La Carolina Lodge
San Miguel Bijagua, Bijagua de Upala 21301 Costa Rica
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About
#1 of 7 hotels in Bijagua de Upala
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.8
Value
4.7
Travelers' Choice
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Hot tub
Free breakfast
Hiking
Horseback riding
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Full body massage
Restaurant
Fishing
Massage
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
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Room features
Private balcony
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
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HOTEL STYLE
Family
Green
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Location
Contact
San Miguel Bijagua, Bijagua de Upala 21301 Costa Rica
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+1
I spent 3 nights at the Lodge. I loved every minute. Such a beautiful place. So peaceful and relaxing. The staff does such a great job keep the gardens, and grounds just pristine. The cabins and eating areas are spotless. They all put so much pride into the Lodge. Hats off to all of them. The food was amazing. The Ladies in the kitchen went above and beyond. Amazing Cooks and Serving Staff. Karina and Bill are wonderful people. They invite you in and make you feel welcomed and are part of the family. All the guests were extremely friendly. I will be sure to stay in contact with a few of them. I could go on and on. Do yourself a favour and be sure to pay them a visit. I will definitely stay there again.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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The review title comes from my 9-year-old who is a bird enthusiast and loved watching and identifying the many species who came to visit the central area with two platforms for fruit to attract toucans, tanagers, woodpeckers and more. We loved every detail of our stay, from the beautiful cabin and the river with the wood-fire-powered hot tub; the fresh meals and accommodations for my sister, who is vegan; and the helpful and friendly staff. There were a number of relatively close outings - we went on a night walk and tubing - but also just staying at the property was a great chance to appreciate nature, with beautiful plants and flowers, the birds and the noisy howler monkeys — as well as the horses and cows of the farm. It was a magical place and we wish we could have stayed longer!…
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Date of stay: February 2023
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+1
Stunning tranquil base to disconnect from the chatter of everyday life, relax and rebalance From bird watching to cozy fireplaces, step outside and you’ll find Mother Nature at her most magnificent. Starry skies and the soothing sounds of the river does not disappoint. The jungle comes alive at dusk and the day is filled with gratitude. The loveliest hidden gem of Costa Rica with the kindest and warmest staff. I’m still dreaming of the food and offerings from the land. Thank you for the reset and reminder of how precious the world is. Sincerely, Sara & Matt 02/06/2023
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Our trip to Costa Rica began with a two-night stay at La Carolina Lodge. Everything about the lodge exceeded our expectations! Our accommodations in El Commisario were enchanting! There was plenty of rooms and beds for our family of six (kids aged 16, 14, 11 and 9), and the style/decor was befitting the rainforest environment. The wood fired hot tub was a special experience, and the outdoor spaces were large enough for hanging out and even impromptu exercise sessions. The mini fridge on the back patio came in handy to chill our cervezas and wine. We participated in almost all the activities the lodge offered, including horseback riding, bird watching, the garden tour, the yoga platform, swimming in the river, and a hike up to the lake and a paddle in the boat. The wildlife was plentiful, including such highlights as toucans, parrots, sloths, coati, and howler monkeys. But what made our stay so extraordinary was the people and the food. When we arrived at the lodge we were greeted immediately by Yon. He saw us to our accommodations and then walked us through the property - pointing out all the “need to knows.” We discussed our plans during our stay and he provided helpful guidance that allowed us to experience so much during our visit. He served as a concierge to ensure the private shuttles we arranged were all taken care of. He was the consummate host throughout our stay! Alejandro guided us through Tenorio Volcano National Park (Rio Celeste Waterfall) and took his time to point out native flora and fauna. Later that same day he led our family on a horseback ride through the lodge property. Hiking or horseback riding through the property is a must! Just be sure to wear the boots they make available. And finally the food. Every meal was prepared from scratch, and we were told 80-85% of the food was local to the lodge. Rice and beans, salads, carnitas, fish, steak, fresh fruit, farm fresh eggs, oatmeal, etc… were just some of the most delicious we’ve ever had! Cafe, fresh juice, and chocolata Is available at the counter anytime by request or self serve (juice or aqua). The kitchen staff were so skilled in preparing the local cuisine and very welcoming. This review could go on and on and on. La Carolina Lodge is indeed a five-star experience, and a place we hope to return to again!…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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Helpful
I took my wife here as a surprise visit from our home 3 hours away. I pre-booked a massage (which she loved) but other than that, we just spent a couple days unwinding and enjoying the beauty!! We were greeted by John and 5 Toucans!! Our stay was great, the rush of the river was great, the included meals were great, the staff was great and our room was great!! I can’t say enough good things about our time there. Oh…and the hottub was GREAT!! We will definitely be back!!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip 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
This was my fifth visit at the lodge with friends. It has always surpassed my expectations when bringing friends. The staff is wonderful, so welcoming, helpful, and they made us feel right at home. Food is fantastic, cannot say enough about it! See you next year! Kate
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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+1
