Aleli Cottages

They rent RVs here. We accidentally booked an RV and they didn’t give us a refund. Because they didn’t offer refunds, we paid an extra $70-80 for a cottage. 4 stars for the cottage. We had so much trouble getting here without a car. Buses stopped around 7pm and walking took hours. We were stranded with no taxis on the island! I really don’t recommend booking this without a car. You need to rent a car from someone on the island. The room and location in the hills was breathtaking. Very beautiful view of the ocean from the top of a mountain. I guess this stay would have been better if we had a vehicle. It was just right for 2 people. I thought I was booking something near the beach, but it’s not! It has views of the ocean but it is not near the beach!! Read the listing before you book because they don’t allow refunds.

(4/5/2025 - 4/7/2025) We booked Aleli Cottages expecting a peaceful, boutique retreat; a relaxing, elevated part of our trip. Unfortunately, it felt more like glamping with a view. While the view from the balcony was absolutely stunning, and the provided beach supplies appreciated, it quickly became clear that the view was the main thing we were paying for. Check-in was more complicated than necessary. We received a series of scattered messages with out-of-order instructions and blurry photos. The lockbox code, which should have arrived by the 3 pm check-in, didn’t come until after 4, and only because we reached out. It felt disorganized and unprofessional. Upon entering Pico Flara, we were greeted by dozens of mosquitoes inside the cottage. I am no stranger to tropical environments, but this was excessive, especially when on the inside. When we contacted the representative, they dismissed it as “tropical island problems”, they were already on the ferry, and to go buy some bug spray. Not exactly the stress-free, curated experience promised on the website. Cleanliness was another disappointment. The space had clearly only been cleaned on a surface level. There was dust and grime under the bed (especially near the headboard), a filthy couch that we didn’t dare use, and dishes that had to be washed before we could use them. The floors were also spotty and dirty in several areas. The property itself felt neglected. It was obvious that it was once vibrant, but much of it is now falling into disrepair. Our balcony’s sunshades were broken. The AC barely worked, and was insufficient to cool the room, even at night. The dehumidifier was nonfunctional, and with the no bathroom ventilation, every shower made the humidity worse. The rainfall showerhead barely functioned. The bed’s headboard was loose and banged against the wall with every small movement. To top it off, the front door didn’t seal properly, leaving a visible gap even when locked.. There was a clear absence of hospitality. No welcome note, no instructions for amenities, no orientation to the communal areas. We were told not to contact staff after 5 pm Saturday, which didn’t inspire much confidence if something might go wrong. We weren’t even sure how to access the communal areas or what we were allowed to explore on the extensive 33 acre property the website boasted about. We were expected to take our own trash out and clean all dishes, much like an Airbnb, except without the personal touches that make those experiences feel warm and cared for. WiFi was another frustration. Despite being located across from the communal hammocks, the signal in our cottage was almost non-existent. I wasn’t expecting perfect connectivity, but it was unusable. With my husband sick during our stay, a reliable connection for even basic needs would have made a big difference. Given the numerous security cameras on the property, the poor connectivity felt even more surprising. On the bright side, their advice to rent a Jeep was spot on (the driveway is steep! But fun), and I genuinely enjoyed the chickens and peacock roaming the property (which added a little charm to an otherwise disappointing experience, but I’m a sucker for any animal). But ultimately, had we not been sick (as I had come to catch what he had), we would have tried to leave early to stay elsewhere. Aleli Cottage might appeal to people seeking a very rustic, hands-off experience, but if you expect comfort, cleanliness, and service that matches the price tag, I’d look elsewhere. The views can be found elsewhere on the island… Without the added stress.

I think for the price, the overall experience was pretty good, but lacking a bit in amenities and service (non existent since no one is on site and you have to rely on them texting you back, which can sometimes take quite a while). We stayed in Ruiseñor, and as a lot of people have mentioned, the views are indeed breathtaking and was definitely the centerpiece of our experience. The room is cute and comfy, but the bathroom is a haven for mosquitoes and for someone like me who gets bit very easily, it wasn’t fun going in there. I would highly advise mosquito incense place outside the bathroom windows and a shower curtain would be nice too :) There was a weird motor noise throughout the night, which I’m guessing was a generator, but I managed to fall asleep eventually. Overall, I just think for the price they ask, it would be nice to have someone on site even if for a few hours everyday to show that they care if anything happens, as once up there, you’re far from every possible store or business.

The view is perfect, and the outdoor shower is really nice, but there’s no such thing as a reception—you have to find your room yourself. If animals scare you, it might not be the best choice. We weren’t thrilled because two lizards came out of the bathroom. There are deer running around everywhere, which is a wonderful sight. However, there was hair and dust around the bed edges; they aren’t very thorough with cleaning. It’s nice that they thought of beach towels and chairs. There’s a coffee machine, but they could have included at least one complimentary coffee. Transportation is possible by jeep; we wanted to rent a golf cart, but they said it wouldn’t make it, although some people still managed

An amazing view for sure! And the AC was strong and crisp in our room. The Pelícano was extremely small and was quite out of date when it came to the door and its hardware. You are staying in small little critters home. We had an enormous spider fall on us when we opened the door, followed by greeting a scorpion in our sink. The following morning there was a swarm of bees that also decided to say hello under the detached bathroom. Yes you read that correctly, the bathroom was detached. That means waking up in the middle of the night and having to walk outside in order to take care of what ever business you have. It is relatively private but it would have been easy to attach the bathroom to the actual room in my opinion. There were crystal wine glasses in the room. That was nice. And as I said before the view was amazing. There were areas of the view that could use some grooming in ways of trimming trees and what not. Overall 3/5 because the price per night was relatively high to have such older outdated hardware. The shared kitchen was just kind of bare and reminded me of a summer camp kitchen. The peacock was cool though.