Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

Dec 6-10, 2025 A girls trip to celebrate 40 years of friendship. Things that set this apart from other eco-lodges Puerto Jimenez area. I have stayed at a few.|The STAFF is amazing. Especially the guide, JeanCarlos who was our principle tour guide on the River Kayak Tour, Waterfall Hiking and Jungle Hike Tour. He is the lodge's greatest asset and is knowledgeable about flora and fauna and very aware of what makes a tour into a last memory. Other staff Steven Arias, the co-manager went beyond to help us organize activities at our next location. All of the staff, Yosen, Yancy, Kimberely were outstanding. Roseanna, the cook, made mealtime an adventure.|Things to know. The lodge is remote, so plan to stay and participate in the lodge based activities. There is a $200 boat/trip charge if you want access to other tours. I highly recommend the River Tour, kayaking through the mangroves was amazing and with Jean Carlos explaining the types of mangroves etc. made it all the more interesting. The crocodiles were an added bonus. Jean Carlos knew just where to allow us to kayak as to stay safe and away from danger from the crocodiles. The waterfall hike, well worth it. My friend said, that this was the best trip of her life and staying at Nicuesa Lodge was the reason.

My husband and I spent a full week in mid-September and truly did not want to leave - it was the most restful and lovely vacation we have ever been on! I wouldn't hesitate to travel here again during the rainy season because the rainstorms were amazing and we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. There was still plenty of time to do a morning excursion every day before watching an afternoon rainstorm from our balcony. The lodge is completely surrounded by rainforest and to be totally immersed in nature is an experience everyone should have - waking up to the sound of howler monkeys is magical. We saw humpback whales, dolphins (including a particularly cute baby), 4 monkey species, and countless birds, including scarlet macaws every morning at breakfast. The entire staff was welcoming and helpful. The food was excellent and Kimberly was a fantastic bartender/waitress/impromptu guide - basically every time we saw her she would show us a monkey, bird, frog, etc that we wouldn't had been able to spot otherwise. I also mentioned one day how much I liked the coconut cookies and she made sure there was another batch later in the week so I could snag a few for the flight home. Oscar was our guide for our daily excursions and he answered all of our (numerous) questions and was kind, informative and fun to chat with. We both had a few massages with David during the week - all of which were excellent, but I highly recommend the Thai massage. He was warm, open-hearted and we enjoyed all of our interactions with him. Also a special shout-out to Hazel, Tomas, and Manuel!

This was one of the most restful, refreshing vacations we’ve ever experienced. If you love nature, you will be in heaven here, surrounded by lush rainforest, many species of birds and insects (which the knowledgeable lodge staff will point out & tell you about!), coatis, monkeys, and the dolphins and whales in Golfo Dulce. The darkness at night is deep enough to see so many stars & bioluminescence at the pier, and we loved waking up to the sound of howler monkeys and beach waves. The meals are fresh & delicious, the bungalows are lovely, and we enjoyed both relaxing in the common areas in the lodge and going on tours with amazing guide Jean Carlos (waterfall hike, river kayaking tour, whale & dolphin watching). The staff was SO WARM and friendly, I can’t imagine feeling more at home. Special thanks to Kimberly, Cesar, Hazel, and the amazing yoga instructor Monica—we feel so lucky to have met you all & your bright spirits. We started every day with yoga overlooking the beach and it was truly bliss. When we mentioned it was our 20th anniversary the staff even surprised us with a candlelight dinner under the stars. If you want to feel immersed in nature and surrounded by kindness, this is the place.

Our family of 4 (all adults) stayed for 3 nights in December. None of us wanted to leave! The rooms were great, the staff were all very friendly and accommodating, and the food was wonderful. My daughter has a mild food allergy. They were able to easily accommodate it, and always communicated with her about ingredients in the meal options. We hope to make it back again someday!

We are repeat guests who previously visited this lodge in 2024 and returned again to spend 4 nights to close out the 2025 year. Marcela in reservations provides stellar customer service and she makes booking a stay easy! ||We thoroughly enjoy Nicuesa’s off the beaten path location surrounded by nature, the ever present calming sound of the waves in the background AND their dock, which allows for easy access to daily swimming and boat tours in the warm Golfo Dulce. Having a dock and a beautiful beach area sets Nicuesa apart from other lodges in the area. ||We stayed in the Mariposa room of the Mango guesthouse (same room we had last year) and we really like it because of all of the fresh air that flows through the screened in openings and louvered doors. Just like last year, our room, en-suite bathroom, bedding and bath towels on this visit were all very clean and comfortable. Staying here feels a bit like glamping, but with a comfortable bed, hot shower and great water pressure. The darkness you will experience here at night is INCREDIBLE and something many who do not venture off to remote locations may miss experiencing. It is amazing how dark it is without light pollution. ||The meals were healthy, fresh and delicious and they accommodated all of our requests and preferences. The kitchen staff and waitstaff work hard and Kim, Yancy and Yosen took great care of us! Breakfast is always a favorite for us because of the freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee, baked goods and large platter of fruit with mango, papaya, pineapple, watermelon that is so good! Chef Ellison is very talented and we love the fresh fish dinners he prepares. ||During our stay, we enjoyed two boat tours with Kimberly as our guide and she was very knowledgeable and did a fantastic job. We were blessed to see many dolphins both bottlenose dolphins and the smaller tropical spotted dolphins. One aspect of Nicuesa that made us want to return is the fun tours included with the Multi sport package.||During our stay, we had the pleasure of meeting the owners and their family who happened to be there during that time. They are generous, friendly and welcoming people who conversed with the guests and kindly shared about how they created the eco lodge years ago with sustainable practices that remain today. ||To our surprise, they unexpectedly threw a special New Year’s Eve party for all the guests, and included the employees which we thought was very nice! The party started with a champagne toast before an impressive dinner prepared by Chef Ellison and later moved down to the beach area all decorated with hanging lights, a bonfire and a candlit path to and from the lodge. There was live entertainment that included a flame thrower and Salsa and Merengue dancers! Wow, what a nice surprise to celebrate the new year in paradise! Thank you for another amazing vacation at Nicuesa!

What an incredible experience at Playa Nicuesa. First and foremost the staff are what makes this lodge so special. Followed by the amenities and location. Was able to take several tours offered at the lodge and each one was amazing. The staff is very accommodating and able to help with most requests.

An absolute incredible experience. We flew into Golfito, got picked up by Boat and drove to the beautiful Playa Nessa Lodge. They were so kind to greet us with welcome drinks and the room was fresh, clean, and filled with natural light, tucked in the rainforest. We saw whales every day, kayaked, fished, and had the absolute best meals. It was relaxing, rejuvenating, full of adventure. You must get a massage while you’re there as well. Shout out to the amazing staff, Hazel, Oscar, Esteban, Kimberly, and Chef Brianna!

Spent a fantastic week at Playa Nicuesa. The staff and service were outstanding. The Osa Peninsula is an amazing natural area. The best part of Playa Nicusa for us was the excursions that were offered. The guides, (Oscar, Jean Carlos, and Johana) were amazingly knowledgeable and made everybody feel so comfortable and welcome.