In Costa Rica’s remote southern Pacific, where rainforest meets the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce, travel becomes something more meaningful. At Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, every guest stay actively contributes to the protection of 165 acres of private rainforest reserve, supporting biodiversity, conservation, and local communities. This is travel with purpose—where your presence helps regenerate one of the most biologically rich regions on Earth.
This is not simply an eco-lodge. It is a living conservation model, where every guest’s stay contributes to protecting 165 acres of private rainforest reserve, restoring ecosystems, supporting local communities, and enhancing biodiversity in one of the most fragile and untouched regions of Costa Rica.
Here’s how regenerative travel comes to life the moment you arrive at Nicuesa.
What Makes Regenerative Travel Different?
While sustainable tourism aims to minimize its impact, regenerative travel goes a step further—it aims to leave a place better than it was found.
At Nicuesa, regenerative travel means:
- Protecting 165+ acres of private rainforest forever
- Restoring overused or degraded land
- Creating wildlife corridors
- Supporting local families, guides & producers
- Embracing 100% renewable energy systems
- Investing in long-term conservation initiatives
- Earning and upholding CST Elite, Costa Rica’s highest sustainability certification
When you choose Nicuesa, you become a part of protecting a globally significant ecosystem—the Osa-Golfo Dulce region, one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.
Your Stay Helps Protect 165 Acres of Rainforest
Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge sits within a 165-acre private reserve, connected seamlessly to Piedras Blancas National Park, which itself forms part of the greater Osa Conservation Area—home to 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity.
When you stay at Nicuesa, you directly support:
1. Ongoing reforestation and habitat restoration
Nicuesa continually expands native tree cover, planting species that support monkeys, toucans, frogs, and countless insects.
2. Protection of endangered species
Your visit safeguards habitats for:
- Jaguarundi
- Scarlet macaws
- White-lipped peccaries
- Critically endangered sea turtles (in nearby beaches)
- Multiple rare amphibians and reptiles
3. The preservation of an essential wildlife corridor
Nicuesa’s land links lowland rainforest with mangroves and marine ecosystems, ensuring animals have safe migration routes.
4. Long-term conservation research
The lodge collaborates with scientists, universities, and local organizations to track biodiversity, marine life, migratory species, and forest health.
Your presence helps keep this land wild, intact, and actively monitored.
100% Renewable Energy: Solar-Powered in the Heart of the Jungle
One of Nicuesa’s defining commitments to regeneration is its complete reliance on renewable energy.
Solar Power, Naturally
Nicuesa is powered entirely by the sun, using:
- Solar panels for electricity
- Solar heating for water
- Low-intensity energy systems are designed to reduce consumption
This commitment reduces carbon emissions while maintaining comfort and reliability in a remote rainforest environment.
Off-grid design done right
You’ll still enjoy:
- Hot showers
- Comfortable lighting
- Charging outlets
- Fans for cooling
But everything is done with awareness, intention, and guardianship of the forest.
Regenerative Architecture: Built to Protect the Forest
Nicuesa was built with the forest in mind, using practices that minimize disturbance while immersing you in nature.
Design elements inspired by regeneration:
- Structures built from naturally fallen or sustainably harvested hardwoods
- Elevated cabins to protect root systems and wildlife pathways
- Open-air designs that require no artificial cooling
- Rainwater catchment systems
- Eco-friendly septic systems and natural greywater filtering
- Zero single-use plastics
Every pathway, cabin, and deck was placed with botanical care—ensuring the forest thrives.
Farm-to-Table Cuisine That Regenerates Local Agriculture
Nicuesa’s kitchen practices regenerative gastronomy—supporting local producers and reducing transportation emissions.
Food Philosophy at Nicuesa:
- Organic produce from the lodge’s own gardens
- Ingredients sourced from nearby farmers and fishermen
- Seasonal menus that reduce waste
- Composting systems that return nutrients to the soil
Guests enjoy fresh tropical fruits, homemade breads, plant-based dishes, sustainably caught seafood, and Costa Rican classics—all prepared sustainably.
Dining here feels good in every sense.
Community Empowerment & Local Employment
Regeneration includes people.
Nicuesa is one of the largest employers in its rural region, offering ongoing training, steady employment, and growth opportunities.
Your visit supports:
- Local naturalist guides
- Women-led agricultural projects
- Artisanal producers
- Fishermen supplying fresh catch
- Staff who have grown with Nicuesa for over a decade
By staying here, you help strengthen a rural economy rooted in environmental protection.
Guest Experiences That Deepen Connection to Nature
Nicuesa believes that emotional connection leads to long-term protection. That’s why guest activities are designed to inspire awe and understanding.
Regenerative experiences include:
- Guided rainforest hikes
- Kayaking the Golfo Dulce’s glassy blue waters
- Snorkeling over coral reefs
- Birdwatching (over 300 species!)
- Night walks discovering bioluminescence and rainforest nightlife
- Waterfall treks
- “Edible landscape” tours
- Morning yoga surrounded by jungle
Every tour is crafted to help guests see the forest through the eyes of those who protect it daily.
CST Elite: The Highest Standard of Sustainability in Costa Rica
Nicuesa proudly holds the CST Elite Award, the highest level of Costa Rica’s Sustainable Tourism Certification.
This recognition acknowledges:
- Decades of conservation work
- Full integration of sustainability into operations
- Social responsibility with local communities
- Renewable energy and eco-friendly design
- Biodiversity protection initiatives
It is one of the most respected sustainability achievements in Costa Rica.
Your Stay Makes a Difference: Be Part of the Regeneration
By choosing Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, you are helping ensure that this incredible pocket of biodiversity remains wild and thriving for generations.
You are supporting:
✔ 165 acres of protected rainforest
✔ Reforestation efforts
✔ Habitat restoration
✔ Local community empowerment
✔ Renewable energy leadership
✔ Wildlife conservation research
✔ Sustainable, responsible tourism
Regenerative travel is not a distant ideal—it is what happens here every single day.
Plan Your Regenerative Escape to Nicuesa
Travel with purpose. Sleep surrounded by rainforest. Restore your connection with nature. And help protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
