Laguna Lodge Tortuguero

“Loved it!”

We loved this place. Accessible by boat through canals, flanked on one side by the river and the Caribbean on the other, surrounded by forest and the most amazing wildlife, we highly recommend. Attentive and helpful staff, delicious meals with great selection, fun excursions, we loved the two pools… more

We loved this place. Accessible by boat through canals, flanked on one side by the river and the Caribbean on the other, surrounded by forest and the most amazing wildlife, we highly recommend. Attentive and helpful staff, delicious meals with great selection, fun excursions, we loved the two pools and the outdoor bar space on the river. Seeing turtles laying eggs at night on the beach with a guide was so special! The breakfast lunch and dinner buffets were yummy with lots of choices.

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“The wildlife is the star...”

We stayed here for three nights in November 2024. Reading some of the more negative reviews on here, it's possible some people were disappointed because this is not a "luxury" accomodation, but I think this is clear from the website. You stay in a remote location (part of the journey involves a boa… more

We stayed here for three nights in November 2024. Reading some of the more negative reviews on here, it's possible some people were disappointed because this is not a "luxury" accomodation, but I think this is clear from the website. You stay in a remote location (part of the journey involves a boat ride that can take around an hour depending on water level) in order to be very close to the amazing ecosystem in Tortugero. The room was clean and comfortable and had a good bathroom but it is quite basic, with no TV etc (but why would you need that when you have so much else to do!). There is no air con but there is a fan which kept the room cool enough for us. The wifi doesn't reach to the room but is fast in the communal areas. There is not much reception elsewhere. The food was nice and was generally local dishes which we enjoyed; as vegetarians we didn't always have as much choice but I think this is more a reflection on the cuisine of Costa Rica and was not significantly different from other places we stayed and ate. However the reason we come is for the wildlife which is incredible! Sloths, monkeys, armadillos, frogs, hummingbirds, herons and waders, raptors, macaws... The list goes on. There are lots of opportunities to see these on the various boat tours and walking tours organized by the lodge. There was a kayaking opportunity but we didn't do that so can't comment. We had a fantastic local guide (Miguel) who was extremely knowledgeable, especially about the bird life, friendly and had excellent, very clear English. So remember your binoculars and raincoat, and remember you are going to get close to nature and enjoy lying in a comfortable bed listening to the nocturnal sounds of the forest.

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“Beautiful grounds and wildlife!”

We enjoyed our stay at Laguna Lodge, the grounds were beautiful and the gorgeous beach was just a stone's throw away. The room was quite basic, it was very hot and we struggled a bit with just a fan, however the pools, bars and restaurant were very good. The bars served the best Pina Coladas we've … more

We enjoyed our stay at Laguna Lodge, the grounds were beautiful and the gorgeous beach was just a stone's throw away. The room was quite basic, it was very hot and we struggled a bit with just a fan, however the pools, bars and restaurant were very good. The bars served the best Pina Coladas we've ever had! Be prepared for some geckos in your room (they are harmless and they'll help keep the mozzie numbers down!) and possibly a creepy crawly or two. Take a walk around the grounds after dark with a torch (don't forget to top up your mozzie repellent before you do!), you will find loads of toads by the pool, hear frogs in the trees, and if you walk through the butterfly garden you might spot a red eyed tree frog! Being in the rainforest, it is very loud during the night, I would recommend bringing ear plugs if you're a light sleeper. I cannot begin to explain how fantastic the boat tours are, I got up for the 5.30am tour and also the 8.30am tour and had what I would consider to be one of the best days of my life! The amount of birds and animals we saw was unreal, it was such a magical experience. Our boat driver (I can't remember his real name, I want to say Jacan but we all called him Eagle Eyes!) was brilliant, he spotted so much wildlife and was so lovely. Our tour guide during our stay at Laguna Lodge was Sebastian, he was so helpful and was such a great guy!

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“Somewhat disappointing”

Somewhat disappointed with this lodge. I understand we didn't see it at its best as there had been lots of rain and flooding. The dining room was flooded, as were many of the paths. At one point tables and chairs were brought into the reception area and we ate there, but this isn't really why we we… more

Somewhat disappointed with this lodge. I understand we didn't see it at its best as there had been lots of rain and flooding. The dining room was flooded, as were many of the paths. At one point tables and chairs were brought into the reception area and we ate there, but this isn't really why we weren't too impressed. As other reviewers have said, the rooms are very, very basic. There is no air con, although there is a ceiling fan, which gives some relief but not much. No fridge or hair dryer. Very old, very plain furniture, so the room had little character. The setting of the lodge is stunning, and the pool is lovely. although we didn't get a chance to use it. The staff in the bar always seemed to be doing something else when we wanted a drink, and twice we went to reception, there was no one to be seen. The food was OK, nothing special but plenty of it. My biggest complaint was the fresh fruit at breakfast, which is delicious in Costa Rica, but it wasn't covered, and flies were swarming all over it. We had a wonderful time in Tortuguera despite the weather but wished we had stayed somewhere else.

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