This long-established local lodge is fairly basic but well-run, friendly, and relaxed. Most of the rooms are quite large, although some show their age, especially in the bathrooms, where hot water is provided by electric showerhead units affectionately known in Costa Rica as “suicide showers.” The expansive grounds have beautiful gardens, as well as an unheated sunken Jacuzzi fed by a natural spring. The hotel is on a high bank of the Sarapiquí River, but on the other side of the river from town, so it’s quiet and feels remote. The owners control a 49-hectare (120-acre) private reserve, and more than 450 bird species have been spotted in the area.