Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
18-room CST-certified lodge on a private reserve beside Piedras Blancas National Park
About this stay
Waking up at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge means the sounds of the jungle are your alarm, with the dense canopy of Piedras Blancas National Park just outside your window. This eco-lodge provides a genuine connection to nature, where wildlife sightings are a daily occurrence. The outdoor pool offers a refreshing break from the tropical heat, surrounded by lush vegetation. Meals are served at the on-site restaurant, and the lodge's commitment to a family-friendly atmosphere ensures a comfortable stay for all ages. It's a place designed for discovery and relaxation, far from the bustle of urban life.
- 18 rooms and a jungle villa
- 37-acre private reserve bordering Piedras Blancas National Park
- CST sustainability certificate; carbon offset by local tree planting
- Swimming pool, restaurant and bar for guests
- About 30 minutes by car from Golfito airport
- 9.4 guest score from 125 reviews
Our take
Esquinas Rainforest Lodge has 18 rooms and a jungle villa on a 37-acre private reserve that joins the forest of Piedras Blancas National Park, near the village of La Gamba. It holds the Costa Rica Tourism Board's CST sustainability certificate and offsets its carbon by planting trees around La Gamba. The lodge compares its forest to the Osa Peninsula's, with more than 300 bird species recorded, yet a car reaches it all year, about three miles off the Interamerican Highway and 30 minutes from Golfito airport. I would book it for birders and nature lovers who want southern rainforest without a boat transfer; it is not a beach stay. Guests score it 9.4 across 125 reviews.
- ✓Reserve at least 24 hours before arriving, and book breakfast and lunch by email or WhatsApp: the restaurant is closed to the public and works on availability.
- ✓Pair the forest with a boat tour on Golfo Dulce, which the lodge arranges alongside guided hikes and birdwatching on its reserve.
- ✓If you fly rather than drive from San José, Golfito airport is about 30 minutes from the lodge by car.
Why we love it
- Immersive setting within Piedras Blancas National Park
- Outdoor pool surrounded by rainforest
- Family-friendly atmosphere and amenities
- Convenient airport shuttle service
Why guests love itEsquinas Rainforest Lodge is a good first rainforest lodge for families who want real wildlife without a boat transfer or a rough track: a car reaches it all year, about three miles from the Interamerican Highway. The swimming pool gives children a break between walks, the 37-acre reserve borders Piedras Blancas National Park, and the lodge runs guided hikes, birdwatching and boat trips on Golfo Dulce. Meals are taken at the lodge restaurant, which serves guests only, so evenings stay quiet. Parents should know the setting is remote: there is no village life on foot, meals are booked ahead, and the forest is hot, humid and full of insects. For children who like animals more than beaches, this is the lodge I would pick. Guests rate it 9.4 from 125 reviews.