Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero

Kimkim team favorite · 4.6 (17 reviews) · Comfort
Rainforest lodge nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Tortuguero canals, offering excellent bird watching, a pool, and Caribbean cuisine.

Overview

Relaxed and intimate, Mawamba Lodge contains sprawling gardens extending from Tortuguero’s lagoon to the Caribbean Sea. Wooden lodges feature porches with hammocks, and you can relax in the outdoor pool area. Enjoy the Creole-inspired cuisine at the lodge’s restaurant buffet or book a table at the “floating” restaurant. The property is walkable to Tortuguero Town and the beach.

Pros
  • Unlike many of the area's properties, Mawamba is within walking distance of Tortuguero Town (about 15 to 20 minutes).
  • The property includes an outdoor swimming pool with a poolside bar, plus extensive gardens with a hammock lounge and waterfront terrace.
  • The on-site restaurant serves Creole-inspired cuisine and gives you the option to book a meal at the "floating" restaurant, a unique dining experience out on the lagoon.
Cons
  • There's no air-conditioning, and the bathrooms are a bit outdated.
  • The rooms are a bit dark and could use better lighting.
  • Limited amenities as there's no spa or gym on-site. 
  • WiFi is only available in the communal areas of the lodge. 

Kimkim's Take

Brittany
Brittany McNamara kimkim staff
Based on kimkim staff visit, March 2022 (Learn more)

Authenticity

You can tell that Mawamba Lodge has had a few updates in recent years, as the style in many of its 60 rooms is warm and trendy with rich wooden accents. The restaurant serves Creole-inspired Caribbean food at a buffet, or you can book a table for a unique dining experience floating on the lagoon.

Location

Mawamba Lodge is on the area's narrow peninsula, with Tortuguero's central lagoon on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. One of the biggest perks of the property is that you're within walking distance (15 to 20 minutes) to Tortuguero Town and the Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum. The packages include a national park tour, a nature walk, and a guided tour of the Tortuguero village.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Rooms are large, warm, and decorated with trendy wooden accents. You'll sleep well on the king, queen, or single beds while the Caribbean breeze drifts through the netted windows pushed by ceiling fans. Only some rooms have views of the lagoons, but all have private or shared porches with hammocks. While the rooms feel cozy and stylish (though a little dark at times), the bathrooms seem to be left behind and need updates and improvements.

Wildlife

Situated between the Caribbean Sea and the canals of Tortuguero National Park, Mawamba Lodge is an area particularly renowned for its bird-watching, with more than 186 registered bird species in the region. On top of excellent bird-watching, you'll have a chance to spot other wildlife, such as sloths, porcupines, and iguanas. 

Amenities

The property is built around the communal pool, intricately designed with a bridge and interior planters holding tropical plants. Outside of the pool, the lodge has limited amenities, as there's no spa or gym, and WiFi is limited to communal areas. However, there's an excellent hammock lounge located right on the water, providing a perfect place to unplug and unwind. Though some rooms are accessible, the property as a whole may be challenging to get around for travelers with limited mobility.

Family-Friendliness

Mawamba Lodge welcomes guests of all ages. Children under the age of five stay for free or at a discounted rate for those up to 11 years old. Canoe tours through the Tortuguero National Park can be booked via the front desk and have been a big hit with previous families staying at the lodge. Children are only permitted in the Jacana Bungalows, as the other room types are reserved for two adults only. 

Other Highlights

If you're looking for a highlight to make your stay in Tortuguero unique, you'll enjoy the lodge's "floating" restaurant. This special dining experience lets you enjoy your dinner while floating out onto the lagoon. For simpler dining, the lodge offers a second restaurant, as well as a pool bar. 

Sustainability

Marwamba Lodge strives to use as many local products as possible and reduce its impact on the natural environment. The lodge's bio-digester converts waste into methane gas to heat the property and kitchens, with about 30% of the gas used on-site coming from the bio-digester.

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with hotels like this.

