Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

What an amazing opportunity to unplug, connect with nature, and get away. I mean, you can get WiFi in the lodge and a cell signal at the beach, but other than that it's just the jungle, the beautiful lodge, and the incredible staff. Oscar, a fabulous guide and conversationalist, met us in Puerto Jimenez to pick us up on the boat and had his work cut out for him as he carried a really heavy bag from Cabinas Jimenez to the beach nearby. We got in the boat, he told us what to expect of the ride, and off we went. Olman met us on the dock with a welcome drink and a quick "lay of the land" explanation. We went to our cabin where our luggage was already waiting and I realized that for the entire time we were there, we would never be "inside" and that made me happy. We had screens on our window openings so there were no bug issues. We stayed in the Cocodrilo cabin and there was a troop of Howler Monkeys that came to greet us in the nearby treetops for a couple days. Kim took us out snorkeling, whale watching, dolphin watching, river cruising, and on a sunset/full moon/bioluminescence tour. All of them were breathtaking in their own way. She even grabbed a wild fruit off a tree on the river so we could try it! Marcella and Edixon cooked all of our meals and we want that food all the time now. I actually thought that I didn't like mango until I tried it here. Everything is so fresh and well-prepared. Don't miss Gallo Pinto for breakfast and a cup of coffee with their honey in it. Local yellowfin is crazy good if you get a chance to try it. We made such good friends with Juan-Carlos (JC for short) while we were there. He liked playing around with drink recipes with us and was just always a super fun guy to talk to. He even named a drink after my wife's order while we were there, so if you see him, ask for The Godmother. You won't be disappointed. Oh, and get in on the Rum Tasting! It's not just trying some rums. The flavor pairings of cheese and cacao nib and raisin make it truly interesting. The lodge is remote. There is no air conditioning but there are fans in the rooms that make it quite comfortable. The trails are great for short to moderate hikes and the wildlife is ample. Be ready to be a little damp all the time. Leave your clothes in your zipped suitcase and they will stay dry. They have a plastic tote in each room to keep things you want to stay dry in. One tip I will give is to ask for the free clothes drying service the morning before you depart, then zip those dry clothes in a suitcase. It keeps the jungle moisture weight down. My apologies for not mentioning anyone by name. We had the whole lodge to ourselves for 4 days and that was right after a decent tropical storm blew through, so our stay was unique, I think. We will be returning and can't say enough good about everyone there who made our time so perfect.

We spent 4 nights at Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge at the end of a two week trip to Osa. We are a family of 4 from the UK with teenagers. We had a brilliant and very happy and memorable time. This place will give you so much if you throw yourself in fully and take all the opportunities presented to you. We were extremely lucky whilst we were at Nicuesa Lodge. We were lucky enough to see an ocelot and cub on a night hike, american crocodiles on the mangrove tour, we swam with stingrays and a white tip reef shark on a snorkelling trip, saw dolphins and a humpback whale and calf on a boat trip, saw an eyelash tree viper, a cat eye snake and plenty of basilisks around the lodge, macaws and monkeys in the trees above and countless coatis, agoutis, bull frogs and peccaries in the forest. On a trek to a waterfall on one of the lodge's main trails (pizote) we came across a fresh puma kill less than an hour from the lodge. We decided to leave our camera phone on record next to the kill and when we picked it up two hours later we had successfully filmed a large male puma feeding. It was insanely exciting. This place is very wild and very much off grid and our experience staying here was truly memorable, the wildlife is all around you but you need to get out in it as much as possible. The accommodation is comfortable although you do get an occasional reminder of how remote and exposed you are! The snorkelling off the pier is fab, lots of fish life including parrot fish and moray eels and also a turtle and an eagle ray. The water is warm and jumping off the pier is always great fun. The food is really delicious, varied and plentiful - you do not go hungry here. The cocktails made by JC are way better than the cocktails at the 5* hotel we stayed at. What makes it special here is the remoteness and also the warmth of the staff - our guides Kimberley and Oscar (thank you to both of you for being so wonderful!), the boat drivers Francisco and Cato, JC on the bar and Aquila in the restaurant and the two marvellous chefs and of course Stephen who looks after everyone on a daily basis. Staying at Nicuesa was a wonderful experience, and one we will always treasure.

