Finca Luna Nueva Lodge

From the moment my husband and I arrived at Finca Luna Nueva Lodge, we knew we had discovered something truly special. Nestled in a lush rainforest amid organic farm fields and towering trees, the lodge offers a rare chance to reconnect with nature, sustainable living, and authentic Costa Rican “pura vida” spirit. What sets Finca Luna Nueva apart is its deep commitment to regenerative agriculture — the resort is not merely tucked into nature, but actively helps regenerate soil, biodiversity and ecosystems around it. Their farm-to-table experience meant that nearly every meal came straight from their own gardens, and prepared fresh daily. The accommodations are simple and rustic enough to feel close to the land, yet comfortable, with private porches that overlook the rainforest and farm. It was peaceful, grounding — a stark, welcome reprieve from the busy city life. The people were extraordinary. Warm, and welcoming and clearly passionate about what they do - and had deep respect for the environment. As a guest, I felt I was not just staying at a resort, but becoming part of something bigger — a living commitment to sustainability, learning, and respect for nature. If you are looking for more than a “vacation spot,” if you long for an immersive experience where your meals come from the land, where the rainforest you relax in is also the ecosystem you help sustain — Finca Luna Nueva Lodge is a rare gem. It is quite simply one of the best stays I have ever had - and I felt connected and one with nature Pura Vida — and thank you, Finca Luna Nueva

Wonderful magical jungle with so much to do. The amenities were wonderful, including gardens everywhere, trails on the property, tours for their chocolate farm, cow farm, and food farm. All the breakfast is made from food that they grow on the land. The pool was wonderful and surrounded by beautiful nature. We saw black turkeys and two cans as we were swimming. There is a lovely hot tub that is surrounded by Tree frogs. Our House casa barro was lovely and spacious with a king bed. Everything is very quick walking decent. There is parking on site. The hotel is a little bit out-of-the-way to get to, but that’s the magic of it… you are surrounded by all of the wonderful rainforest strong property. There’s also a yoga area for those that participate.

We (family of four, two kids ages 8 and 10) stayed here for 5 nights in late November. Absolutely lovely stay! It's a destination in itself., so being 30 minutes outside of La Fortuna was not a problem. We did the farm tour, cow milking and night tour on site. Birdwatching right from our patio. Kids loved the pool. Free breakfast included was great. We also enjoyed dinner at the Lodge every night. Great selection at the buffet and reasonably priced ($25/adults, $10/kid). We stayed in a family room which had plenty of space. My only suggestion: the bathroom desparately needs more hooks/bars to hang things up. There's only 3 hooks on the back of the door, which are far away from the shower and nowhere near enough.

Absolutely worth it! The property is absolutely stunning. The stars took my breath away. The food was rejuvenating and satisfying, everything was delicious. The sounds of the jungle are all around you allowing for true relaxation and tuning into nature. Close to arenal park for hiking and waterfalls.

Within ten minutes of arriving at the Finca, I regretted having booked only a single night stay. I do not know of any other time in which the check-in process itself, managed by the Melina the Great, has convinced me that I had 1) made the right choice of lodging and 2) made the wrong choice in staying for only one day. Melina is exactly what travelers need: funny, informative, and patient. The location is simply superb: in the midst of a lush forest populated with hummingbirds (that we could see) and other animals that we could only hear. Our cabin -- Casita 9 -- left us impressed. The interior designs were minimal yet functional. Everything worked and looked beautiful while doing it. The goal was to see the lush foliage just outside of the beautiful, large windows. We went to sleep on a comfortable bed to the sound of a downpour. We ate both dinner and breakfast at the on-site hotel. All of it was delicious. The grounds of the finca are immense. We managed to visit the Birding Area after breakfast but otherside had to leave early for a long drive to Guanacaste. There are so many things to experience at the Finca that I felt like an idiot for staying longer. Visitors need several days to get the most out of the property. Having said that, we hope to convert our one mistake into many reasons to return again.