Get started

Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 3-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506-2293-8181
Hotel address icon Canales de Tortuguero, Limon, Costa Rica
Travelers often mention

Summarized by AI based on kimkim traveler reviews

Great Food

The food at the lodge was praised for its delicious taste and variety. Guests enjoyed the meals, with some mentioning the need to select a dinner reservation time and that drinks were not included in the package. (9 mentions)

Paul
“Food delicious and whilst off the same menu each day it was still hard to choose from what we had already eaten or trying a new dish.”  — Paul C.
N
“The food was the best selection of anywhere we went in Costa Rica!”  — Nancy A.
Mason
“It comes with beautiful breakfast, lunch, and dinners as well as amazing cocktails.”  — Mason P.
Enjoyable Tours and Activities

The lodge offered a variety of enjoyable tours and activities, including canoe excursions, boat tours, turtle tours, and lagoon tours. Tour guides were knowledgeable and entertaining. (8 mentions)

Elona
“The activities offered were some of our favourites of our entire trip, and our morning “rockstar” canoe excursion was SO WORTH the 5:30am start time.”  — Elona L.
Paul
“the turtle tour and lagoon tours were both really well managed and very much enjoyed.”  — Paul C.
J
“Took the AM boat tour - guide was impressive and tried to find as much wildlife as she could - including monkeys, birds, and crocodiles - trip was very pleasant.”  — Joann B.
Fantastic Location

The lodge is located in a beautiful area, surrounded by nature and close to the village. Guests appreciated the immersive experience and the tranquility of the hotel gardens. (8 mentions)

Elona
“The lodge is secluded and nestled in a gorgeous little area, close to the village.”  — Elona L.
N
“Loved that it was close enough to walk the path to town.”  — Nancy A.
Sandra
“The location was fantastic, surrounded by nature.”  — Sandra K.
Beautiful Grounds

The hotel grounds were well-maintained and beautiful, with opportunities to see wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, and birds. The garden was particularly appreciated. (7 mentions)

neil
“In the middle of the rain forest with Sloth, monkeys and other wild animals around the grounds.”  — neil p.
D
“The grounds are pretty cool, with some short nature trails and easy access to the beach.”  — D C.
John
“We enjoyed our stay at Mawamba Lodge and were glad to have stayed three nights to allow us to take our time on tours and enjoying the grounds.”  — John K.

Traveler Reviews

17 total ratings, 14 with reviews
4.6
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
4.6
Location
4.8
Staff
4.9
Cleanliness & Comfort
4.4
Lori
Lori R.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024
Mawamba is located in an ideal location in Tortuguero. A short walk to town, and access to river and Caribbean coast. The grounds are beautiful and FULL of amazing animals and birds. Food was excellent and staff was very nice. If you want a room with Wi-Fi and TV you should focus on another resort. Tours offered through the resort were great and guides were very knowledgeable. You can be as active or chill while at Mawamba as you like. Read more

Mawamba is located in an ideal location in Tortuguero. A short walk to town, and access to river and Caribbean coast. The grounds are beautiful and FULL of amazing animals and birds. Food was excellent and staff was very nice. If you want a room with Wi-Fi and TV you should focus on another resort. Tours offered through the resort were great and guides were very knowledgeable. You can be as active or chill while at Mawamba as you like.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in September 2024
Zeynep
Zeynep B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2024
This hotel was above our expectations! The staff, the location, the tour guides, and the facilities were great! If one day I go to Tortuguero again, I would definitely stay in Mawamba Lodge. We saw all the animals we wanted on the first day in their garden. Read more

This hotel was above our expectations! The staff, the location, the tour guides, and the facilities were great! If one day I go to Tortuguero again, I would definitely stay in Mawamba Lodge. We saw all the animals we wanted on the first day in their garden.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in March 2024
neil
neil p.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024
In the middle of the rain forest with Sloth, monkeys and other wild animals around the grounds. Very nice breakfasts, efficient transfers along the waterways to/from the meeting point and well versed local guides taking us out on canoe/boat. Although the rooms around the gardens do not have aircon, the tranquility and ambience of the hotel gardens easily made up for that ! Read more

In the middle of the rain forest with Sloth, monkeys and other wild animals around the grounds. Very nice breakfasts, efficient transfers along the waterways to/from the meeting point and well versed local guides taking us out on canoe/boat. Although the rooms around the gardens do not have aircon, the tranquility and ambience of the hotel gardens easily made up for that !

