Tucked away deep in the heart of Costa Rica’s most pristine rainforest environment, on the banks of the Pacuare River, lies the Pacuare Lodge.
Surrounded by nature in its purest and most primitive state, here you will experience that most coveted of travelers’ rewards, an opportunity to savor the spirit of a place. The Pacuare Lodge facilities were designed and constructed to blend with the surrounding environment, affecting minimal impact, and have been recognized by the World Tourism Organization as one of only sixty five examples throughout the world of good practice in sustainability and ecotourism. The lodge has been featured in prestigious publications such as Outside Travel Guide Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler , National Geographic Adventure and other important TV programs such as The Today Show and Ushuaia Nature. See the Pacuare Lodge in the Condé Nast September 2007 edition as well.
Offering an unforgettable white-water experience; the Rio Pacuare is the most scenic in Costa Rica, and one of the top-ten rafting rivers in the world. It meanders through calm stretches past virgin rainforest, tumbles over Class III rapids then plunges through a series of spectacular canyons with near vertical forested walls towering hundreds of meters above. Here as you hurtle headlong into the Class IV rapids your raft pitches, lurches and tosses you about, giving you the thrill of a lifetime.
Costa Rican owners Roberto Fernandez and Jack Loeb, have designed and constructed the lodge to blend with the surrounding environment. All supplies at the lodge are rafted in, including food, drinks, construction materials and furnishings, plus clean and dirty linens both ways. “Garbage is separated and biodegradable waste is processed on site, they recycle everything they can and any leftovers are rafted out”.
WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
The eco lodge is located twenty miles from the Caribbean slope town of Siquirres, deep inside the Pacuare Protected Zone. It’s only accessible by raft , four wheel drive vehicle to the river bank or by helicopter. Three options exist; you can raft both ways, take the 4x4 transport one way, either in or out, and if rafting doesn’t appeal take the land transport or helicopter ride both ways. Safety on the river and the guests’ comfort and enjoyment at the lodge are paramount, as is the minimal environmental impact on the natural paradise that surrounds it.
The Pacuare Lodge’s philosophy of simplistic luxury and oneness with nature is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity. It has a small generator for kitchen appliances and has a modern IP telephone communication system. Stone pathways lead to the all-wood bungalows with palm thatched roofs, which are scattered around the colorful, landscaped, tropical garden. When night falls over a hundred candles are lit in the main lodge and flickering candlelight in the bungalows make this lodge of the most romantic getaways in Costa Rica.
The eight Garden View Bungalows are smaller, but have the same comfort. It features a canopy king size bed , a futon couch, private terrace and nice bathroom with solar heated showers.
The Honeymoon Suite , recently opened, is set high on a lush jungle hilltop overlooking the main lodge, offers newlyweds and nature-lovers alike, an exclusive haven in which to surrender to the romantic spell of the Pacuare rainforest.
Experience the tranquility of the early morning silence, serenaded by the native bird life in the soft morning sun. Step into your spring-fed infinity pool overlooking a sea of emerald green. Soaking and submerged to the chin, it is a time for relaxation and sensual pleasures. A one hundred and twenty foot hanging bridge will lead you from your bungalow deck to a platform high in a towering tree, whose roots are grounded in the main camp far below. This private treetop platform offers you and your partner your own private immersion in the world that is the rainforest canopy.
The spacious main Lodge has been thoughtfully designed for the comfort and pleasure of our guests, and sets a new standard in a Costa Rica nature experience.Overlooking the Pacuare River, the palm-thatched, two-story structure boasts solid teak floors, tropical flowers and plenty of fresh air, enticing guests to come in and admire the timeless beauty of the swift-flowing river and millennial rainforest.
On the ground floor an open-air restaurant and kitchen offer visitors a panoramic view . It always is bustling with activity as local chefs prepare delicious gourmet dishes, whole grain breads and fresh baked desserts. Freshly brewed coffee and an assortment of organic teas are available throughout the day and evening. You will enjoy your meals as you are immersed within the sights, sounds and tantalizing scents of the tropical rainforest.
Upstairs a spacious yet cozy open-sided lounge with a small bar invites guests to kick back and recount the day’s adventures in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. Locally crafted wood furnishings, hand-hewn timber beams and wrought iron chandeliers create a warm ambiance of rustic splendor as gentle breezes drift off the Pacuare river.
Here the views never fail to dazzle. Four lookout areas offer great vantage points for photos of the river and lush vegetation. Comfortable wicker sofa chairs, board games and plenty of colorful bromeliads make this a favorite area for our guests. The lodge and bungalows are completely surrounded by tropical rainforest. Enormous trees and rainforest inhabitants live in natural harmony alongside the lodge itself.
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