Amazing Findings at Nicuesa

Everyday is full of wonders and unexpected natural experiences at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. Majestic creatures (from the very big to the super small), otherworldly colorful flora and fruits, and breathtaking experiences all awaiting to be sighted & enjoyed by our guests and even by our staff. In this section we share with you those magical moments of awe you will also enjoy here:

• Spotted Dolphins (stenella attenuata)
  Our Sea Guard: schools of spotted dolphins are a regular sighting during your visit to Nicuesa Lodge. They typically guard the boat used to transport you into and out of the lodge (we are accessible only by boat!); as well as accompany our boat tours such as the Golfo Dulce Tour.

• Satyrid Butterfly Caterpillars (magneuptychia)
  Watch your step! :) This beautiful line up of brightly colored caterpillars will eventually transform itself into the myriad beautiful butterflies you see fluttering along the premises of the lodge. You may be lucky enough to spot them while taking in the beauty of our gardens, or during our various Rainforest Eco-Tours.

• Introductory Photo Collage
  Professional botanist guide: Valeria Roman, shared a set of her personal favorite photos of fantastic creatures she has spotted around Nicuesa Lodge's premises. During our Rainforest Tours across the lodge's 165-acre preserve, our botanist guides apply their expert eye making sure you don't miss these -and many more, beautiful species (order is clockwise from top left corner, please view at the top of this page):
  • White Necked Jacobin Hummingbird, female (Florisuga mellivora)
    Common up to 1000m, on forest slopes. Forages at all level forest, forest edge and gardens. Size 13cm. Diet includes nectar, and small insects caught on the flowers.
  • Eyelash Pitviper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
    Common up to 1000m, on both forest slopes. Maximum size 76cm, its nocturnal. Has many colorations, such as pale green and orange, green and red, yellow and more. Diet includes birds and frogs.
  • Nine Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus)
    Common up to 2600m on both slopes. Mostly nocturnal, terrestrial and solitary. Size 45 cm, weighs 4 kg. Males are larger than females. Has a diverse diet that includes beetles, snails, fallen fruits.
  • Red-Eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
    Common up to 1200 m. Dwels in primary and secondary forest, nocturnal. Size 7.5 cm. Females are bigger than males. The diet includes insects.
  • Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
    Common up to 600m, on both forest slopes. A resident bird, easy to find it at the mangrove forest. Size 51 cm. Doesn't have sexual dimorphism (males and females look the same). Diet includes crustaceus!
  • Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
    Common up to 1000m. It's the national bird from Honduras. Size 83 cm, males and females have the same colors and size. Enjoy a monogamous relationship. Diet includes seeds, fruits, nectar and insects.