Surrounded by nature, Mawamba Lodge offers a tranquil retreat with cooked-to-order breakfast and lunch/dinner at the on-site restaurant. Take a boat tour or hike/bike through the area, then unwind at the poolside bar or relax in the garden.
Tortuguero National Park Office - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Tortuguero National Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Cuatro Esquinas Island - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
Sea Turtle Conservancy - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
Getting around
Tortuquero (TTQ) - 2.5 miles/4 km
Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 60.6 miles/97.6 km
Free area shuttle
Restaurants
Restaurante Mi Niño - 4 min walk
Budda Café - 5 min walk
El Patio de Tortuguero - 4 min walk
Bar Laguna Lodge
Miss Junie's Restaurant - 9 min walk
About this property
Mawamba Lodge
Mawamba Lodge offers a great location, putting you within just a 10-minute walk of Tortuguero National Park. The restaurant is the perfect spot for a bite to eat, and after having fun at the outdoor pool, you can unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge. A poolside bar, a terrace, and a garden are other highlights. The helpful staff and walkable location get good marks from fellow travelers.
Languages
English, Spanish
At a glance
Hotel size
26 rooms
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age – 21
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
Guests must transfer via aeroplane or boat to the property; guests must contact the property at least 72 hours before travel, using the contact information on the confirmation received after booking
The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 21
Children
No cots (infant beds)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Parking
No on-site parking
Off-site
Free area shuttle within 4 kilometres
Other information
Designated smoking areas
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free cooked-to-order breakfast each morning 7:00 AM–9 AM
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Poolside bar
Traveling with children
Free local shuttle
What to do
Ecotours
Hiking/biking trails
Boat tours
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Tour/ticket assistance
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Facilities
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Garden
Terrace
An outdoor pool
Banquet hall
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible pool
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
No elevator (single level property)
Room amenities
Home comfort
Ceiling fan
Sleep well
Bed sheets provided
Freshen up
Private bathroom
Shower only
Soap and shampoo
Towels
Toilet paper
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe
Special features
Dining
Onsite venue - This restaurant specializes in Regional cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Asante Sana - Onsite bar.
Fees & policies
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Also known as
Mawamba Lodge Tortuguero
Mawamba Lodge
Mawamba Tortuguero
Mawamba
Mawamba Lodge Tortuguero Hotel Tortuguero
Mawamba Lodge Lodge
Mawamba Lodge Colorado
Mawamba Lodge Tortuguero
Mawamba Lodge Lodge Colorado
Frequently asked questions
Does Mawamba Lodge offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Mawamba Lodge does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at Mawamba Lodge?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool. Guests have pool access from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Are pets allowed at Mawamba Lodge?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at Mawamba Lodge?
Sorry, there's no onsite parking at Mawamba Lodge.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Mawamba Lodge?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM. Contactless check-in is available.
What is there to do at Mawamba Lodge and nearby?
Have fun with onsite activities like boat tours and hiking. Additional recreation onsite includes ecotours. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or use the lodge's other amenities, which include a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Mawamba Lodge?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant that offers Regional cuisine.
What's the area around Mawamba Lodge like?
Mawamba Lodge is located on the waterfront, a short 7-minute walk from Tortuguero National Park and 6 minutes' walk from Tortuguero National Park Office. Travelers recommend the lodge for its walkable location.
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Mawamba Lodge Reviews
Reviews
8.8
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.2/10
Cleanliness
8.6/10
Staff & service
8.8/10
Amenities
8.8/10
Property conditions & facilities
9.4/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
19 February 2025
Great hotel with idyllic grounds
We loved Mawamba lodge, friendly staff, great location, lots of wildlife around and the hotel also organised our trips which were brilliant, boat ride and night walk, saw lots of birds, frogs, crocodile, agouti. The location and grounds are just idyllic
Trevor
Trevor, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
2 February 2025
Amazing location, you do have to walk 10-15 minutes into town along a narrow footpath, we were fine but other guests may not want to, especially late at night, the track is dark.
Verified traveller
2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
25 November 2024
Very great food and kind staff. Hotel is about a 15 minute walk from the town which is very nice. Being at this hotel makes you feel like like you’re in a little resort.
Debbie
Debbie, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
28 November 2024
Amazing wildlife around the hotel. Could hear the ocean at night. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The tours were fantastic. Will be back!
Ada
Ada, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
1 September 2024
Clean and friendly. Good location: a short nice walk to the village and National Park.
Donatella
Donatella, 2-night trip
2/10 Poor
25 February 2025
Inflexible, even for Central America.
We had to change our reservations a few day before we arrived but couldn’t because of the hotels no change policy. We called but no answers. We messaged and they finally answered two days later. We asked for an exception. They said we had to do it through hotels.com. Hotels said we would have to ask the hotel but they couldn’t get a hold of them. Each said we had to contact the other until we missed our check in. All we wanted to do was get in later. In any event, make sure you don’t have to change your plans at all.
Thomas
Thomas, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
18 July 2024
Absolutely stunningly beautiful. Wildlife abounds and will have you turning your head every 2 minutes to see a fantastic critter. Would stay again!!!
Jared
Jared, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
8 June 2024
Our tour guide for the night hike was great!
