Welcome to Costa Rica – where the people are friendly, the land is lush and the coffee is always fresh! Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 5th (!!!) anniversary with a trip to Costa Rica!!! If you missed Part I of our trip to Costa Rica, click here to find out all the details of how we celebrated our 5th Anniversary!
We stayed at Oxygen Jungle Villas located in Uvita, Costa Rica! The hotel is located atop a large hill, nestled in the jungle, yet completely overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Because the resort is located within the jungle, it is only accessible by a 4×4 vehicle! It is about a 10 minute drive from the bottom of the hill to the resort!
At the resort itself, there are 12 villas, so that means the capacity is 24 people. It makes for a quiet, intimate setting where you can completely have your privacy and get to know the other guests, if you choose. It also allows you to really know the staff! We truly felt like we entered the resort as guests and left as friends. We chatted with the manger repeatedly throughout our stay, got to know the chef each night after dinner, and were constantly amazed at the thorough and friendly service provided by the other staff members.
From the resort you can take a 15 minute hike through the jungle to a beautiful waterfall.
My absolute favorite part of the resort were the “villas.”
Each villa had it’s own porch with a couch and small table. The entire room was glass, with curtains you could drape and an outer layer (of bamboo?) bordering the villa. While you were physically close to the next villa, it still felt completely private and secluded.
The view from our room was just breathtaking! Waking-up to see the Pacific Ocean is pretty unbeatable. This is a picture I took standing in front of our villa, zooming in on the hill directly ahead…
And of course, you knew I would be telling you all about the food! Our breakfasts were always fresh and clearly made with quality ingredients. I tried their omelets (so good!), banana pancakes with sunflower seeds.
…and my favorite, their fruit and yogurt parfait!
These were PACKED with fresh, tropical fruit (banana, papaya, pineapple and watermelon)!…
Dinner is also just another aspect that set this resort apart from anywhere else I’ve ever stayed. Every dinner was 3 courses and a surprise based on what local foods are available daily. There are no menus (but you can let the staff know of any dietary restrictions). The chef was able to literally point down the mountain to show us where the meat comes from. They don’t even have a freezer because the ingredients are literally picked-up daily!
Our chef, Doug, was the most friendly cook I’ve ever met. Following every meal, he made an effort to greet each table and sincerely answer any questions and respond to feedback. I wish I took better pictures, but I didn’t want to interrupt everyone’s dinner with a flash every 3 seconds 
Just know that the meals were so unique, and really showcased his passion and talent.
This was by far, my favorite “starter” – fresh snapper ceviche with plaintain strips…
And this was definitely my favorite entree of the week: Snook with a Watermelon Curry Sauce. I thought everything about this meal was just so creative and a great fusion of flavors!
Another appetizer we had throughout the week that I am still dreaming about is the beet, goat cheese, avocado and shrimp “stack.” I’ve never had beets with goat cheese and absolutely loved the way the flavors and textures tasted together!
While walking through the resort, you never knew what you might find!…
When we were deciding where to stay my husband and I each had separate priorities. He wanted to see the jungle. I wanted to see the beach. He wanted adventures (I’ll be sharing those next!). I wanted good food. This ended up being the perfect combination of everything we were hoping for!
If you’re thinking about a trip to Costa Rica and would like more details of where we stayed, how we got around, etc. please feel free to email me!
Oh, and just to keep the record clear, I was not asked to write this review! I just know how many random searches we did in trying to find a place to stay, and wanted to give you my honest opinion!
Next: Our Costa Rican Adventures!
~Where is the most unique place you’ve stayed?
