Macaw Lodge, Carara NP - Retired in Costa Rica

This is another favorite because of the wildness or being deep in the forest. It is near the border of Carara National Park but totally away from anything else or much population. It is up the mountain behind or south of the park, going from Tarcoles up past Villa Lapas and Pura Vida Gardens/ Bijagua Waterfalls to near the little village of Bijagua in San Jose Province on the border of Puntarenas Province. See “Getting There” section below. The remoteness is one part of the charm! Read more about the lodge in their Macaw Lodge WEBSITE.

Would I Return Here?

Absolutely yes!

Likes

The remoteness and thick forests.
Lots of different birds and other wildlife.
Many large gardens with one of the greatest varieties of plants and flowers.
Excellent rooms or cabins (both available) and good food!
Lots of trails and a nice big waterfall that had a Sunbittern nest near it on one trip.

Dislikes

None for the place but the last 30 km or so of the road getting there was gravel in poor condition at one time, but I understand that it is being paved soon and the gravel has already been graded.

Macaw Lodge BIRDS Slideshow . . .

Sunbittern beside Waterfall
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Groove-billed Ani
Black-headed Trogon
Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Cherrie’s)
Muscovy Duck
Gray-cowled Woodrail
Neotropic Cormorant
Green Ibis
Lesson’s Motmot
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Yellow-throated Toucan
Great Kiskadee
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Nature & Other Activities

Birding on your own or with guided hikes.
Lots of trails and other wildlife beyond the birds
Two yoga platforms and they regularly host yoga retreats
Chocolate Farm Tour on property. Their chocolates are award-winning.
Beautiful Waterfall and a small lake or big pond plus multiple streams.
Night Walk which I recommend for different wildlife like frogs!
Sustainable Living Tour (their organic farming)
Their incredible 5 acres of Botanical Gardens with hundreds of species of flowers and other plants on lodge property to leisurely walk through!
Carara National Park
A Day Pass to Punta Leona Beaches, Jaco.
Day trip for Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling or Outrigger Canoes at Jaco

NATURE Slideshow . . .

Brown Setwing Dragonfly
Slender Brown Anole
Wasp
Werauhia pycnantha
White Satyr
Red-headed Firetip
Julia Heliconian
Striped Basilisk
Hot Lips
Banded Peacock
Square-spotted Dasher
Water Lily
Central American Agouti
Heliconia Lady Diana
Lily Pads
Emerald Glass Frog
Green Iguana

Rooms & Food

Excellent food with much from their own farm!
Rooms in the main building or many cabins throughout the property in different sizes for one person to large families. Excellent!

Cabin 10 that was mine on my 2023 trip there.

Getting There

Only by car! You either drive or hire a van or taxi. It is from Atenas 70 km or about 1hr and 45min. Take 27 to 34 to Tarcoles and turn south on 320 past Villa Lapas, Bijagual Waterfall Trailhead, Pura Vida Gardens and on to 319 for last few km on gravel road. Use a GPS to be certain.
No public bus beyond Tarcoles.