La Carolina Lodge

My mom and I came for a last minute 2 night stay recently and it ended up being my favourite part of the trip. Everything was fantastic, the food was incredible and the chefs were able to accommodate a gluten-free vegan! We road horses, got a tour of the farm and milked cows, all lead by Alejandro. The wood fired hot tub by the river was such a unique experience. We got to meet the owner and he was so wonderful, as was everyone who worked there. We had an absolutely amazing time and it was the perfect way to end my trip in Costa Rica! Thank you from Kelly and Asha

The Lodge Carolina is truly fantastic! It offers direct access to the river, which is perfect for peaceful walks and enjoying nature. The place is incredibly authentic, surrounded by lush jungle and wildlife—including cows and horses at a nearby ranch. There are plenty of well-marked hiking trails, making it easy to explore the beautiful surroundings. The staff is absolutely adorable and attentive, ensuring a very pleasant stay. The rooms are simple yet very comfortable, allowing you to feel fully connected to nature right from the moment you arrive. On top of that, the prices are extremely reasonable, and the quality of the products and services is excellent. We highly recommend Lodge Carolina for anyone looking for a genuine and peaceful nature getaway!

Awesome experience that was different than any other place we’ve stayed. Rustic yes, but very comfortable and clean. My husband and daughter were worried that we wouldn’t have a/c, but the night time temps cool down. The food was amazing… best we’ve ever had in Costa Rica! The bugs and roar of the river at night seemed loud at first, but we got used to it. Our 2 night stay allowed us just enough time to enjoy the property for a day. We went horseback riding and enjoyed the river and hot tub and also lounged around on our front porch. They light candles around the property every evening and we also had low lighting in the cabin. The serene natural beauty surrounding this place is what we loved. |The drive to Rio Celeste National park took about 50 minutes. We did the tubing on the river and it was a great experience!

I went here for my wedding anniversary. My husband and I stayed in the private cabin outside the gate... it was magical! They are really on top of things in the dining room. The hot jacuzzi was fabulous and the cold river right next to can't be beat! Gorgeous surroundings too... can't wait to go back!

The most magical place in the world! We had multiple local Costa Rican friends tell us we HAD to make a stop at La Carolina Lodge during our trip. Originally we didn't think we could fit it in, but we decided last minute to figure it out so we could spend one night there and it ended up being the absolute highlight of our 11 day adventure. We stayed in the Toucan cabin and loved the private hot tub, river water, hammock, and wood burning fire they light for you each night. My kids are very young but we still had a fantastic time enjoying the premises, especially experiencing the animals (horses, chickens, pigs, and cows). The food was spectacular (my chef husband was so impressed) and the value is huge for all that you get included. We cannot wait to return here again and spend more time soaking it all in.

We absolutely loved our stay on the farm! We spent two nights which we found to be the perfect amount of time to experience the activities available on site. We did a horseback tour through the countryside with Alejandro, milked the cows, hiked the property, and spent lots of time in the wood fired hot tub. The porches were a highlight and hearths everywhere made everything very cozy. Super disconnected and relaxed. A major highlight was the food. Authentic, flavorful, and grown on the farm or near it. You could definitely tell the difference, and we loved that it was included. It’s so nice to not have to pull out your wallet all the time on vacation and made the meals more enjoyable. The candlelit dinners were the best. Rooms were very rustic but had hot water, temperature was good, and beds were comfy. 10/10!

We had the absolute BEST time here with our family - our kids are 6, 8 and 10 and it was a trip they will never forget. The food was incredible - DON'T skip the dessert! We'll be dreaming of the coffee, hot chocolate and family meals for years to come. So much to explore and do at this property, but not at all overwhelming. We stayed for three nights in the El Commisario tree house and could have fit many more people in there. The personal wood fired hot tub was such a highlight. Can't recommend this property enough - it is magical.

We just returned from our 2nd stay at La Carolina. Just like last time, we all agreed that it was the favorite part of our 3 week trip. Everything was perfect - we had monkeys right off the porch. We even saw a sloth from the porch one day and it was so close. We stayed in el Comissario which was a great size for our 6 person family and could certainly accommodate more comfortably. We enjoyed the hot tub everyday - someone came early each day to refill it for us. We were so grateful for the daily cleaning service with fresh towels. And the nightly fire the staff started. The kids did a ton of fishing and caught a bunch of little fish. We loved the horseback riding and farm tour - I can't say enough good things. We milked cows and tasted fruit from all over the farm. Every meal was incredible - so fresh and healthy - we appreciate that so much. My son celebrated his 8th birthday and we were able to have a chocolate cake specially made for him! Our massages by the river were so relaxing and rejuvenating. And the ENTIRE staff is wonderful - accommodating, friendly. The beds are comfortable. We appreciated the bug nets even though the bugs were not bad when we were there (late June). The kids love going over to the main building to get delicious hot chocolate whenever they want. We did several tours - all of which we truly loved. We rafted the Rio Celeste - crazy but so fun. Visited the butterfly garden, did a nature tour at Finca Verde where we saw two sets of mom/baby sloths. We did the chocolate making experience at La Amistad which was also really fun and unique - we took home 21 chocolate bars!