Fodor's Expert Review Tendacayou Ecolodge & Spa

The result of a remarkable 10-year saga, this quirky and inventive rain-forest resort consists of both tree houses and ground-level bungalows, as well as a wonderful restaurant—Le Poisson Rouge—and a moderately priced spa. Owners Sylvie and George Carreyre built the tree houses first for their family and then for paying guests. The newer accommodations are more upscale, romantic, wildly colorful bungalows with gingerbread fretwork, but all of the bungalows and tree houses have a funky, rustic charm. The restaurant, which serves both lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday, specializes in inventive preparations of the freshest seafood; the menu changes daily. The spa, like everything else here, has a magical, Zen quality and offers treatments in addition to yoga, tai chi, and some spiritual training.