Evergreen Lodge

One of the smallest lodges in the Tortuguero area, Evergreen is intimate and incredibly private. Spend your days in the gardens, spying all manner of birdlife on walks or canopy tours, or take a dip in the turtle-shaped pool for a restful afternoon. Meals are all served buffet-style with a good blend of Caribbean and international dishes and the lodge also has two bars: one right by the pool and the other overlooking the pretty canal. Their creative cocktails are definitely worth trying!

Most of the lodge's 66 rooms are set in individual cabins, built on stilts and connected by a series of walkways. Featuring plenty of rich, dark wood and nature-inspired artwork, all boast high ceilings and spacious living areas. Each room opens onto its own private patio, where you can soak up the rainforest scents and sounds, including howler monkeys and lyrical toucans. Ceiling fans ward off the humidity and window screens keep out (most) insects without blocking the view.

Explore this corner of the park via a series of canals - and always have those binos ready to spot a toucan or spoonbill in flight, or a crocodile lurking beneath the surface. Forest explorations on foot are also on offer, and the guides will point out gigantic butterflies, the poison dart frogs that hide amongst the leaves, and chattering monkeys. Down by the sea, a range of sea turtles lay their eggs along the protected coast and, between July and October, you may be lucky enough to see green sea turtles nesting, or their hatchlings making a beeline for the sea.