Mawamba Lodge

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A fantastically located lodge in Tortuguero. 15 minutes walk from Tortuguero village. Very friendly staff, idyllic grounds very nicely designed. Many animals to see. Tucans, spider monkeys, iguanas ect… be sure to book!

Excellent attention of the saloneros Daniel and Jorge Arias in fact all very respectful and attentive to our comfort.

Please think again if your thinking about this stay. The pictures are nice, sure…but the staff is non professional.
I had arranged transport service with them, but the whole day before they suddenly stoped responding regarding the most crucial question; what is the pick up time even? (have in mind they are eager to be in touch with you pre-arrival acting as if they are in need of all this info; as for example phone nr and expected arrival time).
I sent an e-mail again reminding them, with still no reply. Early in the morning I had to chase them down since my check out from the current stay was getting closer.
After a couple of hours hunting (no reply on e-mail or what’s app) they finally got back (once me calling their reception), saying there in fact where at my pick up point.
Have in mind they never e-mailed back, never called (once they were there) or never even got back saying that they were at my pick up point (I was in my room waiting).
Once I expressed my stress and disappointment after realizing this, everyone I was in touch with, through e-mail and phone, actually interrupt you while trying to explain you basically got ghosted by them.
Is it a culture difference or only them not practicing hospitality?
So, doing mistakes is one think (it happens), but not owning up to them is another. To actually listen and to apologize is the least thing they should want for you.

Mawamba is a beautiful lodge for exploring Tortuguero, located in front of the sea and only 10 minutes walk from the village.
The grounds are gorgeous, the rooms very comfortable, the staff very kind and the adventures are unique!

I recommend staying here at mawamba. It is a beautiful lodge to be at and your right in the middle of everything. The animals are everywhere to enjoy watching in there natural habitats. The staff were all accommodating and friendly. I would definitely come back here for another vacation.

We enjoyed our stay there and found the diversity in animal and plant life was really something to see. The staff was helpful when I was ill and made sure I was comfortable. :)

Excellent place wonderful first attention.

Felt very welcome, friendly staff and interesting tours.

Excellent service and treatment of the staff, the watertight facilities, SUPER recommended!

Very friendly staff, delicious food, very clean place and careful with compliance with protocols. Between the sea and The Tortuguero Lagoon, surrounded by lush nature.
I loved it!

Everything is excellent, the atmosphere, the attention of the staff, the tours that can be done.
Super recommended.

A beautiful hide — a — way between the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic ocean. Perfect for those who love nature and tranquility.

Great place to stay whilst exploring the rainforest waterways Food excellent service great pool lovely cannot daily it.

Six of us traveled together and stayed at the Mawamba Lodge Tortuguero. From the boat ride to facility and an airplane departure we we totally welcomed and accommodated. The grounds are beautiful and manicured daily. The rooms are quaint and well kept. No distractions — note, no phone; no Wi-Fi unless in a central area. Relaxation at its best. The dining is on a beautiful covered patio overlooking the pool area. The food was delicious. Their tour gentleman, Piero, was a breathe of fresh air. Very knowledgeable about the plants, animals and eco systems of Costa Rica. He had boat tours in various forested areas, as well as walks around the grounds and night tours in a rain forest. Everywhere we went he knew everyone and they all commented on us having the BEST guide in the area. Highly recommend this lodge.

What a wonderful experience with them. They came to pick us up in San José on time & we enjoy all the beauty that Costa Rica offers. We had Laura as a guide during 3 days & she was really nice and helpful. Mawamba lodge is an amazing place to stay and during the boat tour we have seen turtles, birds, sloths, Caïmans & monkeys. I recommend.

The whole complex is beautiful. A lot of different plants.
Dragons and Tucane in the trees! …
The facility is very nice and well maintained. Staff very friendly.
Interesting boat trips.

A great lodge with many amenities and for what it is 5*. Comfortable rooms (over head fan, no air con — it is warm and humid), hammocks outside, gardens around lead to central swimming pool and restaurant area. Food was pretty good for all meals. The gardens home frog and butterfly sanctuaries. The staff are friendly and helpful. We used this lodge for a base for several tours into the National park — the boat tours seeking animals were the best — and when moving to and fro those boats can move. The night hike and visit to Torteguero Town less so.

Beautiful location between rainforest and Caribbean. Basic lodges add to the charm, food excellent and good range of drinks. Staff are friendly, helpful and very knowledgable. Boat tour of rainforest are great way to see loads of animals & birds. Come prepared to get wet.

