Encanta la Vida is a solar-powered, all-inclusive surf and yoga lodge on Pan Dulce Bay at Cabo Matapalo, the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula. Ten individual rooms, from a three-story hardwood treehouse to a suite with a rooftop stargazing deck, sit in gardens a two-minute walk from a beachfront yoga shala and a right-hand point break. It suits travelers who want wildlife, waves and three good meals a day without driving anywhere.
At a glance
| Location | Pan Dulce Bay, Cabo Matapalo, about 30 to 40 minutes south of Puerto Jiménez |
|---|---|
| Style | Family-run, all-inclusive lodge with ten rooms in a treehouse, cabins and small houses |
| Setting | Garden lodge where secondary forest meets primary forest, steps from the beach |
| Best for | Surfers, yoga groups, couples and families who want everything on site |
| Getting there | A 40-minute flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez, then about 30 minutes by taxi |
| CST status | Not in the official CST directory (checked 2026-Oct-21) |
Where it is
Cabo Matapalo is where the Golfo Dulce opens to the Pacific. The lodge’s area page calls it “completely off grid”: no town, no shops, a handful of houses, forest and surf. Encanta la Vida describes itself as the only beachfront lodge in Matapalo, and its yoga shala stands on the edge of Pan Dulce Bay.
The travel page recommends the 40-minute Sansa flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez, then a 30-minute taxi the lodge can arrange. Driving from San José takes around eight hours and needs a 4×4, but a rental car from Puerto Jiménez is useful if you want to reach waterfalls and beaches beyond walking distance.
A Matapalo pioneer, now in its second generation
According to the lodge’s about page, Brian Daily, who grew up partly in Costa Rica and spent his school weekends chasing surf, bought this land in Cabo Matapalo in 1988 and slowly built a relaxed jungle lodge with a surf break for a front yard. He ran it for more than 30 years until his death in August 2022.
His neighbors the Hennessys, a Californian surfing and fishing family who drove to the Osa in 1994 and became early Matapalo residents, have returned to carry it on. The poolside bar is named after Brian. Their daughter Brisa, a competitive surfer born in 1999, tells the family story on the site, and one of the rooms is named for her.
Rooms
All ten rooms have private bathrooms with hot water, ceiling fans instead of air conditioning, a private deck or terrace with a hammock or rocking chairs, and a safe. The lodging page describes them:
- Treehouse: a rustic three-story hardwood structure, rented by the floor or as a whole. Corazón (ground floor, two queens, enclosed garden shower) and Nest (middle floor, two queens) each sleep four; Canopy, at the top, has a queen and a single and looks over the treetops.
- Casa Sueños: two second-story suites, Stargazer (a king and a queen, with a rooftop viewing platform) and Little Moon (two queens), which can be joined.
- Casa Olas: a two-story house closest to the beach path, with Olas 1 (two queens) and Olas 2 (three queens, two patios), good for families.
- Jungle HideAway: the most private bungalow, with a king bed and a swing chair facing the forest.
- Las Brisas: a small octagonal thatched cabin with one queen.
- Mariposa: a ground-floor room with a queen and a king near the restaurant and pool.
Wi-Fi is via Starlink, and the lodge’s small solar system can’t run hair dryers or other heating appliances.
Food and drink
Stays are all-inclusive, with three meals a day. The open-air restaurant’s chefs cook what the lodge’s dining page calls tropical and Latin American fusion: gallo pinto with caramelized plantains for breakfast, coconut ceviche, or local mahi-mahi with passion fruit butter at dinner. Produce comes from local farmers, fish from local fishermen, and eggs from the lodge’s hens. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cooking are part of the routine. The poolside Daily Bar pours cocktails, juices and smoothies through the day, and there’s a saltwater pool.
Yoga, spa and surf
Free yoga classes run daily on the two-story shala, built from rainforest hardwood above Pan Dulce Bay, and private classes can be booked. The lodge’s yoga page says it can host retreat groups of up to 25. Two treatment areas on the shala’s lower floor serve as the spa.
Surf is the other half of Encanta’s identity. Cabo Matapalo is known for long right-hand point breaks, and the lodge offers beginner lessons in the bay for those still learning. Experienced surfers can ask staff which of the nearby breaks is working, and should check board rental before arriving.
Tours and wildlife
The lodge runs guided walks from the property (a Matapalo forest hike, a waterfall hike, birding and night hikes) and books day trips to Corcovado, kayaking in the mangroves, dolphin and whale boat trips, a bioluminescence paddle, tree climbing, horseback riding and sportfishing. One outing visits Osa Conservation, the research and conservation organization at Piro, about 30 minutes away, whose campus the lodge describes as a private refuge of over 7,000 acres with 30 kilometers of trails.
According to the lodge, howler monkeys and scarlet macaws visit almost daily, along with toucans and the other three monkey species. Sloths, coatis and agoutis are also common in Matapalo. Corcovado National Park, which SINAC says holds about 2.5 percent of the world’s biodiversity, starts at Carate farther down the road; entry requires a certified guide.
Sustainability
According to the lodge, the whole property runs on solar power, rooms rely on natural airflow and efficient fans instead of air conditioning, bathrooms use all-natural soaps made on the Osa, and the kitchen favors local farms and fishers. Those are sensible practices for a small off-grid lodge, but the site offers few specifics on water or waste, and Encanta la Vida isn’t in the official CST directory. Treat it as a low-impact, locally rooted lodge rather than a certified one.
Who it suits
Encanta la Vida fits surfers and surf-curious couples, yoga groups and families who like the idea of a treehouse room and an all-inclusive table. Being on the beach is the big draw; at many Matapalo lodges you hike down cliffs to the shore.
Travelers who want air conditioning or a large-reserve experience should look at Bosque del Cabo, up on the cape with 750+ acres of forest, or Lapa Rios Ecolodge. For more choices, see our Osa Peninsula eco-lodges and the surfing eco-lodges guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Encanta la Vida really on the beach?
Yes. The lodge says it's the only beachfront lodge in Matapalo, and its yoga shala and spa stand at the edge of Pan Dulce Bay, about a two-minute walk from the rooms.
What does all-inclusive cover here?
Lodging plus three meals a day, and the daily yoga class is free. Bar drinks, spa treatments and guided tours are booked separately, so confirm with the lodge what your package includes.
Can beginners surf at Matapalo?
Yes. The lodge books beginner lessons in the bay. The famous point breaks of Cabo Matapalo are better left to experienced surfers.
Do I need a car?
No. The lodge arranges the taxi from the Puerto Jiménez airstrip, and most tours include transport or can be arranged. A 4x4 rental helps if you want to explore on your own.