I spent 5 nights at Playa Nicuesa in July 2026 as part of a small yoga retreat led by Marsha White (mwyoga.com). Marsha has been bringing groups to Nicuesa for years, and I can see why she keeps coming back. Getting there is part of the experience — a small plane followed by a boat ride across the Golfo Dulce. Olman, the lodge manager, greeted us at the pier when we arrived and J.C. was right there with fresh fruit drinks in hand. It was clear we had arrived somewhere truly special. Being accessible only by boat gives Nicuesa a feeling of real remoteness that I loved. It was nice to be away from civilization for a while. Steven at the front desk made sure our luggage was brought to our rooms, connected us with guides to schedule our excursions, and was genuinely attentive to whatever we needed throughout the stay. He's the kind of person who makes the logistics invisible so you can focus on actually enjoying yourself. J.C. was our server at most meals and was wonderful — warm, attentive, and always with a smile. The food itself was excellent and felt authentically Costa Rican, with a different menu each day that was fresh and well prepared. The guides were a real highlight. Kimberly led us on four excursions — an intro hike, a waterfall hike, a dusk hike, and kayaking through the mangroves. She was incredibly knowledgeable and has an almost supernatural ability to sense wildlife in the jungle. The waterfall hike in particular was unforgettable: the latter part of the trail follows the creek, climbing up with ladders and ropes, and at the top you're rewarded with a magical little pool with water cascading in where we went for a swim. Oscar led our bird watching tour and a chocolate making activity and was equally knowledgeable and engaging. The wildlife alone was worth the trip. On the intro hike we spotted an anteater up in a tree — I had no idea they climbed trees. During kayaking we paddled right under a boa constrictor hanging above the mangroves. And I never got tired of watching pairs of scarlet macaws flying across the sky and landing in the almond trees to eat, or catching sight of yellow-throated toucans. We did yoga twice a day on the beautiful open-air yoga deck, and I also spent time paddleboarding in the ocean. But honestly, my favorite part of each day might have been the simplest — sitting in a hammock by the ocean in the afternoons, reading a book and listening to the waves. Overall, this trip was the perfect balance of adventure and restoration. The staff, the guides, the food, and the setting all came together to make it something I'll remember for a long time. Highly recommended.

My mother, 88, and I wrote this review together. We've been thinking about what we wanted to share and here is what we came up with! From the moment we arrived by boat across the Golfo Dulce, it was clear this place was built by people who deeply love this land. Every detail of the lodge reflects that care, from the handcrafted touches in the cabins to the way the property blends into the rainforest around it rather than fighting against it. The team took care of us like family. Every staff member seemed genuinely happy to be there, and it showed in the small things: the warm greetings each morning, the thoughtful recommendations for hikes and excursions, the way they anticipated what we needed before we asked. One of our favorite parts was the community table for all meals. Sharing stories with the other guests each night, we met some of the most interesting people. It made the whole experience feel less like a hotel stay and more like being welcomed into a little community. The food deserves its own paragraph. Every meal was fresh, healthy, and clearly made with real intention, using ingredients that felt connected to the land right around us. What stood out most was the respect for the environment woven into everything. This isn't a lodge that talks about sustainability, it's one that actually lives it, from how the property is powered to how carefully the surrounding rainforest and wildlife are protected. Whoever created this place clearly poured themselves into it. You can feel their values in every corner of the property. We left already planning our return.

This is such a special place! If you want to be off the beaten path and in a natural setting, this is the place. They bring you by boat from a local port. This is a small, intimate resort. Wonderful! Very nice cabins and good food. They have snorkeling and kayaking equipment available for free use. They also offer boat tours. Quiet and so very peaceful listening to the waves on the beach. Great birdwatching.