Pacuare Eco Lodge

National Geographic Award-winning Lodge Awaits You

Come recharge in the rainforest

What does “eco lodge” really mean? At the Rios Tropicales Lodge, it means being surrounded by the beauty and splendor of primary rainforest without having to sacrifice luxury or comfort. Equally important, we didn’t sacrifice our gorgeous environment to make you feel welcome and comfortable. Sustainably built using reclaimed wood and hydroelectric powered, our ecolodge is a model of ecotourism (we have numerous awards to prove it).

At our ecolodge, you can relax, explore and enjoy all that Costa Rica’s magnificent nature offers on our 2,470-acre (1,000 hectare) private reserve at the mouth of the Pacuare Gorge. Getting there is an adventure! Where else do you arrive at your overnight accommodations by adventure expedition? Rafting the mighty Pacuare River is the customary way to get to the Rios Tropicales Lodge. You can also hike in and out on well-maintained rainforest trails (an excellent option for children too young to raft the Pacuare; however, only ages 8 and up are allowed). At the lodge, you can hike miles and miles of trails and swim in numerous waterfalls, streams and pools. Our open-air dining pavilion and lounge let you watch the local wildlife and listen to the sounds only found in a tropical paradise.

Authentic Costa Rica – Nature’s Soundtrack 24/7

The lodge on the Pacuare is the perfect escape from your every day modern routine. Here you are immersed in the natural energy of the earth and can reconnect with yourself and the healing power of nature. There are tons of health & wellness studies on the importance of taking time out to refresh and recharge, to be the best version of ourselves. Here, surrounded by pure air, pure nature and pristine wilderness, you can do just that. No traffic or city noise. Only peace and the music of the river, rain, birdsong, and jungle – at the Rios Tropicales Lodge, the soundtrack is live and real!

Digital Detoxes – Complimentary by Mother Nature

Looking to digitally detox? Give yourself permission to rest and really relax. Get a hydro massage under a real waterfall. Try a natural spa body and facial mask with rainforest mineral-rich mud. Let yourself be immersed in breathtaking scenery. Read a favorite book or take a nap in a hammock. Be a kid again playing an “old-school” board or card game with family members or new friends. This is your time, together.

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What’s the lodge like?

Open air dining by candlelight overlooking the river. A mix of room accommodations to suit your travel style and budget. Abundant breakfasts with Costa Rica’s famous, fresh tropical fruits. All meals and most activities while at the lodge are included in your package. Ziplining and Canyoning are additional cost. Enjoy cocktails overlooking the river, while you watch brightly colored toucans fly to the other river bank. Magical!

17 Deluxe rooms with private baths
Deluxe bed options: 3 Singles, 2 doubles, or king beds
Spacious bunk rooms with shared baths
Hammocks in the “Jungle Lounge”
Hiking trails & waterfalls
Off-the-grid, hydro-powered electricity

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Ecolodge Menu

We buy as much of our produce, meats, and fish as possible from our local communities. Doing so supports local economies, encourages sustainable farming practices, and guarantees our guests the freshest foods. All fresh and wholesome meals are part of your all-inclusive vacation package, with the exception of beer, wine, and sodas, which are available for purchase separately. All food and beverages are rafted or hiked into the lodge!

Breakfast

Our tropical paradise delivers fresh fruit such as pineapple, papaya, mango, bananas, and melons. Besides a bountiful supply of fresh fruit at all meals, breakfast includes banana pancakes, fresh bacon or sausage, farm-fresh eggs, juices, breads, and an assortment of international items such as pastries. Enjoy a bottomless cup of fresh, handpicked Costa Rican coffee with milk or cream available.

Lunch

Lunches are either at the lodge on a layover day, or as picnics during your adventure activity. Each lunch includes lots of fresh tropical fruit, salad choices, deli sandwiches, juices, and healthy snacks to accommodate most diets and preferences.

Cocktail Hour

Probably the only activity similar to your regular world is our 5pm happy hour. Take a moment to enjoy the coming evening with a freshly prepared juice or cocktail beverage before dinner. Beer, wine and soda are also available for purchase.

Dinner

Our classic dinner is Jungle Chicken, developed on the Pacuare River more than 25 years ago and cooked by your guides to perfection. A savory combination of vegetables, rice, and chicken, it has been a favorite of our guests for years. Fresh produce, salads, breads, and a variety of locally farmed beef, chicken, and fish, are also served. Vegetarian options are always available. Dinner is served by candlelight overlooking the river as the sun sets. The jungle transforms from its daylight personality to its nocturnal one, in the process coming alive with a rich cacophony of sounds. Dinners at Rios Tropicales Lodge are sure to be a highlight of your trip.

Sustainability & Our Pacuare Ecolodge

Sustainability is more than a trendy buzzword at Rios Tropicales. From our very beginning in 1985, we have taken active steps to “create and maintain conditions under which humans (that’s us) and nature (everything we love about Costa Rica) can exist in productive harmony.” For example, our ecolodge uses hydroelectric power and was constructed from reclaimed lumber by local indigenous Cabecars; we recycle and compost everything possible; and we diligently practice Leave No Trace principles at the lodge and on all our trips.

You can feel good about traveling with us and staying in a place that is completely environmentally-friendly. Not only that, our entire company works hard to protect and restore this fragile ecosystem by safeguarding land in our private reserve, reforesting with native tree species that attract wildlife, reconnecting wildlife corridors, preventing illegal hunting, working in partnership with local and indigenous communities, restoring natural watersheds, and advocating for the protection of rivers, the rainforest and all life that lives there.

We practice sustainability not because it’s trendy, but because we love our Costa Rican natural playground and want to share its wonders with others – today and for generations to come. At Rios Tropicales, we believe we are role models and educators not just for our industry peers (and competitors) and ecotourism guests, but also for our local communities and the world. Learn more about our ecotourism efforts and achievements based on real sustainability.