I don’t think previous reviews quite prepared me for this experience! It was truly a rainforest jungle EXPERIENCE rather than just a home or place to stay!!
I’ll give a balanced review, so let me start with the positive…. The home has a beautiful view and we were able to see monkeys right outside on our deck. One day a hummingbird came up to us while outside and just fluttered a foot from our faces! The deck is great for watching birds and butterflies too. Inside, the house is the perfect size and literally has everything you could need. I felt like I was at home because of the amenities… coffeemaker and coffee, refrigerator, oven and stove, every kitchen gadget imaginable… very well stocked. There were plenty of towels that were fresh and full, bathroom soap (bring your own shampoo and bath products!). Linens were all very clean and extra sets provided. I loved having a fan in my room because of the white noise it provides and the extra ventilation. There’s no AC but you don’t really need it because the climate is cooler at this elevation and in this area. Wifi signal was strong!! Every person we interacted with during our stay was welcoming and kind and so helpful. If we had questions or problems, they resolved it immediately.
We had Millie and her team make 3 meals for us during our 4 night stay. At first, I wasn’t sure about the price because it seemed expensive. But what I didn’t realize is that she comes to the home and cooks for you and cleans up afterwards! I thought we would be driving to a lodge or kitchen somewhere but it was like having a personal chef. She is the sweetest and even made smoothies for us while we waited for dinner! She made a fresh floral arrangement for the table and presented a delicious meal so beautifully so we felt like we were at a high end restaurant. It was definitely worth it!
We booked two tours through them - the ATM cave tour and the Pontoon boat tour. I’ll talk about the boat tour because the owner of the house runs it and is the captain of the boat too! It was hands down the best thing we did while staying in the area. I thought it was going to be a leisurely ride with lunch but it was so much more!! The crew was so funny and made everyone have the best time. It can be as adventurous as you want it to be because there are opportunities to swim in waterfalls, tube, jump and swing from the rocks into the water, see nature, hike a little bit…. Everything you could want out of a perfect day! Best money I spent on my trip so far - so book it!
Some words of advice for anyone renting… definitely have a 4WD vehicle. The road to get to the eco lodge and the driveway is rough to say the least. The first time is the worst and you may feel like turning back but keep moving because it will be worth it and it does get easier each time you drive it. Also go during daylight hours because it will be a lot less stressful. Plan ahead to bring food with you because once you get to the home, you will want to stay here as much as possible. Confirm everything in advance of your arrival: tell them your arrival time so they can keep a look out for you; confirm tour info; confirm the number of bedrooms and baths for your stay (one bedroom and bath has its own entrance so you don’t have to rent out the full home); get driving directions and screenshot it (you won’t get cell service between Benque del Carmen and the home).
Enjoy!!!!