Oxygen Jungle Villas

Rooms

There are 12 villas - 8 with an ocean view and 4 with a jungle view. All are constructed almost entirely from glass and dark wood, but despite the floor-to-ceiling windows they feel private and secluded. Their interiors are near-identical, with a very comfortable kingsize canopied bed, and an ensuite bathroom with a rain shower and double sinks carved from local stone. Outside on the large veranda is a spacious white sofa or curvaceous loveseat which you can enclose in billowing mosquito-net curtains (although we weren't bothered by mosquitoes during our stay). Several villas also have private hummingbird gardens in front.

For nature lovers we would particularly recommend the Jungle View Villas. While the Ocean View Villas have spectacular vistas, you're more likely to spot exciting wildlife from the jungle view options - and you can always admire the sea from the restaurant and pool. The Spa Villas come with alfresco freestanding tubs, so you can admire whichever view you choose as you soak on your terrace.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

The breezy restaurant serves a variety of meals and snacks throughout the day, which you can enjoy inside, by the pool or in your villa. The native chef celebrates indigenous cuisine through local organic ingredients and traditional cooking methods. There is a choice of vegetarian options, along with good wines and interesting cocktails - the jalapeño martinis and passionfruit daiquiris make perfect sundowners.

Breakfast (included) was our favourite - delicious and very satisfying. We especially enjoyed the Desayuno Tico, a dish of gallo pinto (Costa Rica's signature rice and beans), plantain, eggs, avocado and tortilla. The buttermilk pancakes with pineapple and watermelon were also scrumptious.

If you fancy a change of scene, some of Costa Rica's best restaurants are located down the coast at Ojochal. Citrus and Exotica both receive rave reviews and are well worth the 30-minute drive.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Head to the beautiful Playa Uvita, a 20-minute drive away, for a stroll, sunbathing or a spot of surfing. Walking along the unique whale-tail formation that rises out of the ocean at low tide is simply unforgettable
  
• What could be more romantic than horse riding along the beach at sunset? Guided rides for all levels can be organised on request
  
• Whale- and dolphin-watching trips in the Marino Ballena National Park can also be arranged by the hotel. If you're lucky, you'll experience up-close encounters with humpback whales, pilot whales and several species of dolphin
  
• Other water-based activities available nearby include: kayaking and paddle-boarding through bird-rich mangroves; snorkelling and scuba-diving with turtles and tropical fish in the crystal-clear sea around Caño Island; white-water rafting on the Coto Brus and Savegre rivers. Ask staff for details
  
• If you need to be pampered, head to the riverside spa for naturally healing massages and treatments in a wonderfully tranquil jungle setting
  
• The Corcovado National Park, described by National Geographic as "the most biologically intense place on Earth", can be easily explored on a day trip
  
• Wander the peaceful hiking trails that have been carved into the hotel's extensive grounds, and cool off under the private waterfalls you'll find along the way
  
• Of course, no trip to Costa Rica is complete without soaring through the jungle canopy, alongside howler monkeys, sloths and toucans, on an exhilarating zip-lining adventure

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• SUP
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Trekking
• Waterfalls
• Watersports
• Whale watching
• Wildlife
• Zip-wiring

Kids

This is an adults-only hideaway, and no guests under the age of 18 are permitted.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Oxygen Jungle Villas is located in the rainforest above Uvita, in Costa Rica's southern Puntarenas province. It's mid-way between the surfing paradise of Dominical to the north and the famous Osa Peninsula to the south.

By Air:
International flights arrive into San José's Juan Santamaria Airport (214km away) - click on the links below for a list of airlines. From there it's a 4-hour drive to Uvita; alternatively, you can take an internal flight to Quepos (59km away), which cuts the driving time to 45 minutes.

By Car:
The hotel can arrange transfers, but if you want to explore the area it's worth hiring a car - see our car-rental recommendations. It's a scenic but bumpy 10-minute drive from the main road, so a 4x4 is required.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.

More on getting to Costa Rica and getting around