Laguna Lodge

We enjoyed our stay at Laguna Lodge, the grounds were beautiful and the gorgeous beach was just a stone's throw away. The room was quite basic, it was very hot and we struggled a bit with just a fan, however the pools, bars and restaurant were very good. The bars served the best Pina Coladas we've ever had! Be prepared for some geckos in your room (they are harmless and they'll help keep the mozzie numbers down!) and possibly a creepy crawly or two. Take a walk around the grounds after dark with a torch (don't forget to top up your mozzie repellent before you do!), you will find loads of toads by the pool, hear frogs in the trees, and if you walk through the butterfly garden you might spot a red eyed tree frog! Being in the rainforest, it is very loud during the night, I would recommend bringing ear plugs if you're a light sleeper. I cannot begin to explain how fantastic the boat tours are, I got up for the 5.30am tour and also the 8.30am tour and had what I would consider to be one of the best days of my life! The amount of birds and animals we saw was unreal, it was such a magical experience. Our boat driver (I can't remember his real name, I want to say Jacan but we all called him Eagle Eyes!) was brilliant, he spotted so much wildlife and was so lovely. Our tour guide during our stay at Laguna Lodge was Sebastian, he was so helpful and was such a great guy!

Our first glimpse of the jungle in Costa Rica was the wonderful boat ride to Laguna Lodge with Sebastien. He was so knowledgable and pointed out so many amazing things on the way. The accommodation is fairly rustic but has all you need, as you don't have much time to spend in the room. We were near one of the two pools and it was always quiet and relaxing. The grounds were amazing, all the flora and fauna were some of the best we saw in Costa Rica. Our morning tour the next day did not disappoint, we were lucky enough to see a sloth make its weekly trip down to the river, see video! The food at the lodge was included and was always wholesome with several choices. It was wonderful to be able to stroll along the Caribbean beach with not a soul around. Fabulous.

Understanding the hotel is in the middle of the jungle where there are no roads, the place is great. it is a little rustic with a simple fan (no air conditioning), no TV and few lights in the room. Wi-Fi works just fine. The location is great for seeing wildlife, right on the main river with the ocean only a few steps to the back of the property. Food was buffet style, all you can eat, and very good. Two very nice pools. Dining room is right on the river so you can watch birds and other animals while eating. It is a short boat ride or a 45 minute walk to the town of Tortuguero.