Pachira Lodge, Tortuguero

Our first encounter with the natural wonders of Costa Rica. When we arrived we were all greeted with a refreshing drink and welcoming faces. Considering it is located very remotely, the resort has the routine well organized but still feels relaxed. Service at the desk was excellent and always cheerful. The hotel is nestled within the jungle and has a few trails right around itself., but it carries off a luxurious feel as well with a lovely pool and bar and patios right on the river. All personnel were lovely and our guides were exceptional. Food was similar from meal to meal but always fresh and tasty.

This hotel is beautifully situated on the waterfront and surrounded by dense forest. The gardens are lovely and home to Howler Monkeys and a variety of birds. Our room was comfortable and situated quite deep in the forest. Meals in the communal area were highly sociable, and the waterfront bar is delightful. Added attractions were the adjoining short forest trail and access to the spa and massage facilities at the neighbouring lodge. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

For being in an isolated area, very nice. When not touring one has few options. Lodge could provide more activities, especially due to rainy weather, (when the swimming pool was not always suitable) and an ‘iffy’ internet connection in the rooms. In the public areas of the lodge, internet was ok if not always at its best, but then, one is in the isolated tropical forest, We enjoyed lying in hammocks under a covered, open space while it rained. Some tourists brought cards and games with them, which was a great idea for the free times.

The lodge is designed in a way that you feel you are in the jungle. We saw both Howlers and Spider monkeys up close on the lodge grounds. Additionally we saw sloths, Jesus Christ Lizard, Toucans, Bare Throated Tiger Herons, and leaf cutter ants without leaving the lodge

Pachira Lodge has their own boardwalk through the jungle where you will see monkeys, sloths and poison frogs! Three meals are served here and there is good variety and it all tastes delicious. We sat at each meal with another family to fill our table and it was fun getting to know them. Eco lodges do not have air conditioning but the overhead fan cools the room down at night where you will use a blanket.

The hotel is an eco lodge meaning there’s no air conditioning. The flora and animals that surround you make sweating it out more than worth it! We saw monkeys and sloth right outside our door. We loved doing the Turtle nesting experience and the hotel made the experience very easy to book.

The lodge itself was really nice, but not as much privacy as we would have liked. You can hear your neighbors extremely clearly and the wall dividing the rooms don't go up all the way.
Other than that, the pool was really nice to relax at and we were able to see plenty of wildlife at the lodge itself. We were greeted by some monkeys right outside of our room which was a pleasant surprise!

Awesome jungle experience. Rooms are spacious, nice pool and bar.

This is where we saw the majority of wildlife during our stay. The grounds are spread out and lovely with tons of beautiful vegetation, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Howler monkeys and iguana were abundant. Our guide for being transported via boat as well as the boat tours was Elias, and he was amazing and also very helpful when we needed to modify our plans slightly. Bismark at the front desk was also very helpful and friendly.

They keep the bar running from 10am - 10pm and the large water-facing gazebo as a designated smoking area was appreciated. Being that we were in the middle of the jungle, the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms exceeded my expectations. There is no AC but the temperature was perfect the whole time and I truly didn't even notice. There are also mosquito screens rather than windows, but I still felt like I had enough privacy, plus the screens allowed us to hear all the jungle noises! I had a lot of fun just walking the nature trail and looking for (and finding) wildlife. The grounds were very relaxing.

The tap water here is not for drinking but there is a place to fill up water bottles toward the entrance. The food was better than I expected. It is not out of this world or anything, but it is more than adequate. It is offered buffet style (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). We sat at assigned tables in small groups, but the tables were big enough that I didn't feel crowded. Also, the time window that meals are offered is large enough that it was rare for everyone at a given table were all eating at the same time. It is best to go outside toward the bar/restaurant for a good WiFi connection, if needed.

I believe a lot of these lodges in Tortuguero (Pachira, Evergreen) all have the exact same setup and function essentially the same. I would definitely recommend them for staying somewhere that feels like 'the jungle' but doesn't sacrifice comfort.

We spent only one night at the lodge and we were happy with the rooms and service. I would definitely recommend it.