Guacimo Lodge

Emerging from years of political unrest, Nicaragua is rising in popularity with intrepid explorers to Central America. The region of El Castillo de Concepción offers a tropical immersion, with the mysterious, winding San Juan River flanked by dense forest on either side. A number of hotels and lodges have sprung up in response to an increase in the number of visitors to this mythical stretch of river, of which Guacimo Lodge is just one. The lodge is unique in that the accommodation is spread across several private bungalows dotted along the riverbank. These huts are raised on stilts to provide a privileged view of the landscape and an escape from the tropical bugs that live in the grass. The best are positioned so as to give a wide vista of the San Juan River below. While the bungalows have a covered roof, there are no windows and lots of open deck spaces, meaning that the accommodation is unsuitable for younger children. A well-thought-through sustainability policy means that the lodge coexists peacefully with the surrounding landscape. There are a range of packages available through the lodge to explore the river and the forest, from kayaking to trekking and guided tours of the nearby Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. Within the lodge itself there are unexpected treats, from the outdoor swimming pool to the raised yoga platform. The hotel's Rancho Grande, a large, communal deck area, hosts the restaurant, which offers regional delicacies and al fresco dining. In all, the lodge provides a unique opportunity to experience the Central American tropics with all the necessary comforts of the modern-day traveller while still achieving a real proximity to nature.