Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

This was the last stop on our 15 night trip to CR and was the perfect ending after a somewhat disappointing stay in Manuel Antonio (avoid if you don't like tacky shops and crowds). The location is wonderful, the staff superb, guides knowledgeable and activities varied and interesting. If you are in any way uncomfortable around nature in the raw i.e. lots of wildlife, lizards that scoot around, bats etc then this place is possibly not for you. But if you relish the sounds of the jungle waking you up in the morning and blitzing your senses you will love it.

Nicuesa resort is a magical escape, full of birds, fish and lovely waves lapping the shore. The staff is what set it apart. Olman, Isabella (yoga and massage), Kim, Yosen (bartender), Oscar, Akila made me feel at home. I was there solo, as I am retiring soon, and I’ll never forget the week I had. Kim showed me exotic birds in the trees, Yosen served me dinner in the bar, as I was alone at dinner. Tip: splurge on an underwater camera to take photos of the fish. I’ll be back with my hubby next time! Muchas gracias🙏🏼

We are repeat guests who previously visited this lodge in 2024 and returned again to spend 4 nights to close out the 2025 year. Marcela in reservations provides stellar customer service and she makes booking a stay easy! We thoroughly enjoy Nicuesa’s off the beaten path location surrounded by nature, the ever present calming sound of the waves in the background AND their dock, which allows for easy access to daily swimming and boat tours in the warm Golfo Dulce. Having a dock and a beautiful beach area sets Nicuesa apart from other lodges in the area. We stayed in the Mariposa room of the Mango guesthouse (same room we had last year) and we really like it because of all of the fresh air that flows through the screened in openings and louvered doors. Just like last year, our room, en-suite bathroom, bedding and bath towels on this visit were all very clean and comfortable. Staying here feels a bit like glamping, but with a comfortable bed, hot shower and great water pressure. The darkness you will experience here at night is INCREDIBLE and something many who do not venture off to remote locations may miss experiencing. It is amazing how dark it is without light pollution. The meals were healthy, fresh and delicious and they accommodated all of our requests and preferences. The kitchen staff and waitstaff work hard and Kim, Yancy and Yosen took great care of us! Breakfast is always a favorite for us because of the freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee, baked goods and large platter of fruit with mango, papaya, pineapple, watermelon that is so good! Chef Ellison is very talented and we love the fresh fish dinners he prepares. During our stay, we enjoyed two boat tours with Kimberly as our guide and she was very knowledgeable and did a fantastic job. We were blessed to see many dolphins both bottlenose dolphins and the smaller tropical spotted dolphins. One aspect of Nicuesa that made us want to return is the fun tours included with the Multi sport package. During our stay, we had the pleasure of meeting the owners and their family who happened to be there during that time. They are generous, friendly and welcoming people who conversed with the guests and kindly shared about how they created the eco lodge years ago with sustainable practices that remain today. To our surprise, they unexpectedly threw a special New Year’s Eve party for all the guests, and included the employees which we thought was very nice! The party started with a champagne toast before an impressive dinner prepared by Chef Ellison and later moved down to the beach area all decorated with hanging lights, a bonfire and a candlit path to and from the lodge. There was live entertainment that included a flame thrower and Salsa and Merengue dancers! Wow, what a nice surprise to celebrate the new year in paradise! Thank you for another amazing vacation at Nicuesa!

What an incredible experience at Playa Nicuesa. First and foremost the staff are what makes this lodge so special. Followed by the amenities and location. Was able to take several tours offered at the lodge and each one was amazing. The staff is very accommodating and able to help with most requests.

Dec 6-10, 2025 A girls trip to celebrate 40 years of friendship. Things that set this apart from other eco-lodges Puerto Jimenez area. I have stayed at a few. The STAFF is amazing. Especially the guide, JeanCarlos who was our principle tour guide on the River Kayak Tour, Waterfall Hiking and Jungle Hike Tour. He is the lodge's greatest asset and is knowledgeable about flora and fauna and very aware of what makes a tour into a last memory. Other staff Steven Arias, the co-manager went beyond to help us organize activities at our next location. All of the staff, Yosen, Yancy, Kimberely were outstanding. Roseanna, the cook, made mealtime an adventure. Things to know. The lodge is remote, so plan to stay and participate in the lodge based activities. There is a $200 boat/trip charge if you want access to other tours. I highly recommend the River Tour, kayaking through the mangroves was amazing and with Jean Carlos explaining the types of mangroves etc. made it all the more interesting. The crocodiles were an added bonus. Jean Carlos knew just where to allow us to kayak as to stay safe and away from danger from the crocodiles. The waterfall hike, well worth it. My friend said, that this was the best trip of her life and staying at Nicuesa Lodge was the reason.