Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

Such an amazing place! Costa Rica is renowned for its eco tourism, and this lodge is definitely an excellent example of why. We were picked up in San Jose and the 3 hour drive seemed short due to the engaging guides from the lodge and the great traditional breakfast that we stopped for on the way. We then did the raft in to the lodge, I’d never done rafting before and it was an intense but fun experience, and we got to enjoy great views in the calmer sections. We were lucky to be upgraded to the Jaguar suite, which was huge and had amazing views of the river, and all the features you’d expect at luxury accommodation. Once we were settled in, we were talked through the included and extra excursions we could do during our time at the lodge. We chose to do zip lining, a waterfall hike, a night walk, and a cooking lesson. All these were well run with great guides. The cooking lesson was an extra charge. We also did the included sustainability tour, jaguar talk and had a go at making clay balls full of biomaterial which keep the river healthy. The sustainability elements of the lodge are what really blew us away and were so interesting to learn about. We stayed for four nights, which meant we also had time to enjoy the amazing pool (maybe the best pool we have ever seen) and go to the spa, where the oils used smell incredible! It was also good to stay for longer as it meant we could rearrange activities if there was bad weather. This is no reflection of the lodge, but if you go in November be prepared for a lot of rain. We generally had clear mornings until about 12, then cloud and drizzle for a few hours and then very heavy rain from 4pm all night. We have travelled to other tropical destinations and this is definitely the most rain we have ever seen. The heavy rain meant unfortunately we couldn’t do the rafting out, which was disappointing but understandable. We do feel like this could have been communicated a bit better, as we were only informed the rafting was cancelled after we were in our rafting gear ready to go. Another stand out highlight was the food at the lodge. The vegetarian options were incredible, we didn’t have a bad meal and there were lots of healthy options. It may be because of the rain, but there were less wildlife spotting than we expected being in such a remote rainforest location. We saw one sloth from a distance, and lots of butterflies and birds, so something to consider if you are hoping to see sloths/monkeys.

Put staying at Pacuare EcoLodge on your must do list. We went in September (10 days and never bored) low season. Frankly, this was a wonderful time to visit. It is supposedly the rainy season. Yes, it rained, thunderstorm, most afternoons for couple hours and then cleared. It never interfered with our activities. A good time to rest, read and watch birds from your balcony. All of the staff went out of their way to be sure we were having a good time, enjoying ourselves, with offers to be helpful in any way. Clearly, the staff were much more available during the low season. Definitely raft in. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your cabin when you arrive. Get up early and go bird watching with Luis or David, for example. Their knowledge of the birds, their habits and recognizing their calls in very impressive (we did this primarily with Luis and David, but there are other equally knowledgeable naturalists. We went every morning. Go on the night walk, again led by the naturalists-Luis and David. Using flashlights, they were masters at finding night creatures (the walks are one hour in length). I enjoyed learning traditional cooking with Susie. Go to the Nortico chocolate plantation and learn how chocolate fruit is harvested and the beens become chocolate (David was our guide). My wife enjoyed zip lining. Heights are not my thing. Done with great attention to safety. Remember you are in the rain forest, so you are zip lining through the jungle canopy. We were fortunate to see the capuchin and howler monkeys. The food was expertly prepared and varied. They would always accommodate requests. Pacuare Lodge is one of a group of ecolodges. It is an amazing example of being a self contained, sustainable operation. They produce all of their own electricity for example. During Costa Rica Independence Day Celebrations, my wife and I were actively included in the preparations and made to feel part of their celebrations. Raft out-much longer than arriving; guides are expert; running the rapids exciting; lunch by the Pacure River; amazing scenery. Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica, was a wonderful experience made wonderful by the warm, friendly staff. Since the cabins are separated, the staff will take you to them in electric vehicles if you don't want to walk or it is raining.

While the setting and the accommodations are spectacular, the people of Pacuare Lodge are what makes it extraordinary! From the time we were met in San Jose by our guides to rafting in to the lodge in exceptionally high water, to our greetings on the property with the best dragon fruit juice ever and every meal and activity after that, our stay will be a memorable one forever. The knowledge of nature by all the staff was amazing… the bird watching, the canopy tour, the canyoning and the hikes all featured guides that could answer just about any question we threw at them. In addition, they were kind, caring and had their own unique styles and stories. The one thing that really surprised us though was the quality and beauty of the food. Every meal featured carefully prepared ingredients that were not only beautiful but seemed healthy and delicious. This place truly exemplifies Pura Vida. Well done, Pacuare Lodge and Boena! I hope to return soon!

This was a unique adventure. Resort in a rain forest, basically a jungle, that has nice accommodations, incredible food and excellent customer service that is really nice but is like living in a jungle. The food is really first class fine dining. Remarkably good and diverse. Wine could be a little broader in selection and not so expensive, 4 - 5 times retail. The people working here are among the best I have ever encountered. The reason it’s not 5 stars is that those resorts have it all