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Reviews of Cabinas Pura Vida Bed & Breakfast

2.5 out of 5
Cabinas Pura Vida Bed & Breakfast
Agujitas, Bahía Drake Centro, Playa Blanca de Osa, Drake Bay, Puntarenas

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 86 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 86 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 86 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 86 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 86 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Eszter, Gloucester

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room, good breakfast, good AC (needed ans very humid weather), annd owner Norlyn was very helpful including picking us up at the beach when we arrived and taking us down to our tours.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hilary

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We really appreciated that Norlyn arranged a taxi to take us to and from the airport. When it worked in his schedule, he also drove us down to the beach to catch the boat for one of our excursions, though the walk from Las Cabinas to the beach wasn't far at all. The breakfast served was amazing and the dining area was great for looking out to watch the birds.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Meghan, Chestnut Hill

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Excellent accommodations, super clean, comfortable, and delicious breakfast. Easy walking distance from restaurants, beach and tour companies. The owner was extremely friendly and helpful!

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Terrible owner and property
We didn’t end up staying here because the owner said he “sent us a message” that he didn’t have room for us. We didn’t receive his so called message until we showed up at the property and he suddenly came up with the message and said it was our fault that we didn’t get it. He was incredibly condescending and rude. DONT STAY AT THIS PROPERTY!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Everything about our stay was great and staff recommended some great tours.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Christopher

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Super warm welcome. Lovely terrace with nice green view; we chilled in the hammocks with a book. Kitchen available for those wanting to cook. Very clean and basic accommodation. Nice ambiance.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

James

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great location, awesome find.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful. They helped us register for a tour on short notice, and went above and beyond to help us have a great trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Luis

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent breakfast every day. Kimberley was very kind and helpful. We had an amazing time in Drake bay and will return for sure.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

timothy

Staff was extra friendly and helpful. There's a good panaderia close by. You're just far away from the town center that it's quiet, but still convenient.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Mario

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
A good stay
My room was clean, but slightly musty smelling. The AC worked well and the bed was sufficiently comfortable that I had no trouble sleeping. Like many hotels in Costa Rica, the hot water was more like warm water, but given the air temperature, that’s not a huge deal. Breakfast was prompt and tasty. The staff was very accommodating and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dylan

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Yolanda

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Nicest people ever, they treat you like family
We loved this place. Kimberly at the reception desk is the sweetest most efficient person you can find. We were there with our two teenagers and we all loved the place. Very clean and cozy. They even offered to wash our clothes after they got stinky hiking in they rain. They did everything and more to help us. I got injured in the forest (sprained ankle) and Kimberly and the owners family were truly concerned and caring, they even offered a ride in Kimberly’s car to go to the doctor. They made breakfast ( delicious)super early to accommodate the time of our insanely early tours. I would recommend this place to everyone.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Kimberly H on 23 Jul 2022
Fue un gusto compartir con ustedes, muchas gracias por tus bonitas palabras. Esperamos que vuelvan pronto .

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Kimberly was wondering and was able to pick us up and take us to the airport.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2022

8/10 Good

Dave, boulder

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Feb 2022. The room was clean and safe. Not luxurious, but serviceable and perfectly acceptable. The staff was helpful and friendly, although with slightly less English proficiency than most other places I stayed in CR. They are ready and willing to provide booking services for many of the various tour offerings in the area. There is limited off-street parking but there is ample street parking adjacent. The immediate vicinity of the property is pleasant enough, but does not boast any remarkable views. Less than 1 km to most anywhere in Drake. The open-air dining area was nice, and the included breakfasts were excellent.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

6/10 Okay

Laurel

Travelled with partner
Wonderful hosts!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ewout

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room is clean and has A/C. Breakfast is good and varies everyday. Staff is friendly, but English could be better. They can arrange boat transport to/from Sierpe for a good price, they pick you up and drop you off, great service!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

6/10 Okay

RENE

Travelled with partner
I did not the property manager when we checked in that they are fully booked despite we have a confirmed booking. We were lucky enough to be accommodated to an adjacent Villa Drake B&B. The breakfast is the same each day ..
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Félix-Antoine

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Good place!
Very clean place, friendly staff, close to everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Clarissa

