Casa Marimba

The property is very cute with small aesthetic details like pillows and art that make it extremely relaxing. I felt the property itself was far better than the photos, with the terraced back yard, patio tables down right on the lake, and hammocks and greenery to relax outside and hear the waves of the lake. The rooms themselves are what you might expect from a boutique. Restaurant had amazing options (inc vegetarian) and staff were super helpful and friendly in Spanish and English. The WiFi is excellent and was able to do full zoom calls without issues. I ended up coming back for a second booking later the same week!

It is remote and a taxi is required (believe this is true anywhere on the lake). I was able to easily arrange through the hotel for taxis and tours and stopped for snacks on the way. But it will not be walkable to anything, luckily the restaurant on the property is great! Also nice shampoo and body wash is provided, but not conditioner so bring your own.

Excellent location, good food, and friendly staff. The tiramisu was SO good, you should try! I stayed in three different rooms, and the final one, called Granada, was definitely the best. I didn’t like the other two—the first one had no window, and the other was supposed to be a fancy room, but it was basically in the basement, with so much noise coming from above. I really like the “exclusive boutique hotel” vibe here. The other, bigger hotels around the area felt more like large resorts, with loud music and a much busier atmosphere. I would definitely like to come back in a different season. August was WAY too hot for me!

Rooms - no window and in the basement.

This was our second stay at Casa Marimba, and it lived up to our expectations just as much as the first time. The staff is undoubtedly one of the property's best features, they consistently go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and welcome. The location is fantastic, offering a beautiful view of the Apoyo Lagoon and beach. Furthermore, the food was just as delicious as we remembered. Communication with the team is excellent, whether messaging through Booking.com or speaking with them in person.

The menu is limited and pricey. We already tried everything between our previous visit and this one, so I am afraid we won't have anything new to try next time. We were charged an air conditioning fee even though we didn't use it. The chairs in the restaurant and the open area near the reception are uncomfortable and not suitable for working on a laptop for more than an hour.

Staff was very friendly, very understanding. The main room was very nice. They were very nice to respond and tried to help as much as possible.

Only the main room had air conditioning. That wasn't as clear as it could be in the listing. There was a group of barking dogs all night, I'm not sure they were on the property so it may not have been in control of the hotel but since we had to keep the doors open for cooling (without air) it was loud and we were not able to sleep at all. I feel bad, as it may not be under their control, but it impacted our ability to sleep.