This place is beautiful! The landscape is a combination of lava rock and areas of vegetation, and you can see the ocean about a mile away. Some of the reviews call it glamping, which is sort of true, but there is running water, a kitchen, a shower with hot water, and a flushable commode, so I think that’s a step up from glamping.
To have a good experience, I recommend that you plan on arriving ten to fifteen minutes before the check-in time. The google map directions get you to the first gate, but after that there is additional driving, and a few gates that need to be opened before you drive through them, then closed and secured after.
You want as much time before nightfall as possible to figure out how stuff works. And you definitely do not want to get here after dark! I arrived an hour before dark, and ended up with a cold shower, and a dinner of nuts and chocolate. Not awful, but not ideal. Samantha is very helpful and she responds quickly to any questions, but she can’t answer questions that you haven’t yet figured out you need to ask. Give yourself time to figure out your questions.
The place is very clean, more so than I would have expected from a place that’s partially exposed to the elements. The hale is a one room structure, and the kitchen, toilet and shower are all located outside at the back of the house, with the best bathroom view ever. There is a porch in front that faces the ocean and you can see the sunrise over the ocean from there. Inside the room there is one large bed with a luxurious mattress, and one twin bed with an adequate mattress. It’s probably a good thing my traveling companion ended up not being able to join me, because we would have been fighting for the large bed. The big bed would be great for a couple traveling together!
The stars on a clear night are amazing! There is zero light pollution.
I'll admit, the sound of the coqui frogs did grate on my nerves. I got used to the sound of the coqui off in the distance, but the first night there was one coqui that seemed to be a few feet away, and the sound felt piercing. But I am very sensitive to high pitched noises, so it probably wouldn't bother a normal person. :-)
I think one of the reviews complained about the geckos. That doesn't make any sense to me -- the geckos are your friends! They are super cute, they’re quiet, they eat bugs, and they stay out of your way. They’re like adorable little roombas that climb walls and have superior AI.
Be sure to bring adequate food provisions with you. The recent lava flow cut off the road which would have been the quicker route, and this place is now off the beaten path. There is a mini fridge and a propane stove. I was here in December and the stove (and the entire kitchen) worked very well for me.