Highlights
- Tranquil rainforest eco-lodge
- Restaurant, bar, yoga, massages
- Dolphin watching, deep-sea fishng
- Zip wiring, horse riding, kayaking
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Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is a comfortable, well-appointed eco-lodge situated in a secluded 165-acre private reserve on the beautiful and unspoilt Osa Peninsula on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast. This tranquil retreat is flanked by the vast Piedras Blancas National Park whose 14,000 hectares of pristine rainforest is renowned for its huge diversity of plant and wildlife.
The lodge offers pristine, spacious accommodation with wonderful tropical forest views, a restaurant and bar, and a glorious private beach, along with an array of land and water-based activities. The property is at a lower price point than some of the more luxurious offerings on offer in Osa, but without compromising on the wildlife experience.
Constructed from local timber, the property pursues an eco-friendly ethos and engages in composting, recycling, and use of solar energy. Guest spaces include an open-sided dining room and bar area where communal breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are served, with a menu focussing on regional cuisine. Local produce is used, along with fruit and vegetables grown in the lodge’s gardens. There’s also an onsite gift shop, a small library, and an observatory with a telescope. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the main area, although due to the property’s remote location, the signal can be intermittent. Outside, tropical gardens lead onto an alfresco yoga deck with lovely ocean views, and a private, unspoilt beach.
Activities include swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling and fishing, along with the dolphin watching excursions for which the area is renowned. Self-guided or guided walks and bird watching are possible in the surrounding national park which features a network of hiking trails suitable for all fitness levels. Yoga classes and in-room or beachfront massages are available onsite, subject to additional cost, and zip wire canopy trails, horse riding, and deep-sea fishing excursions can also be arranged.
Accommodation varies from generous one-bedroom units in the main lodge, to one and two-bedroom cabins spaced out within the grounds. Tastefully decorated with high ceilings and hardwood floors, all rooms and cabins have double or twin beds with mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and spacious ensuite bathrooms featuring indulgent open-air showers with rainforest views. The two-bed cabins also house an additional lounge area. All units have patio doors opening onto a private veranda or terrace. There’s also the Jaguar House, a private two-storey property comprising a lounge, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a large private terrace.
Children over six years of age are welcome at Playa Nicuesa, and the two-bedroom cabins or Jaguar House are a popular choice for families and groups travelling together. Discounts are offered for guests under 12 years of age, and child menus are available. Due to the remote nature of the lodge, parents are reminded that children must remain under adult supervision at all times.
It really was absolutely amazing. Faisal was wonderful (our driver for the majority of the trip) – such a lovely person and made everything feel so easy and relaxed. The whole experience was incredibly well put together and completely seamless from start to finish. The Sahara Desert was definitely the highlight for me – truly unforgettable – but honestly every part of the trip was special.
Mandy S
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 05 May 2026
I just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing holiday.
We absolutely loved it, even though Jessica was ready to give up walking for good ????
Our guide, Mustafa, was great. Really helpful, friendly and informative.
We loved all the accommodation, and especially the first night and the Riad.
All of the staff at every location were so friendly and helpful.
Thanks again for organising such a great trip.
Rebecca H
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday
on 09 April 2026
Thank you yet again for another meticulously organised and executed holiday (our 5th with you). Every aspect worked perfectly.
Please could you pass on our sincere thanks to your agent in Sri Lanka; Lakshita, our driver and guide, absolutely made the trip for us - he was so keen for us to have the best experience possible. He was organised, kind, interested, punctual, the car was always spotless, and he was an excellent driver. His extensive knowledge was really appreciated by us and was exactly what we had hoped for in a guide. I think the highlight for us was our day in Anuradhapura (7 hours of absorbing history and culture), but there was so much to learn and absorb every day. He also made several suggestions for things that he thought we might like that weren't in our itinerary, and then booked them for us. These included an ayurvedic massage after climbing Sigiriya, a cultural show (an hour of touristy fun!), reef snorkelling with turtles (a real highlight for me - I wish we could have stayed all day), a lagoon boat trip and visit to a cinnamon island, a turtle sanctuary visit, and a gemstone factory visit. He also managed to get us a private tour of Lunanguga, which Peter thoroughly enjoyed. We also really enjoyed the tea factory tour.
Our guide for the hike was also really excellent, and he and Lakshita made sure that our day was perfectly tailored to our (my) ability.
All our accommodation was also perfectly selected. Our favourite was the Ceylon tea trails bungalow (just perfect!), but The Villa Bentota came a close second as a perfect way to relax at the end of the trip. Our villa and the grounds at Uga at Ulagalla were also beautiful.
(Our only slightly disappointing day was the whale watching - no whales wanted to be seen on that particular day, plus I was very sea-sick despite taking meds! The tour organisers offered us a repeat day the following day, which we declined! Having said that, being out on the water was still enjoyable, up to a point...).
I'm sure I've missed out something - we basically loved it all and felt that the balance of the itinerary was perfect for us (we used the 'rest' day in Galle to do the snorkelling, lagoon, and turtles)
Thank you very, very much.
fiona g
reviewing Sri Lanka Highlights - Classic
on 27 March 2026