Drake Bay Getaway Resort by Sandglass

My wife and I got to stay in a beautiful room 6th and 8th of August, 2025. Our hosts held our room on the 7th at no cost as we stayed overnight at Sirena Station, although I imagine during peak season they might not be able to accommodate that service. We were met as we got off the public boat at the beach by two young men who helped us carry our backpacks up the road a thousand or more yards to our room. While the walk uphill was challenging for us Floridians who are used to flat terrain, the walk was worth every step. The view is what took our breath away, no A/C and not really needed. The height allowed for a wonderful breeze and amazing view of the birds. We didn’t need A/C and didn’t worry about bugs either. We were on the nature trail around the bay and the closest hotel to town with spectacular views and breeze. We saw Scarlett macaws every morning and evening as they went from one valley to the next. Additionally, the Mrs. is a superb chef and made the most delicious fruit smoothies and luscious meal. Don’t miss this experience!

We had high hopes for Drake Bay Getaway based on the glowing reviews and beautiful website, but the experience fell far short. While there were a few bright spots, the stay left us frustrated, uncomfortable, and deeply disappointed. What we appreciated: The onsite staff were kind, welcoming, and truly did their best with the circumstances they were given. Breakfast was delicious. The team helped us with luggage on the steep and surprisingly long hike to the rooms and allowed us to store bags while we visited Corcovado. Once we arrived, they also shared a working WhatsApp number for communication—which was critical, since nothing else worked. What went wrong and why we won’t be returning: False advertising: The website and our confirmation email clearly stated that airport transfers were included. They were not. Thankfully the staff arranged a taxi, or we would have been stranded at a remote airport with no Wi-Fi or taxis. No communication: The hotel did not respond to our emails, and the WhatsApp number on the website didn’t work. We had no way to reach anyone in advance. Luxury? Not even close: Our room had an open-air shower and a fully open connection to the bedroom. During a storm, we were woken in the middle of the night with water falling on us. That same storm brought in huge jungle insects, making the bathroom unusable. And yes, I know we are in the jungle but the open air shower didn't enhance the experience with beauty, a simple screen would make it so much better. Same with the giant door - a simple screen allows you to enjoy the breeze and beauty without the bugs. We had this in other jungle locations! Missing amenities: There was no in-room coffee or tea, despite being promised in both the confirmation and on the website. The hammocks shown online had also been removed. Misleading marketing: The hike to the rooms is much more strenuous and longer than described. They previously used to shuttle you up the hill to the trail at least, but that is not offered anymore. Anyone with mobility concerns should be warned clearly. The real issue: It’s obvious that the original owners who built a true luxury experience have sold to a heartless corporation. Since Sandglass Hotels took over, they’ve stripped away everything that made this place special. The website still reflects the old charm, but the experience does not. The amazing staff are doing their best, but they can’t fix what ownership has broken. Bottom line: We paid for a luxury eco-lodge and got a poorly maintained, misrepresented property with no accountability from the company that now runs it. I would never stay here again and will actively avoid any Sandglass hotel in the future.

Hi This place is great lots of birds at tree level and the his and hers showers are a nice touch. It's quite a walk up to some of the rooms so bear that in mind. The hotel restaurant is good and is also close to another new restaurant on the beach. The breakfast was great and the hosts were good. One the nicer places in drake bay but also slightly expensive, I will also mention the mosquito grills on the vents did let small flies in but I was at the start of the rainy season too. All great though thank you

We cannot say enough about our time at Drake Bay Getaway. Hay Neer had newly taken over management of the resort and it did not show as he was so welcoming, knowledable and organized. We could not have asked for a better host. He helped us plan our excursions and made sure we had what we needed to maximize our experiences. We do not speak Spanish so it was so nice to have Hay Neers help with organizing adventures for us.We had so much fun talking to Hay Neer and his party Andy who also helped host. The food was absolutely incredible and blew us away. The staff we so mindful and accomodating of dietary restrictions and the food was all made fresh and was amazing. The room and view was stunning. Everything on the property was spotless. All the staff we so kind and hard working. We even got to see some wild life around the property!

Very low key resort with fantastic views and excellent food.

I went after reading near perfect reviews. While there were aspects I liked, it wasn’t the great experience I had hoped for Pros: meals were beautiful and delicious; Yens and Patrick were super nice and accommodating; the view from the bungalow was good ( not great); the other guests were friendly and interesting; good WiFi Cons: animal life not nearly as plentiful as expected (saw monkeys from our balcony at Tulemar; none at drake bay); Corcovado and mangrove tour were letdowns (Corcovado is crowded with limited animal life, 4-hour Mangrove tour saw monkeys for 15 minutes, nothing else except birds); 10 minute hike from dining room to bungalow is straight up, left us streaming sweat and heaving for breath and we are in good shape and young); really missed a/c in room, especially during day; no pool to hang out at after excursion and 30 minute hot hike to nice beach; no screen on bathroom windows (why?) leaves you dodging bugs at night even if you leave the light off as management recommends, I was stung by a wasp when I took a shower on my first night).