Volcano Rainforest Retreat

We spent the first 4 days of our honeymoon in the Sanctuary cottage, and it could not have been more perfect. The room is small, as the website accurately portrays, but it is enough space for 2 comfortably.
When we arrived, Peter did an excellent job of introducing us to the property, and explaining all of the wonderful amenities. He was very kind and made us feel welcome.
The bed was very comfortable, and extra linens were close by in case it got cold. We were comfortable every night and didn’t even need the nice heater/​fireplace.
The outdoor shower and ofuro was spectacular. I’m terrified of spiders, and it was a nonissue here. The shower has great pressure, and the water got plenty hot. The ofuro was so relaxing and the perfect size for 2 after a long day of hiking lava tubes.
The food left for us each day was delicious. We seriously enjoyed the locally made granola and baked goods, as well as the fresh local fruits.
The staff did an excellent job with housekeeping, which is important in a small space.
If we are ever fortunate enough to find ourselves back on the Big Island, we will certainly be staying at the Retreat again. Thank you for making the first half of our honeymoon better than we ever could have imagined.

We stayed in the Bamboo Cottage and the Guest Cottage. All I can say is this is the most magnificent lodging I’ve ever experienced. The cottages are beautifully crafted, all wood, windows and tile with warm décor and colors and fresh flowers. The breakfast basket is delightful with local fruits and a recipe for papaya. There are eggs, milk (for vegans too) and other foods that can be requested. They have wonderful bathrobes too… I just might have to order one. The book shelves are loaded with healing literature, there is a meditation space, and the rainforest itself is cleansing with fresh air.
Dana, the manager, was thorough in showing us around our cottages so we knew where all outlets, light fixtures, bedding and silverware could be found. She was pleasant and friendly and took us around the retreat to help us get from one cottage to the other. The owners of the retreat also made it a point to introduce themselves which I thought was very admirable.
I can absolutely see myself returning to the retreat. The only thing I could ask for is more time to enjoy a longer stay.

Agree with all the other reviewers. This past fall, my husband’s ex (?) girlfriend had confirmed that this was the location of their unsuccessful sacred baby-​making attempt (s) prior to our marriage but while he and I were «dating». This place must have been so awesome, that despite his numerous denials of the magical event (s), he kept several mementos from your property, heartfully stored. I am very pleased he chose such a beautiful and authentic space to conduct his affairs. No doubt when our divorce is final, they will return there to continue their astral soulmate adventures. Though I seriously doubt any fertility rights will occur in the near future, what an awesome setting for him to blackout with his uniquely psychopathic girlfriend of 30 years and spend his 401K as they continue to avoid reality and succumb to his addiction.

An absolutely perfect experience! The accommodations were amazing, the food was delicious, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable! We stayed in the Sanctuary Cottage and LOVED the outdoor furo bath and shower! If you have the chance to stay here, grab it! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!

What a lovely, unique experience. Definitely stay here if you get the chance!
I was skeptical when we first booked our reservation because I’m generally not keen on B&Bs. But I’m so glad we stayed here. We were in the guest cottage– with the bedroom was nestled in the loft (at tree-​branch level). It was cozy, romantic and (most importantly) very clean. The staff was friendly and so helpful. And staying here made our early hiking on the Volcano a breeze. You would be remiss to miss the chance to spend a night at the volcano rainforest retreat!

As the previous reviews have mentioned, the setting is beautiful and secluded. We stayed 5 nights at the Bambo Guest Cottage. Loved the soaking tub under a pagoda… hear the rain… private…even a washer and dryer located under a porch outside of the cottage between bathroom and soaking tub. Great attention to detail… always neat and thoughtfully appointed. Only downside… queen bed mattress shot. lumpy, not supportive… that needs to be addressed. Would go here again !! Was able to drive to Hana, Hilo, Waterfalls, Volcanos… every day a new adventure on this great island.

