Encantolodge – lodge & experiences

Encanto Lodge & Experiences

“A real paradise in a beautiful wild nature with friendly hosts. Three days that have changed my vision of the happiness : more simplicity and a re-connection with nature… ”
Justine F., Belgium

Encanto offers accommodation and tours for nature lovers providing an opportunity to connect with nature and observe wildlife.

We are situated in the north of Drake Bay, Costa Rica, next to a lagoon, the jungle and a lonesome beach, close to Corcovado National Park and the Caño Island Biological Reserve.

For our guests we offer a private jungle trail, free canoe use and hammocks for relaxing. You can observe breathtaking sunsets from our dining platform, the lookout or the lonesome beach.

If you want to observe more wildlife you can join a guided tour for example a Night Tour, Canoe Tour, Bird Watching , snorkeling at Caño Island or spend time on the ocean with dolphins or whales or a trip to the world famous Corcovado National Park.

For a cultural experience you can join us looking for gold in a gold mine, watching the processing of sugar cane and tasting sweets or making your own chocolate during the Cacao Tour.

Encanto is a family-run business. All buildings are self-made and we attend our guests by ourselves in spanish, english or (swiss-)german. We cook for our guests hearty meals with ingredients from our own organic farm and serve them at our dining platform with ocean view. We offer a free Wi-Fi at the dining room, free parking and a free pick-up service from Drake airport or boat station (please request in advance).

We are looking forward to meet you soon!

Edu & Sabrina

Baird´s Tapir calf with mum (Tapirus bairdii) photographed by guests in our jungle reserve

“Get lost in nature and you will find yourself”

Lodging

We offer detached Cabañas nestled between jungle, garden and a river, with view to a lagoon and the beach.

We also offer meals at our dining platform where you can enjoy the ocean view and free Wi-fi.

Cabaña Ocelot

Cabaña Ocelot is on a high floor and features one bedroom with a matrimonial bed and a fan, a private bathroom with warm water and a balcony.

The room walls are made of white cane.

The balcony is equipped with a double hammock and provides a view to the lagoon, beach and Caño Island.

You can also find an electric kettle for making your own coffee/tea.

Cabaña Tapir

Cabaña Tapir is ideal for a family or a small group of travellers, but also bookable for couples.

It features 2 bedrooms with a private bathroom each, a balcony with
hammocks and view to the lagoon, beach and Caño Island. It is only rented as a whole and has a capacity for up to 6 persons.

Bedroom Tapir: matrimonial bed + bunk bed and a fan, with a private bathroom with warm water shower and a toilet.

Ocean view from the Balcony of Cabaña Tapir

Bedroom Kinkajou: matrimonial bed, a fan and a private bathroom with warm water shower and a toilet.

Balcony: 2 hammocks, chairs, electric kettle, coffee and tea

Meals

We offer meals prepared with love at our cozy restaurant. Please notethat a reservation is required with min. 1/2 a day in advance.

We put emphasis on both local food and fresh vegetables, fruits and salads. We have an own organic garden where we can harvest several fruits and vegetables and own eggs from our free range hens.

Here you can enjoy the ocean view where you can enjoy amazing sunsets on clear evenings or observe the birds during the day.

A lunch package can be prepared for you on demand (on day tours lunch is included).

Free activities

Discover the river and beach using one of our canoes

The lagoon: View from the beach to Encanto Lodge

Experience the peaceful atmosphere by navigating on the Rio Drake and its lagoon. You can take the canoe just to go to the beach or Discover the lagoon (in dry season and the beginning of raining season) and the two creeks of the river Drake to spot freshwater wildlife as night herons, king fishers, herons, jacanas, fishes, Jesus Christ lizards, river otters, turtles, caimans, crabs or monkeys… This service is free exclusively for our clients.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Enjoy the beach

Northern beach in front of Encanto Lodge “Playa Ganadito”

Just in front of Encanto Lodge, after passing the lagoon, there is a 3km long deserted beach inviting for a walk, to feel the salty water between your toes or watch breathtaking sunsets over the see beside Caño Island. Swimming is also possible when the sea is calm (walking 300mts south). There is a trail parallel to the beach on the north, where you can often see monkeys or scarlet macaws. On the northern end of the sandy beach you can find rocks that form little whirl pools during low tide.

Hiking

Bamboo trail through our piece of jungle

Beside the beach there are several trails around Encanto Lodge to walk on. Look for wildlife on our Bamboo trail through the jungle (about 1km) and inhale nature. There is also a 3 hours hike to a hidden paradise, a deserted mangrove beach where it is beautiful to swim. Or you might want to go for a walk along the beach to Agujitas (= Drake Bay Center, 1 hour) or even farer to Playa Cocalito or Playa San Josecito (4h) to discover the southern coast of Drake Bay. Or stroll to the nearest village El Progreso to the local supermarket and see pre-columbian stonespheres and some birds on the way.

Wildlife observation

From any point on our farm you might do your own wildlife observation. Most of the animals that inhabit Corcovado National Park also live on or visit our farm (except the monkeys). You just need luck and patience and be on the right place at the right time…