About Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge - in their own words:

INTRODUCTION:
Lush, green vegetation as far as the eye can see, with leaves as big as elephant ears. Jade colored water. Toucans, monkeys, iguanas, dolphins, majestic blue butterflies – all are here at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge.

If physical challenge is what you want… it’s here. If rest and relaxation is what you need… it’s here. And everything in between! We are a destination lodge that offers kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, hiking, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and hammock swinging right out our doorstep.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge embraces conservation and harmony with the natural environment, and offers a perfect blend of comfort with environmental preservation. This wilderness lodge is sensitively designed with the environment and constructed from naturally fallen trees, recycled materials and harnesses the natural energy from the sun to provide electricity.

What also makes Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge so unique, pristine and private is that access from nearby villages is by water only. Dramatic views of the mountains surrounding the Pacific Coast gulf welcome you to the lodge as you approach by boat. Once you arrive at the lodge, lose yourself in the tropical paradise that surrounds you, and let the adventure begin!

ACCOMMODATIONS AND FACILITIES:

The small size of Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge allows for a more intimate experience with nature. The cabins, guestrooms and the main house are uniquely designed to create a seamless and enjoyable transition between the indoors and outdoors.
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The open-air main house rises up to the level of the surrounding jungle canopy, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the rainforest even as you relax or dine. The main house has a terrace bar that overlooks the jungle and the sea, and provides the perfect respite after a long day of challenging activities. At night, enjoy stargazing from the dining terrace.

Three exceptional meals are prepared each day by our chefs. Emphasis is on local cuisine and fresh fish, tropical fruits and vegetables. The 165 acre preserve abounds with tropical fruit trees bearing mangos, pineapple, starfruit, oranges, lemons, papayas, water apples, bananas, and of course, coconuts. The fresh squeezed juices and salsas are limitless!

The lodge’s four private cabins (three 1-bedroom and one 2-bedroom) and the Mango Guesthouse with four rooms offer privacy and comfort in a natural setting. All cabins and rooms have canopied beds, ceiling fans, private terraces, and private baths with hot water and open-air garden shower. The full length louvre doors that wrap around your room and private verandas afford panoramic views of your natural surroundings. Electricity is provided by solar energy. However, candles are still used throughout the lodge to maintain the natural experience. Candlelit pathways and dinners are reminders of our efforts and commitment towards conservation, and sensitivity to the natural environment.

ACTIVITIES - in their own words:

We refer to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge as our "Selva y Mar" (jungle and sea) location because our front yard is literally a gulf right off the Pacific Ocean, and our back yard is literally thousands of acres of pristine tropical rainforest. Adventure and nature activities are unlimited! The Front Door leads to the Golfo Dulce’s 80 degree blue green waters. Kayak the Golfo Dulce (sweet gulf) right off our beach front. Jump in! The water is calm and perfect for swimming. Spend a relaxing hour or a challenging day kayaking and exploring along the coastline and through nearby mangroves. Stop and snorkel along the way! In-shore and off-shore fishing guarantee a fresh fish dinner. And, from the Golfo Dulce we can also access several rivers and the Pacific Ocean leading to a variety of marine environments that make this area so unique. The Back Door of our 165-acre preserve is surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine tropical rainforest, full of fruit trees and tropical flowering plants. Explore the jungle by hiking our labyrinth of trails that wind through the rainforest canopy, up the mountainside, and connect through the National Park. Listen to the howler monkeys, watch and hear the calls of any one of the 250 species of birds, and end up at a waterfall. OR, just relax in a hammock under the almond tree by the sea and take in the ocean and mountain views while listening to the rhythmic waves.

Hiking and Wildlife Viewing:
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge Private Trails. On our 165-acre preserve there are numerous trails that wind through the rainforest canopy, fruit trees, and coastal lagoon areas. These trails are perfect for all levels of guided and self-guided hikes. Our trails offer a casual walk/hike as well as challenging climbs. We have selectively sited view terraces to observe wildlife or just relax and enjoy the solitude of nature.

National Park Trails. Our preserve abuts the Piedras Blancas section of Corcovado National Park. Several private trails on the preserve connect with trails in the national park. Since access to the park is through private properties accessible by boat only, you can be guaranteed little to no encounters with other people… making your experience truly one-with-nature. Listed below are just a few of the hikes out our back door into the park:
   
Cascada Trail. This is a 2 hour hike (one way) that leads from the lodge to a beautiful waterfall where you can swim in a natural swimming hole tucked away in the jungle. This is a mostly flat trail that offers interesting and serious hiking but avoids steep elevation changes.

