Dolphin Lodge in Manzanillo

Note: email us for more photos, info, and availability calendar.

The Dolphin Lodge is a newer, rustic house right next to the Coral Reef House just outside of Manzanillo. Both homes are inside the Gandoco Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, so the secluded factor is unbeatable yet it is only a short walk or bike ride to town.

The best feature of the house is its location inside the refuge and beyond the end of the road, which is very unique.  To reach the lodge there is a (usually) small creek to cross and then it is 200 meters by trail. You may drive in to unload luggage and supplies, and then leave the car inside a private gated yard near the creek.  If the creek happens to be too high to cross, we can arrange to get your luggage across.

The simple, rustic beach-house style Dolphin Lodge is constructed of native woods which glow.  On the main floor, there is a red tiled open-air eating area, a full kitchen, along with one of the king-size bedrooms and bath. Upstairs are 2 large king-size bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, accessed by a common deck overlooking the ocean. Each king-size bedroom can be set up with either a king bed and a single bed, or with 3 twin beds.  Mosquito nets are provided with each bed.  All the windows are fully screened and have privacy shutters as well. The woodwork is refreshingly simple and finished completely with local craftsmanship.

When you need a little exercise, it's just 50 meters to the always 83-86 degree reef-protected ocean.  Snorkel with the amazingly vivid fish populations or search the shallow tide pools shells, starfish and other marine life . There's even a small tide pool for the kids to swim in. Take a walk to town and rent a kayak for touring the ocean or river estuaries, or have the caretaker set up a jungle tour or another of his favorite adventures. The manager/caretaker lives in an apartment attached to the Dolphin Lodge.  

The marine part of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is one of a kind. It's waters are home to three species of wild dolphins, sea turtles, coral reef, and  manatee. Sport fishing for tarpon and other species make this area a sport fishing paradise. Also, scuba diving and snorkeling in the marine part of the reserve can be arranged through the local dive shop. Kayaking is both easy and popular inside the reef and in the Gandoca lagoon. Trained guides in wildlife and bird watching, and dolphin-watching tours are available for bookings in Manzanillo.

Manzanillo is an outdoors person’s paradise, and the Dolphin Lodge is the perfect place for larger groups of the adventurous type to enjoy the splendors of Costa Rica! 

Note: For more information and answers to frequently asked
questions, email us and we will help orient you to the
two coasts of the country and answer basic travel questions.

Secluded jungle setting, 50 meters from the ocean's edge.

Great hiking and jungle exploring, beach combing, tide pools, swimming.

From mid Dec thru May the rate is 1400/week w/6 people.
From June thru mid Dec the rate is 1200/week w/6 people.
(140/person/week for additional people)