Amazing place.
Stayed in the Forest House for two nights with my wife. The back part of the place is open to the jungle and you are completely secluded and no one can see into the room. On that note, we never saw another person the entire time we were there. The owners who live on the property don’t approach the guests, but give them complete privacy.
The housekeeper is super nice. The housekeeper took the time to show us the Volcano National Park map, explain what to do there. She also showed us around the property and discussed local restaurants. In short, she was great.
The inside of the place is very beautiful. They really make a good use of the space. We had a wood stove and small fridge. All water (sink and shower) is fresh rainwater. They recycle and ask you to put compost items in a special bin. The breakfast was all fresh fruit and juice. Overall it was a wonderful, peaceful experience.

Oh. My.
I am typically a 5 star resort kinda person. Bed & Breakfast places really need to be great to make me happy.
This. Is. It.
The grounds are GORGEOUS. We stayed in two different rooms because they were booked for consecutive days. Both were beyond what I expected from a B&B. Attention to detail, amenities included, is an understatement.
The staff willingly lugged all our baggage between rooms, and let us store our stuff after checkout.
The owners weren’t there that weekend (they were on vacation), but Ann was there to greet us. She was fabulous. She even saw us eating at a market and sat with us to discuss local hot spots.
Overall, this place deserves FAR more kudos than I’m writing. Book the place.

Great little cabins in a rainforest setting, near Volcano National Park. Looking out your door you feel like you are in the middle of the tropical forest… the density of the trees completely obscures the other cabins so you feel like no one else is there. Fortunately there is a hot tub on premises too. GREAT romantic spot.
The one minor gripe is that I would have liked a full kitchen for every unit given lack of dining options nearby. We had to improvise a dinner one night using just a small toaster oven!

If you ever wanted to live-​action role play the game of Myst, this is the place to do it. Four small guest cottages in the Hawaiian rain forest. Each cottage is a hexagon of cedar and fir, with huge windows all around. The cottages are secluded enough that you’re barely aware of your neighbors. Each cottage has a small hot tub just outside.
This is an incredibly beautiful spot.

We’ve stayed at the Sanctuary (small but beautiful) and recently at the Guest Cottage (roomier, with basic cooking facilities).
I just love this place, but don’t come here if you are expecting the Hilton. It’s unique and funky, very private and very peaceful. You might not ever see your fellow guests. It’s absolutely perfect for a couple’s getaway.
The wifi was free but a bit slow and no cable — so expect to unplug a bit. But they do supply DVDs and even a iPhone/​iPod speaker set, which was a nice surprise.
We’ll be back!

We stayed in the Sanctuary cottage on our vacation from NYC. We were tired of big hotels and wanted a cute relaxed B and B, and that is exactly what we got. We would certainly stay here again, amazing place!

We just stayed there last week in the Bamboo Guesthouse,
we were instantly in heaven when we arrived, there was a beautifully designed single car parking garage with clear varnished golden pine timbers surrounded by a forest of kahili ginger and hapu’u fern trees. I thought if this is what the garage looks like the house must be amazing! It was beyond amazing. .. As soon as we walked through the front door and into the living room we were both in awe! You could see the caring and detail that the owners put unto the wood, design, colors and furnishings of each room. Everything was clean and amazingly well maintained. There were huge skylights in every room and windows that looked out into the forest. I took my wife there for her Birthday and she looked at me with tears of joy in her eyes! Yes!!! Guys do yourself a favor and stay here, you’ll be a hero for at least a week:) Happy travels. ..

My wife and I have been to some beautiful places around the world, and this easily makes the top tier of all we’ve visited. We stayed in the Guest Cottage (one of the four options for visitors), and it was beautiful, interesting, comfortable, and clean. The surrounding rain forest is dense and beautiful, and while one might have expected an insect issue in such a setting, I don’t remember seeing any inside the house. How Peter keeps these predominantly wooden buildings from showing wear and tear in this setting is a mystery to me — I should have asked. We made liberal use of the hot tub a few steps away and generally wished we had another week to stay. The restaurants we tried in Volcano were good, as well, though there aren’t many of them. We were also able to spend most of a day trooping around the Volcanoes National Park nearby, which was great on lots of fronts. All in all, a fabulous place to be.

