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UK: 01473 890499US: 1-800-608-4651
Enquire or Call
UK: 01473 890499Rating: Mid-range
Pacuare Lodge is in a remote rainforest setting above the Pacuare River. This is a pristine natural wilderness location. The staff are drawn from local communities and their friendly, efficient service helps to create a welcoming and pleasantly informal atmosphere.
Guest suites, which are built of local wood, stone and thatch, provide roomy accommodation, each with comfy beds, a modern bathroom with 24-hour running water, and a private terrace with a hammock. Larger suites have separate living rooms and private plunge pools, and there is a secluded honeymoon suite with a private treetop platform. The large Jaguar Suite has a master bedroom, daybeds in the living room, 2 bathrooms, a private terrace and platform overlooking the river and is ideal for families or groups of friends.
While here you can follow walking trails in the rainforest, experience the thrill of a zip-line ride, go horse riding, canyoning and go rafting on the river. When you've had your fill of action, you can unwind with a massage in the spa or enjoy a relaxing swim in the gorgeous infinity pool.
The food at Pacuare is based on local dishes and makes good use of seasonal produce, much of it grown at the lodge's own organic farm. For a special treat you can arrange a private meal by the river or dinner in The Nest, a wooden platform 20 metres up a Cieba tree.
Open: Pacuare Lodge is open all year.
Location: On the banks of the Pacuare River in Turrialba in the Central Highland of Costa Rica.
Rooms: The 8 River Suites are 62 sqm and are made from sustainable local materials including thatched roofs. Each has 1 king size bed or 2 twins, a private bathroom with shower plus a further outdoor shower, and a terrace with a hammock overlooking the gardens. There are 4 River View Deluxe Suites, 91 sqm, have similar facilities and terraces that face the river. The 6 Linda Vista Suites are 230 sqm and have a bedroom, bathroom plus an additional outdoor shower, living room, private deck with a plunge pool and a concierge service. The Canopy Suite has a bedroom, bathroom with 2 showers, sundeck and swimming pool, terrace with a hammock and sofa and a suspension bridge to a treetop platform with 180 degree views. The Canopy Suite has a minimum stay requirement of 2 nights and is ideal for honeymooners or those desiring privacy. The 350 sqm Jaguar Villa is set on the banks of the Pacuare River. It has a master bedroom with king size bed and sitting area, a lounge with 2 daybeds, 2 bathrooms each with an indoor and an outdoor shower and 1 also with a bath, and a terrace with a seating and a hammock. It is reached by a private bridge.
Activities: Canyoning tours and canopy adventure tours are offered. Good choice of hiking routes and for the more adventurous there's whitewater rafting and kayaking available.
Facilities: There lodge has a restaurant serving delicious cuisine and there is an adjacent bar and lounge area. The lodge also has The Nest, a treetop dining deck. The lodge has a spa and a 20 metre long infinity pool.
Dining: Meals are served at individual tables, and private dining by the river or at The Nest can be arranged. The lodge's kitchen team is made up of keen cooks drawn from local communities who produce creative dishes combining local cuisine and contemporary techniques.
Children: Children over 7 years old are welcome. The minimum age for rafting is 12 years. Younger children need to travel to and from the lodge by ground transport, accompanied by an adult
Communication:; There is WiFi internet access in reception.
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UNESCO heritage site 
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0"This has the wow factor! The lodge rooms are gorgeous - each a detached 'bungalow' that is like a high-end African safari lodge, with indoor and outdoor showers and lots of nice touches. It's an eco lodge so the minimal electricity to the rooms (though there are USB charging points etc.) is bolstered by candle lanterns and solar powered lanterns. And the turn-down staff light tea lights on the steps down to the bathroom, which looks very pretty. There is a fantastic infinity pool, a spa where I had the best massage I've had in my life, and the food is superb and beautifully presented. Attention to detail is very strong - all the staff (including the waiters) knew our names and at lunch and dinner the person serving knew our individual choices (you order lunch at breakfast, dinner at lunch) and made sure the right person had what they'd ordered. The setting on the Pacuare River is stunning and the 'Loop' - the guided on-site hike to the waterfall (in which you can swim) is great. My older son and husband did the zipping and loved it. It pushes the holiday budget and is worth every penny! Only caveat is that you can only get in and out of here either by white water rafting (we were due to raft out but overnight rains meant the river was too high, sadly) or by 4x4. The latter is fine of course, but the final 15-20 minutes of the approach to the lodge is on a single-track, unmade mountain road which makes many African safari roads look quite civilised! It was all part of the holiday adventure but perhaps something to bear in mind for frailer travellers?"
Tribes Travel,The Old Dairy, Wood Farm, Ipswich Road, Otley, Suffolk, IP6 9JW. Office hours: Mon - Fri: 9am to 5.30pm Telephone: 01473 890499
