Thursday, August 27, 2009

Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge - A Great Ecolodge For the Entire Family

One of the many things that impresses me about ecolodges is how they approach construction of the lodge. As it would be rather eco-contrary if a lodge were to cut down trees and prepare a building site instead of working with nature's offerings. At Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, meticulous care was taken to ensure no trees were cut. All wood came from either naturally fallen trees or tree farms. In all, 18 different species of wood were used. The roof tiles were made locally out of recycled plastic bags and bottles. The lodge and rooms are designed with a certain amount of openness creating a seamless transition between inside and outside. Nicuesa seeks a balance of providing their guests with a high-quality experience while minimizing their impact on the environment.

One of the many tours they offer is their 'sustainability tour.' It's a fascinating one hour tour given by co-owner, Donna Butler. Starting in the lodge, Donna describes how and why they came up with the locations for the various buildings, their design philosophy and where the various wood types came from. It's a great introduction to the property.

My favorite tour at Nicuesa is the 'Esquinas River Tour.' The tour begins after breakfast. With kayaks in tow, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins as it's a beautiful, 10 mile boat ride up the coast to the mouth of the Esquinas River. The boat slows and enters meandering channels of mangroves. A variety of birds take off in front of and behind the boat. Coffee and snacks are served as guides tell stories about local families and the importance of mangrove forests. After breakfast, it's time for the kayaks and an awe-inspiring paddle through this magical place. On the way back to the lodge, the boats stops once more at a local reef for snorkeling where numerous fish species can be seen.

The hiking at Nicuesa is also spectacular. The property itself is a 165 acre, private reserve and borders the beautiful and largely undiscovered Piedras Blancas National Park. Beautiful waterfalls, huge trees, hundreds of species of birds and animals along with thousands of species of plants call this area home. I could not get enough of these trails.

Communal dinners are served by candle light in the spacious and open lodge. Guests and employees sit at the same table where friends are made and memories are shared. An after dinner cocktail is the perfect night cap before bed and another day of adventure.

Nicuesa is involved in numerous conservation efforts and matches individual donations. They've donated thousands of dollars to the region they love and want to see protected for others to experience.

Michael and Donna Butler's goal of creating a place with little environmental impact and huge environmental appeal is evident in what they've created at Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge.

Mitch Popa is an independent video producer working on promoting Costa Rica's Ecotourism Industry. Please visit our website at http://www.ecotourismtravelguides.com or contact me personally at redwoodmitch@yahoo.com.

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