One of, if not the, main reason we went to Costa Rica was for, you guessed it, the wildlife! With our travel agent, we did a lot of research into the hotels in the town of Tortuguero. This is a National Park nicknamed ‘the Amazon of Costa Rica’, and we wanted to really explore it. We initially booked the Evergreen Lodge Tortuguero, but were told it was full, so were actually placed in the sister hotel called Ahninga. Thankfully though we were told on our boat (see below) that things had changed and we had a room in our original hotel.
This is my review of this enchanting property. As a prelude, it may not be the grandest, most exclusive, or luxurious hotel I’ve stayed at. But it probably wins the prize for the most incredible hotel experience to date. This is the Evergreen Lodge review – I hope you enjoy it.
Evergreen Lodge Tortuguero – A Review
Getting There
Without a doubt, part of the magic of Tortuguero National Park is its remoteness. Located on the Caribbean coast, with no roads going through it, means that the town is only accessible by boat or plane.
Your journey begins with a 06:30 transfer from your hotel in San Jose – we stayed at Hotel Presidente. From here it is a 90 minute transfer to breakfast at a restaurant in Guapiles. Here you will be treated to a tasty traditional Costa Rican breakfast, complete with beans, rice and plantain. The restaurant was basic, but good. We even saw a sloth here!
After breakfast it is another 90 minute bus ride to the docks, and then another 90 minute boat journey to the hotel. I should say that I loved the boat journey. Our incredible guide, Ivan, would point out all the animals along the river. As it is likely to be your first proper day in Costa Rica, it really makes you feel as if the adventure has started.
Your boat will usually arrive just after midday. On arrival we were given a ginger-based cocktail (which is superb) and were then taken to our rooms.
The Room
Our room was located in the middle of the forest, down a path from the main reception. All of the accommodation are small chalets on stilts. They have a bedroom area, a lovely ensuite and a balcony out the front, complete with rocking chairs. There was no ai-conditioning, but there was a large fan. Given it is an eco-lodge I was really happy with this. Perhaps the best feature though is that there is no glass used for the windows. Instead, there is nettings. Whilst I was nervous at first, I loved hearing the sounds of the rainforest. I honestly had the best night sleep here because of the atmospheric sounds.
Whilst on the surface the room seemed basic, there were clearly elements of luxury here too. The bed sheets were lovely and the furniture, bathroom and flooring were all done nicely. Yes, there weren’t the amenities that you would get in an all-inclusive, but that honestly is not why you go to Tortuguero. You go for the nature and adventure, which is exactly what the room delivers.
Food and Drink
As part of your package at Evergreen Lodge Tortuguero, you will get food and drink included. Rooms are allocated to one of two restaurants which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There is not a massive selection and the same dishes (rice, fish and veggies) reappear in different forms. However, the food is tasty, freshly made and you can have multiple portions. I would add that there are some unsung heroes, such a cheesy-baked rice which was incredible. Given that you are literally in the middle of the jungle, the food is great and we really enjoyed it.
Whilst food is included, drinks are extra. There are a few riverside bars, which capture the Pura Vida life and serve tasty cocktails. They are also pretty cheap too and have excellent riverside views.
Tours on Offer
I’ll cover the tours in more detail through other posts, however, these were the highlight for us. As part of the package, you will get three tours. First off is the Tortuguero Village visit, where you can explore the nearby town and beach. I’ve written a post about our visit to Tortuguero village which you might find useful!
You also get the Tortuguero Hike, where you can walk through one of the company’s trails and see plenty of rainforest wildlife. The star though has to be the guided boat tour, where you’ll cruise the many rivers in the park.
As well as the tours that are included, there are a few extras. I should say that if you have a two-night package (like us), then you probably won’t have much time to do some of these. One that we did manage was the night tour to watch turtles laying eggs. We really enjoyed it and it was a highlight of the holiday. It wasn’t cheap and cost about $45 each. Other options include extra boat tours and hikes, but again you’ll need extra days.
The Service
The people at Evergreen Lodge Tortuguero are amazing. The people around the hotel are friendly and go out of their way to look after you.
Our guide, Ivan, was just amazing. His knowledge f the natural world was actually inspiring and he would always point out small details that you would have missed. A massive shout out needs to him. Carlos our boat driver also deserves a mention. He had driven the rivers in the park for years and knew where all the animals were hiding. We felt in safe hands with him behind the wheel!
Final Thoughts
Evergreen Lodge Tortuguero is easily the most unique place I’ve stayed in. Being in the heart of the rainforest, listening to all the sounds as you sleep, has to be one of the best experiences of my life. Evergreen does it so well too. Even though the hotel seemed basic, I felt that I was being spoilt during my stay and really enjoyed my experience. I would say that you have to know what you are signing up for but, trust me, you won’t regret booking this place.
1 comment
A fascinating review from an intrepid traveller!