Hotel Lagarta Lodge, Guanacaste

rooms

There are three room types to choose from, comprising 11 Jungle Suites, eight Panorama Suites and seven Flor Blanca Suites. All feature modern, pared-back interior with natural wood furnishings and balconies. The best views are in the more expensive Panorama and Flor Blanca suites, which overlook both jungle and ocean. All have air conditioning, fridges, ensuites and WiFi.

There are no connecting rooms, but families with younger children can have two queen beds or one king and one queen bed in a Jungle or Panorama Suite.

facilities & activities

There may be no children’s club or a gym, but there is still plenty to keep guests of all ages and interests entertained. A wide range of activities is offered, including boat and kayak tours along the Rio Nosara and Rio Montaña, hiking, surfing and horseback riding on the beach. One of the world’s longest zip line parks is nearby, and tours to see the nesting turtles arrive en masse at Playa Ostional can also be arranged (from July to December).

Perhaps the biggest draw is the hotel-owned nature reserve Reserva Biológica, a 90-acre area filled with wildlife including howler monkeys, anteaters, raccoons, iguanas, birds and butterflies. Grab a map and explore on your own, or join a two-hour guided tour.

Instead of one large pool, there are two smaller infinity pools and a Jacuzzi cascading down the sloping gardens, ideal for enjoying a cocktail. There is also a spa overlooking mangroves and offering treatments from manicures to massages, as well as yoga sessions (vinyasa, restorative and aerial). The hotel also has its own art gallery housing artefacts of the indigenous Maleku tribe.

dining

 Breakfast is buffet-style - and served with a magnificent open ocean view in the eagle’s-nest Restaurant Chirriboca. Choose from fresh eggs, organic Costa Rican coffee and fruits from local farms, such as pineapple and mango. Service is friendly and professional. There is also a Sunset Bar in the restaurant, ideal for an evening cocktail with a panoramic view to boot. For laid-back vibes, try the Gecko Lounge with its soft sofas and partially open-air roof, allowing you to sit beneath starry skies with a drink in hand after night falls.

family

There is no dedicated kids’ club, but children aged 12 and under stay for free.

location

Lagarta Lodge is located near Nosara, a small village in the Nicoya Peninsula on the northwest Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus service to the airport in Nosara, which is connected to the international airport in San José via regional airline Nature Air (flight time of approximately 30 minutes). Alternatively, the drive from the capital takes just under five hours (four-wheel drive is recommended in rainy season) and the international airport in Liberia is under three hours away by car.

The hotel’s setting is ideal for exploring Costa Rican wildlife. It is set beside two rivers - Rio Nosara and Rio Montaña - and features a 90-acre nature reserve, the Reserva Biológica. Four beaches are within walking distance, including surfing hotspot Playa Guiones and Playa Ostional, a nesting ground for sea turtles. Don’t miss the fantastic restaurant La Luna, a 25-minute walk away.