Pacuare Lodge

Pacuare Lodge is nestled in the lush green landscapes of central Costa Rica, a couple of hours by land from San Jose.

The lodge's spacious palm-thatched wooden bungalows have been built using sustainable wood and traditional Cabecar building techniques. You might be in the middle of the forest but you're hardly slumming it: each room has a king-size bed, a private deck and a solar-heated shower, and some have their own spring-fed plunge pools. The rooms are screened, and at night they are beautifully illuminated by hundreds of candles. Enjoy panoramic views over the forest and river.

Accommodation options include the Jaguar Villa, which is accessed via a private bridge and has a spring-fed pool, an outdoor bath, hammocks on the terrace and an elevated viewing platform in the treetops.  

As well as the views, the food at Pacuare Lodge is a true highlight, featuring delicious and sophisticated farm-to-table cuisine.

Dine in the open-air restaurant or zipline into the heart of the rainforest canopy and reserve a table at the spectacular El Nido (The Nest), perched 20 metres high in the trees. You'll enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest as you dine by candlelight.

For a taste of local culture, experience an authentic culinary treat by discovering the recipes of the local indigenous Cabecar people, using ingredients sustainably sourced from the Nairi Awari reserve and prepared in traditional style, with finishing touches from the chefs. 

Activities and adventure taken their toll? Expert masseuses are on call to soothe aching muscles. There is also a beautiful 20-metre-long pool, fed by a mountain spring and heated by special radiating tiles, surrounded by rainforest. After a dip, enjoy a cold craft beer, a fresh fruit smoothie or a cocktail from the poolside bar. 

Exhilarating white water rafting, canopy adventure tours, ziplining through the trees, hiking to hidden waterfalls, horse riding and birdwatching are just some of the activities on offer here - it’s safe to say there’s not a chance you’ll get bored.

Hike to the Cabecar indigenous community and meet their fascinating Curandero (medicine man). Meanwhile, in keeping with Pacuare's eco-friendly ethos, you can also give something back to nature and take part in the plant a tree programme, or learn about the jaguar conservation project.