ACCOMMODATIONS This new hotel sets the standard for Cahuita. Rooms in several buildings, well-spaced on informal grounds, are extraordinarily large with high ceilings, clerestory windows, white stuccoed walls, red tile floors, wooden louvers, and generous wooden trim. Covered passageways have squares of garden. A number of the design features effectively aid passive cooling without air conditioning. There are trails through the property, 17 acres with fruit trees and exuberant and unruly vegetation. Treks to the Talamanca mountains, the indian reservation; river fishing and boating excursions can be arranged. Cuisine is excellent. The owners, a Canadian and a Tica, have extensive hotel experience. FOOD The cuisine of the Hotel Cahuita Jaguar would get high ratings in San José, so you will surprised to find such excellent fare in this little place. French Caribbean cooking with creamy wine sauces. Abundant use of local fruits and vegetables with a salad with every meal. Local specialties like breadfruit, ayi kee and pejiballes are also served. The menu changes daily, and features such items as sirloin in peanut sauce, medallions of beef in two sauces, shrimp in herb sauce, dorado in herbs, lobster, moussaka, and even at times, chile con carne. The setting is the open-air patio under a traditional Caribbean house, a sort of take-off on unpretentious fine dining in the French countryside. Perhaps best of all is the price. Most items, even shrimp, go for $10 or less including salad, vegetable, dessert (often fresh fruit topped with ice cream) and coffee. Complete breakfasts go for about $4. ROOMS Hotel Jaguar has 45 rooms. Some rooms can be combined together forming suites. Most rooms are 500 square feet, which includes private bath and covered terrace. All beds are queen size and have firm mattresses. The rooms have the special passive cooling design with extra large windows, cross ventilation, high ceilings, thermo syphoning roof vents, wooden shutters and thermal isolation. All rooms are fully screened. PARKING: lots of parking space, with guard at night time. GROUNDS The hotel grounds are one of its major attractions. Nature trails wind through 17 acres of hard woods and fruit trees. The hotel kitchen makes good use of bananas, avocados, oranges, limes, grapefruit and ayi kee, all grown organically on the hotel grounds. The hotel has 220 meters of beach frontage. The beach has good shade from the many wild almond and coconut palms which line the sand edge. The beach has a changing pattern of colors depending on wave action and can vary from black to gray to light brown. The water is quite shallow for about 75 meters out and swimming conditions are excellent in the shallow water. REVIEWS Costa Rica Today "Hotel Jaguar dining room, the home of sauces galore...Imagine waking up from a long nap, showering in lots of hot water then meandering to the restaurant to feast on sea bass steamed in banana leaves and covered with a heart of palm sauce that will make you want to stay forever." Lonely Planet "The hotel is set in extensive grounds-the forest at the back has trails, and sloths and other animals have been reported frequently." Natural Destination "Meals are a treat, truly elegance by the seaside". The Tico Times "The airy, sparkling white cabinas of the new Jaguar Inn stand out in upscale contrast. The beautifully designed 45-room inn is located on the beach north of downtown, a 20-minute walk from the entrance to the Atlantic Coast's spectacular Cahuita Coral Reef National Park" "The rooms are huge and especially designed to be cool without air-conditioning. In fact, our room was so cool that we really appreciated the blankets on the queen-size beds." Chile Pepper "That evening we found out why the hotel had such a good reputation for it's cuisine." "We were lulled to sleep at night by the soothing sounds of the rustling palms and the gentle waves...the night will forever live in our memories as one of our favorites." One Rate For All Seasons (Taxes Included) Standard Room (solar warm water only) Single - $30 Double - $55 Superior Room Single - $40 Double - $70 All rates include a delicious breakfast INTERNET SPECIAL - Double Room for 3 nights for $135 includes Tax and Full Breakfast. (Not available from December 23th to January 3rd.)