Drake Bay Greenleaf

Drake Bay Greenleaf - 16 Feb, 2025 Beautiful, amazing getaway! Hellen and Stephen were warm and friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure our stay was fabulous. The casitas are situated in the lush forest. The restaurant and Casitas are all situated closely, but you feel very private, with a beautiful view of the bay There is a trail into the woods, that does involve a number of stairs. But it was great for quick access into the woods, and to see things like the anteater and songbirds. We were fortunate to have a number of animal visitors, including atapir, a family of Coatimundi, and a baby owl, as well as macaws and toucans. Hellen is super organized and helps to coordinate all the tours and make sure that you’re well prepared. Stephen is a delight to talk with and is ready to chaufure into town or to the beach. The food was out of this world delicious. We loved the whole red snapper and plantains. Yummy cocktails too. They do an impeccable job of caretaking the place and cleaning the rooms, so it always feels beautiful. The Caño Island snorkeling was stunning. The tour company took good care of us and we even saw a white tip shark. We were thrilled that Hellen suggested a private guide for the Sirena tour because it got us away from the crowds. It’s important to remember that nothing‘s guaranteed and The guides do their best to see as much animal life as possible. we were fortunate to see an antique and boa constrictor, as well as lots of monkeys and coatimundi. Our trip to San Gerardo de Dota was better for Birding. This was great for macaws, toucans and the bigger animals. The trip to Sirena is a long hot walk so you need a lot of water. We found the main drake Bay beach and town to be a little grungy and unappealing.. But Pirates Cove, which is just another few minutes up the road, is gorgeous and we spent a lot of time there.

All the way from planning our vacation with Hellen at Drake Bay Greenleaf to a very last moment there our experience was outstanding. The ten days stay at the resort was just perfect and we loved every minute of it. We went on quite a few tours, enjoyed each of them very much and brought back home great memories of what we saw and experienced along with wonderful pictures. Coming back to the resort was always a joyful occasion and an opportunity to have a freshly made fruit drink - passion fruit was my favorite - on the open terrace of a dining area and have a conversation with Hellen, who seemed to be always there to attend to our needs. We learned enough from these conversations to get insight into the history of the area and come to appreciation for local community dedication and efforts towards development of ecotourism. The Drake Bay Greenleaf property was developed by Hellen and her husband Steve in such a way that there was a minimal disturbance to the surrounding rainforest. We encountered almost as many animal and bird species on the property, as in the Corcovado park. So you do not need to set an alarm in the morning, as howler monkeys howls wake you up just before the sunrise. The resort has three guest bungalows, an open dinning area with stunning views of a valley below, the ocean and a far away mountain range, a kitchen adjacent to the dining area and an owners bungalow. Our air-conditioned bungalow in addition to a well furnished leaving space had a good size bathroom with a very large shower and a private balcony with the same views, as the dining area. Our bungalow felt like brand new, was thoroughly cleaned every day and remained spotless throughout our stay. Breakfasts, lunch and dinners, as well as laundry service, were included in the room rate. Hellen made all the tour reservations for us and helped to book Sansa flights at a discount. Steve was always there when we needed a transportation and drove us from and to the airport. His gentle humor helped to make our rides smoother on the local unpaved roads. The meals we had three times a day at the property were very imaginative in choice and presentation, always delicious and never the same. Every morning Hellen talked to us about lunch and dinner choices to make sure that those are to our liking, and was always ready to make a change, if so desired. Beef and freshly caught tuna stakes were delicious, salad dressings were unusual and tasty, panna cotta and chocolate mousse were so good that we could not have enough of them. We enjoyed our dinners at Drake Bay Greenleaf as much and more than those we had last summer in Michelin star restaurants in Italian Tyrol. We were treated like family at Drake Bay and are very grateful to Steve, Hellen, their son Vinnie and the resort staff for making our stay such a rich and wonderful experience. We will certainly be back.

