Casa Cayuco Eco-Adventure Lodge

We went to Casa Cayuco for the November break that NJ schools get and stayed in their newest lodging option Estrella de Mar. The resort was amazing and my kids (8 & 14) absolutely loved the property and the trip -- this vacation will definitely go down a as a family favorite. The beach is calm, crystal clear and shallow to very far out and there are multiple kayaks and paddle boards for use whenever you want which we took advantage of. The pier at the beach offers hammocks, netting over the water with pillows, benches, tables and lots of places to relax as well as a hook and ring game which was a small touch but provided lots of entertainment. Because this is a small resort, nothing is ever crowded and many times you can have the beach or wherever you are to yourself. | There is an amazing self-guided hike right off of the property or you can hire one of the local hotel helpers like Jose to guide you -- we did both and it was very beautiful each time. Jose also found red frogs on the hike and there are sloths and, caimans and other creatures to be seen. This is truly a wild and beautiful place that has not been overrun by tourism yet but has just the right amount of creature comforts also.| We chose a very nice mix of excursions and relaxing each day including Monkey Island (great), sloth creek, the bat cave, a visit to Salt Creek village, the chocolate farm tour, and going to the beach to see the baby turtles hatching. They were all wonderful and we had trouble picking a favorite. Ultimately, if you want to do something they will make it happen. As others have said, the food was good and plentiful and the drinks were delicious also.| I will also take a moment to write about Estrella de Mar also since I have not seen many reviews of that on here since it is new. This house is BEAUTIFUL and right on the water. There are multiple balconies with couches, chairs, hammocks and tables. There are fans in every room and a/c in the bedrooms. The wood is local and the design of it is stunning with many beautiful details. You cannot really be more comfortable and the house itself is enormous. They will also bring meals to you there to eat at the large dining room table if you wish which we did a few times. This is truly luxurious and I would highly recommend to anyone planning a trip to Casa Cayuco.

We spent five lovely days at Casa Cayuco. What stays with us the most is the breathtaking and enjoyable location, the comfort of the lodging, the kindness of the staff, and the quality of the food. Casa Cayuco has a really special thing going on.||Casa Cayuco is located on the jungly coast of Isla Bastimentos - there is lush vegetation everywhere, amazing critters and bugs, a great little beach right on the property that is basically private (not huge but plenty of space to play), and warm and calm waters to play in. Our seven year old especially enjoyed just walking in the shallows around the dock.||We stayed in the Treehouse - it was awesome. It has so much space, is very airy and open, has great views of the surrounding forest, and the screened in bedroom upstairs is quite sheltered and quite comfy. From the Treehouse, we saw sloths, we saw the remnants of monkey visits (pretty funny looking poop), we had a tiny hummingbird nest downstairs, and we heard the most amazing and wild bird sounds every morning. We also had bats living in the first floor bathroom, and they made a small mess here and there, but we found the bathroom and the shower down there to be totally usable - and we were glad to have the bats there! We would stay in the Treehouse again for sure.||The food was great - prepared with care, connected to the locale and community, and enjoyed collectively with the other guests there. Some of the meals were on the simpler side (though always filling and tasty), and some were quite done up. We were impressed with the variety and depth of the meals. One night we had a group barbecue of the red snapper caught by some guests on an outing - and that was a delicious, special experience out on the dock. And on our last night, we had a private dinner out on the dock, which was a very thoughtful send off.||The dock itself is fantastic - it has a large shaded area, mesh lying areas above the water, a ladder to get down into the water, and some interesting nooks and crannies - and visitors, like the schools of small fish that were around, and the nurse sharks that were fed at night. Also, the lodge and lounge area in the main building was a welcoming place to relax and sometimes interact with other guests. Our child enjoyed playing several games of Monopoly with other kids there. And I had more than a few strong drinks while hanging out there. We did a few outings - the two we liked the most and would recommend were the snorkeling adventure and the visit to the monkeys.||The staff was hospitable and warm and made the experience all the more special and memorable. Casa Cayuco is a place where you will feel connected to the surroundings and the people around you as well. We are so glad and so fortunate to have spent part of our vacation there.

Wow, if you find yourself lucky enough to get to travel to this beautiful part of the world, Casa Cayuco is a truly magical stay! My husband and I spent five days here for our honeymoon and it was everything that we wanted. We did stay in the big cabin that had climate controlled bedrooms and the house was stunning! Beautiful hand crafted wooden features throughout with endless porches and balconies to enjoy the stunning view. All of your meals are taken care of here and we were never hungry or disappointed with the food! The best part was getting to spend time with the captains, Jose and Josue, who were both so generous with their knowledge of the local surroundings. We opted to do an adventure almost every day and these were so fun! It was never too exhausting and we generally would get to go out and explore during one part of the day and then spend the second half of the day relaxing on the dock or in hammocks around the property. We also took the kayaks and paddle boards out almost daily and this was a super fun free activity! A great way to get a good view of the numerous big star fish and other sea creatures in the waters directly in front of the resort. Getting to take the meals communally with the rests of the guests was also something we enjoyed and we feel we made some true friends while we were there. Keep in mind that this kind of stay might not be for everyone! It is a very remote eco-resort so not the spot for those wanting to go out to bars or restaurants and shopping during their trip. It is also surrounded by jungle so those who don't like bugs and close encounters with wildlife might not love it! Even though we were in the big house, there were lots of bug friends around which we did not mind. Really impressed with Casa Cayuco's commitment to sustainability, using all solar power and collected rain water and also as an economic support for the local population. We can't wait to go back!

