When I got on the plane in New York City (Jan 26th) it was 11°F and when I got off the plane in Quito, Ecuador it was 80°F degrees.
I flew down on LAN Air and quickly realized why I ... Full Journal »
This is an example of our preferred hotel, though availability is not guaranteed. If a given hotel is not available for your tour date, we will reserve you a room at a hotel of similar appeal and quality in the same area.
Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge
A prime location on the edge of Corcovado National Park, luxury first-class service and food, exciting activities - Spanish colonial-style Bungalows are spread around a garden for maximum privacy, this unique lodge offers accommodations constructed with the highest concern for conservation in harmony with the landscape and the environment, this is the lodge's commitment to responsible tourism, and is a great place to start your Costa Rica tour.
If you are planning to visit Costa Rica this lodge would like to invite you to have the most extraordinary rainforest experience by staying with them at Casa Corcovado. The lodge is the closest to Corcovado National Park, the last remaining Pacific lowland rainforest of sustainable size in Central America . Located on the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, Corcovado in the “crown Jewel” of a world-renowned national park system.
Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, tucked away in the trees and cooled by the Pacific Ocean, is a 170 acre private reserve bordering Corcovado National Park. The lodge was carefully designed and built by an American naturalist with over thirty years of local experience.
There are no roads to Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, access is only by motor launch. The Costa Rica adventure begins upon your arrival at the reception center, "La Hacienda", in the town of Sierpe. After your captain has the luggage packed aboard your boat, you can embark on a one and a half hour ride down the Sierpe River, winding your way through the largest mangrove wetlands system on the Pacific Coast of Central America. You then follow the coast until arriving at Casa Corcovado. Refreshments will be served during the trip and lunch and a complimentary cocktail will be ready to welcome you to the Jungle.
Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge provides the ideal base for your in-depth rainforest experience.
Working with Nature
Hotel Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge holds as its vision to be a model in Costa Rica of high quality service while being immersed in a remote Rainforest and following guidelines of sustainability that permit the protection of the environment.
To be successful as a business there is a need to share a unique, natural experience with guests that reflects great love and respect for nature.
Accommodations
Honeymoon Suite:
Honeymoon suites are intimate and hidden away in the lush tropical greenery to insure the privacy you need. Secluded in your tiled bungalow you will enjoy unpretentious comfort and style in harmony with the natural surroundings. Each bungalow is furnished with a queen bed draped by mosquito nets and cooled by an overhead ceiling fan. Pillowed benches and a seating area offer other options for relaxation and the large tiled bathrooms with hot water are sure to please. Sip a glass of red wine from the "wooden chest" which is your Jungle Mini Bar and sit back and enjoy the stained glass in the door, wood beamed ceiling, and shutters handmade by Costa Rican artisans.
There are hammocks strategically placed outside so you can lay back and absorb the natural world all around you or just hang out and enjoy a good book. Of course your suite also has all that you would expect, such as a safety deposit box, ample closets and 24 hour electricity which is provide by hydroelectric and solar systems. These honeymoon suites are where love and nature merger to offer unique and unforgettable moments.
Deluxe Bungalows:
Follow the walkways and you will find nestled in a green sanctuary of natural beauty the Deluxe bungalows. Each one is tucked away in its own private garden and designed with your comfort in mind. These larger tiled bungalows offer a queen bed and two or three other beds, draped by mosquito nets making them perfect for groups of families or friends.
There is a table with chairs for writing post-cards, a safety deposit box, ceiling fans, ample closet space and the "wooden chest" which is your Jungle mini-bar so you can sip a glass of red wine. As you sit back and relax you can’t help but notice the beautiful details such as the stained glass in the door, wood beamed ceilings and shutters handmade by Costa Rican artisans. The hot-water shower and toilet are in separate rooms and the sink and mirror decorated with colorful Mexican tiles are sure to please. You will enjoy the fact that there is 24 hour electricity provided by our hydroelectric and solar systems.
If you want a closer interaction with nature there is a hammock strategically placed outside or take advantage of the bench just beside the door. The Deluxe Bungalows are the perfect balance between nature and style and a restful end to each adventure packed day.