My husband and I stayed a week at Drake Bay Greenleaf in February 2025, and it is as wonderful as the other reviews say it is. Hellen (who grew up in Drake Bay) and Steven, the owners, are exceptional hosts and lovely people. The rooms are spacious, very clean, air conditioned, and have beautiful views from inside the room and on the porch. The property is quiet, allowing you to relax and enjoy the surroundings – which are filled with tropical trees and plants that attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. We saw monkeys, coatis, agoutis and a tapir. There were also many different species of birds on and around the property. During a birding tour with Gustavo (a local guide who is very knowledgeable about Costa Rica’s flora and fauna) we logged 33 species. I also did some birding on my own and saw several additional species, including a beautiful male turquoise cotinga. Scarlet macaws were seen daily – always a treat. I called Greenleaf before booking, as I have a number of food allergies/intolerances. Hellen asked me what they were, assured me that she could accommodate them, and she did. The food was homemade and absolutely delicious. Given that I cannot eat gluten or eggs, among other foods, I usually don’t get to eat dessert. But Hellen made a dessert every night that I could eat and they were fantastic. If you have food allergies/intolerances, call Greenleaf and speak with Hellen. On the tours that included lunch our guide Gustavo made sure to ask about food allergies/intolerances. We are very glad we chose to spend a week at Greenleaf and look forward to returning. Thank you Hellen and Steven!

I don’t write reviews very often. Only when somewhere is very good or very poor. My wife and I travel a lot! Greenleaf Drake Bay is simply one of the most amazing places we have ever visited. 5 star luxury and fine dining in a perfect location with the most adorable and attentive hosts imaginable. We were picked up at Drake Bay airfield by a charming and smiling gentleman who introduced himself as Steven, the owner of Greenleaf. A short journey to the hotel (I call it this, but it only has 3 stunning lodges so feels more like a luxury home) and Hellen, his wife, was waiting for us with a cold drink. She immediately gave my wife her WhatsApp number and said any questions or anything we want just message her. The food is amazing. Locally sourced every day, the taste and presentation is up there with the very best restaurants. Steven and Hellen are there 24 hours a day waiting hand and foot for our every needs. This is not done begrudgingly or in a ‘business’ manner, it is from a place of genuine love for their guests. The wildlife within the grounds of Greenleaf is also amazing. We saw as many animals and birds close up there, as we did on excursions to the Reserve. Steven and Hellen are so highly regarded in the Drake Bay community. Every guide we saw spoke so fondly of them. Every trip/excursion/boat ride we went on we felt that we were being treated like royalty just because we were staying at Greenleaf. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, then stay here. You will not regret it. My only tip is to make this your last destination as it set’s very high benchmark that will not be equalled. Thank you Steven and Hellen ❤️

Imagine traveling to meet members of your “family” that you have never met before and discovering that they live at the edge of a tropical rainforest where you can spot 43 different species of birds on a one-mile hike. Imagine learning that you will be served gourmet meals throughout your stay using fresh local food that is thoughtfully served with the presentation being just as delightful as the fantastic flavors. Imagine short boat rides to tropical reefs populated by colorful fish, sea turtles, octopi and starfish or to a carefully managed national park teeming with all manner of exotic wildlife. Imagine being pampered by your hosts just as if you were valued members of their own family. That truly sums up our mid-January 2025 trip to Drake Bay Greenleaf, Costa Rica. When we booked our trip, we had relatively high expectations based on the reviews. Our hosts, Hellen and Steven (and their young son Vincent), exceeded our high expectations beyond our wildest imagination. We are already planning a return trip. Be advised that this is not a shopping or nightlife mecca; the focus is on being personally pampered while surrounded by an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty.

What a very special place. We felt immediately immersed in nature. The views all around us, are absolutely spectacular. But what makes this place so much more special is Helen, who is simply the perfect host. She is absolutely gorgeous inside and out supported by her husband Steven and team. All of them go way above and beyond. The food is delicious. We can’t recommend this place any more highly.