Tiskita Jungle Lodge

Tiskita Jungle Lodge Review

This last-outpost lodge is one of the premier eco-lodges in the Southern Zone, attracting nature lovers, bird-watchers, and people who want to get away from it all in comfort. Peter Aspinall, a passionate farmer and conservationist, and his wife, Lisbeth, homesteaded here in 1977, and today the property includes a vast fruit orchard, with more than 100 varieties of trees that attract monkeys, coatis, birds, and other wildlife. Surrounding the orchard are 800 acres of primary and secondary forest, a habitat for the more than 275 species of birds, including more than 65 Scarlet Macaws, the result of a 10-year release program. A 90-strong troop of squirrel monkeys also roams the property. There are tours of the orchard, and a naturalist guide leads bird-watching and nature tours. Comfortable screened wooden cabins on stilts have rustic furniture and tiled bathrooms, some of them open-air. Trails invite you to explore the jungle and a cascading waterfall with freshwater pools. Healthy meals using local produce are served in an open-air dining room. Throughout the day you can help yourself to freshly squeezed tropical juices in the fridge, and the cookie jar is always full. Cabins are spread out, with lots of steps to climb. Recently rebuilt No. 6 has the most privacy, with an outdoor rain-forest shower, screened windows on three sides, and a huge porch looking onto a beautiful ocean view. The beach, with swimmable waters, is a steep 15-minute downhill walk. Many guests arrive by small plane at the hotel's private airstrip. The best prices are package deals, including lodging, all meals, tours and taxes.