It is an ecological hotel. Excellent to go to relax and go on a couple. Has a few trails ecological very interesting. The furnishings of the hotel is beautiful. Serca is a small town very picturesque.

We had a great experience. The food and ecomedation were very good. Our guide was excellent! Good place for a true tortoguero experience.

Beautiful Lodge & Complex. Very good Food.

Absolutamente increíble! The staff is friendly and helpful, the guides are extremely knowledgeable and so much fun! Everything was organised to it's best! Would 100% recommend to everybody looking for an unforgettable vacation in beautiful Tortuguero. Muchas gracias!

It has an important extension park Xra to travel and to appreciate birds, butterflies and sloths. The pools are always clean, has a waterfall Q you stand below and the Jets are relaxing! The beach Q gives the Caribbean Sea on one side and in front of the river Tortuguero… The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Super nice place! Top tours, including day and night trips. Cosy rooms, very clean everywhere. Would recommend to amy nature loving and sustainable tourist!

A beautiful hotel in the middle of Tortuguero. It has everything to be isolated to rest comfortably.

A very well maintained Facility with nice Staff. Beautifully situated and almost guaranteed that you can see all sorts of wild Animals. From Monkeys to Iguanas to Tucans. The Meals were delicious and plentiful. The long Journey is definitely worth it. Absolutely recommended.

Insanely beautiful lodge. Super nice rooms and great food.

A perfect centre for seeing wild life. The accommodation is fairly basic but clean and comfortable.

Despite Strapatiöser arrival 7 hours (3 H drive from Puerto Viejo (Playa Cocles) to Guapiles, 2 H bus ride to Caño Blanco and 2 H boat ride up to the Lodge) the 3 nights with VP incl. 2 guided tours and a 2-hour animal observation boat trip have paid off fully. Food is also great. Thankfully, the return trip over tomorrow will not be so strong, because our next destination is only 11 km away from Guapiles. We then leave our rental car after a lunch in the restaurant Rio Danta.

Mawamba Lodge is very nice. It is located at the north end of the Tortuguero in Costa Rica. The staff, very professional and ready to collaborate, is very well trained to attend immense or small groups. They cater for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet style and a variety of meals to have fun. The garden is very interesting and even have a butterfly and a frog. Recommended 100%

Outstanding lodge well out into the forest/jungle. Excellent nature guides. Right between the ocean and the major canal.

A once in a lifetime experience. Great food and service in the heart of an essential biodiverse sanctuary.

Nice lodge situated between the beach and the laguna. Due to its location you can experience a lot of wildlife even without leaving the lodge (what you should do, esp. For a morning tour). Toucans, iguanas, plenty of birds, a boa, sloths and red-eyed tree frog all from a very close distance just inside the lodge area. The rooms are not that quiet due to the wooden-walls. In general it is clean with good food and friendly service.

Very good lodge. Very well placed 10 minutes from the village.

Wonderful location to explore the Tortuguero National Park from. Nice rooms, helpful staff, lovely beach — no swimming though.

Very nice, natural place, the hotel pays great attention to its ecological balance.
The food was varied and very good — the mix between locals & International was good.
The rooms are mainly made of wood. Large bed with lots of pillows, comfortable. In the bathroom there is liquid soap for the Hands & also shampoo & shower gel in a dispenser.
A ceiling fan and the wind-permeable windows provide a fresh breeze in the room.
I can recommend a stay to anyone.

Great guides, food and service. Nice pool and alot of cool animals both in the jungle and on the property.

The staff has little experience in the restaurant and bar area and the receptionist, manager Paul is very rude.

To visit a great place to the National Park Tortugero. In the Lodge there are many animals and birds which can be observed already. The staff is very friendly and the rooms are always clean and tidy. The Guides are passionate and a sense of responsibility and explain very well how everything in the rain forest. We have enjoyed our stay at the Mawamba Lodge.

Cozy bungalous, indigenous flora and fauna, tour boat and opportunity to see the turtle nesting.

Stayed three nights in august. Small, beautifully clean and exotic setting. Excellent staff and guides. Buffet food lovely and plenty of it with some show cooking. Great tours from here and a very welcoming pool to cool down, it was very hot and humid. The rooms are clean and basic, as expected and in keeping with the surroundings. Just a fan in the room, no air con, though we did sleep ok, to the sound of the waves on the beach. You do get woken by the birds, again to be expected. There are some late evening and early morning tours, so expect some movement from other people at these times. The tours were slightly 'touristy' but it is becoming popular and it's what the locals rely on, well worth a visit.

