Guacimo Lodge

from $120
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Photo of Guacimo Lodge
Hotel sit-out terrace
1 / 10
River view bungalow
Hotel sit-out terrace
“This beautiful eco-lodge is nestled within a forest on the banks of Nicaragua's San Juan River. Guest bungalows sit on raised stilts on the riverbank with a wooden roof but no walls, allowing nature inside; the best have a terrace with river views. Start the day on the yoga deck; a unique bolt-hole.”

Hotel review

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.

HG Staff
HG Staff Review published: 07/03/2024

Recommended for

  • Eco break

    • The well-thought out sustainability policy at this lodge means you can enjoy your holiday knowing it won't cost the environment

  • Local exploring

    • Set on the banks of the San Juan River, this hotel is the perfect base for local exploring in El Castillo de la Concepción

  • Back to Nature

    • With accommodation that consists of bungalows in a riverside forest, this hotel makes an authentic back-to-nature retreat

  • Yoga

    • Use the lodge's yoga deck for a daily yoga session and benefit from the tranquil natural environment as you practice

  • Kayaking

    • Explore the river from a unique vantage point on a kayaking trip; book an excursion through the hotel

  • Trekking

    • Explore the native forest on a guided trek; reserve a package when you book your bungalow

  • Pet friendly

    • Pets are allowed. No extra charges

  • Family Suites

  • Romantic

  • Views

  • Secluded setting

  • Remote

  • Eco

  • Quiet

  • Charming

  • Rooms with balcony/terrace

  • Outstanding location

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Intimate

  • Traditional

  • Wellbeing

  • Child friendly

  • Chic

  • Riverside

  • Boutique

  • Restaurant

Facilities

  • Rooms

    7 rooms in this hotel

  • Pet friendly

    Pets are allowed. No extra charges

  • Views

  • Family Suites

  • Rooms with balcony/terrace

  • Airport transfer

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Child friendly

  • Restaurant

  • Swimming Pool

  • Garden

  • Wifi

  • Suites

  • Private villas

Activities

  • Yoga

    • Use the lodge's yoga deck for a daily yoga session and benefit from the tranquil natural environment as you practice

  • Kayaking

    • Explore the river from a unique vantage point on a kayaking trip; book an excursion through the hotel

  • Trekking

    • Explore the native forest on a guided trek; reserve a package when you book your bungalow

Map & Location

Video

Other reviews

Nicaragua: the ultimate guide to Central America

Manuel is from Barcelona. He had a corporate job, a mortgage and took two holidays a year. Then he chucked it all in to come to the back end of Central America’s most politically volatile nation to build Guacimo Lodge — a boutique riverside property that opened just as 2018’s unrest shut down the Nicaraguan tourist industry. Manuel looks up at the vampire bats flitting overhead.

Originally published by The Times

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