Full view
View all photos (575)575
Pool & Beach (91)
Videos (1)
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Travel safe during COVID-19
Visit our Travel Safe hub to see how we're helping you make more informed travel decisions during COVID-19.
What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
- Daily temperature and symptom checks for staff
Read more
Updated 08/12/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Updated 08/12/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.8
Value
4.5
Travelers' Choice
GreenLeaders Platinum level
Playa Nicuesa is an environmentally-friendly eco-lodge set on a 165-acre private rainforest preserve on the undeveloped Pacific Coast of Golfo Dulce in southern Costa Rica. Our jungle & sea location provides a unique adventure and nature vacation: the front yard is a gulf right off the Pacific Ocean, and the backyard consists of thousands of acres of pristine tropical rainforest. Overall, the experience embraces conservation and harmony with the natural environment.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Parking
Yoga classes
Free breakfast
Beach
Bicycle rental
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Full body massage
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Special diet menus
Canoeing
Hiking
Snorkeling
Fishing
Car hire
Massage
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Private beach
Private balcony
Safe
Seating area
Bath / shower
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Full view
Contact
Punta Nicuesa 60701 Costa Rica
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Punta Nicuesa rental cars
412Reviews11Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 347
- 46
- 11
- 4
- 4
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
If you want to experience jungle, you can't avoid this lodge! Great accommodation in individual wooden huts equipped with comfort. Good food, beautiful beach and all this in a small manageable scale. A tip for this lodge is the canoe tour.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded 2 weeks ago
Thank you for your wonderful review of the hotel and your stay. We are so pleased you enjoyed all aspects of our little corner of paradise. Thanks for highlighting the canoe tour through the mangrove forest too. We hope to see you again!
Read more
Hotel's Favorite
Fantastic property! Excellent rooms & supper staff. Loved the food and open bar. Family did the full beach, boat, experance - found dolfins everytime we went out :-) Had a guide to ourselves every day & she was Great!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded Apr 20, 2022
Thank you so much for your review of Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. We are so pleased you enjoyed the stay and that you were able to fill your days with such amazing adventures. Those dolphins are always delightful to spot and watch. Our guide not only is knowledgeable but is also very talented at spotting animals. We hope to see you again soon!
Read more
+1
This beautiful Lodge offers so much of what Costa Rica is all about. The lush foliage, bird and wildlife viewings, deluxe accommodations and delicious food made our stay a once in a lifetime experience. All of the activities were exciting and well-led. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, paddle boarding...the list continues. The big takeaway I had was the loving energy that emanated from everyone there. Any need that we had was met and staff was there at the ready without hovering. I cried when we left.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022Trip 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.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded Jun 11, 2022
What a great reason to come back! Thank you for your fantastic review of our little piece of paradise where our love for nature and for making our guests feel welcome, is so important. You certainly were able to experience so many of the great activities we offer in the expert hands of our guides and staff. We hope to see you again.
Read more
+1
My husband and I stayed for 6 nights at Playa Nicuesa and can't say enough wonderful things about it. We had a restorative experience - much needed after a difficult year. All staff were friendly and accommodating. We are in our early 50s and while we are both normally very fit and active, my husband had a series of medical challenges over the last 18 months, and we had both recently recovered from COVID. Steven and Juan, who we spent the most time with, were both very gracious in helping us tailor our activities to our needed physical abilities at the time. Steven was our guide for several tours - kayaking/snorkeling, hiking to the waterfall, river tour and sustainability tour. (The highlight for me was the river tour!!) He is very knowledgeable and passionate about nature and conservation, and we enjoyed our conversations with him. We didn't have the pleasure of having a tour with Yazmin but she was very lovely as well! She picked us up by boat in Puerto Jiménez upon our arrival and we quickly developed a good connection with her. We signed up for the yoga package - yoga at 6am and 4pm daily. Juan was our yogi and massage therapist. He is very talented in his work as well as being a gentle, compassionate and caring person. We very much enjoyed our time with him, and will never forget how much he helped make our visit restorative and peaceful. All the staff at Playa Nicuesa are super warm and friendy. And they were all very patient with our Spanish! The food is excellent and we appreciated the limited menu to help eliminate waste. Despite the limited selections we had distinctly different meals every single day. I think there was a fish option nearly every day which made me happy. There was also a vegetarian option at each meal. The rooms are lovely. We were in Mango House and it met all of our needs. Our only suggestion is that we could have used more hooks in the walls to hang our clothes. Note that it is extremely humid so bringing multiple changes of shirts is recommended. It takes several days to dry anything. My only disappointment about our stay is that we didn't see any monkeys! We heard a few howler monkeys and came close to seeing some one morning. Otherwise over the week we saw hundreds of dolphins, sting rays, an eel, 2 boa constrictors, wild boars, crocodiles, an agouti (I think), macaws, toucans, falcons, lizards, and lots of other birds. We loved staying at Playa Nicuesa. It was one of the best retreats we've ever had. We look forward to going back some day.…
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022Trip 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.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded Jun 11, 2022
Wow! What a stellar review of your stay at Nicuesa. We appreciate your thorough review of your stay and all the amazing things you were able to enjoy during your stay. What a variety of animals you saw too! That is one long list. You are right regarding the restaurant service and that the food is delicious, fresh, varied and always in line with our sustainable philosophy. We think you should come back and we will make sure you see some monkeys this time!
