Highlights
- In the National Park
- On site adventure centre
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EnquireLocated in the foothills of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, Hacienda Guachipelín is both an eco-lodge and a working cattle and horse ranch. It is built on an enormous piece of land, parts are dedicated to pasture land but other areas have been set aside for conservation of dry forest and also an area is being reforested with species of trees that are currently endangered. The rooms here are light, spacious and comfortable and decorated in muted tones, with wooden furniture typical of what you would expect to find in Costa Rica. There is a pool near the reception area with plenty of loungers for relaxing, but there is so much to do that you will most likely spend a lot of time exploring the area and partaking in adventure activities such as zip-lining, hiking, river tubing and horse riding.
Hacienda Guachipelín is a little different, the hotel forms part of a family run working cattle and horse ranch. You can see the corrals where the cowboys saddle up and head to work. The reception is housed in a building that was the original hacienda and is over a century old – this is the real Costa Rica and you will experience the hospitality and friendly atmosphere of the local people. It is a nature and adventure lover’s paradise, with so many activities on offer or relax in the lush gardens have been planted with native trees and exotic flowers, attracting a myriad of birds. There is also a lookout where you can take in stunning 360° views of Rincón de la Vieja and Santa Maria volcanoes, the Guanacaste plains and the coastline.
You are surrounded by nature at Hacienda Guachipelín. In the gardens alone over 300 species of birds have been recorded. You will most likely see and hear the monkeys in the trees as they go about their daily business. Some guests have been lucky enough to see armadillos, agoutis are often spotted here too. Head into the national park and you can find more monkeys (howler, white-faced capuchin and spider). There are jaguars, pumas and ocelots here, but they are notoriously shy, it is unlikely that you would see them but keep your eyes peeled for coyotes, tapirs and kinkajous.
I would like to say a massive thank you for organising our Vietnam trip. The itinerary and execution were superb, as was the attention to detail. I would also like to thank the agent who was on the end of my whats app chat (I have no idea who they were!) – always available, always quick to respond, and kept me updated regarding times etc. Also, the guides Dan (north) and Tien (mid) were just excellent, and we really enjoyed their company. The lady (whose name I have forgotten) who was our additional guide for the DMZ day was exceedingly good and made that day very special.
fiona g reviewing Complete Vietnam For Families on 15 April 2024
Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024
I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.
Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.
El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.
Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.
So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last
Juhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024