Kathy
Kathy, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
31 May 2022
Very beautiful hotel!
Julie
Julie, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
19 September 2023
Beautiful property and lots of activities to enjoy. Can't recommend this property highly enough we had the best time.
Karen
Karen, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
22 May 2024
Very quiet and peaceful
Marie-Josée
Marie-Josée, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
30 July 2024
My husband and I loved our time here. From the bus pick up in San Jose, the boat ride to the lodge and everything the lodge has to offer, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The lodge has so many activities to offer, we always had something to do. The food and drinks were delicious! The rooms were clean, however, the walls are very thin, so bring earplugs incase you have noisy neighbors.
Kariel
Kariel, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
10 September 2024
This is a little gem of a place. The rooms are basic but comfortable, the foods limited but for where you are, this is not surprising. The wildlife & staff really made it. The staff where really accommodating. In a two night stay in the property's gardens we saw, lots of iguana's, tocan's, green macaw's & a howler monkey. On the beach, we saw baby leatherback turtles & on a paid trek, green turtles nesting.
Emma
Emma, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
30 November 2023
Great resort property with separate and private bungalows. Helpful and friendly staff. Nice restaurant.
Eric
Eric, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
27 September 2024
Mawamba lodge was a beautiful property! It looks prettier in person - photos don’t do it justice! The pool was great and much needed to just cool down a little bit! The staff was very attentive and the food was honestly pretty great. The only thing is, the weather is VERY humid and there is no air conditioning anywhere so be prepared. The bugs are pretty bad, bug spray is much needed! Regardless, this was a great place to visit and I have nothing bad to say about the property!
Michelle
Michelle, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
8 April 2024
We heard lots of birds during the day and got a lot of good pictures
Michael
Michael, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
24 October 2023
Great lodge at Tortuguero. Silent & clean and only a short walk from the village.
Hansi
8/10 Very good
27 April 2024
Beautiful beautiful location and lodge! Just very hot in the room during the day with ceiling fan not doing much… made the cold shower more welcome (no hot water).
Jessica
Jessica, 1-night trip
6/10 Good
24 July 2024
Needing Improvement:
-No hooks of any kind to hang bath towels, pool towels, wet swimsuits, etc.
-Safe was unusable with broken lock and unbolted
-Reception desk staff and restaurant staff unfriendly; more Pura Vida
-no AC
-broken lamp but fixed after two days
-not the best food; first day vegan options were limited (soup only) but later improved
What we liked:
-Beautiful large grounds next to the beach and walking distance along the beach to town
-room looking at the river
-Swimming pool
-great shower
-refillable water
- nice kayaking tour with guide
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
5 October 2023
A luxurious, well-placed resort with very friendly and attentive staff. The ladies on reception were fab, as were the restaurant staff and the tour guides. The wildlife in the grounds is exceptional, and the design and decor of Mawamba is flawless. Loved it.
Emily
Emily, 3-night trip
8/10 Very good
10 February 2024
Mawamba Adventure
Our stay was enjoyable. We loved the grounds, landscape, flowers, carvings, shrubbery and trees.
The cabins would have been improved by having at least 2 chairs - inside and on the porch.
We would have liked to have a posted schedule of tours, activities and times/info about these events.
David
David, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
25 June 2024
Absolutely amazing place in the middle of the forest!
Yes, because of eco friendly and the place where the hotel is, there is no AC but a fan did OK for us in June.
Also there is not an actual window but a screen
But the hotel is very safe, had no issues and there are a lot of wild animals inside the hotel. they offered a free animal tour guide.
Food and drinks in the restaurant were amazing and at good price. Amenities are very good.
Beach was amazing and is walkable distance from town
Carlos
Carlos, 2-night trip
6/10 Good
24 December 2023
The good: lots of tropical animals around, nice pool, tours from the property, helpful staff, fairly secluded, nice view of the canal, good food and drink.
The drawbacks: thin walls to the rooms, screen windows up high that don't cover, lots of jungle noise, no hot water at the sink, no WiFi in the rooms
Daniel
Daniel, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
9 June 2024
We loved our time at Mowamba Lodge. We had 3 nights here so plenty of time to relax in the warm pool and walk around the beautiful gardens. There are hammocks everywhere! The staff were very friendly and polite and the guides were very knowledgeable. We saw as much wildlife on the free afternoon tours around the hotel as we did in the National Park. The canoe trip was worth it though, to get into the smaller tributaries and more into the jungle. The village is worth walking into (15 mins along a sandy path). There are some great bars and restaurants here with cheaper prices than in the lodges. A water taxi was $4 per person back to the lodge.
Jo
Jo, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
12 June 2024
A great start to our rainforest adventures
What an amazing location. The boat from La Pavona was great thanks to transportation Smith where we were able to choose better arrival and departure times than the lodges own which they told us a week before we arrived that we could not use. However this definitely did not distract from the great staff, friendly welcome, good food and excellent location. We walked into the village which is a must and had a good lunch at a soda. Our morning and afternoon trips into the rain forest were fantastic and the guide was outstanding. The evening walk was our least favourite but still worth doing. Would definitely recommend as a great place to go.