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Incredible experience!
I had the most wonderful time at Cabinas Pura Vida. Karla messaged us in advance to help guide us on our stay and see how they could make us more comfortable. Daily breakfast was early and delicious and the outdoor hammock area to lounge was so relaxing after a long day. The rooms had cold AC and fast Wifi. We extended our stay and booked a couple excursions through them. I would love to come back and stay at this hotel again. For 2 people, it ended up being cheaper and much nicer than dorm bunks at the local hostel and such a calm, clean, and quiet stay. They picked us up from the water taxi but it was walking distance to everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Response from Clarissa on 2 Dec 2020
Thank you so much, Clarissa, I hope to see you again. Greetings, missing you!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Norlyn & his wife are excellent hosts. Pick up and drop off at the beach on arrival/departure and for all tours that depart from the beach. You can book your tours directly through Norlyn. The rooms are small but comfortable. There are hammocks, tables & a refrigerator in a communal area that guests can use.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was our favourite place to stay in CR. The owner was very helpful beforehand with instructions on how to get to Drake Bay. He was also helpful in booking trips and recommendations on restaurants, as well as driving down to the beach and collecting us at the end of the activities and taking us back up the hill. The rooms were super clean and super comfortable. We loved the dining area, where you could watch the birds eat off the birdfeeder, or relax in the hammock during the afternoon rains. The place is uphill, on the way out of town - but this meant that it was lovely and quiet and just what we wanted from our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

6/10 Okay

Sandrine

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness
Bad organization..
Upon arrival...even though I had a copy of the reservation handy saying that it was all paid for, they tried to have me pay a second time, pretending that they had not received payment from hotels.com/Expedia yet....they insisted 3 times until I started elevating my voice and explaining that this incidence was not my problem... Then we had to wait an extra half hour for the room, even though we arrived passed move in time... Then one of the sheets had 3 big stains... Other than that, we had a nice stay...
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We loved Cabinas and Drakes Bay, the staff were so friendly, rooms were clean and there was breakfast each morning. Walking distance to everything in drakes bay. A fab time
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Drake Bay gem
Caninas Pura Vida was a great choice. The property is very well maintained and immaculately clean. Breakfasts were excellent. Norlyn was a great host. He arranged all of our tours and picked us up at the beach when we arrived. Saw lots of birds and a monkey from the hammock in the common area. The hotel is a short hike up the hill from the beach. The beds were a bit firm for our taste but the wonderful AC made up for it. One improvement would be to allow some type of electronic payment. I’d be willing to pay a bit extra to avoid carrying lots of cash. We enjoyed our stay in Drake Bay and I can recommend Cabinas Pura Vida without hesitation.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Drake Bay is an under-developed area of Costa Rica -- think about it, you'll need to take a boat to reach there -- but the owner Norlyn made strong effort to ensure that our stay was as smooth as possible. His communication was always fast. He arranged our commutes to and from Drake Bay with details. He scheduled our tours and gave me written details of checklists. The restaurant he recommended, Mar y Bosque, was excellent. The room was clean with relatively new air conditioner, which works great. It's a little tricky to get hot water, but don't hesitate to ask.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Rebecca

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
As advertised - good value
Norlyn went out of his way to help accommodate our stay in Drake - the property is exactly as advertised. Breakfast was fine, and served early enough so that you can make your tours. Conveniently located, clean, simple accommodations - beds are super firm, A/C works, plenty of hot water...overall decent value for the money.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Helen, Drake Bay, cr

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and comfortable. Great to have AC after a hot day. Close to restaurants and shops. Nicely decorated unlock area to hang out.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Soroush

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Stay!!
I stayed here for 4 nights while scuba diving, and I must say, Norlyn and his wife are incredible hosts. They go above and beyond to make sure the guests are comfortable and looked after, from arranging tours and activities to picking you up and dropping you off at the beach. I really can't say enough good things about them. The hotel itself is very nice. The rooms are nice and clean, and each room has its own air conditioner, which is a definite must in Drake Bay. I was very comfortable in my room. The location is also great. It's less than a 10-minute walk to the beach, shops and restaurants. I will definitely stay here next time I'm in Drake Bay. Thank you Norlyn and family! Pura Vida!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Norlyn and Gabriela are AMAZING hosts. They took care of EVERYTHING for us even before we were there. They provided the names of the boat captain that would take us from Sierpe to Drake bay. We asked them how we could return to San Jose after our stay in Drake bay and they didn’t only provided the options, they also booked everything and personally called the respective party to ensure our transportation. The breakfast was great as well. The rooms were clean and the bathroom had hot water, and great AC system. However, there were insects inside of the room because the doors don’t have anything to block them from getting underneath it. Also, the mattresses nor pillows are confortable, at least the ones from room #2. We were getting really itchy during bedtime so we were also afraid that the bed could had bed bugs or something. Maybe something to inspect before the next visitors. Overall, the experience was very pleasant and like I said Norlyn and Gabriela were the best hosts ever.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

