This is not a luxury hotel. If you want spa, dancing, top billed entertainment, and servants at every hand this is not the place to come. If, however you want to see the true natural wonders and feel the soul of the tropics while you slide into the habitat and become one with your surroundings, you could not choose a better place. The food is absolutely fantastic. The conversation around the dinner table is relaxed and just like being with family. Don't evan try to compare the fishing to anything you have done before. There is simply no comparison! The waters of the gulf are calm and kayaking is great. This is Costa Rica at its best!

We are a family of five and we stayed at Bahia Rica Kayak and Fishing Lodge for two nights in september. We were greeted at the ferry dock by the owner, who drove us up the bumpy dirt road to the lodge. Our room was literally a treehouse! It is hard to describe, but it was basically an elevated deck with screened rooms and a roof beautifully carved out of wood and built into the trees. There were two comfy hammocks on the deck that overlooked the bay and the jungle. It also had a nice outdoor bathroom. Both days we saw troops of howler monkeys swing right by the deck! The "restaurant" , a little outdoor kitchen a little ways down the hill, had wonderful food. The whole setup was very simplistic but comfortable. The Norwegian couple took us on a full day tour of Isla Tortuga combined with the Refugio de Silvistre Cúru. We had a great time and also got some fishing in, on the way to the island. The beach at the bottom of the property was also great fun. There was a giant, tall rock about 300 feet out in the water, but when the tide went out, you could walk to the rock and see thousands of crabs scuttling all over it. The norwegian woman showed us how to catch and "puff up" the pufferfish that swam along the sandy shore. We had a GREAT time!

My wife and I were looking for a Costa Rican experience that would give us exposure to both the natural beauty Costa Rica offers and a true picture of the "pura vida" that is part of the lives of the native Costa Ricans. While searching the internet, I found the Bahia Rica web site and its offer for a very reasonably priced vacation that was an intriguing mix of kayaking and learning Spanish. We decided to go with this interesting mix, and we could not have made a better choice.
I had some Spanish in high school and college (40 years ago) and my wife, Eva, was a beginner. So a class with two students at different levels of speaking ability would be a challenge for any teacher. But Vicky (Vigdis) and Marjorie (a native Costa Rican) did an amazing job of making the learning experience substantial and fun for both of us. Our classroom, under the canopy of trees next to the sea, was clearly the most beautiful classroom either of us had ever experienced. How many classrooms are shared with howler monkeys, a raccoon, hummingbirds, and colorful butterflies? We got many chances to practice our Spanish outside the classroom. We spent an afternoon walking around the town of Paquera with Marjorie, practicing Spanish the entire time. We also went on kayaking adventures with our Costa Rican guide, Juan Jose. Although he spoke only minimal English, he was able to communicate quite effectively with us.
My wife and I are no spring chickens, and we had no kayaking experience. But we were able to go on 4-hour kayaking adventures to both a mangrove swamp and to an island with a colony of spider monkeys. Our guide, Juan Jose, was patient, thoughtful, and a lot of fun. Our time with the spider monkeys left us with some unforgettable memories (see the pictures).
This vacation is not for the faint of heart. There are 258 steps between the open porch setting where we had our meals and our lodging up the hill nestled in the jungle canopy. We shared the lodge with a small group of sports fisherman. There was one shared bathroom. So if you are looking for a luxury resort experience, you might want to look further. But the beauty of the setting was incredible, and the facilities were clean and comfortable. And the care for us was beyond our expectations.
We enjoyed our meals on an open porch dining area below, where Vicky prepared excellent meals. She took extra efforts to accommodate our sensitivities to gluten, and every meal was both nutritious and delicious. Perhaps the best part of every meal was the camaraderie we shared. The fisherman would describe their exciting adventures with Thomas. We would look at pictures they took of some of the amazing fish they caught and released. Because we were a small group, we got a chance to interact more with each other. One night, Thomas and the fishermen took us to a restaurant on the other side of the peninsula. We were glad that we were not the ones driving those roads. But the restaurant setting high on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean was memorable.
Vicky and Thomas are both originally from Norway. A marine biologist, Thomas has a deep understanding and respect for the fish he helps catch (and release). Meals on the porch always involved an interesting mix of English, Spanish, Norwegian, and French. (The wife of a Canadian guest often conversed with Eva in French). Vicky was an amazing multitasker, able to organize excursions, prepare meals, and carry on relaxing conversations all at the same time. Both Vicky and Thomas worked very hard (and successfully) to make our experience and the experience of the other guests the "pura vida" that we will remember as long as our minds are still lumping on all 4 cylinders.

Check out Bahia Rica 3 day kayaktrip on Bahia Rica home page! We had a wonderful trip with Vigdis as an excellent guide, full of fun and knowledge. Wonderful beaches, wildlife, islands and company. The rest of the stay at this lovely, friendly place with hosts Thomas and Vigdis also met all our expectations of the ultimate holidaydream away from everyday life. Lovely food too! A holiday to remember.
Nina Cheetham