Read more
The beautiful cabins are set in the rainforest and couldn't be any more spectacular. The staff is beyond friendly and courteous. There were several terrific choices for every meal and all were delicious. There are numerous activities available and all were great. Playa Nicuesa lodge is a rarity. It is also more sustainable than any other lodge I know in Costa Rica. I was a rainforest guide for over 20 years and Playa Nicuesa lodge is my favorite lodge of all.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: All of the cabins are tastefully done and each is unique.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded Jun 11, 2022
Thank you so much for your fantastic review of Nicuesa. We are so happy that you enjoyed yourself and that you have rated it as the best in your vast experience. We do our best to make sure all our guests enjoy all its comforts and the endless close-to-nature activities it offers. Come again! We would love to see you back.
Read more
+1
A very beautiful place, you reach by boat. Splendid rainforest all the way to the beach. Very isolated and you live in the middle of nature. Nice trails you can take by yourself, wish they were a bit longer, but we did them all several times. Saw Toucans, lots of birds and Capuchin monkeys, and at the beach we observed very close - several Scarlet Macaws. The food is excellent- we had vegetarian - and it was some of the best veggie food we had in CR. Only reason I don’t give 5 stars is, that we lived in the Mango House, in the lower apartment- and unfortunately we experienced a lot of disturbing noise from the upper apartment- day and night, rather frustrating being in such a lovely nature, and then being disturbed by so much noise.. So my recommendation is, that if you book the Mango House, be sure to live in the upper apartment..…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Book upper apartment- so you won’t be bothered with noise.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded May 25, 2022
Thank you for your great review of your stay at Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. We are so happy to hear that you were able to enjoy the self-guided trails and that you spotted lots of wildlife. Those Scarlet Macaws certainly make their presence heard. We are sorry that the upstairs dwellers were noisy during your stay. We hope you sought assistance from the Nicuesa staff to avoid further disturbances.
Read more
My husband and I were at Playa Nicuesa for 4 nights in mid February, 2022. We loved the place and the whole experience. The cabins in the rain forest were comfortable and so perfectly suited to the environment. The first afternoon we arrived we had a torrential rainfall for close to 3 hours, ending right before dinner. We lay in bed, resting, and enjoying the drama, the sounds, and the feel of the place. We took some interesting hikes, ate all the great meals, and went on two unforgettable excursions, one to the river with a crocodile and mangroves and a ride with my husband on a 2-person kayak. The second excursion was kind of a dud at first (couldn't find dolphins and the stingrays got us while snorkling, but then we got word of a dolphin sighting. We went out to find them and were at once surrounded by countless (maybe thousands) of dolphins, leaping, following the boat, and around us as far as the eye could see. It was a breathtaking and memorable half hour or so. The staff was uniformly helpful and friendly. We would highly recommend Playa Nicuesa to anyone looking for a unique rainforest experience.…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded May 25, 2022
Thank you for your fantastic review of Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. It sounds like you really did live the Nicuesa Experience and we are so happy that Mother Nature worked her wonders with the dolphin display. That is an unforgettable memory without a doubt. The rainforest certainly is dynamic. We hope to see you again!
Read more
Nicuesa is a very unique and special location, creating a memorable experience for each person and group. Our retreat was absolutely wonderful! We fell in love with the rain forest, the staff at Nicuesa, and the simple, yet comfortable environment. In fact, many of us grieved the loss of this nourishing experience after we left. The beauty of the trees, the animals, the flowers, and living so close to nature gave us a time to pause and reflect, but mostly to feel a deep sense of gratitude for the earth and each other. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff. We felt like family by the time we left! They were supportive in every way, with a genuine sense of caring. We would love to bring another group to this beautiful place.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded May 17, 2022
Thank you so much for your stunning review of Nicuesa! We are so happy you and the group has such a lovely time. It sounds like you really connected with everything beautiful about the property and the amazing location. Nature is definitely front and center and certainly is inspiring but also a generator of such gratitude. We really hope you bring another group to Nicuesa. In the meantime, take care.
Read more
We had a great experience during our stay at Nicues! It is just the best example of sustainability.. I am par of an NGO working in reef restorarion in Golfo Dulce and Nicuesa is one of our great supporters. They provide us with room and food when we need to do on land processes with the corals, which means a huge support for us! In addition, I can say that is the best place to connect with the magical forest and the great Golfo Dulce
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded May 4, 2022
Thank you for your review of Nicuesa! We appreciate not only the fabulous work you are doing with the reef restoration that is dear to our heart too, but also that you have enjoyed your stay. We certainly must work together to create change and every little effort helps. We will continue to take care of the magical forests and the incredible Golfo Dulce too! See you soon.
Read more
+1
We spent 4 nights back in late November/early December and had the best time! Even the boat ride in was beautiful! The cabins are lovely with the best sounds of the jungle both during the day and night. We booked the Rainforest Multisport Package which was great as it includes a guided activity each day. We also loved the remote beach (which we had to ourselves on many occasions)! Our favorite tour was the Golfo Dulce! We saw SO many dolphins! The night hike was also very interesting. We also explored the self-guided trails and spotted many animals on our own! The staff here are super nice and attentive, and we enjoyed each and every meal. Plus, the views from the dining area of the sea were magnificent. I'd definitely come back to stay again!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Nicuesa Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Responded Apr 18, 2022
Thank you so very much for your wonderful review of Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge and for sharing your experience. It is definitely dining with a view at Nicuesa and how fantastic you were able to fill your days with adventure activities in nature. And yes! Golfo Dulce is full of dolphins and marine life. We hope to see you in paradise again.
Read more
PRICE RANGE
$337 - $441 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
playa nicuesa rainforest hotel golfito, playa nicuesa rainforest golfito
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasOsa PeninsulaPunta Nicuesa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Osa Wildlife Sanctuary (3.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
Yes, parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a sauna and yoga classes during their stay.
Does Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Punta Nicuesa.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Is Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.