Drake Bay Getaway Resort by Sandglass

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!

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

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.

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.

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!