First of all, this is a farm. In many areas of Costa Rica, farms mean plantations and pastures in the middle of the rainforest. Within this farm, the share of untouched rainforest is significant, so you have the chance to find sloths, monkeys, and many bird and reptile species on the property. The diversity here is comparable to Arenal National Park. You can get private or group tours to explore the land, but you can also hike without a guide. This farm started integrating a lodge within its borders about 30 years ago. The whole concept was built on the love of nature. Wherever you go, you’ll find rampant nature in every corner. Hummingbirds collect pollen in front of your apartment, sloths live on the trees near the pool, and toucans feast on the bananas at the same spot. The rooms are spacious but simple; we didn’t have a TV in the two-room family apartment. While we never watch TV during travel, it may be an important detail for some tourists to set proper expectations. Important note: the tap water is drinkable, unlike on the coasts. Without a rented car, you are quite dependent on the farm. There are no restaurant alternatives within walking distance, and Uber drivers rarely accept rides shorter than 10 km. Luna Nueva runs a fair restaurant covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a bar as well. Their menu is mainly based on Costa Rican cuisine, which can become a bit repetitive after a few days. On the other hand, they use as many locally grown products as possible, so you can’t complain about the quality. They also offer different dietary options. The crew is very friendly and attentive. You mostly interact with the waiters and bartenders in the restaurant area, and they’ll know your preferences by the second or third day. They speak English, so language barriers are usually not a problem. As mentioned above, the farm organizes tours inside its territory. I recommend the night watch, where you can see the famous frogs of the area and other nocturnal creatures. They’ve also built a bird-watching post and a lookout tower, which you can explore without booking excursions. Laundry service is available, but you must pay in cash. Other than that, you can pay everything by card. The lodge also offers a transfer service from SJO airport. It’s not the cheapest, but I would choose it again since the border crossing can take significant time (even up to 1–2 hours), which other private drivers may not tolerate. And Hugo, the driver—who grew up and lived his whole life in this area—can answer all your questions about best practices, sights, food, culture, and anything else. Note that the transfer is roughly three hours or more depending on traffic, so you may want to spend a night near the airport before heading to the lodge. We didn’t do that and were extremely tired after flying from Zurich to San Jose. Here are a couple of things to set the right expectations when going to Luna Nueva: • This place is isolated unless you rent a car. Uber is an alternative, but the service is not as smooth as in a town. • Nature is everywhere. Lizards run on the walls, insect larvae can get into your bathroom, and you need earplugs to sleep because of the cicadas and birds. When packing, leave your phobias at home. Otherwise choose Svalbard instead of Costa Rica; you won’t experience these problems there for sure. • No TV. You must watch the hummingbirds instead. Wifi is available without issues. • Rainy. At any time of day, rain showers can hit you. A dry path can become a river in five minutes. Have proper shoes and ponchos. • While this place is one of the best nature experiences you can get, don’t plan to stay only here. The Pacific or the Caribbean side offers very different experiences you’ll also want to try.

What an experience! Simple, clean, well-priced, beautiful accommodations in an extraordinary area. Away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, but close enough too. We commented every day on how the drive to and from activities in La Fortuna was worth it, and how happy we were to be “home.” The hardest thing each day was to leave this paradise to experience everything the region has to offer! And the food… extraordinary, and diverse!

Where to start?!|We booked our 2-night stay at Finca Luna Nueva a couple of weeks in advance with no particular expectations and it turned out to be the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. |2 hours after arriving in front of their magnificent front front desk we were already wishing we had booked a couple more days.|This place is so peaceful and well organized, there’s an amazing offer of on-site activities that really help convey what has been put in place here in terms of regenerative agriculture. |Every employee we met looks happy and proud to work here, the owner’s passion for what they have committed to over the last 30 odd years is contagious.|The pool if big and refreshing the restaurant serves food grown on-site and the whole hotel is full of cozy nooks and crannies perfect to spend time a welcome quite time reading or thinking ;)|We will be back for more.