Jolanda Hess was born in 1962 in Rheinfelden, Switzerland. and specialized - after her commercial studies - in life insurance. Her spirit of adventure and her interest in nature and an ecological based tourism brought her in 1990 for her second time to Costa Rica and for her first time to Drake Bay/Osa Peninsula.

We met in November 1990 at "Marenco" Lodge (the hotel where David worked) and got married in 1991 (after just nine monthes) in Switzerland. In the same year we decided to purchase an 8 acre beach front property in the area of "Playas Las Caletas", surrounded by primary and secondary forest. Our goal was to start our own little project, trying to realize our very personal ideas of eco tourism and to combine our knowledge and love of nature with our ideas and abilities of management, languages (we both are fluent in Spanish, German and English; David speaks also some Italian) and social skills.

Because of economical reasons we had to alternate until 1994 between Costa Rica and Switzerland (we both worked in Switzerland to build our place little by little). During the last ten years we were continuously working to improve our business. In 1998 our son Luca was born.

David is an excellent all rounder fixing everything, driving our boat, fishing, leading and organizing our tours and entertaining our guests. I am responsible for the administration, reservations, our staff, groceries (we have to bring in all by boat), the kitchen (I set the meals and I'm the the cook) and so many other matters referred to our guests. We both do what we better know to do and are completing one another.

With just three rooms (capacity for about 10 - 12 persons) we try to minimize the garbage and waste water and still to be able to earn our living. Electricity is provided through a combined system of solar cells and a water-driven turbine. We own a 22 feet boat with two 50 hp four-stroke, low emission motors. Because of the few guests, our attention is very personal and we try to make our guests stay as comfortable as possible, sharing with them our knowledge of the area, the whole country and its people. One of our goals for the future is to grow more organic fruits and vegetables (actually we grow pineapple, bananas, maniok, lemons and plantains).We involve our neighbours in the tourism activity, renting their horses and buying their agriculture products.

We are both participating in local organisations. I'm a member of the direction of the local government of Drake Bay and we are both members of the direction of the "Association of Sustainable Tourism of Drake Bay", which works very close together with the National Costa Rican Tourism Chamber and watches over a low density development of this still very preserved area.

With our lodge we want to be an alternative to many Hotels in the area, which are using the term "ECO" to attract people interested in preservation, but in fact they are far away to realize it. What we try to do is tourism as harmonious as possible with nature.

Jolanda & David conduct EarthFoot's Hiking, Snorkeling, Horseback Riding & More with Green Lodging program.