Hidden Paradise Lodge

Eine versteckte, stille, sehr abgelegene Lodge. Einfache, saubere Hütten, kleiner schöner Pool, eine vorzügliche Verpflegung (3 Gänge, individuelle Lösungen bei Unverträglichkeiten) und besonders: Katherine, die freundliche, offene, hilfsbereite "Chefin". Mit ihren Tipps und ihrem Transportservice (kostenpflichtig) konnten die geplanten Unternehmungen trotz Abgeschiedenheit gut umgesetzt werden.

De accommodatie was inderdaad “hidden”. Moeilijk te vinden en bereikbaar met een auto (zonder 4x4 niet te bereiken of alleen per boot vanaf Sierpe). We verbleven in een hut welke basic was, maar wel goed schoon en een warme douche. Zeer aardige mensen die elke dag een ander ontbijt en diner klaar maakten, welke verrukkelijk waren.

Nos quedamos para pasar unos días en drake, aunque parece que pudiera estar un poco lejos de la bahía, es un lugar ideal para descansar y disfrutar de la Naturaleza. La familia que lo lleva es encantadora y las cabañas son acogedoras y perfectas para descansar por la noche. Consejo contratar las excursiones con el transporte.

4 of us stayed for three nights at Hidden Paradise earlier in February 2024. It was our first hotel on a 20 day trip, so we were apprehensive, but that didn't need to be the case! The owner Jorge came to pick us up from Drake airport and it was a 40ish min journey back to the lodge. As others have mentioned, the roads around the Drake area are not great, so even though the distance is not long, it can take a while to get to places. Jorge expertly navigated some tricky roads and told us a bit about the area. For context, our group was made of 3 Spanish speakers and 1 English speaker, so all comms were in Spanish. The cabins were simple and rustic (wood built with slightly dated bathroom), but they were big and fitted 1 double bed and 1 single bed with plenty of space for hanging clothes and putting the suitcases. Mosquito nets were well maintained and the fans were sufficient (we only used it once as the cabins were surprisingly cool at night). Everything was spotless too, the mattress on the double bed was very comfortable. The lighting wasn't great as it was a bit too high, but not a huge problem. A little tip I would always recommend is to get in the room before turning the light on as otherwise you will get a few 'guests' - you are in the jungle after all! Speaking of jungle, the setting of the lodge is very pretty and you do feel like you are in the middle of nature. The sounds from the cabin near sunset are something else, and all you can hear at night are the crickets which is very peaceful. The small pool was very welcome in the warm afternoon and you spotted a lot of animals in the surrounding trees from there including hummingbirds, monkeys, iguanas etc. The food was all included, with set times, but they were flexible in case you needed to go early for an excursion or arrived late from one. All the food was absolutely delicious and home made. We complimented the chef every single meal! The only issue is that you'd only get that choice, so if you are a picky eater, it could be tricky. I am sure they would be able to adapt with a little bit of warning, so if you have any requirements I would let them know in advance. You always got a juice with the meals, and any other drinks (coca cola, beer, cocktails etc) could be purchased for a nominal price Now to the staff: Jorge the owner was very kind and organised all the excursions for us on behalf of an agency. He's well known around the area, so boats were always waiting for him (and us!) in case something was running late - we felt like VIPs in that sense. We didn't have a car so a couple of times we also used him for a 'taxi service' and he took us to a couple of beaches to see the amazing sunsets and recommended things along the way. After one of the excursions we were still hungry and lunch time had already passed at the lodge, so he took us to a place in town to get some takeaways. 5 star service! Also Ryan & Kate, who both speak English, were always at hand back in the lodge and wo

We stayed 3 nights at hidden paradise, which is located about 15min drive away from bahia drake beach. Oddly enough we were the only guests, which was both cool and a bit sad at the same time. The host family, although they did not speak any english were sooo very kind and helpful. Excursions were planned to a T and we always got driven to and picked up from the different spots. The jungle noises at night were very impressive. The bungalos were the best we stayed in during our two week trip (spacious, mosqito nets, wifi, nice surroundings). Food was solid and always freshly prepared. The only reason this is not a 5 is due to the fact that you feel a bit stranded and dependent without a car, the roads in the area are quite rough and the fact that nobody really spoke english. So as you can tell, not really anything negative to say about the accommodation itself.

This lodge was excellent in all possible ways. First of all, they managed a 13-people reservation with very short anticipation without any problem. Moreover, they offered solutions to problems we even didn't know we were going to face once we arrived. They were waiting for us at the port with enough vehicles for the whole group, they prepared a 3-dishes dinner for all of us and a 5am breakfast for the next day as we were leaving early to Drake Park. They coordinate the moving of our luggage to our next hotel, and lend us bottles for our days in the forest. The rooms were comfortable, clean, inserted in the middle of a big park, with a lot of space for all of us. I want to specially thank the owner -Jorge - and his wife -don't remember his name-, and the tourist study Melissa Mora Abarca.