6/10 Okay

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness
Short stay drake bay
Stayed at drake as a way point to Corcovado . Communication was difficult at first and I tried to ask if it was better to come by car or boat but got a confusing response and came by boat anyway.We were met at the beach by taxi cabinas pura Vida arranges which was good as the journey was lively from sierpe !The lady on reception only spoke a little English and we only understood a little Spanish so it was more difficult than it needed to be. Kitchen area was nice and good to spot some of the local birds . We even saw sloths nearby. Rooms were basic but clean and on the hard side with a bunk bed and a double in the room. One negative was the night light shone straight into room 3 so every time or noisy neighbours went past we got a flood of light into the room. Not ideal when you are up early . Breakfast was good with fruit and scrambled eggs though we had an early tour we had to leave at 5.45 so didn’t get any breakfast in day 2. It’s clean and functional but up a steep hill at the back of town.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018

8/10 Good

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A great place for a couple of nights!
We stayed here for a couple of nights before heading out of Drake to the Corcovado National Park for a couple of nights. Everyone at the venue and the wider town made us feel welcome and offered all the assistance we could need even one person taking us into their back garden to see a sloth! If you're visiting Drake I would recommend staying here - simple place but friendly welcome and a great place for a couple of nights!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

inge, ottawa, canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
already want to go back!
Hotel was incredible value. Norlyn met us at the beach for the short drive up to the hotel. Clean, comfy, relaxed. Breakfast served as we arrived each morning. A slight mixup with our snorkel booking actually led to a far better outcome ... Norlyn made arrangements for a second tour, so we got much more than planned on. Snorkelling was fantastic and the jungle tour in Corcodova was very satisfying. Norlyn drove us to and from the beach each day to ensure we met up with the correct guide and boat captain. I highly recommend this hotel and Norlyn as its host . Be sure to eat at Claudio’s!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jean, Upstate NY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Comfortable room with great breakfast
What a pleasant surprise! We heard reviews were good but this exceeded our expectations. Quiet location, comfortable beds, and the A/C Is much appreciated. Very helpful hosts who seem to really care that you enjoy your stay. Breakfast was like a home cooked meal and served in a peaceful shaded deck, which is also your shared kitchen which we found very handy to store some Cold Cervezas. I was even able to make a cup of hot tea in the afternoon and drink it while swinging in one of the several hammocks available. Muchas Gracias Norlyn y Gabriela!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michael, Sequim, WA. USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Paradise in Bahia Drake
Norlyn and Gabriela are excellent hosts. Norrlyn offers great local information and tips. He is also willing to transport guests when possible to tour meeting spots. Breakfast is good, rooms are cleaned every day and we enjoyed watching the birds eating near the patio every morning. This hotel lives up to its name- pura vida!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2018

8/10 Good

Normand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay at Cabinas Pura Vida
Great service. Good value for money. Location near the beach and restaurants.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Little Hotel
Incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive staff. The room and property was immaculately clean and comfortable. We’ll surely come here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Cabins at Drake
Pro: AC, you need it in this area, breakfast and restaurant area. Cons: poor wifi conectivity, restrooms need some remodeling.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

JuliAnne, Costa Rica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great little place - we loved it!
Clean, compact, but plenty of outside covered patio spaces with hammocks and chairs for communal hanging out with friends or families. Hot water works good. Plenty of room for your "stuff" inside with cubby holes and shelving (even in the bath). Beds were fine. Breakfast was good. Staff super nice. We'll be back for sure! 5 min walk to grocery store, 10 min walk to beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

Dianne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Lovely location for bird watching at breakfast
The hotel is exactly as described and very good value. We were on a trip to Corcovado and had a very early departure to catch the boat. The staff got up early and made breakfast for us before the normal time and then took us right to the beach. This was after we had had a difficult travel experience the night before. When we returned from Corcovado, the staff again made a great recommendation for dinner and got us to the airport at the right time. I wanted to be much earlier but they were quite right in their timing.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