We had a perfect experience at Mawamba Lodge last may 2017. The lodges are very comfortable. The beds are very good and the staff is very friendly. Especially our guide, his name is Sebastian Arceyut, was very good. He speaks English very well and he knew a lot about the plants and the animals. He guided us for two days and we had a night walk, an early morning boat tour and also a boat tour in the afternoon. We have good memories of Mawamba lodge and will never forget Sebastian. Thanks very much!

The kindest staff, professional guides, amazing food, cozy rooms by the ocean.
No words to describe this place!
A must do on your wish list for sure.
Tortuguero LOVE.

A perfect centre for seeing wild life. The accommodation id fairly basic but clean and comfortable.

This place is great because it really gives you the feel of 'roughing it' in the rain forest. In the cabins, there are only two beds, a storage area, a window, and one bathroom. On the porch, there is a hammock. The cabins are all on a beachfront, so you can hear the waves crashing as you go to sleep. The mess hall and pool is great too. In Mawamba, you see lots of wildlife around you. The only transportation is either by foot or by boat, and the tours are wonderful. Will come back for sure.

Beautiful rooms and resort grounds. Friendly workers. Delicious food. Internet is only available in main lobby and is very slow. It's forgivable though, due to its remote location.

This is not a resort where u sit by the pool all day and the waiter brings u drinks and the u maybe play beach volleyball. It is a nature lodge where u learn about the jungle in organized tours. Very interesting and informative. Rustic cabins but lovely place overall. Does have a nice pool and but ocean is not swimable.

The food was delicious, pool was relaxing and you can see frogs & butterflies.

The location is just super nice. Nice staff clean. Would again visit this Hotel.

We so enjoyed our stay at Mawamba Lodge. The service, food and quality were top notch. It is in between the canal and the ocean where birds and animals abound. The pool area is welcoming. The best touch is that they do their best to be a green location including a biodigester for waste. Worth the effort to get there. If you want to see turtles check their breeding schedule.

Basic lodge. Thin walls but the sound of the ocean drowned any noise from next door at night. Lots of wildlife in the grounds. Toucans spider monkeys sloths. Food lovely for all meals. Really enjoyed the stay. Went out on a boat to spot animals. It was nice but we spotted more wildlife on our cano negro tour later in the holiday. That's wildlife for you unpredictable.

Had a wonderful 3 days at Mawamba Lodge. The 20 minute flight from San Jose with Nature Air was spectacular, over mountains and rainforest. The transfer by boat beats the M25 from Heathrow any day. We were made so welcome by all the staff who couldn't do enough for us. The room was basic and comfortable — all you need when you're going to be out and about all day. We enjoyed the food and always had plenty to eat. We didn't mind being given our seats — the staff are only trying to organise the restaurant in the best way they can. We took part in 2 complimentary tours and one optional tour. Our guide Umberto and boat captain were fantastic, finding masses of wildlife and making sure everyone got a look. The tours weren't too big with perhaps 20 in a boat. The hotel grounds host an array of wildlife, including sloth and toucans and you are always free to roam the grounds. We were disappointed by the plastic rubbish all along the shore line. Surely the turtles don't arrive to lay their eggs amongst all that mess? It's a stunning coast that deserves a bit of TLC. For us, it's 9 out of 10. What would make it 10? Better bathroom facilities, hanging space for clothes, improved lighting so you can actually see in the mirror — these would have made our stay perfect.

Great staff and a beautiful setting. Nicely located on the Caribbean side, can't beat it.

Very well located. Facilities very clean and well maintained. Plus its botanical garden and space observation for butterflies. The only point against the menu a little varied and monotonous.

The hotel is amazing. The rooms are comfortable although without air conditioning. In the middle of the jungle, this place is full of animals in freedom and you can hear the sea from the rooms. It is located just opposite the beach where turtles lay their eggs. It has several ranarios and a butterfly garden more than remarkable. The staff is charming. Yes, the drink prices are abusive. Wifi in the common areas.

