Chinitas Eco Lodge

Staying at Chinitas is more than the facility - it's the people, and the location. First off, Geraldo - the owner and guide - is amazing. We chose to take a canal tour which was, for the cost and time, amazing. Geraldo knew the area, and was utterly exceptional. We loved the first one so much, we took another. Further, Geraldo was more than eager in helping us organize our own journeys, such as a walk along Tortugeuro beach into the town of Tortugeuro itself. It's vital to note Chinitas is located in San Fransisco, which is across the river from Tortugeuro itself. This means that Chinitas is isolated from the hustle and bustle (and noise) of the main town. Cerro Tortugeuro is about 1 km away. For $2 US entry, the nature preserve is a spectacular option (we went twice) and allows folks like us the time to look for monkeys (howler and spider), red dart frogs, leaf-cutter ants, sloths, and birds. I should note that Victor - one half of the able team of he and Erica who do most of the support work at the lodge - guided us to the entrance in person. Every meal was a delight, and it seemed to us that Victor/Erica liked the challenge of surprising us, which they did every time. Frequently, one of the staff did something simple to make our day a little more enjoyable. For example, after our first walk to Cerro Tortugeuro, Victor harvested two fresh coconuts from the nearby tree, and kept them on hand. When we returned, he lopped off the tops to give us fresh-from-the-tree coconut water. After learning that we love bats, Geraldo gushed about the river bats that sweep along the nearby water's edge at night. We took some chairs and sat on the dock, and once Geraldo saw we were doing this, he had a relative turn a light at a nearby dock so it pointed at the water, which in turn attracted fish, which in turn attracted the bats.

I'm going to mention the room just so that other guests aren't caught off-guard. The rooms are, well, if you wanted luxury you'd confine yourselves to chain hotels in big cities. Here, you're staying in an off-the-path location in the remote Costa Rican jungle. Yes, there was some kind of peel-and-stick flooring, repaired with duct tape. However, it was spotless, and kept clean by Erica on a regular basis. The showers were functional, and the beds comfortable. You could, I suppose, pay through the nose for some marble-floored luxury suite but why? Focus on enjoying the world beyond the walls of your room: that, frankly, is what a trip to Tortugeuro is about, isn't it?

We had 2 nice days in Chinitas Eco Lodge. It is located near the end of the Tortuguero Lagoon where it meets the ocean, very interesting area. We discovered the Tortuguero Hill and the rainforest around, no boat transfer needed. Be sure to book a boat ride through the nationalpark and river systems. One day Geraldo drove us to the other side of the river so we could explore the beach. The owners are super nice. We enjoyed the breakfast and dinner. The room was basic but exactly what we expected. Nice garden with hammocks and restaurant area. This place is for nature lovers!