Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Esquinas Rainforest Lodge Rooms

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Esquinas Rainforest Lodge is located in the beautiful Piedras Blancas National Park on the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just north of Golfito. It is a hidden gem in the jungle and surrounded by many acres of primary rain forest. It is a dream for nature lovers wanting to experience the sights and sounds of the Costa Rican rain forest. It is often described as "as near to paradise as one can get" and "a little piece of heaven fallen to earth". You feel as you are the only human around when you are at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge even though it is 5 km from the Interamerican Highway and it is accessible by car. The local Golfito Airport is only 30 minutes away by car.

The spacious main building of Esquinas Rainforest Lodge is set in a beautifully landscaped tropical garden that attracts colorful butterflies and hummingbirds and where Lorenzo, the resident caiman, can be seen basking in the sun next to the pond. A crystal clear jungle stream flows through the naturally filtered pool, with a year-round temperature of 75 F. The open restaurant offers individually served meals including a large variety of exotic vegetables and fruits grown on the property. At dusk, guests can enjoy a tropical cocktail while listening to an on-going concert of jungle sounds.

By reforesting 7500 rainforest trees in nearby La Gamba, Esquinas has become 100% carbon-neutral. "Lonely Planet Guide" lists Esquinas among Costa Rica's five top eco-lodges.

The main building

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Each cabin has a shady porch from where guests can observe monkeys, coatis, racoons and many of the 220 species of birds counted at Esquinas. The 14 rooms are decorated with colorful materials weaved by the Guayami and Boruca Indians and have a hot-water shower and ceiling fan. Thanks to the surrounding forest, temperatures are pleasantly cool and there are very few bugs.

Esquinas offers a large choice of excursions to spectacular places rarely visited by tourists. Well-marked trails lead through one of Costa Ricas last remaining tropical lowland rainforests, a fascinating ecosystem with a biodiversity equal to that of nearby Corcovado National Park. Activities include hiking, riding and biking as well as boat and kayak tours in nearby Golfo Dulce. At Esquinas, no more than 30 people at a time can be found exploring an area as larger than Manuel Antonio National Park, which receives 150,000 visitors per year. It is the ideal spot for visitors looking for a jungle adventure off the beaten track.

Esquinas is part of a model project combining conservation, research and community development. Its mother organization “Rainforest of the Austrians” has purchased 9000 acres of endangered forest near the lodge and donated them to the Costa Rican government. Nearby La Gamba Field Station, run by the University of Vienna, has become an internationally acclaimed research facility. The lodge is the largest employer in La Gamba and has a strong commitment to the community.

Projects include a new water and sewage system for the whole village and the renovation of the school, the town hall and the health station. The Lonely Planet Guide has commented: "This project embodies ecotourism in the truest sense"