I reserved two rooms, one for my husband and I and the other for his parents, both rooms in the Mango Guest House. We stayed for 3 nights on the Rainforest Multi-sport Escape package. Upon arrival to the Puerto Jimenez dock, we were met by Emily from Nicuesa. She welcomed us and accompanied us on the boat ride to the lodge. We saw dolphins along the way. Emily did an excellent job with our arrival orientation and showed us around the property. We were greeted with cold, strawberry daiquiri welcome drinks. As we walked from the dock up to the main lodge, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and well manicured the grounds are. The beach area has ample chaise lounge chairs with cushions. There is a deck with additional seating and a drinking water station and a fresh water outdoor shower. The paths are a joy to walk through because of the variety of flowering plants, lush green trees and grasses along each side. It’s really pretty! The main lodge is also very nice with seating, books and games and relaxing spaces on the first floor and the restaurant and bar on the second floor, all open air to enjoy the tropical climate. We checked in and proceeded to our rooms. I was pleasantly surprised. Prior to arrival I had set my expectations pretty low because the price point of this property is lower than others in the surrounding area and I had envisioned it would not be very nice and maybe even like camping. To my surprise, the room was very clean and attractive. I love the tropical wood they used in the construction of the louvered windows, furniture and ceiling! The bathroom was comfortable with lots of natural light. The shower had hot water and the outdoor seating area was another nice feature of the room. The food prepared by Chef Ellison and Karen was always fresh, delicious and healthy! We thoroughly enjoyed each meal and so appreciated the fresh fish and for accommodating our dietary requests! Breakfasts were a treat because they always served fresh, tropical fruit and delicious coffee to go along with your choice of entree. The fruit served here was the best we had on this trip to Costa Rica. Angie is FANTASTIC and provided amazing service all the time. Manuel was also very nice! The only negative of Nicuesa and only thing we did not like was their policy of no shoes in the restaurant or bar. Walking barefoot in public spaces with strangers is not something we are comfortable with from a sanitary perspective. After suffering through it for 2 days, I brought our opinion to Gera’s attention and he graciously allowed us to keep our flip flops on moving forward. It was VERY, VERY HOT during our stay but we knew that about S. CR before going. It is very hot in April. The best selling feature of Nicuesa for us is the beachfront location on a secluded black sand beach with beautiful palm trees. We loved swimming off the dock in the warm Golfo Dulce. We saw a hawksbill turtle and varios fish at the dock. The 3 tours that were included were really good. We were very impressed with the guides, Steven and Keylor and the boat captain Rafael. They went above and beyond to make our tours exceptional! We saw a pod of 200 + dolphins on the dolphin watching and snorkeling tour. We got to explore the undeveloped coastline of the Golfo Dulce as we headed to the Rio Esquinas for mangrove kayaking with Keylor and Tomas. Keylor even took photos and video for us. In shore fishing did not yeild any fish but a fun time was had on the boat enjoying the Golfo Dulce. Overall, I really enjoyed this eco lodge and would definitely recommend it to nature lovers and outdoor adventurers who want to experience a secluded beach with tours and excellent food. I hope to return someday.

This is an eco, sustainability experience for the adventurous! The staff are amazing —professional, courteous and responsive! The food was outstanding and served at a communal table with other guests from around the world. The activities were well done and safe! We loved the dolphin tour, fishing experience and sunset tour! The commitment to sustainability and local food was great! Accommodations are rustic and open air (no air conditioning) with shuttered doors to close for the evenings.

My family of four (two adults, two children, ages 11 and 15) had a lovely time at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. It's a unique and magical place. We didn't know too much about the property before arriving, but were delighted by our time there. The staff was very helpful and friendly, and it was nice that there wasn't a rigid division between staff and guests. Staff members often hung out in the lodge and at the bar to chat between activities, and they often had great stories to tell. The lodge also makes an effort to foster interaction between guests. Meals are served at a large communal table, which facilitates conversation. Coming from the United States, it was fun to meet other guests from other parts of the world (including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, etc.). One of the special features for us that any guest should be aware of is the true immersion you feel with nature. Although it had wooden shutters, our cabin was wide open to the air, allowing fresh breezes, rains, and sometimes birds, bats, and insects to visit, too. (It presented kind of a "glamping" vibe.) There is no air conditioning, so it can get fairly warm (and humid!). Everything ended up feeling fairly damp! But we got accustomed to the climate and the amazing jungle sounds, which include birds, insects, and monkeys. The food served is healthy and creative with several options at each meal. The activities we did included boat rides to see dolphins, kayaking, snorkeling, and hikes. Perhaps the best part about the Lodge (if this is what you are looking for) is how remote and secluded it is. It can only be accessed by boat (no roads) and the property is self-enclosed, so aside from the 20 or so guests and 20 or so staff members, there is no one else around. You really do feel far away from the masses in a place preserved very nicely in time and space. The natural beauty of the place—the trees, flowers, wildlife, and clear green waters—is quite special and something to be cherished.

Nicuesa surpassed all expectations. We were two couples aged 74 - 85, the eldest with advanced Parkinson’s and limited mobility and all very keen naturalists.. Costa Rica Expeditions suggested Nicuesa to us as our final destination and we spent 4 nights there. Flying into Golfito and then the 30 minute boat trip along the coast where the forest comes down to the Pacific was an exciting way to arrive. It was just wonderful to be in such a remote location surrounded by the sounds of the forest. The Lodge itself is designed so you can birdwatch over the canopy, cup of coffee in hand! It was wonderful to be able to wander along the trails leading out from the lodge as well as with the guides. A boat trip was among the highlights as well as snorkelling in water of 33C. Sadly global warming has bleached the coral. The food was outstanding and delicious freshly caught fish was always on the menu. The rooms were all well appointed with silent lazy ceiling fans and balconies looking into the jungle. Gera, the manager, and all his staff and guides were so welcoming and efficient and went to great lengths to make sure that we were well looked after. We were lucky with the weather and would have liked to stay longer. A truly memorable visit

My husband and I visited Playa Nicuesa to celebrate my 81st birthday. We had been two years before and had a marvelous time. We came over the border from where we were staying in Panama. We had a fabulous time. The Golfo Dulce, the rain forest setting, the facilities (which are constucted in our view like African safari lodges), the staff and the food were all excellent. We saw wonderful birds and wildlife and highly recommend you book this unique place as soon as you are able.