By Michaelynn Vandiver
Over the years Pacific Edge Eco Lodge has hosted thousands of travelers from around the world. Long gone are the the days of no internet, water or electricity in this area. Yet even so, back then, it used to attract a very specific kind of traveler that craved a more off-the-beaten path, unplugged kind of experience. With social media these days and an easier access to this part of the country, progress was inevitable once the “secret” of this beautiful area was out. There is a lot of growth now happening in the area and with that, we are now getting all sorts of travelers and tourists heading down towards this region. It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to share our little slice of heaven with even more of you than the previous owners had done for so many years before. But now with it being easier to get to this area of the country, not all travelers needs are quite the same.
Of course with progress, comes all kinds of changes and even more so recently. Many luxury branded homes & boutique hotels are being built in the Southern Zone. Our very own mountain is now considered the “Hollywood Hills” of Costa Rica, yet we have meticulously maintained our originality, as we always have been since being built back in 1989. Pacific Edge was one of, if not the first home/retreat built on this mountainside over 30 years ago. The road, Calle Pacific Edge, is named after the original owners as they built it themselves. So yes, this is a very special place indeed. Her history alone, is rather intriguing. We’d love to share the stories with you when you stay with us. Plus the view is better than anywhere else on this mountain. So that in itself, is also a reason to come and stay with us. We can most certainly promise the view will not disappoint.
With all the changes to the area, there are even more travelers with discriminating taste and a certain expectation of what their vacation might look like. This area is now attracting travelers from all walks of life whom are still accustomed to most modern conveniences, yet still hoping to catch a little bit of the “magic” that Costa Rica has to offer. There are options of $10/ night hostels to $2000/night mansions and then there is us, Pacific Edge.
So with all of the growth going on, we felt the need to explain a little more about who and what we are in order to attract more likeminded travelers that are still looking for that authentic, rustic Costa Rican getaway, just as the many travelers that have stayed here before them.
Who And What We Are:
We are located Dominicalito in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica. We are 1.2km (0.8 mile) up the mountain road at an elevation of around 200 meters (650 ft). We are built on a natural mountain ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Dominicalito Bay to be exact, while nestled inside a beautiful jungle vista.
On the property, we have our own home that we live in year round, 3 rescue dogs & 4 inside cats, along with 4 rustic, wooden cabinas built alongside the mountain ridge. So yes, we are here to greet you upon arrival, answer any questions about the area, help book excursions, & make breakfast for you every morning, if you so choose.
Each Cabina boasts the same stunning views of both ocean and jungle. Inside each wooden cabin we have added a touch of modern furnishings, but the beautiful purple-heart wood, locally called Nazareno, is still as beautiful as the day they were built. We believe they are perfect in every way but we are still updating when necessary as the elements and age require us to do so. We did not want to drastically change the design and charm of each cabin as this is what our guests, including ourselves have grown to love. They built these cabins by hand with their blood, sweat and possibly a few tears. They used hand drills and saws with no electricity or running water at the time. Fortunately, we do now have electricity and hot water showers. Our water is sourced from a natural spring about a kilometer up the mountain. It is then filtered thru a 3-stage filtration system & is drinkable and tastes great. We are an open aired concept with screened in windows along with privacy curtains, if needed. We are a very tranquil and private place to be, so leaving them open is perfectly safe. We also have ceiling fans and floor fans added for the hotter months of travel and high speed internet for those of you that can’t go without and/or need to work remotely.
Each cabin has a small kitchen with most utensils, pots, and pans that one might need to cook a meal. There’s an induction cooktop, toaster oven, and coffee pot, as well as complimentary coffee & sugar.
We have supplied each cabin with new handmade wooden beds, new mattresses, linens, pillows & towels. We try to replace any items that need it, as the humidity & ocean air can wreak havoc on things year after year. But rest assured everything is washed and cleaned after every single guest departs. I too have my standards and I won’t stray from maintaining them during your visit.
Although the cabins are 30+ years old, we want the accommodations to be of high standards, while still maintaining the relaxed jungle vibe and allowing you to have a truly unique experience during your stay with us. With that being said, we are in the jungle. There are insects, geckos, and lots of sounds that you’ll see and hear. We do not use any poisons on the property, so as to protect and maintain the natural flora and fauna. We do use natural oils & sprays that deter insects. So from time to time, you may see a random beetle or gecko roaming in your room or on the front porch. Kindly move them out of your way, or call us. There is also no hum from an air conditioner, so you will hear geckos and frogs chirp, howler monkeys howl in the early mornings and likely, the white-faced Capuchin monkeys throwing seeds down on the roof tops after feasting on berries from one of our many different fruiting trees.
We do like to consider Pacific Edge as an authentic Costa Rican experience, as there are not many places left like this one in the jungle. Most places have been gutted and turned into a high end luxury room with ALL the modern conveniences of a 5 star hotel, which is perfectly wonderful for those seeking that sort of vacation, yet this is something that we are NOT. Quaint, cozy and charming with endless majestic views is who we truly are.
In the almost 3 years of our purchasing PE and reopening, we have maintained a rather high review status for those seeking an experience such as ours. The view is breathtaking and I honestly don’t know another place like us. We do pride ourselves on making your stay a memorable one, but we also want to make sure you know exactly what we are and what we are not so that your expectations are in line with what we strive to be. So please keep that in mind when you are booking your stay with us. We are an older hotel but extremely well maintained and pride ourselves on great service. We want you to feel as though you’ve come to visit old friends. And hopefully by the end of your stay with us, we hope you feel that way! Definitely a magical place to Simply Be.
What we are NOT:
Just in case you missed it, we are not a 5 star luxury hotel or typical boutique hotel. We do not offer daily turn down service (we do change out towels and linens on the 4th day or when kindly asked to do so) and we do not leave chocolates on your pillows, (even though I would LOVE to do that but they would certainly melt and possibly attract ants on your pillow!) We do not have air conditioning in the cabins, as most days the fresh mountain breeze is more than enough. Yet, there are some days the humidity and heat, although expected in this area of Costa Rica, can be a bit much. Luckily we do have a pool for cooling off and fans a plenty in each room.
If what you are seeking is something newer with all the bells and whistles of a 5-star all-inclusive hotel, then we are not the right fit for you. Maybe our condo at Villa Pacifica might be a much better fit! It too has ocean views, toucans & monkeys but it also has a lot of modern amenities PLUS air conditioning. Villa Pacifica is only 3 minutes down the mountain from us AND you are still welcome to join us here for breakfast, just let us know in advance.
We do understand that we are not a place for everyone and with only 4 cabins, that is absolutely fine with us. We want each one of our guests to be happy with their stay and knowing what to expect before your arrival is ideal when planing your vacation. Our cabins are supplied with very nice furnishings and the basic necessities that one might need, rather than full service luxury. For most of our guests, what we offer is exactly what they are seeking and we love providing that for them.
Regardless if you choose to stay here with us here at Pacific Edge, our condo at Villa Pacifica or to stay somewhere else close by, we know that there is something for everyone in this incredibly beautiful country. The area is growing by leaps and bounds. A little too fast at times for those of us who prefer the slower paced life of what the Southern Zone once was. But with that being said, Costa Rica is still an absolutely magical place to travel to and you will enjoy some of the most spectacular nature on earth! We sincerely hope that you will give us a try and most importantly, love Pacific Edge as much as we do and have for many years when we were guests ourselves! Most people rave about how special of a place Pacific Edge is and we are sure you will too! Pacific Edge is one of the last rare gems these days and the perfect escape from the “regular fast-paced world”. It’s a truly authentic experience you most definitely won’t find anywhere else.