Finca Exotica Ecolodge

Incredible rainforest paradise. I found this place by randomly googling and it exceeded all expectations. I stayed in the Mango Cabin and the ocean view was amazing. This part of Costa Rica is a totally different experience with wildlife everywhere you look. Scarlet macaws are abundant in the area! Even the drive to get to this lodge is an adventure. The hosts were incredibly kind and the meals provided were just as great as everything else. They arranged a tour into Corcovado which I would highly recommend. Only thing to be aware is the cabins do not have AC. Also some of the cabins are a good walk uphill to reach them. This was not a deal breaker for me as I wanted to truly be engrossed in the rainforest. If that’s the kind of experience you’re looking for look no further and just book one of these beautiful cabins!

Finca Exotica is a unique place in the world. To get there, between 1h45 and 2h00 by 4x4, a journey which is in itself an attraction. And then, when we got there, the reward: a real corner of paradise! We stayed in the Rancho lodge which is located about 5 minutes walk from the restaurant: upon reaching it, we quickly realize the exceptional view of the Pacific and the primary jungle that we will enjoy during our 3 days and the privilege we have to stay in this fantastic place. Gaby and Markus, the owners, were extraordinarily kind. By getting to know them, we understand why Finca Exotica is a place with such special karma. Thank you to them for their warm welcome. The cuisine, consisting of a starter, main course and dessert for each meal, is excellent. Finca Exotica is undoubtedly the favorite of our 3-week stay in Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

Beautiful but difficult location to get to. Service was mediocre. Humidity unbearable...not even a fan above your bed. You can't sleep. Staff had their children there so it felt like we were an after thought as the children laid around on all the hammocks watching videos in the one area you could get internet. Even though we paid for meal plan, not even an offer of a banana when we had to leave very early in the morning. Don't expect a naturalist or recommendations for hiking in the area. I learned more from one of the other guests. Ice cold stream of water as your shower. I've been to eco lodges all over Africa and South America. They could do better.

We had such an amazing time at Finca Exotica, it was totally worth the long journey to get there. It was the perfect place to relax and absorb the surroundings of the jungle. So amazing to wake up to the sound of the waves and nature around us. The outdoor shower was cool and refreshing. The food was delicious and the best we ate in Costa Rica. We just wish we could have stayed longer! Gaby, Laura and the rest of the team were so friendly, welcoming and helpful. We would definitely recommend Finca Exotica to anyone planning to visit C.R.

We (a couple with 2 kids) stayed at Finca Exotica Eco Lodge for 3 nights. The property is nicely located at the southern end of Corcovado national park. The road from Porto Jimenez towards Carate where the lodge is located takes 1.5h over unpaved, graveled roads (4x4 not mandatory but recommended). The entire property is a remote lodge run by a couple who bought the property some 30 years ago, invested extensively in reforesting the former farmland and bring back native plants attracting birds and other animals. It has several basic houses, beds with mosquito nets, outdoor showers, and breathtaking views. No WiFi on the entire property except at the entrance on the main road. The food is delicious and the owners are helpful and friendly. For the three nights we paid USD 1300 (including food, but no other services) as well as 230 USD for the mandatory guide and entrance to the Corcovado national park, so over USD 1500 for the three days at Finca Exotica. All in all, we consider Finca Exotica as a beautiful spot providing an excellent opportunity to see CR wildlife. However, the price tag is at the high(est) end with over USD 320 per day (!). However, if you do not care about money at all and are keen to explore a rather wild part of CR with very basic infrastructure only, Finca Exotica may be your place.

I'm a huge nature lover and was in my absolute element here! The place is beautiful. It's surrounded by rainforest, has an abundance of wildlife, the staff are wonderful, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is so peaceful. I was initially a bit hesitant booking due to the 'limited electricity' and cold showers but I am honestly so glad we went for it. Even with the limited electricity, we still had lights in our bedroom and the cool showers were actually really refreshing. The restaurant area was tranquil. In the evenings before dinner, we would chill in the hammocks on the decking that overlooked the beautiful garden area, with views of the rainforest and sea in the distance. Scarlet macaws would frequently fly over and the sounds of the rainforest was like being in a real-life mindfulness meditation. During the day we explored the grounds, did rainforest hikes and spent time at the beach. We also ventured out at night to see what wildlife we would encounter and within seconds of us leaving the grounds, we stumbled across the most beautiful ocelot!! Definitely an unexpected but wonderful surprise to add to what was already an amazing stay at Finca Exotica!

We stayed in the Chi Cabin - no walls, but who needs walls when you're surrounded by luxuriant tropical foliage and flowers. It had a really nice back-to-nature feel to it. The whole place has a great laid-back vibe - very relaxed, very informal, and very attuned to the environment. And you do feel that you're in amongst the rainforest - we saw scarlet macaws several times from the restaurant, and spotted coatis, agoutis and capuchin monkeys in the garden areas; and we woke up every morning to the roaring of howler monkeys. We also enjoyed the trails through the rainforest within the grounds. Also, there's a beautiful beach there, with the chance to walk along the beach in either direction for miles, do a bit of body-boarding in the surf, or just lounge in a hammock surrounded by palms. Special mention for the food - there's a fantastic chef there, who made wonderful meals making the most of the fresh organic produce from the farm; a real highlight of our stay. Plus we were very grateful for the concern and help given by the staff team when one of us was ill (fortunately just for a few days). All in all, a really relaxing and beautiful place to stay.

Adjectives don't do justice to Finca Exotica. We just spent close to a week at the lodge, and have nothing but rave reviews. The food is excellent, as is the menu, very healthy and tasty. Laura took us on a tour to Corcovada National Park, and she did such a good job of educating us about the ecosystem and history of the park. The beach has plenty of shade, and hammocks, for spending reading time out of the intense sun, and is largely free of people. The best asset is intangible-- Gabi, Laura, and Marcus take the time to relate to guests and treated us like friends. We will return for a third visit next year!

The place is very scenic but many problems there. You arrive at the beach house reception area with no obvious way to contact staff. I saw a male who looked like he might be staff on the phone and guessed he might be contacting someone, but he disappeared without informing me of anything. But staff did appear soon. Staff rushed through taking me to my tent so I had to wander around later to get my bearings. Meals were varied, fish and a salad were very good. But veggies were usually cold or lukewarm. Didn't like the appetizers and one night it was popcorn. Proportions were small. Drinks were expensive, $9 for a small glass of wine, $7 for a beer. Lunch was served 45 minutes late one day. Hopefully staff washed their hands before handling food with their bare hands, not a glove in sight. I expected shared bathrooms to be cleaned and checked regularly. There was no toilet paper one night. And the toilet was plugged up and about to be overflowing and stank for an entire day. Mattress was very hard. Trails were poorly marked. Most of the staff were aloof and unfriendly.