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About
5.0
#1 of 1 lodge in Carara
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.8
Value
4.7
Macaw Lodge is an authentic Ecolodge, ideal for yoga retreats, bird watching (neighbors Carara National Park), nature lovers, bird photography, mountain biking. Friendly atmosphere run by local people, owned by Costa Ricans. Macaw Lodge is located in the Central Pacific of San Jose Providence; just an hour drive from Jaco Beach.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Gorgeous location, friendly and helpful staff. Rooms quite basic and small. No windows just netting to keep insects out, and if you stay in the main building you can hear everything from the rooms next door! No air conditioning, but it does get cool at night, and you might need a blanket. Excellent wildlife and wonderful trails around the Park. Restaurant overlooks the large pond. More comfortable seating in this area would have been excellent, as the dining chairs were very upright and hard. Food could have been better, very little choice. It was very humid during the day, and the pond looked quite inviting. There is no swimming pool here, and if in the future they could design a small natural pool using reeds and plants for cleaning, this would be ideal and allow them to keep to their eco credentials.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Macaw Lodge is a truly special place and hopefully one we will return to in the future. Due to its remote setting the journey to macaw lodge was a little bumpy, our driver informed us they often call the roads a “costa rican massage for tourists!!” However don’t let this put you off as the scenery was amazing and it was well worth the drive into the mountains. The setting of the main lodge overlooking the ponds was beautiful and alive with lots of different birds including hummingbirds. A lot of thought has been put into making the lodge eco friendly and sustainable. All the staff were friendly and inviting and made our stay very pleasant. Most of the food served is grown on the farm and we had lots of lovely meals, a personal favourite being the chocolate ice cream made with the cocoa beans from the farm. As well as enjoying the serenity, the grounds and ponds are absolutely full of wildlife and we enjoyed visiting the natural and refreshing waterfall and natural pool whilst exploring the gardens and trials. We joined the bird watching tour, cocoa tour and the sustainability tour during our stay and our guide, Hugo was exceptional. His knowledge and enthusiasm for the wildlife and sustainability was incredible and he went above and beyond to answer all our questions and to help us spot the scarlet macaws, a major reason for our visit to Costa Rica. Seeing how the ecotourism and the cocoa agroforests all linked together was fascinating and the chocolate we sampled was delicious! For our room we chose to have a private bungalow in the grounds away from the main lodge which I would definitely recommend for extra tranquility. The rooms have a mesh rather than glass windows so we really got the feeling of being in the jungle! It was quite humid but cooled down nicely overnight! Overall, a genuinely amazing place to visit either to relax, enjoy the wildlife or to get involved with lots of different tours.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Pay the small amount extra for a private bungalow in the grounds
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It took about an hour for our coach to reach the lodge from the main road and nearer to the lodge the road is narrow and not great but it’s worth it. There are 8 rooms in the main building where meals are served and a few cabins scattered round in the grounds. You can take guided walks or just follow the paths around the grounds. The grounds are lovely and we went with the guide up to the sustainable farm. The food was good but there isn’t really a choice. You can purchase beer and wine by the bottle or glass. The main building is wood and the soundproofing isn’t great but everyone goes to bed early but you can hear the staff getting things ready for breakfast which starts at 7 am so if you don’t want to hear them you need to wear earplugs but part of the fun of this place is to be woken up by the birdsong and go to sleep hearing the frogs. The night sky is fantastic as well. We stayed as part of a group for 2 nights and I wish we could have stayed at least 3 nights. It’s worth booking full board as it’s a long way to any restaurants. Water and fruit juice is provided free with meals if you don’t want to buy alcohol. No TV or minibars but it’s not that sort of place.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A very relaxing and remote lodge. I would certainly take the cabanas over the main building rooms as the cabanas offered serenity and privacy. Meals are buffet style and tasty. We took a shuttle to the hotel and had prebooked a tour to Carera park so we were fine as to getting around but if you go be advised that this location is very remote and up in the mountains so be sure you have good directions as the turnoff from Highway 34 is not well signed and you could miss it in a blink of an eye. From the turnoff it is approx. one hour driving to get to the hotel. A great place to chill. If you want to do yoga there are several yoga stands in the forest for a serene experience. Bring your bug repellent.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Go for the cabanas that are away from the main building. You will feel like you are really in the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Remarkable journey! If you're visiting Costa Rica and would like to get a true essence of the forest, seclusion and love birds, this place is where you should head out to. It is unpaved the last 10 or 12 kilometers but nothing scary, with signs to the lodge all along the way. The views on the way are breathtaking and very rewarding. The place itself is truly amazing, with everyone around very pleasant, friendly and accommodating. The main building overlooks a beautiful pond, many fruiting trees and bird feeders, inviting plenty of birds all the time. And Hugo and Oliver are there to help you identify the birds and tip you on the flora and fauna of the area. The property is huge with great rewarding trails. We saw so many birds there all time that we just did not want to leave. We did the chocolate tour with Hugo, and absolutely loved it, he shared so much information with us, that it was just amazing! The food was better than some fine gourmet restaurants that we have been to. The place is a true eco friendly place, with solar and water power being used all along! The room we stayed in was truly amazing, couldn't be better. They also upon request provided us with a floor fan as we felt a bit humid and that was all we needed to be comfortable. The showers also had hot water if someone would prefer that. The most important thing to remember is the place is in the middle of a forest far away for everything. And then to have all the luxuries is truly a blessing. The trails on the property are very well marked and accessible. The waterfall is beautiful and great for an afternoon swim. At night the frogs and other night fauna are fun to observe.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The lodge is circular and mist rooms have a view. Not mine. Do not book room 6. There is no view. Just the rain forest trees a yard away from the window mesh. Dark and dreary all day ! Light so poor I couldn’t even see inside my suitcase without head torch on Steep curved open tread stairs and they seemed surprised when I asked for help to haul my suitcase up
