Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge and Ecolodge

Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge and Ecolodge Review

Base yourself in this comfortable eco-lodge and you can explore vast tracts of surrounding forest, mangroves, and a Blue Flag beach with nesting turtles. The six original cabins have sitting rooms with wood furniture, kitchenettes, screened-in porches, and lush flower borders. Each cabin sleeps three or four people. Six handsome guest rooms built with plantation teak have high ceilings, tiled showers, and small porches looking onto a swimming pool. A solar heated system provides plenty of hot water for showers. Linger for an hour or two atop a lofty bird observation platform in the hotel's rain-forest canopy, zip along the canopy tour, climb a 114-foot-high tree with ropes, or stay overnight at a shelter in the heart of the forest or in a platform tent in the jungle. Excellent local guides interpret the miles of trails, or you can follow the self-guided trail. Owner Jack Ewing is a great storyteller and local historian. There's also a great gift shop here with lots of local crafts and nature books.