We took our family of 5 (3 boys ages 7, 9, & 12) to Casa Cayuco after receiving a recommendation from a friend who visited there over Spring Break. We went in early August and it was amazing! We had an unbelievable time kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling with Josue, watching newly hatched sea turtles make their way to the water!!, visiting Salt Creek, and handline fishing with José and Velemir. We saw the Milky Way on our first night there and the water was calm enough for us to see bioluminescent algae on our second night. The other nights were filled with nurse sharks who hang out under the main dock. The list of amazing adventures and experiences cannot be contained in a review! Our kids enjoyed the excursions, but really loved the smoothies from Demetrio. Many thanks to Alondra, Paola, Julian, and all of the team who were so kind and made it a truly an epic vacation that we will never match. It was perfect for our family of 5 who all enjoy being in the outdoors. Our boys burned so many calories that I don't think they even realized that most meals were vegetarian (breakfast/lunch) or had fish as the primary protein (dinner). In fact, we copied the lentil enchiladas recipe that was a homerun for our family. I have recommended Casa Cayuco to all of my friends who would enjoy the eco-adventure lodge experience and I am still showing the amazing pictures from the trip to friends more than a month after we returned.

An absolute treasure!!! A million trillion stars this place is a true hidden gem!!!!||We travelled as a family of four with two boys (ages 1 & 5). It was everything we wanted in a vacation from the scenery, the adventures, the delicious food, and most notably, the people & culture. It was fabulous all around. ||We stayed for nearly a week. Each morning at breakfast Alondra and Paola would help us determine the best plan depending on the weather and what we were in the mood for. Each outing was lovely. We especially loved our trip to the Zapatillas Islands to watch the turtle hatchings and snorkel, and also loved monkey island, the sloth tour, the visit to Salt Creek community, and the chocolate farm. ||The culture on this island is so wonderfully evident through the people at the resort. Most staff members are from the local Salt Creek community, and when they take you on tours or outings are fantastic and easy local guides. If you have a chance to pack some items for the Salt Creek community (Pack for a Purpose) it's a wonderful opportunity to give back to a place which will provide you with such a deep experience.||The food is top notch. Martina and her team in the kitchen make everything locally from scratch and each meal was a treat. The smoothies, cocktails, and snacks they serve to you on the beach or wherever you are afternoon lounging are delicious. As an added bonus they were wonderful with our baby boy, even sometimes bringing him into the kitchen to socialize with the staff to give us a break at dinner time (he LOVED them so all parties were quite happy!).||The rooms are comfortable and clean and beautifully designed. There is truly no better way to sleep and wake than in a jungle with open windows from the safety of a mosquito net and a cozy bed. The water and beaches are stunning. The dock has lovely areas to lounge on multiple hammocks and lounges.||We had the most incredible time and truly cannot thank the team at Casa Cayuco enough. In particular Alondra made our stay absolutely amazing with her wonderful help and sweet attention with our boys, along with Paola, Jose, Martina, Joseu, Julian, and literally every single one of the staff members we met. Thank you, thank you, thank you for a dream trip with wonderful new friends! We will be back one day again. Especially Max. <3

I am so glad I chose this ecolodge! The location and the scenery are beautiful and the whole package is great. The lodge’s collaboration with the nearby village is evident. Alondra and Paola could not be kinder, engaged and thoughtful. I loved the trips on offer, particularly the bird watching with Ramon. He basically has created a bird sanctuary on his land. I strongly recommend it.

we‘ve just left casa cayuco after spending 5 wonderful days there. we were a little worried about the location at first, but it turned out the best thing that could have happened to us. every morning, the staff was suggesting different activities for the guests to chose from and everybody is very friendly and makes sure you spend your time the best way possible. for our honeymoon, the staff prepared a romantic candle-light dinner for us on the dock and for new years eve they arranged a family dinner for all the guests at one table, including fresh fish and traditional homemade specialties. we‘ve grown very fond of the crew and left this place heave hearted. if you have the chance to spend your time here, please do, you won‘t get dissapointed ❤️ thank you paola, allondra, josé & the whole team for this unforgettable experience. we miss you already.

What a beautiful well-run place. We loved it.||On a secluded side of Bastimentos, facing the Zapatillas. ||We stayed in Mono which was tucked into the rainforest. It was the right choice, we saw a sloth the day we arrived and two the day we left. ||Jose is a star. He runs the water-based activities and we loved him. ||Very nice communal areas and a cute bar.||All activities are great. Picking one is tricky but I'd have to say the mangrove snorkelling was really special. ||Also, go see Gary at Green Acres Chocolate Farm - a keen and active environmentalist. ||Be sure to take a kayak out, use the rock anchor provided and snorkel - just out in front and to the side of the accommodation. You need to go out at least 300 metres as Casa Cayuco is on a shallow, still sandy bay - not unlike a giant swimming pool.||With thanks to Alondra and Paola and their team. We aim to return one day.