Shawandha Lodge is on the unspoilt south Caribbean coast, a short walk from Playa Chiquita beach. It is just a 4-hour drive from San Jose and a few kilometres from the little town of Puerto Viejo de Limon. Accommodation is in self-contained bungalows set in the 5 acres of lush tropical gardens. Built of wood, bamboo and thatch, they blend harmoniously with their surroundings and provide comfortable lodgings. Each has a private veranda, where you laze in a hammock or sit and enjoy watching Congo monkeys and toucans in the gardens.

The restaurant, set beneath a high thatched roof, serves a breakfast of fresh fruit, home-baked bread and cooked eggs every morning. At dinner time you'll be served tempting French-inspired dishes complemented by a glass of wine. (Please note: there are no meals during the day. The bar opens at 4pm).

The lodge is well positioned for visits to Cahuita National Park, where you can go snorkelling, take boat rides and hikes. You can explore the coast by kayak, visit a sloth sanctuary, go bird watching, white water rafting and zip lining plus many other activities. You can also take time to enjoy the gardens and go for swims in the pool or the reef-protected ocean waters.