Hi, all - has anyone ever stayed at a river lodge in Costa Rica? Either one that you raft into or just a pretty lodge located on a river? We've stayed at Selva Verde and Tortuga Lodge and loved those. Would love to hear any other spots you recommend. I think the Pacuare Lodge looks amazing, but also looks pricey. I think Rios Tropicales has one as well. Thanks for any help you can give me. Wildlife would be a bonus.

Latitude9Lisa mentioned Savegre Lodge in your other post, that has a pretty, small river running through it. There are a number of options in San Gerardo de Dota.

Rio Magnolia. You can even go water sliding in the river if you have the gumption (we did not).

Great lodge, great food, great hosts, great birds.

I think it's a great choice.

Thanks, Femi - I always hear good things about the San Gerardo de Dota area, and we haven't been there yet. I'll check that one out. Supposed to have good birding, right?

Hi, RAC - I haven't heard much about Rio Magnolia, but that sounds great too. What types of birds did you see there?

Here's the reviews on trip advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...untarenas.html

Highlight birds included

Great tinamou
little tinamou
crested guan
king vulture
gray-headed kite
swallow-tailed kite
ornate hawk-eagle
roadside hawk (right off Cielo suite's balcony)
scaled pigeon
white-necked Jacobin
white-tipped sicklebill
green hermit
white-crested coquette (male),
violet-headed hummingbird,
slaty-tailed trogon
black-throated trogon
black-mandibled toucan
golden-naped woodpecker
bat falcon
brown-hooded parrot
white-crowned parrot
crimson-fronted parakeet
black-hooded antshrike
russet antshrike
black-faced antthrush
eye-ringed flatbill
golden-crowned spadebill
dark pewee
rufous mourner
streaked flycatcher
rufous piha
masked tityra
northern schiffornis
rose-throated becard
Philadelphia vireo
buff-rumped warmbler
gray-headed tanager
white-shouldered tanager
white-throated shrike-tanager
golden-hooded tanager
bay-headed tanager
silver-throated tanager
green honeycreeper
orange-billed sparrow
summer tanager
black-thighed grosbeak
blue-black grosbeak
spot-crowned euphonia

Nice list - thank you!

Sorry for the delayed response, I was away in Ecuador (fabulous birding of course).

Yes, there's definitely birding in SGD. There are daily tours to see the quetzals if that's your target. I think I read somewhere that there's an 85% chance of spotting them if you go with a guide, although the quality of the sightings will vary of course.

There are also quite a few birds in the region that are Costa Rican endemics, and also those that are only seen in the higher elevations.

Did you have specific species that you planned to target (besides the quetzal)?

Thanks, Femi - yes, I started another thread regarding good birding, but I definitely think SGD looks like our kind of place. No specific species in mind although my husband loves toucans. How many nights would you guys recommend spending there?

Difficult for me to make a recommendation as I generally prefer to stay put. I stayed at the lodge for a week, while others spent only one night, just long enough for an early morning quetzal tour. You should browse the list of available activities (Savegre probably has one) and that may help you decide.