La Cusinga Lodge

We loved eating at the restaurant, with its great views, good food, and friendly staff. Our room was beautiful, with a stone-tiled bathroom and a view of the Whale’s Tail. The lodge sits in the jungle, so it feels tucked away from the outside world. The swimming hole (Pozo) was great, and the beach took a 15 minute hike through the jungle to reach. Once there, it felt like our own private beach. The location and views are amazing.

This was my first hotel in Costa Rica, and now I don’t want to stay anywhere else because everything after this will be downhill. It’s clean and spacious, with a stunning property and staff who are really attentive. Nature is beautiful, and I even liked the howler monkeys as an alarm clock. I’d forgotten to set mine, and they saved me from missing what I had to do that day. Five stars :)

I’ve stayed here twice, once in rainy season and once in dry season. The grounds are gorgeous, with trails to explore and access to Arco beach. We saw plenty of tropical birds, lizards, and agoutis, and there’s excellent security on the property. The restaurant has unbeatable views, tasty food, and great drinks. The rooms are a little dated, but clean and well maintained. Friends staying elsewhere joined us for a morning hike and beach visit. They could pay a $10 trail fee or have lunch at the restaurant, both seemed more than reasonable given how much work goes into those trails.

The food was really good, the cocktails were great, and the views were stunning. We saw Toucans all over, and the staff were so friendly. We didn’t stay overnight, just came for the restaurant, views, and a hike. Eating there lets you use the trails, including the private path down to Arco Beach. There are other trails too, one leading to a waterfall and swimming hole. Check the tides before going, since the Arco trail isn’t accessible at high tide. You’ll need sneakers or hiking shoes. Parking is plentiful, down a narrow dirt road, where you tell the guard what you’ve come to do. We never got the timing right for the beach trail because of a lightning storm and high tides, but this place is an absolute gem.