The area is beautiful But after very wet weather the paths impossible due to mud The lake dam had burst and workers were trying to dredge the mud and restore it. we visited after horrendous rains where lake dam had burst and lake was being rebuilt - by hand ! Roads horrendous. But I was impressed how quickly they were working to get roads repaired Food was very basic. It was ok. But just put in front of you. No asking ! Do you like that ? For example omlette. Just brought out. And the girl seemed surprised and very grumpy when only 2/6 of us actually liked omelettes ! I was one of them I asked to change to a room which wasn’t so dark and dreary. Our group of 6 seemed to be the only ones staying in the lodge. We used 4 rooms between us There were other rooms empty but they refused to move me ! I’ll post a picture of my. None existent view ! I couldn’t do the farm walks/ bird walks. Paths were too slippery. So felt very much stuck there Bird life is amazing. The noise at night incredible Weather was still very wet with storms We ordered a bottle of wine to share with our meal. But they hadn’t any more ! They did get a few more bottles delivered for the next evenings meal ! Coffee in a heated flask available all day which was nice and very nice cookies. I asked for milk and it took ten minutes to get milk from the fridge which was three yards away ! The lodge is beautiful Bathrooms great But sorry they need to address guests concerns more We were also asked in a very reluctant way. Do you want your rooms cleaning ? Dry towels ? Err yes. With the humidity towels are wet ! Bin needs emptying (no flush toilet paper so bin needs emptying yes!) Bathroom was lovely but again my view was just trees through the mesh. No glass I’m afraid I was glad to leave and left rather hungry Glad I had some cereal bars in my suitcase
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Do not accept room 6. Or probably room 7
Take some of your own food
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When you step on the deck of the lodge you are immediately impressed by the view on the pond and the green backround. Many birds like the kolibry are visible very close.. The food is very tasteful and the rooms are small but comfortable. Most important was that the management was really interested in your experience and needs. They really want to do everything to make your stay as pleasant as possible. Tip: some more comfortable deckchairs!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for one night, as part of a small tour group. The lodge is quite remote, for while it is only 15 miles or so from the main coast road, it takes around an hour in either direction, much of it over steep, bumpy dirt roads (4 wheel drive not essential, but preferable). Once there, it is a lovely setting, with lush gardens, pond and forest, and a profusion of bird life. You can get a plan of the walking trails from reception
Our room was simple but large, with just insect screening in the windows rather than glass, so noise carries easily between the rooms. Our bathroom was excellent, with plenty of shelf space, and a really good spacious shower.
It was nice to have coffee available through the day in the lobby, and breakfast was simple but good. The quality of the food at dinner was, though, a little disappointing the evening we were there. All the staff were friendly and very helpful
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Macaw Lodge is in a really stunning location with the cabins all spread out. The one we had was a bit of a trek away from the lodge but it had a great view as a result. The trails on site are good for a variety of birds and it's good to have a river close by. It was incredible hot while we were there - very muggy, so be aware. It was also very noisy at night bizarely (blame the cicades in the trees around us). I get the impression this would be a popular location for dedicated birders.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The arduous task of finding the way, as well as the approximately 20 km of unpaved road, constantly uphill, full of potholes and areas washed out by rain, are worth it!!!!! A four-wheel drive is a must to conquer the path. What awaits you will leave you speechless! The lodge is located on a large area where cocoa, vegetables and fruit are grown organically and where there is some primary forest and reforestation efforts. If you are not staying in the main house and restaurant, but in one of the wonderful houses, you should travel light because the path from the parking lot to the individual houses is a bit longer and steep. In return, you are rewarded with a secluded location and a magnificent view. Beautiful woods and bamboo were used, as well as the wonderful hand-painted washbasins. Our casa was very spacious, everything is screened with insect screens. The bathroom is quite large. The ceiling fan was very effective. The balcony is a dream. Umbrellas are available for the walks to the restaurant if required, and hiking poles can be borrowed for the hikes. Insect repellent is helpful. A flashlight is recommended in the dark. The dinner was very tasty and plentiful, as was the breakfast. We wandered through the beautiful rainforest with deep red earth and bathed in the waterfall. We saw and heard numerous birds, insects and spiders and an agouti. Michael and Karin were very helpful, friendly and informative. A place where I would have liked to have spent more than two days.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Macaw gardens are around 5 hectares, but the we have a forest of 107 hectares and a cacao plantation. The forest has a trail to a waterfall and you can see some forest species. At the agroforestry cacao planting there are interesting things to see plus we have a tropical fruit tree collection.
Chester, United Kingdom249 contributions190 helpful votes
If I recall the breakfast was included. Dinner was $30 pp this was a fixed menu but all sourced locally and delicious.
Simple drinks available (wine and beer) but prices are high even for Costa Rica.
Good morning!
We can absolutely set up transportation to and from Carara National Park! It is best to try and set this up a little in advance of your arrival to Macaw Lodge. We are also very fortunate to be able to see a large number of the same species of wildlife seen at the park here on the farm!
Cheers!
There are more places to choose from in the Carara area.
PRICE RANGE
$127 - $187 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of San JoseCarara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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