Maquenque Eco Lodge
near San Juan River
Average rating 4.8 (89 ratings)
This is a wonderful family-run eco-lodge set in its own private 84 ha nature reserve inside the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. This area of lowland rainforest is especially good for birdwatchers and for people with a strong interest in Costa Rica's wildlife, from beetles and butterflies to bats and basilisks. The lodge's conservation-minded owners, who are all biologists, are doing an excellent job and personally guide many of the tours (on foot or by boat), including wonderful night walks.
The lodge has 15 comfortable bungalows (with either a king bed or queen and twin beds) all with private bathrooms, solar hot water, ceiling fans, table and two chairs and an outside deck with table, chairs and a hammock. There are also 8 fully enclosed, en-suite 'Tree House' rooms with a balcony, set up to 40ft up in the forest canopy. Some have net walls, and others are located a 10 to 15 minute walk along a trail from the main lodge buildings.
The lodge has a restaurant and bar area with wifi, a swimming pool, and there's a laundry service and safe. If you are arriving by car you will be ferried across the San Carlos river to the lodge, leaving your vehicle in a guarded private parking area on the opposite bank. There are various self-guided trails, an orchid, botanic and medicinal plant garden, fruit orchard and small working farm - 70% of food served in the lodge restaurant is grown or produced on the property. We book guests on a full board basis including a main course for lunch and three courses for dinner.