Mawamba Lodge is definitely a place you must experience while visiting Costa Rica. Please remember this is a lodge and not a Ritz Carlton. There are no air conditioners, so plan accordingly with the weather. We had the ceiling fan on and opened all the windows to let air circulate. Meals are served at specific times each day. I highly recommend bringing some snacks and drinks of your own in case you get hungry between lunch and dinner. I think it's about 6 hours between those two meals. You can successfully experience Mawamba Lodge in 2 days. If you plan a longer stay, you are likely to be bored out of your mind. The mosquitos aren't too out of control, but you should still wear bug spray. The ecosystem is very balanced and there are bats around the area that eat the bugs at night. I didn't get bit once, but I wore a lot of deet and picardin. One girl from the U. K. Didn't wear any bug spray and ended up with about 20 bites on her legs. Some of the staff members are super fun to hang out with. They are extremely knowledgeable about the area and are more than happy to share information. It is nearly impossible to sleep in past 7am. You are in the middle of the jungle/rain forest where monkeys howl and birds scream right outside your window. At sunrise is when they are the loudest. Since there isn't much to do at night, head to bed early so you can get a decent night's rest.

Excellent place… Wonderful.

Great Place to start tours through the park. Very good breakfest & dinner. Rooms simple and clean.

Too! This place is a true Paradise.

I went in June, 2016. OK first off, you must realize you are in a national park that has zero cars and everyone gets around by boat. It takes 45 minutes from when your bus/shuttle drops you off to get to this resort by boat. So you are literally in the rain forest and right next to the ocean. Thus it is hot and humid. Very humid! The rooms have screens on all the windows and the bathroom and shower are decent. No bugs in the room. Also no air-conditioning only a fan major drawback but very typical out here. Jump in the shower to cool off with cold water or jump in the two beautiful swimming pools they have. The service was a 10 — Danny was our tour guide and did an outstanding job throughout the three day stay — — he went on every tour with us and spoke English perfectly. Each meal that everyone has to pay for is buffet style — very great options and very delicious. Water is ok to drink and they serve with ice. The tours from kayaking, to canal trips, to going to the little town they have (1, 700 people live here) incredible experience once in a lifetime. Everything was great, I would've loved to have air-conditioning in my room.

Attention very good food very rich and varied and if you go with the guide diego castain is still more spectacular your stay.

What a great experience to spend three days at the Mawamba Lodge. Great staff, very knowledgeable tour guide (Great job Umberto! ) and a very nice and relaxing lodge. Could not image a better place to spend the time in Tortuguero! If you can, take the night tour in the jungle. Even with rain this is a very enjoyable adventure. Great job Mawamba!

The arrival is an experience: From Guapiles to the boat in about an hour through the channels directly to the Mawamba Lodge. This offers comfortable accommodation in Bungalows. The food is in Buffet Form. The Mawamba Lodge is a good starting point for the tour of the Tortuguero national Park. The Lodge offers guided boat tours with knowledgeable guides. It is worth to get up early and also in the additional morning tour. The afternoon tour is also recommended. The Lodge also has a beautiful garden with a frog and butterfly Park.

Without a doubt, if some day I go back to Tortuguero I will stay on this site! spectacular highly recommended for location, service and facilities!

Great place, good food, handy location, great wildlife!

Should you even get there, then you have found the best seat in Tortuguero.
They are all very courteous and friendly just a beautiful holiday thanks to all
You should come even then, you have found the best place in Tortuguero.
All are a beautiful holiday thank you all very courteous and friendly just.

We loved this place so much! So beautiful. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The hammock on the patio of our cabana provided some great siestas.

This was a fun place to stay. The boat ride to get here is amazing. Drivers & guides were knowledgeable & friendly. We saw beautiful floral & fauna. When we arrived we were greeted with a welcome drink. It is positioned between the Caribbean Sea & a river that I can't remember the name of. The rooms are rustic, but that was perfect! We weren't there to watch TV. Iguanas & other animals roam freely. We saw a sloth, & a young Porcupine. The food was authentic and tasted great. We did one excursion, the boat ride in the national park. Again driver & guide were great. We took the boat to the little town of Tortuguero. Did some shopping & drank some fresh, ice cold coconut water! Then walked along the Caribbean Sea back to the Mawambe Lodge. Nice little walk along a path. The weather was hot & muggy. That was to be expected we are in the rain forest! We were treated to a wonderful down pour our last night there! Our group was large, 87 people. The staff was great & very helpful.

Excellent accommodations. Moreover, our guide Stephen Weston arranged for sunny! weather for the duration of our stay!?