Surrounded by the Piedras Blancas National Park, Golfito Wildlife National Refuge, Corcovado National Park, and gulf of Golfo Dulce, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge offers wildlife in Costa Rica at its best.
Spider monkeys are one of four kinds of monkeys you can see at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica. Who wants to see wild animals in the jungle?
All of the tourists who come to
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica certainly do!
That's why Nicuesa Lodge staff does their best to keep track of the abundant Costa Rican wildlife living on Nicuesa's 165-acre private reserve bordering the remote
Piedras Blancas National Park in
southern Costa Rica.
White-nosed Coati on the beach at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica.
Besides daily walks by Nicuesa guides on the eco-lodge's
extensive trail system, camera traps have captured images and video footage of animals that are often difficult to see in the wild, such as the elusive ocelot. This lets Nicuesa staff know what goes on in the rainforest when they're not there.
An Ocelot captured on a camera trap in the jungle at Nicuesa Lodge in Costa Rica.
Digital cameras in protective casings are unobtrusively mounted on trees and other stationery objects in areas thought to be frequented by animals. Motion and infrared sensors trigger the camera to take photographs or videos when animals pass through their field of vision. Nicuesa staff then regularly retrieves the images from the camera to see what's been happening in the rainforest when humans aren't around - especially at night.
Collared Anteater at night in the jungle at Nicuesa Lodge, captured on a camera trap.
Camera traps are part of Nicuesa Lodge's long-term
wildlife monitoring project. Images are used to study the biodiversity, behavior patterns and population estimates of wildlife that are not easy to observe.
Sandwiched between North and South America and the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is an amazing bridge of biodiversity abundant in plant and animal life. The
Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, near Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, is one of the most magical and unspoiled places for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
Scarlet Macaw at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica.
Estimated to hold 3% of the world's biodiversity and be home to half of the species roaming Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula is considered to be one of the most biologically intense places on Earth. Some of the most popular animals encountered here include all four species of
monkeys in Costa Rica - white-faced capuchin, howler, spider and squirrel, endangered
Scarlet Macaws, tayras, peccaries, anteaters, wild cats like ocelots and jaguars, and hundreds of species of frogs, butterflies, snakes and lizards. In the Pacific Ocean around the Osa and gulf of Golfo Dulce, there are many kinds of
dolphins,
whales,
sharks,
whale sharks, sea turtles and tropical fish.
Dolphins in the gulf of Golfo Dulce by Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Costa Rica.
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge offers guided and self-guided
hiking, birding,
boating, kayaking and paddleboard tours, giving guests the chance to discover the diverse local rainforest and marine wildlife. For the best wildlife viewing, go on a guided hike on the lodge's trails in the early morning or just before sunset.
Luxury bungalow at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica.
Welcome to
Nicuesa Lodge, an
Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, where
eco-friendly travel combines with comfort and excellent, friendly service. Visit us in southern Costa Rica on the Pacific gulf of Golfo Dulce for the
adventure of a lifetime!
Hiking in the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge private reserve.
HOW TO SEE WILDLIFE IN COSTA RICA
Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world's biodiversity: 208 species of mammals, 870 kinds of birds, 1,250 kinds of butterflies and 8,000 different moths, 160 species of amphibians, 220 different reptiles, and 34,000 types of insects. The Costa Rica rainforest is full of wonders and wildlife - you just need to know how to look.
Wildlife spotting tips:
- Be aware of where you are and what's around you. Listen and look.
- Get up early.
- Be quiet.
- Blend into your surroundings.
- Know what you are looking for.
- Have patience to wait for wildlife.
- Invest in a good pair of binoculars.
- Respect wildlife and their environment.
Article by Shannon Farley
Spider monkeys are one of four kinds of monkeys you can see at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica. Who wants to see wild animals in the jungle? All of the tourists who come to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica certainly do! That's why Nicuesa Lodge staff does their best to keep track of the abundant Costa Rican wildlife living on Nicuesa's 165-acre private reserve bordering the remote Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica. White-nosed Coati on the beach at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica.