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| I came across the Look Out Inn about six years ago when I was looking for a place to bring my family. It seemed like a casual friendly lodge, located in the jungle and right on the beach. What I could not imagine at that time, was the huge impact the Look Out Inn would have on my life. After falling in love with the Osa, which only took about a day (and one night partying with Terry), I spent over two years traveling back (up to four times a year) to find my own land and build a retreat, always staying with Terry. The experiences we have had together, the friends I have made, and the love I have for Terry, Katya and Wendy have made the Look Out my second home. I finally realized that building my own place was impractical and I would miss Terry - so that is why I built Cabana #1 or as we call it “The Howler Club“. Shortly thereafter - after sleeping in the Howler Club- Lorenzo and Kay built the second Cabana, and the Inn really got rocking. I have been proud to have been involved with most of the projects Terry has undertaken over the last three years, as well as meeting hundreds of people from all over the world, who have the same appreciation for the natural world and a true love for life. There are even bigger changes coming to the Look Out this year, since we have purchased the land next door - where the monkeys come through - and Terry is cleaning and planting the entire piece to resemble the incredble gardens he has. He also expects to accomondate 8-10 more people and expand the second floor deck by wrapping it around the kitchen area. But even with all of these improvements, it would still just be one of many lodges in the middle of the jungle, except for the fact that it is run by Terry - a truely unique soul, who will not just make your stay enjoyable, but will make you part of his growing family. See you soon little brother! Favorite Activity: Watching my 2 boys discover a world few American kids can barely imagine, surfing the point, fishing with Lorenzo, Kay & Mark Best Wildlife Seen: Terry |
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| I was in awe of the Osa, it is so gorgeous and the Lookout Inn is just as pleasant. Terry, Katya, and their employees were fabulous. Wendy was very helpful with our reservation payments. All the people we met were very pleasant, though I wish I could’ve spoken to some of them. I guess I must learn Spanish for the next time. The food at Lookout Inn was great as were the rooms. To have flocks of scarlet macaws flying about in front of you all day was just spectacular, it’s unreal. I ended my trip with 121 birds, 38 butterflies, 17 reptiles and amphibians and 9 mammals most of which were seen in the the vacinity of the Inn. I will be back someday and will bring more friends to enjoy this paradise. Favorite Activity: birding & wildlife watching, hiking, lounging Best Wildlife Seen: scarlet macaws, king vultures, all 4 monkey species, northern tamandua, brown-throated 3-toed sloth, a 6-7 ft. boa constrictor |
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| It’s hard to describe the amazing experiences I’ve had at The Lookout Inn without seeming like a giddy traveller returning home to the doldrums of routine life. But being a wonderer of the world and having seen many areas, even in Costa Rica itself, I have to say that The Lookout Inn, in Carate on the Osa Peninsula, is one of the best places on Earth. If you are someone who would appreciate the wonders of nature amidst the comfort of a luxurious tropical, jungle lodge, then The Lookout Inn is the place to be. Every day reveals another adventure; every moment, another dream. From hiking along primary rain forest trails shaded by a giant cathedral of trees, to cooling off in a secluded sparkling, cascading waterfall, here, one can truly experince all the natural beauty life has to offer. I’ve always been fascinated by nature. The millions of ways animals have adapted for survival, with their variations in color, size and shape have always intrigued me. Sure, you can watch the wildlife shows on television, but there is just no comparison to experiencing these things in the real world. When I visited The Lookout Inn, the world became alive right in front of me. During a delicious breakfast on the sun-bathed terrace, or floating sipping a pina colada in The Lookout’s fresh water pool I was astonished by the amount of wildlife even on the lodge grounds! My early meals of coffee, freshly baked banana muffins, french toast, pancakes, eggs and juice, were shareds with a bands of white faced monkeys, flocks of red, yellow and blue macaws and the racoon-like coatis. Don’t worry, they won’t steal your food, but they will ignite your excitement and leave you eager to explore your day. The Outlook is situated on a bluff, facing the Pacific Ocean with all its mighty grandeur. At times the waves crash on the beach with such awesome power, that one can only gaze in wonder. I would choose a strategic time for swimming and boogie boarding at low tide. And the view is even better in the evening. Be sure not to miss the spectacular sunsets while having a tropical cocktail at happy hour. Soft music is either listened to on the stereo system at the bar or played on guitar while you take in the sheer serenity of the scene. All of these experiences in and of themselves would be memories to cherish, but it is the way they are presented to us that makes The Lookout Inn so welcoming. The lodge is run by two very special people named Terry and Katia. They truly go out of their way to make you feel at home. Terry (a native New Yorker like myself) brings to mind one of the affable, partying Irish guys who people loved to be around at high school parties, drinking beers and making jokes. His goofball banter is contagious. But he is sharp, always coming up with ideas and ways to make improvements at The Lookout. He’s currently expanding the lodge to accomodate unprecedented business, so make reservations well in advance if you decide to come. Katia, on the other hand, has a more quiet, sophisticated manner, with an air of royal Costa Rican charm. Both of them together have the best qualities people have to offer and it’s amazing how quickly they will call you their friends. They spare no details for your comfort. The rooms at the Lookout are cozy, beautifully decorated and spotlessly maintained by a hard working staff. The food is excellent-- prepared by a friendly local Tico named Juan Carlos (he’ll greet you with an “alright, mi amiogo“ and a thumbs up)-- and abundant, which is surprising, since the lodge exists in a very remote area of the Osa Peninsula. And every effort is made to ensure an active good time for all. Although there is ample wildlife on the lodge grounds, (all four species of Costa Rican monkeys can be spotted in the area along with sloths, anteaters, tayras, snakes, poison dart frogs, red-eyed leaf frogs, scarlet macaws, chestnut mandable toucans, coatis...I could go on) I highly recommend a short flight to the Sirena Ranger Station in nearby Corcovado National Park. It’s a little pricey, but the experience is in valuable. Corcovado is a national preserve where you get the true experience of an Amazon adventure. I suggest a canoe trip up the Sirena river if the currents allow. Here, you have the best chances to see the larger endangered mammals still surviving in Costa Rica. In 2 visits there, I was lucky enough to see 2 tapirs (the largest mammal in the tropical americas related to the rhinocerous) both species of peccaries (wild pigs) and an ocelot (the third largest cat in the tropics)! I used a guide named Mike Boston and I strongly recommend his expertise in adventure and biology. His company is Osa Aventura and he can be booked in advance at the Lookout. Overall, a visit to The Lookout Inn is an experience of a lifetime. I’ve been to Costa Rica 5 times now, and each time I’ve tailored my visit to enhance the experience. I will continue to visit this wonderful country, but I’ve found new friends and a home on the majestic Osa Peninsula. It is called The Lookout Inn. Favorite Activity: Hiking the trials, Photographing the Wildlife, Hanging out with Terry, Katia and the Staff Best Wildlife Seen: Spider Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, Red-Eyed Leaf Frog, Three-Toed Sloth, Tree Boa Constrictor, Green and Black Poison Dart Frog |
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| I came in early May of 2004 and never wnated to leave. The Lookout Inn is the most peaceful and relaxing place in Costa Rica. I had a great time and the views and food was great. Terry was an excellent host, I already want to come back. Thanks Favorite Activity: Sea Kayaking Best Wildlife Seen: Monkeys |
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| COOL SITE MGBADA AND HI TO GUEST.OBINNA Favorite Activity: SPORT |
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| Terry & Katya run (& I use that term loosely as nothing is done with the urgency of the must-do, right-now, no-delay, need-it-yesterday feel of typical hectic life at home) a laid-back, what-can-we-do-to make-your-stay-more-enjoyable-but-not-in-your-face jungle “home“ only to be enjoyed by those willing to stay in a place where the endless sound & beauty of the ocean meets the abundantly-alive rainforest ... all topped off with wonderful smiles and hearty laughs. With the non-stop activities of... the mouse feast for the local boa each morning...the daily visits of the white-faced monkeys...the macaws “conversing“ with their mates at least hourly overhead...the sunning iguanas...the scavenging coatis...the glowing morphos...the is-it-really-real cane toads, & can’t forget ol’ Coco, it was like Discovery Channel up-close and personal. We and our five boys (aged 14 months to 11 years on our 1st of 2 visits (3/2003 & 3/2004) to Lookout Inn) hold a very special place in our heart for the Lookout Inn. Not too many places welcome such a large (& young) crew with as open arms as did Terry, Katya and the whole staff. I’m sure Terry wondered b4 our arrival what the heck he was getting himself into with 5 little boys, but he only made us feel like family from Day 1. From accomodating late night bottle-making to serving kids’ fare as well as wonderful adult meals to not-listed-in-the-“brochure“-motorcycle rides for the kids to beach pigroasts and viewing the rings of Saturn through Terry’s telescope, everyone hated to leave. It’s with apprehension that I shout out the warmth and wonderful-ness that exudes from the entire Lookout Inn experience for I want to keep such a good piece/peace of Earth just that...but I also feel Terry and Katya deserve to be able to share their home with whomever should “wander“ by, just as long as there are enough beds for all the Baron Boys (dad included) and mom next time we’re in town. So, as “they“ say, “Keep the light on for us.“ Favorite Activity: SO many... boogiebrdg, pigroast, nighttime croc hunting, star gazing, mucho wildlife, meetg many visitors Best Wildlife Seen: the sight of the white-face monkey babies still tug that heartstring of mine |
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Favorite Activity: hiking Best Wildlife Seen: white-faced monkeys |
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| I came to the Lookout Inn two years ago because I read that the diversity of animals was unmatched in the world. What I wasn?t expecting was the warmth and charm of the lodge that Terry and Katya run that keeps me coming back. I have now visited the Inn four times and plan on returning in August. They have created an oasis in the middle of the most beautiful areas on earth. The food is unmatched, everything is fresh and bursting with natural flavor. The scenery is unending. There are three observation decks that look out onto the entire coastline and forest. The people who come and visit are of the same adventure seeking kind and ones that you very quickly befriend. The weather is perfect. The drinks are cold. On any given day you can walk the uninhabited fourteen miles of Pacific coastline watching for sea turtle coming ashore to lay their eggs or watch the migrating whales breach just off shore. You can hike through the triple canopy, virgin, tropical rainforest and watch troops of monkeys scamper through the trees or witness a group of thirty coatis foraging for fruit. If you want you can sit by the pool and have the animals come to you. Scarlet Macaws can be seen all day long, toucans are a regular visitor, green parrots, humming birds, pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, osprey, curassow, kingfisher, the list never ends. Or after dinner you can join Terry on one of his many night tours through the lagoon. Ever catch a baby crocodile? Ever talk with a Kinkajou as he looks for insects. Ever watch an Olive Ridley sea turtle dig her nest and sit with her as she lays her hundred eggs and be there when the babies emerge from the sand and make a run for the ocean? I have done all of this and so much more and it has changed my life. If you want to experience something available no where else in the world, come to the Lookout Inn. I have been all over the world, but since my first visit there, it is the only place I wish to go. Favorite Activity: Hiking Best Wildlife Seen: Tapir, Toucan, Crocs, whales |
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| My 4 days at the Lookout Inn was like a perfect picture. The view from my room in every direction was a dream. I used to just stare out onto the horizon and think “don’t take this for granted, because in a few days it will be gone“. I loved sitting on a lounge at night and staring up at the sky. It’s one of those rare places where the milky way just jumps out at you amid endless reaches of stars. And, of course, I got a picture of the sunset that I will get blown up to mount on my wall in the hallway of my condo in Florida. An added treat was the sound of the waves breaking hundreds of feet from the inn but seemed to be right outside my door. Favorite Activity: The meals topped off the stay. It all tasted so good when mixed with the ambiance. Amazing. |
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| Hi, we’re back, and I’m already thinking about when I can go back!! this was my second trip down to Costa Rica, and I STILL love that country - the LookOut was a wonderful place to spend at the end of our trip - we ended up staying there four nights, and then spent two nights in San Jose before we flew home - the Inn and the surroundings are beautiful, and I loved seeing all the macaws and monkeys and toads and frogs! food was great, rooms were great - and it was an interesting coincidence that Terry was from the same small-town area of NY that my husband is from - anyway, glad to have had the experience - thank you! |
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