This was a beautiful and unique place to stay. I loved the carefully cultivated environment and cottage. The main downside was that there was not so much privacy with the outdoor shower. There is a clear and direct path between two of the cabins so that there is a completely unobstructed view between the entrance to one and the shower for the other. There is a screen that you can drop to offer more privacy (though it is reedy and can be seen through), but it does not quite reach far enough over to the shower. Not a huge deal, but I doubt the family next door taking their time by the door getting their kids ready to get in the car would have liked to see me showering so I had to wait until they finished up. Not a huge deal, but the photos suggesting complete privacy are a little misleading.
Don’t bother with the dried-​out baked goods and the surprisingly bad coffee– bring your own. As was mentioned before, bring your own shampoo, conditioner, soap as their’s was so watered down it was almost non-​existent.

We came here during our honeymoon last week, and spent two nights at this bed and breakfast run by Peter and Kathleen. They created such a quiet, serene environment for their guests, that for most of our stay, I really believed that we were the only guests they had. They really believed in creating a setting for their guests where they can relax in total privacy. The Forest room was surrounded by beautiful tropical greenery, and when it was chilly (since Volcano is about 20 degrees cooler than Hilo), you could put on the fireplace and it warmed the room right up. The coffee they had for their guests was SUPERB… I’ve tried finding the brand in supermarkets during our stay, but I couldn’t! I’m also an avid tea drinker, and the Hawaiian White Honey they had was the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. Unfortunately, they get it from a private bee keeper, so while the white honey I got from the Kilauea Lodge was a good enough replacement, it was nothing like the honey they had. Definitely recommended for couples who want to get away!

My wife and I have stayed here twice (we use to live in Kona, now in Honolulu) and we look forward to our next trip back. The seclusion is peaceful and the charming structure of the property has a calming effect on our travels. We go here to get away — not to get waited on by a B&B owner. If you expect to see the owners — good luck:) They make a point of letting each guest have their own privacy and if you want to remain hidden you can do so quite easily. The rooms are well decorated, the food was minimal but fresh. My only complaint is that each of the shower soaps and shampoos (though nice) were watered down in a clear attempt to preserve cash while maintaining elegance.

Volcano Rainforest Retreat was the romantically delightful lodging highlight of our latest Big Island trip. Not far off the main road, but quietly sequestered at the edge of a small developed area near the Volcanoes park, the setting is wonderfully tropical, thick with ferns and cool mist, pumice walkways winding from cottage to cottage, just enough privacy while feeling open. It is a magical setting. The owners are laid back people but don’t miss a single detail in décor or amenities. The grounds are clean but you’ll enjoy them most as a backdrop from within your cottage of open wood walls, beamed ceilings with skylights and ample windows. A small kitchen was open to the living area in our cottage, and the cozy loft bed above had plenty of blankets and a pleasantly firm mattress. The wood or electric fireplace was a big plus in the chilly evening and morning. We had the central hot tub to ourselves for an hour — it was in perfect shape, a warm and welcome spot to relax after a long hike through the part. Breakfast was provided in our room in the form of local fruits, muffins, and coffee/​tea. We plan on returning.

This place was our absolute favorite during our most recent trip to the Big Island this past November. Accomodations consist of four different cottages nestled on 1 ½ acres of rainforest in the town of Volcano. We stayed in the Forest House which was perfect in every way. There are windows all around, but none face any of the other cottages so it is quite secluded and the electric fireplace makes it nice and cozy. Skylights over the bed are perfect for nighttime stargazing when the skies are clear and super-​cozy storm viewing when it’s raining. Breakfast foods are delivered during the day while you are out so you can sleep in and prepare the meal at your convenience in the small kitchen. The grounds are beautifully designed with winding paths and enormous ferns. There is an outdoor hot tub complete with candles all around, a perfect way to wind down after a day spent hiking the volcano. The owners were incredibly nice, but not intrusive as can happen in some b&bs. We had the feeling that we were completely alone in spite of all the cottages being full. It truly was the perfect romantic getaway.