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, good showers, no aircon
Stayed in March 2024
Sandra
Sandra K.
Bellingham, WA | Reviewed on Mar 05, 2024
This lodge was recommended by friends, and I can see why. The location was fantastic, surrounded by nature. The overall experience was immersive. Read more

This lodge was recommended by friends, and I can see why. The location was fantastic, surrounded by nature. The overall experience was immersive.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Stayed in January 2024
Elona
Elona L.
Canada | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2023
From the moment we met our guide, Eric, we knew this was going to be a special experience. We sadly only got to spend 24 hours here, and one of my biggest regrets of our entire trip was not getting to spend more time here. The lodge is secluded and nestled in a gorgeous little area, close to the village. The activities offered were some of our favourites of our entire trip, and our morning “rockstar” canoe excursion was SO WORTH the 5:30am start time. The food was wonderful, the property was... Read more

From the moment we met our guide, Eric, we knew this was going to be a special experience. We sadly only got to spend 24 hours here, and one of my biggest regrets of our entire trip was not getting to spend more time here. The lodge is secluded and nestled in a gorgeous little area, close to the village. The activities offered were some of our favourites of our entire trip, and our morning “rockstar” canoe excursion was SO WORTH the 5:30am start time. The food was wonderful, the property was great and the staff were amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in December 2023
A
Anna L.
France | Reviewed on Nov 02, 2023
Wonderful hotel Read more

Wonderful hotel

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in October 2023
Paul
Paul C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 11, 2023
Fantastic place with great facilities, food, tours on offer and staff. Only thing - if being incredibly picky was the very dark lighting in our room BUT that was a minute thing and really is of no consequence. Very clean, great pick up, as with all places great boat men and the turtle tour and lagoon tours were both really well managed and very much enjoyed. Food delicious and whilst off the same menu each day it was still hard to choose from what we had already eaten or trying a new dish. ... Read more

Fantastic place with great facilities, food, tours on offer and staff. Only thing - if being incredibly picky was the very dark lighting in our room BUT that was a minute thing and really is of no consequence. Very clean, great pick up, as with all places great boat men and the turtle tour and lagoon tours were both really well managed and very much enjoyed. Food delicious and whilst off the same menu each day it was still hard to choose from what we had already eaten or trying a new dish. Location brilliant. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character
The sights and sounds of the wildlife everywhere, a dining room that you saw lots from, rooms with hammocks to swing in as the frogs and birds added to the ambience. Wow.
Location
Caribbean beach on one side, lagoon on the other what else would you ask for ?
Staff
Nothing too much trouble, all bilingual and so super friendly without being in your face.
Cleanliness & Comfort
I am sure some people would find something wrong but we asked for safe and this was safe, clean and we loved it. Fan worked well to lower the temperature, there were so many places to sit, chill, walk, wander, gaze, have a drink or just zone out.
Stayed in July 2023
K
Kozue N.
Fairland, MD | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2023
Staff were very friendly and helpful. All the facilities were kept clean and garden were beautiful. You have a chance to see many wildlife on the property. Meals were very tasty and has good options. Read more

Staff were very friendly and helpful. All the facilities were kept clean and garden were beautiful. You have a chance to see many wildlife on the property. Meals were very tasty and has good options.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Has beach access, walkable to town yet secluded
Staff
Helpful, friendly and guides are knowledgeable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in July 2023
N
Nancy A.
Schenectady, NY | Reviewed on Apr 06, 2023
The food was the best selection of anywhere we went in Costa Rica! Just know that the included package does not include drinks (not even soda) and you will need to select a dinner reservation time. Kind staff and interesting garden walk. The pool and poolside bar were fun and relaxing. The room itself was a little bare bones, but fine - thank goodness for the ceiling fan! Loved that it was close enough to walk the path to town. Read more

The food was the best selection of anywhere we went in Costa Rica! Just know that the included package does not include drinks (not even soda) and you will need to select a dinner reservation time. Kind staff and interesting garden walk. The pool and poolside bar were fun and relaxing. The room itself was a little bare bones, but fine - thank goodness for the ceiling fan! Loved that it was close enough to walk the path to town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in March 2023
Dylan
Dylan C.
Lehi, UT | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2023
Amazing location and food. The locals are so happy and humble and the guides and workers for the resort work so hard and give amazing Customer service. Read more

Amazing location and food. The locals are so happy and humble and the guides and workers for the resort work so hard and give amazing Customer service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2023

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with hotels like this.

Get started

Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 3-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506-2293-8181
Hotel address icon Canales de Tortuguero, Limon, Costa Rica