If you are looking for a genuine Costa Rica experience, this is it! The house is perched in the jungle, with screens for walls, so the sounds of the jungle surround you at night, yet keep out unwanted creatures. Howler monkeys and toucans hang out in the trees right off the deck, that is comfortably equipped with rocking chairs, a sofa sectional, and huge table that we ate at every night. There are surprisingly very few mosquitoes, testimony to the rare opportunity to spend a few days in a balanced ecosystem. Adventures in the boat with Ruben are so special, our favorites were looking for animals in the mangroves, visiting fruit island, and swims at the beach just down the river. We have 3 school age kids, and this is our second trip to Costa Rica, and our instinct was to over-program with a trip to Corcovada. However, exploring the river and surrounding area were truly more rewarding. Dolly cooked for us every night, delicious and authentic meals, just like all the reviews say. What I didn't realize is that Simone, an English speaking tour guide based out of Sierpe, also helps with logistics. Our travel plans leaving Sierpe were completely derailed with a broken ferry dock and
bridge, and she quickly helped us find a new solution to our next destination. Our only negative is personal- we didn't think through what living off the grid means, but within a day we adjusted, and were totally rewarded with a trip that we will never forget.