Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Golfito - Retired in Costa Rica

Another favorite rainforest lodge with lots of forest, trails and wildlife and some will be glad to know at a lower price than most near the Osa on the South Pacific. And the nightly price includes all 3 meals! And still less than $200 a night! It is adjacent to Piedras Blancas National Park and the La Gamba Rainforest Research center, all a short drive north of Golfito. You can read more about it on their Esquinas Rainforest Lodge Website.

Rainforest Trails on lodge property + park & La Bamba.

Would I Return to this Lodge?

Yes! I’ve been there twice and have another trip planned for this year. 🙂

Likes

In a true coastal rainforest miles away from any development.
Very reasonable prices! At a cost of less than $200 a night including food!
Excellent guide! (who also works for the national park)
Superb birding and other wildlife watching! My only wild Tayra photo made here!
Adjacent to a national park and a rainforest research station.

Dislikes

None!

Esquinas Birds Slideshow . . .

Spot-crowned Euphonia
Great Curassow
Gray-cowled Woodrail
Yellow-throated Toucan
Orange-billed Sparrow
Crested Guan
Long-billed Hermit Hummingbird
Orange-collared Manakin
White-tipped Dove
Roadside Hawk
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Green Kingfisher
Brown Pelican
Prothonotary Warbler
Roseate Spoonbill
Squirrel Cuckoo

Nature & Other Activities

Many self-guided trails and the entrance road plus more at La Gamba.
Guided Birding hikes any time of day, but pre-breakfast is the best!
Guided Night Hike for frogs and other night creatures.
Easy access to Piedras Blancas National Park and a guided tour (a cost).
Rio Coto Mangrove Tour (a cost).
Dolphin and Wildlife Tour in Golfo Dulce (a cost).
La Gamba Tropical Research Station guided tour and/or walk their gardens on your own. Free with a donations box & books & research reports for sale.
A very nice swimming pool at lodge!

Esquinas Nature Slideshow

White-faced Capuchin Monkey
Brown Basilisk
Tayra
Water Hyacinth
Five-spotted Longwing
Spot-banded Daggerwing
Water Lily
Brilliant Redskimmer
Central American Agouti
Spectacled Caiman
Giant Butterfly Moth
Toquilla Palm
Lichen
Maraca Flower
Hot Lips Flower
Heliconia

Rooms & Food

Basic but very nice & clean cabins. And I photographed wildlife from the rocking chair on my cabin porch! 🙂
They call their food “Tico Gourmet” and it is very good with lots of variety. I drank different fruit juices every day there. Lots of tropical fruits! Plus she begins every lunch and dinner with a new vegetable soup!

Getting There

The drive from Atenas is 287 km or 4 hr & 39 min, going the coastal route. To go through the mountains and down through Dominical would be many more km and hours of time.
When I go, I Fly Sansa to Golfito and the lodge schedules a taxi to bring me to the lodge.