Piscina Grande Trail. This is a 3 hour hike (one way) that leads from the lodge, climbs high into the rainforest canopy of primary forest before dropping into a beautiful valley. The trail ends at a large waterfall and swimming hole. This is a trip for the adventurous and fit, as we will walk up steep terrain to reach our destination.

Among the wildlife frequently seen are White Faced monkeys, Howler monkeys, Titi monkeys, over 250 types of birds including toucans, trogons and parrots, numerous butterflies including the majestic blue morpho, and tropical mammals such as pizotes and tyras; reptiles such as Iguanas, lizards and amphibians such as the wonderous red- eyed tree frog.

Kayaking: The Golfo Dulce is a special place to kayak. Travel along the blue/green waters with the dramatic rainforest canopy in the background. Keep your eyes open for dolphins and other marine life swimming by. There are also several nearby rivers where kayaking offers a great chance to paddle into the jungle and see a variety of sea and jungle birds that live in the area. This is a safe paddling area that is ideal for beginners to spend a relaxing hour paddling, or for the experienced and adventurous to spend a challenging day exploring the coastline and nearby mangroves. Ocean kayaks are available for all guests to use in the vicinity of the lodge at no charge. We also offer half and full day guided kayaking adventures to other parts of the gulf.

Fishing: The Golfo Dulce offers tremendous fishing opportunities both in-shore and big game Off-Shore sport fishing.

Inshore Fishing. Jump on our boat and a few minutes later you can be catching a variety of in-shore fish including red snapper, grouper and countless other fish. We will have a full supply of equipment for fishing in the Gulfo Dulce, and local guides that know the best spots. Or, just fish right off the pier.

Big Game Sport Fishing. A 30 minute boat ride leads to the best sportfishing that the Pacific Ocean can offer anywhere. The Golfo Dulce area has numerous sportfishing operations that have based themselves here for the great fishing. We have arrangements for trips with the areas best captains that have modern boats equipped with specialized tackle that will help you catch Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish, and Dorado (Mahi Mahi). Charters complete with a professional captain and first class boats range from $400 to $600 for a half day trip and $550 to $850 for a full day, depending on boat and number of people.

You catch them and we will cook them up for your dinner!

Snorkeling: Snorkel right off our beach to see many beautiful tropical fish, or in minutes we can whisk you to a beautiful rocky cove or one of the reefs of the Gulfo Dulce for a fun snorkeling trip. The lodge will have a full supply of snorkels and fins for guests to use within the vicinity of the lodge at no charge.

Windsurfing and Sailing: Onshore breezes pick up most afternoons allowing great and safe conditions for all types of sailing. The Golfo Dulce has deep water and few obstacles, making it an excellent place for a day sail. The lodge has several windsurfers. Lessons are available, upon request. We also have a Hobie Cat and Sunfish for use by guests with experience. We offer opportunities to go sailing with our staff for those who want to just relax and enjoy a nice trip.

Horseback Riding: Enjoy a day in the rainforest by horseback. Half-day and full-day guided trips can be arranged to a variety of locations including many hidden waterfalls in the area.

Mountain Biking: Head for one of the small nearby towns in search of roads (remember, no roads go to the lodge!). This is a great way to experience the local life and then to head out on one of the many quiet dirt roads in the area. We can arrange short trips that will allow you to bike to beautiful beaches, or just cruise around and see open space and farming communities. Hard-core bikers can choose rugged trips that will have you crossing through rivers and streams and climbing steep hills, all the while looking at beautiful jungle scenery.

Tropical Botanic Garden Tours: A short boat ride will land you at Casa Orquidias, a botanical garden where you will learn about the many indigenous tropical fruits and plants while touring the grounds of a beautiful private reserve.

River Tours: Spend the day exploring a pristine river that is part of Corcovado National Park. Our guide, a local naturalist, will describe the interesting bird and marine life and vegetation of the Rio Esquinas, as we wind through the river that flows between the Golfo Dulce and inland jungles.

Relaxing: All does not have to be about activity. Please feel free to grab a beach chair or hammock and enjoy the tropics from one of our many peaceful spots!

Massage: Therapeutic massage with a licensed massage therapist in the privacy of your cabin or on the beach can be arranged. A perfect reward after a challenging day.