Junior Suites:
Junior suites offer a new perspective on the beauty of the rainforest. Each bungalow has two interconnecting suites making them just right for families or friends. The tiled suites have a screened porch perfect for relaxing after a days adventures and a living room tastefully decorated with fine wood furniture, a fold-out sofa-bed and the "Wooden chest" which is your Jungle Mini Bar. There is a bedroom furnished with a queen and a single bed draped by mosquito nets, tiled hot-water shower, safety deposit box, ample closets and a beautiful sink and mirror decorated with colorful Mexican tile. The bathroom is separate with doors opening into the bedroom and the living room. Relax, sit back and enjoy the details such as the stained glass accents, wood beamed ceilings and shutters handmade by Costa Rican artisans.
You can "Chill out" because you will be cooled by ceiling fans through out your bungalow 24 hours a day thanks to the hydroelectric and solar system which produce the lodge's electricity. The are also hammocks strategically placed outside so you can lay back and absorb the natural world all around you or just hang out and enjoy a good book.
Guest Services
The Bar:
The bar is surrounded by virgin Rainforest and fruit trees, which draws birds, monkeys and other animals, It’s perfect for birdwatching. Non-alcoholic fruit drinks and canned beverages are always available.
Salon Corcovado:
Salon Corcovado, an intimate Rainforest Conference Center, is a perfect place for groups, for different activities or to read a good book in the informal lounge area. A selection of tapes can be found in the office when you want to see a movie. There is also a library with interesting books about the rainforest and its inhabitants.
Swimming Pool
El Solar Swimming Pool:
Casa Corcovado has a new, large swimming pool. This completely tiled pool is divided with a children’s section and one with deeper water for the adults.
The pool is surrounded by a flagstone-paved area, which is perfect for sun-bathing in one of the lounge chairs. There are also chairs and tables with umbrellas for a cooler approach. For those who wish to escape the sun completely or for a light lunch "Al Fresco" there is a tiled-roofed "Rancho" where you can sit back and relax to the sounds of the rainforest and of the waterfall inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragán.
The lodge is proud that the pool uses only solar energy to recycle the water. The pump runs during daylight hours directly from the photovoltaic solar panels located on the roof of the dining room.
The Forest Swimming Pool:
A spring-fed swimming pool hidden away in the forest beside a small stream is available anytime you want to use it. Pool towels are available at the main swimming pool. Enjoy the sound of the jungle, seclusion and a feeling of peace.
Los Vitrales Restaurant
Mealtimes are special as you enjoy the casual elegance of the lovely Jungle Dining Room. These delicious meals are prepared each day from the freshest vegetables, Seafood, Tenderloin, Chicken and Pasta. Served and prepared with style and originality like Casa Corcovado, you are reminded of the ever changing exotic and remote beauty that surrounds you.
Margarita Sunset Point
Join fellow travelers for a frosty Margarita or just to watch the sunset, a Casa Corcovado tradition on a Costa Rica trip. Other cold drinks are available and you'll have a chance to observe wildlife and at times even spot whales.
Gift Shop
The lodge has Swarovsky binoculars for rent, T-shirts, suscreen, hats, sandals, film, insect repellent, bird and animal identification charts, personal hygiene articles and many other items. The manager is at your disposition if you have any questions or needs he can help you with.
Laundry Service and Mini Bar
You will find a bag and a list of prices in your room, it is available daily just have everything ready when the chambermaid cleans your room.
Due to the fact that the lodge produces their own energy so as not to burn fossil fuels your "Jungle Mini Bar" is not refrigerated. A price list to record your consumption is found in each Bungalow.
Tropical Beach Sand
Enjoy beach-combing on the half-kilometer-long pristine beach then refresh yourself under a waterfall or bathe in a shaded pool. Feel free to ask for a ride down to the beach and to arrange for a pick-up time with our "Jungle Taxi" or call using the radio, which is at the boathouse.
Additional Activities
Early Bird Tour:
Share the cool early morning air with some of the over 350 species of birds found in Corcovado. The early morning hours are perfect to observe the wildlife of the area. For keen birders and animal lovers, on this tour we offer the chance to see numerous species of birds, morpho butterflies, monkeys and other animals.
San Josecito Tour:
You start your adventure in the morning as you head out with your guide for just a 15-20 minute boat ride. You will arrive to a true tropical paradise. San Josecito is a wonderful swimming beach sheltered in a coral-filled bay perfect for snorkeling. This is an excellent spot for beginners or more experienced snorkelers. All the gear is provided with optional flotation vests available if you wish. There are showers and bathroom facilities for your use and trails to explore the area. The guide will lay out the tablecloth and present a delicious picnic lunch served under the shady palms lining the beach.