Alex, Boston

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great stay in Drake Bay
We had a wonderful stay in Drake Bay. Norlyn was incredibly friendly and helpful. He picked us up from the water taxi and gave up great tips about what to do in Drake Bay. I made reservation with him to tour to Siren​a​ corcovado but there was some mixup and he was able to book us to San Pedrillo station instead. Overall we had a great experience at Cabinas Pura Vida. We definitely recommend this place to everyone who wants to enjoy Drake Bay.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Gintare

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great experience, very welcoming
Loved our stay at Cabinas Pura Vida! The staff was very friendly and made us feel very welcomed. When we got there, the owner drove us around the area to show where everything is and helped us book tours. We had an early morning tour that started at 6am the following morning. Breakfast normally is 6-8am but they made breakfast early for those going on the tour. Breakfast was delicious both days, made fresh each morning! The rooms were clean and comfortable. The common area had hammocks, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring the jungle. There was a cute kitten that was very playful. The location is walking distance to the little downtown area with all the restaurants and supermarket as well as the beach. Overall a very enjoyable experience!! Thank you for the hospitality!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda, Austin, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This is comfortable and staff is outstanding!
Drake Bay is quite the remote location! Very beautiful, but requiring 4X4 to handle roads and 4-5 river crossings if you drive there. This can be challenging during rainy season. As one Tico told me "even most Ticos don't make it this far out here!" Quite an adventure. Pura Vida Cabinas was a welcome refuge after the exciting trek to get there! It is bare basics, but done nicely - you have what you need. WiFi was good too. The owner and staff are the BEST! They try their hardest to help you, serve you and make you feel welcome in every way possible! You feel like family and get to know the other people staying there which is great fun! They took many people out to whale watch! Rooms are comfortable - good bed and hot water! Surroundings are Beautiful! They are so helpful to give advice, make arrangements to scuba dive, eat out, or help with any need.Owner speaks excellent English. You can walk to scuba shop and the beach from there. I look forward to another visit when I get down that way again! Pura Vida!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
Response from Norlyn Rojas on 23 Nov 2017
Many thanks ! For people how you are worth moving on with our work, we appreciate it very much, God bless you!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great launch point for outdoor treks
Well-maintained, no-frills, clean room with great A/C. Great service from the owners who helped us choose and register for lots of great outdoors activities. Lovely outdoor lounge area with self-service kitchen. Definitely one of the nicer places in Drake Bay.
Muchas gracias por su visita, Pura Vida !

8/10 Good

Yasmina, Montréal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice hotel and friendly staff
Good location, close to the bay, restaurants and supermarkets. The owners can book excursions for you and bring you to the excursion meeting point in the morning. The included breakfast is delicious and the kitchen is open to everyone to cook the rest of the day. There is also a big fridge that everybody can use. The room is clean and big enough for 2. The only downside was that the wall are very thin so we could hear everything outside our room and our neighbours washing their teeth. Since we were leaving pretty soon in the morning, it didn't matter. A very good stat overall.

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cute, friendly place!
I had a great stay here. Norlyn gave me directions on how to arrive to Drake's Bay and picked me up from beach. He showed me around the town as well. The hotel was within waking distance of restaurants, hiking trail and beach. It's quiet and has good internet. Breakfast was good. It was clean. The people there were very friendly and helpful. He also helped me to book tours for the week.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
beatiful small family owned resort, with the two owners who will do everything to make you comfortable!

10/10 Excellent

Jonas, Sweden

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Super friendly and nice hostel
We stayed there for three nights and had a great time with clean and nice facilities and great hosts! They help out in any way they could and made our stay great! Realy nice kitchen and eating area. The breakfast was a bit to little for us who normaly eat quite a lot for breakfast but the free coffee is nice!

10/10 Excellent

Lisa, Wisconsin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay near Corcovado National Park
The rooms are plain but comfortable and clean. The host, Norlyn, did a fantastic job connecting us with excellent tours and guides. In addition to snorkeling and visiting the national park, Norlyn arranged a wonderful horseback ride to a waterfall where the horses walked through a stream surrounded by jungle. We swam below the falls and it was awesome.