We are a couple in our mid-40s and spent 3 nights here (Heliconias room) during Christmas. We had an excellent time and would highly recommend it. --Rooms (Heliconias): Photos are accurate, but the room felt nicer than I expected. Bed was super comfortable. No A/C but several fans, so we were never hot. Lots of light in the morning, so my eye mask was very necessary. Rain is quite loud on the tin roof and there are lots of other sounds (the rushing river, birds, monkeys), so I also used my earplugs for sleeping. The Heliconias is a good location (deck overlooks the river, room in central to everything; only downside is it's adjacent to parking lot, but that didn't end up bothering us) --Mosquitos: This was a concern of mine because my boyfriend always gets attacked. I don't really think it was a problem at the lodge. He DID end up getting a bunch of bites, but I think most of them came from evening nature walks. I never actually saw a mosquito at the lodge. But I'd certainly recommend bug spray throughout costa rica if bugs like you. --BYOB: We stocked up on beer and wine on our drive in. The lodge provided us with a cooler. We were confused about the ice situation at first (seemed like a hassle to get it from the kitchen staff), but housekeeping ended up refilling the ice in our cooler each day. --Staff: Extremely friendly. Most didn't speak much English, but that was fine, as it allowed us to practice our Spanish. The main host who gave us a tour the first day did it in English. --Guests: Despite the availability of communal dining, folks tended to keep to themselves. Maybe because it was Christmas and a lot of people were on family trips. We didn't really end up talking to people as much as I thought we would. I think it would be a great idea if the lodge did some kind of "happy hour" or other activity to encourage people to interact if they want to. --Wildlife: Tons and tons of birds that you get to see up close. I'm not much of a bird person but I loved watching them with my coffee every morning. Other than that, there was a surprising lack of wildlife (both in terms of good stuff like monkeys/sloths, but also bad stuff like bugs) --Meals: Really delicious, all typical local fare, prepared by locals, and all (reportedly) grown/raised on the premises. We were totally happy with our meals for the 3 days, but I think if we were staying longer, it would feel a bit repetitive and we'd need to seek out nearby restaurants. --WiFi: There are two rocking chairs near the office where the WiFi is best. The lack of good WiFi was nice, as it encouraged us to stay off our phones. --Activities on-site: 1) hiking loop--through the fields and then the jungle; recommended but wear pants or long socks, as you'll be wearing boots provided by the lodge. 2) cow milking; highly recommended for kids and adults...harder than it looks! This also includes a tour around the property so you can see the pigs, chickens, gardens, etc. Also in lodge-provided boots. 3) hot tub; extremely recommended. So fun and just an amazing experience right by the rushing river. 4) nearby lake property; highly recommended. they have a funky old boat and oars. really peaceful and fun to go out and paddle around. 5) fireplaces: there are several around the property and it's great to just sit in rocking chairs and drink wine and play cards. 5) facial/massage: highly highly recommended; This was by far one of the best massages I've ever had, as well as the least expensive. A truly unique experience, right by the river. --Activities off-site: We did 1) Rio Celeste Aventuras tubing; highly recommended as a way of seeing the aqua waters and actually getting to swim in it. 2) Tapir Valley night walk; recommended (although this is probably where the mosquito bites came from, so wear long pants/sleeves and insect repellent). We saw a tapir up close and it was awesome. 3) Rio Celeste Waterfall; this is about 15 mins away and is a huge tourist attraction. Somewhat recommended, but after swimming/tubing in the aqua water, it wasn't as exciting to just see more of the pools and take pics with hundreds of other people. But as a half-day hike, it's a beautiful location. Once you get past the waterfall, the crowds thin. Ideally, we would have had 4 nights here. You want to have a couple days to go on excursions, but also there's plenty to do on-site at the lodge.…
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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Helpful
To experience the real lovely Costa Rica, this is the place. Very comfortable, quiet and rustic. Food is amazing, the river is gorgeous and so relaxing. The orchids and the birds are incredible. Staff are all very friendly and helpful.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
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WAHOU!! We spent three days in this amazing location during our Honey Moon. Everything was perfect! The people there are lovely and taking care of everything feel like home. Every evening when you reach your own house, the fire has been light on and you can enjoy a rest on the leather rocking chair. The food is cook by some people who do this with passion and everything is really tasty! There are plenty of activities to do around the location. We even spot Blue jeans frog on the hike.
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Date of stay: November 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
Everything was perfect! We totally wanted to stay here! :) The staff was friendly and the lodge was lovely! It's realy off the beaten track and so relaxing. The accommodation is really one of a kind. We saw a lot of animal and I even got a cake for my birthday. It was everything we needed and much more.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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ALSO KNOWN AS
la carolina hotel province of guanacaste, hotel la carolina
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaBijagua de Upala
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Claim Your ListingLA CAROLINA LODGE - Updated 2023 Prices & Hotel Reviews (Costa Rica/Bijagua de Upala)
Frequently Asked Questions about La Carolina Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to La Carolina Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Tapir Valley Nature Reserve (2.6 miles), Spring Paradise Bijagua Tours (4.2 miles), and Tenorio National Park (3.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at La Carolina Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at La Carolina Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to La Carolina Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include Restaurante y Pizzeria El Barrigon, The Hummingbird Cafe, and Soda El Sabor de Doña Carmen.
Does La Carolina Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the river view available here.