possible. We can 100% recommend this wonderful place for an unforgettable holiday.

We slept 3 nights in this beautiful beach casa and it was amazing. You have to drive half an hour on a dusty bumpy dirtroad from Puerto Jiminez, but it's totally worth it. The house is just a few steps away from the beach and felt really luxury. The bed was comfy, the shower too. There was a fully equipped kitchen and comfy lounging chairs. The house was open; no walls or windows. That made is nice and breezy. But you do have to like that there are bats and bugs flying around at night (there is a mosquito net, though). In the morning the howler monkeys greeted us, we also saw capucin monkeys throwing mangos out of the tree and there are lots of birds and butterflies flying around as well. Monika is the on site manager and she's very kind and helpful. I can really recommend this place to nature lovers!

Thank you Monika, Lilly, Luke, Flor and all the special Boca Sombrero people who have become friends over my three years of attending yoga retreats here. I joke that i may never see the rest of Costa Rica because Boca is so magical. The delicious food, perfect location, warm hospitality and myriad activities will keep me coming back! Pura Vida everyone, I miss you already.

I went to Boca Sombrero on a Yoga Retreat for a week. It's been but a day since I left, and I made a Trip Advisor account just to review this wonderful place to ensure the closest thing I could get to a thank you, to everyone there. The people who work there are all sweet, talented, gracious, caring, and amazing. Since my stay was a retreat, we got 4 meals a day. Boca Sombrero had the best food I have ever had, and Lily the cook was amazing. She made everything we asked, and then some; with very tight food restrictions. I can say honestly, the food never felt restricted, or lacking. We went on amazing adventures organized by the staff, and there wasn't a moment of disappointment, or homesickness. I can't wait to go back. Muchas Gracias for the transformative experience Monika, Sylvia, Grace, Lily, Pedro, and the countless other staff. You're all so amazing.

We rented a house in the property for 5 days after trekking around other parts of the country. This was a great way to end the trip because we had a beautiful property, house, and beach practically to ourselves. Monika is very accessible and she makes sure you have everything you need. We were offered the option to have breakfast in the main house in the mornings which we opted for occasionally. It was very tasty. We also really enjoyed taking surf lessons with Eddy and Michelle.