Aninga Lodge

A brilliant hotel! It is definitely worth the 90 minute boat ride from Parismina. The staff are overall pretty good, some are a tiny bit grumpy though. Our guide Orbin was absolutely fantastic; he is very perfect for his job. He is very knowledgeable and so good at spotting animals around.. I only found a few when going around. The rooms were also very good, not the best air conditioning though, but it has ceiling fans. Beds are very comfy. The windows are made of mosquito netting, so it doesn’t let any bugs in, however it is pretty noisy and you can hear everyone outside in your room. Luckily, we had a room far from the restaurant so it wasn’t that loud. Make sure to put tissues in the garbage instead of the toilet. But to be honest, all hotels in Tortuguero will have these types of windows, so I don’t see it as a massive issue. The food, especially the fruits, are really tasty, however for all meals, there is not much selection, with usually rice, some salad, meat and sometimes pasta. The bar is also very nice, with a variety of drinks. By far the best part of this hotel is the beautiful turtle pool. It has many sunchairs, and some in the shade so you don’t burn to death. The pool is always so quiet and near the bar so you can get a drink near the pool. It is a good place to enjoy free time. You can also venture down a path through Pachira Lodge and reach the El Poponjeche Trail, which always has a variety of animals, like blue crabs, monkeys, but be careful as there are spiders under the railings… As well as on site in Aninga, there are some banana spiders around, but you’re in the middle of the rainforest, so it’s normal. Overall, Aninga Lodge is a fantastic choice in Tortuguero, and if you are looking for somewhere nice to relax and enjoy the beautiful jungle, I would highly recommend this hotel.

The Lodge was great, nice and private. There are no windows, but you are protected from mosquitos. There are guides included in the 2 night package, and we rally appreciated that two of the ones we encountered were locals that live close and not from other parts of the country. Hope they continue to use the locals, as this makes everything more authentic. Noel was a perfect guide, and he knew a lot about every little thing.

Without doubt the location is 5/5. Where the property fails is with the communication provided by the people at reception. We received conflicting information on tour times and bookings that were simply messed up. This was not just a unique experience as other guests we spoke to were perplexed with what time to meet for tours, meeting locations and booking requirements. The accommodation was OK and the meals on offer were just passable. Were it not for our fabulous guide Elston, our experience would have been a total disappointment. Elston was knowledgeable about the fauna and flora and really exuded a passion for the incredible ecology of the area. For us it was unfortunate that we had a guide who did all he could to make the experience unforgettable while resort management either lacked the motivation or intuition to replicate the efforts of other staff.

This is in Tortuguero National Park and are in the middle of the rain forest. You hear the wildlife and the rain. If you need quiet, this isn't the place. Our tour guide called it a little rustic. The lodges had a rustic appearance and a ceiling fan, no AC. It was rainy so we didn't get to use the spa or pool facilities and it was very damp; don't expect to be dry. However this is the rain forest and expect to be damp/wet. We were warned that the plumbing required some care, but the bathrooms were quite modern. Surprisingly mosquitoes weren't bad (housekeeping told me to keep the door closed). Every day the towels were folded in an artistic shape on the bed which was fun. Maybe bring slippers that you don't mind ditching at the end of your trip.

Aninga Lodge was an incredible place to stay and well worth the journey to get there. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the wildlife spotting was amazing—you couldn’t get much more immersive on your lodge doorstep. The accommodation was remarkable, especially considering its location in the rainforest. The pool was in an idyllic spot, and we even managed to see a sloth from the poolside. The buffet food was good, and the location was ideal if you wanted to visit Tortuguero and the beach, just a short boat trip across the river.

Amazing grounds after finally getting there. Planes, trains (not really), automobiles and a BOAT. You must take a boat to get here and back. Unfortunately it rained the entire time for the two days we stayed there. It was still beautiful. The real "Rain Forest" . The service here was amazing. The rooms had no glass windows, only screened openings. Air was free flowing, and so were the sounds of the rain forest. There is no a/c, no heat and no TV. There was a beautiful turtle-shaped pool. As for the food, the first day lunch buffet was very good. They had chicken breasts and pork tenderloins, along with a pasta bar. First night dinner was beef and fish, also good. There was no decent dessert. Probably a good thing because I would probably eat too much of it. Next morning breakfast was good. They had an omelette bar. Second day lunch buffet was not so good. They only had chicken thighs and drums. Dark meat only. I'm not a fan. The only saving grace was a great flan. I forgot what we had the last night...lol But we did have that omelette bar the day we left. There is a nice 2-mile walking tour through the rain forest, which was really cool. We did see some monkeys frolicking in the trees and a whole bunch of exotic birds. Our stay was really nice, but unfortunately it rained the entire time and it was supposed to be the dry season. Oh well.