After lunch you can walk through the forest to a cool flowing river for a refreshing swim. In the afternoon your boat will be waiting to carry you back to the lodge, taking along memories that will accompany you for a lifetime.
Hiking in Corcovado National Park:
After a delicious breakfast your adventure begins. Starting out from the lodge with your naturalist guide you journey into Corcovado National Park. The cool morning hours offer a good opportunity to spot wildlife and to observe some of the incredible variety of birds that abound in the park.
Along the trail your guide will have a chance to tell you some of the fascinating stories about life in the rainforest and point many things out to you. Later, coming down through the forest you will find a river and then discover an incredible waterfall. Now is your chance to cool off in one of the shaded pools of the rushing river. Afterwards, you wind your way down the river until reaching the Park Station at San Pedrillo. There under shade trees on the beach you will enjoy a sumptuous picnic with fresh fruit and ice-cold drinks. After lunch there will be time to explore the beach or to just relax. In the afternoon it’s a short distance along the coastal trail to return to the lodge. Join us later for a frosty margarita and to watch the sunset. As you watch the sun melt in to the sea you can reflect upon the wonders of the most intricate and intense place on earth, the rainforest of the Osa Península.
Mangrove Tour:
The delta formed by the Sierpe and Terraba Rivers holds great biological wealth. Here is found the largest mangrove forest system on the Pacific Coast of Central America. The importance of this was recognized by the Costa Rican government and it is now a protected area. Mangroves which were once considered worthless swampland have been shown to be of great benefit to man. They are the nurseries where many of our fish and shrimp species breed and produce more that any other possible use of the land. Mangroves also play an important role in improving water quality and controlling sedimentation and erosion.
On this tour you will have a chance to explore the backwaters and smaller channels along the Sierpe River. It’s an opportunity to see different varieties of birds such as the rosette spoonbill and perhaps spot crocodiles basking along the riverbank. Your guide and captain will have refreshment and a box lunch packed aboard your boat to enjoy whenever you wish.
Canopy Tour:
The first in-depth studies of the tropical rainforest trees’ canopy layers were done in Corcovado.
Now you can enjoy that same unique perspective that previously was available to only a few researchers and photographers. Take an exciting look from a different viewpoint, sheltered within the limbs of the highest trees.
A Canopy tour allows family members of all ages to safely glide from tree to tree, on cables and ropes, high above the forest floor. The tour facility features 6 platforms and 4 traverse cables. One of the cables spans over 210 feet (70 meters), quite a ride! There is also an observation bridge were you can relax and observe the rich diversity of wildlife. You can see countless species of birds and white face and howler monkeys frequent the area. Your experience ends with a rappel descending down from the treetops and coming to rest at the bend of a peaceful river.
The tour location is in Drake Bay about a half hour boat ride away and is run by " The Original Canopy Tour" company, who were the first company in Costa Rica to develop this kind of system for use in tourism, and who have a safety record second to none. This company uses only the finest gear available including PETZL and P.M.I and some of the rope used in their system was designed especially for them.
Scuba Diving:
Scuba dive among some of the most abundant marine life anywhere in the world. Diving on the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica can be simply described as spectacular. Explores several sites around the small island of Caño. Protected as a biological reserve by the Costa Rican Government, the water surrounding the island is extremely pristine and teeming with life. Nine miles west of the Lodge, Caño Island offers some of the most exciting diving anywhere in the world. A wide variety of marine life can be discovered beneath the island waters. Perhaps the most memorable encounters occur with the pelages that inhabit the area.
Kayak Tour:
There is nothing like a kayak to get a true, visceral feel for the ocean. Your experience is up-close and down-close to the water. Our kayaks are Scupper Pro classic, sit–on-top, self-bailing kayaks and are great fun, they are good for more experienced kayakers and very forgiving for beginners. You can take one out for a ride and explore the coast, or take a spin around " Roca Campanario", Bell Tower Rock, just offshore. For those who feel more ambitious you can adventure further a field and paddle to San Josecito beach. This should be less than a couple of hours following the coast and should you get tired or thirsty you need only wave to your support boat for a cold drink or for a tow.
