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 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 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.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• 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. Many of the dishes fuse local and international influences, and much of the produce used is organic.

Breakfast was our favourite - delicious and very satisfying. We especially enjoyed the breakfast burrito, loaded with scrambled eggs and gallo pinto (Costa Rica's signature rice and beans). The buttermilk pancakes with pineapple and watermelon were also scrumptious.

Lunch options are fresh and light - perhaps a spinach and mushroom salad or grilled fish. For dinner, the calamari, the ahi tuna and the pepper steak all come highly recommended. There are also several vegetarian options, along with good wines and interesting cocktails - the jalapeño martinis and passionfruit daiquiris make perfect sundowners.

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
  
• 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

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