라 사마나 에코로지

This place is a sham! First off they approved early check in and when we got there they said it wasn’t ready so we had to wait around. There were people cutting the trees all day which was so noisy and defeated the calming Retreat we wanted. The pool had so many dead bugs in it we didn’t want to swim. The hot water in the room was non existent and the water pressure was a trickle. We could hear every single thing the people next door did, from talking to showering and using the restroom. It’s much further from the main road than 1 mile and they don’t offer any beverages, snacks etc for sale. When we asked to leave a day early because we weren’t happy and didn’t want to endure more cold showers and hearing the neighbors they denied us a refund. We checked out by 10am and left the room in tip top shape. We had ******* contact them and they still denied us a refund. We wasted $244 but only wanted a refund for the 1 night we didn’t stay. This place is nothing as advertised! The owners are rude when they don’t like what you have to say. The walkways are rock and mud, the wooden slats on the way to the rooms feel like they are going to snap at any moment. The bedding smelled like it was washed in dirty water and the mosquito nets around the bed were old and dirty. Stay far far away from this place!

I stayed three nights, and was satisfied with my booking. The lodge is perhaps 2 miles out of town (Cahuita), and the last half-mile is unpaved: you can use a 2WD but probably feel more comfortable in 4WD, if only for the clearance. There is a central lodge, serving as reception/dining room/lounge, and a number of nearby rooms. Mine was perhaps 50m from the lodge: well appointed and clean. It is not a hotel and you should not expect full hotel facilities: most guests use La Shamana as a base to explore the area. Service was not hotel-level, but always warm, helpful and efficient. Staff are not full-time, but are there to welcome you, cook a fresh and tasty breakfast daily plus dinner if you ask before setting off in the morning. The manager lives on-site: she is often away during the day, but always nearby and can always be contacted by phone/WhatsApp. They have a separate building for functions, and are happy to arrange visiting massage. The forest guide they arranged for me was excellent (fluent Englsah and knowledgeable). The spring-fed semi-natural swimming pool is clear, clean and cool after a sweaty day out. You are very much in the forest, albeit supplemented by careful and colourful planting in the vicinity of the Lodge: my room gave onto a lovely vista of green and colours, and the local troop of howler monkeys was very impressive when they trooped overhead. It was also delightful to lie in bed while a thunderstgorm raged! All in all, thoroughly recommended.