Laguna Lodge

We loved this place. Accessible by boat through canals, flanked on one side by the river and the Caribbean on the other, surrounded by forest and the most amazing wildlife, we highly recommend. Attentive and helpful staff, delicious meals with great selection, fun excursions, we loved the two pools and the outdoor bar space on the river. Seeing turtles laying eggs at night on the beach with a guide was so special! The breakfast lunch and dinner buffets were yummy with lots of choices.

We really weren't sure what to expect with this Lodge given that we knew there was no air conditioning and no glass on windows but we were very pleasantly surprised! I was worried about bugs but the hotel is extremely clean and well maintained and we didn't have any unwelcome visitors in our room (but i did keep all food, washbags etc shut away). I also laid a towel at the bottom of the doors but maybe that was just me being paranoid! The hotel itself is really well laid out, great pool area and decent food in restaurant. We were there only 2 nights and the food was better than expected. I would imagine it could get repetitive if staying for longer than 3/4 nights. The tours provided by the hotel were really well organised and informative. We managed to see turtles laying on the beach which was AMAZING! The transfers in and out of the hotel were excellent. Our flight was delayed coming in to San Jose so we actually missed our pick up but with great communication from the hotel we managed to catch it up and meet the rest of the group at the breakfast point to continue the rest of the journey.

Somewhat disappointed with this lodge. I understand we didn't see it at its best as there had been lots of rain and flooding. The dining room was flooded, as were many of the paths. At one point tables and chairs were brought into the reception area and we ate there, but this isn't really why we weren't too impressed. As other reviewers have said, the rooms are very, very basic. There is no air con, although there is a ceiling fan, which gives some relief but not much. No fridge or hair dryer. Very old, very plain furniture, so the room had little character. The setting of the lodge is stunning, and the pool is lovely. although we didn't get a chance to use it. The staff in the bar always seemed to be doing something else when we wanted a drink, and twice we went to reception, there was no one to be seen. The food was OK, nothing special but plenty of it. My biggest complaint was the fresh fruit at breakfast, which is delicious in Costa Rica, but it wasn't covered, and flies were swarming all over it. We had a wonderful time in Tortuguera despite the weather but wished we had stayed somewhere else.

We stayed here for three nights in November 2024. Reading some of the more negative reviews on here, it's possible some people were disappointed because this is not a "luxury" accomodation, but I think this is clear from the website. You stay in a remote location (part of the journey involves a boat ride that can take around an hour depending on water level) in order to be very close to the amazing ecosystem in Tortugero. The room was clean and comfortable and had a good bathroom but it is quite basic, with no TV etc (but why would you need that when you have so much else to do!). There is no air con but there is a fan which kept the room cool enough for us. The wifi doesn't reach to the room but is fast in the communal areas. There is not much reception elsewhere. The food was nice and was generally local dishes which we enjoyed; as vegetarians we didn't always have as much choice but I think this is more a reflection on the cuisine of Costa Rica and was not significantly different from other places we stayed and ate. However the reason we come is for the wildlife which is incredible! Sloths, monkeys, armadillos, frogs, hummingbirds, herons and waders, raptors, macaws... The list goes on. There are lots of opportunities to see these on the various boat tours and walking tours organized by the lodge. There was a kayaking opportunity but we didn't do that so can't comment. We had a fantastic local guide (Miguel) who was extremely knowledgeable, especially about the bird life, friendly and had excellent, very clear English. So remember your binoculars and raincoat, and remember you are going to get close to nature and enjoy lying in a comfortable bed listening to the nocturnal sounds of the forest.

An incredible place only accessible by river boat, with the lagoon on one side and the Caribbean on the other. The hotel was idyllic, with trees, wildlife and nesting turtles on the beach. The pool was warm, the garden well kept, and the food was good. Our room was a bit spartan, but we didn't spend much time there so it didn't matter. A great place to set off on a river and canal safari.

A truly magical place. We stayed in a standard+ lodge which was simple but more than suited our needs. We backed onto the forest so the noise from the frogs, birds and monkeys was incredible. Food in the restaurant was excellent. Lovely pool. Highly recommend a guided night walk to see the stunning turtles. Some areas of the lodge were a bit run down and needed a little update but overall, a wonderful experience.