We had been interested in going to Selva Bananito for a number of years. We finally decided to go over our holiday break – I wish we had not waited so long. We are a family ranging in age from 10 to 48 years and found the entire experience manageable.

This wonderful eco lodge changed the way we will forever think about living with nature. Every move at Selva Bananito is taken with the big picture in mind. The five of us each planted a tree to offset our 4 ton carbon footprint of travel. The food is very good and authentic to the region; the tours are focused on education as well as adventure; and the accommodations are very comfortable, secluded and in harmony with the surrounding rain forest. Lights and water heating are solar-powered, while most of the lighting are candles and flashlights. It is an amazing romantic sight to walk to dinner and see the lodge lit with only candles. When we first arrived Jurgen, the owner, showed us to our room and mentioned that the hammocks are their best tours.

Our first tour took us on a four hour hike through the dense forest to see and learn about the amazing wildlife that is found there. This ended with a zipline to a 100 foot tree platform, a rappel to the ground through the forest canopy and a scramble through a pristine stream back to the lodge. The horseback riding is not to be missed and my personal highlight of the trip. Galloping over the rolling hills, through groves of palm, fern and cocoa trees. Negotiating the forest and countless rivers and streams on horseback challenged my sense of place and time. Jurgen and his friendly and knowledgeable staff made our trip memorable. Selva Bananito is a celebration of the natural world found in this Costa Rican paradise. My family and I see the world quite a bit differently now.

Our extended family of 17, ranging in age from 6 to 73, spent 3 days at Selva Bananito and loved every minute of it - even with the constant rain in July. Jurgen and his staff are wonderfully attuned to their little piece of paradise and how guests interact with it. We did zip-lining, horse-back riding, tree-climbing, hammock surfing, hiking, eating and sleeping with gusto. Several of the younger set are talking about returning as volunteers when they are old enough.

I liked to sleep in a so closed to nature bungalow. Life is preserved over there and if you like to live in a lodge with Earth protection in mind this is the place to be.
Ask Jurgen to compensate the carbon used to go there by planting some trees, he will help you to calculate the amount.
For the early bird, watching the birds in the wild at sun rise is amazing
And don't forget to ask Jurgen what protection of the Earth is all about.
A must go for a nice holidays alone, in couple or family.

While many (all?) places in Costa Rica are called 'Eco' the Selva Bananito Lodge truly deserves this title. What Juergen and Sophia (I hope I have this right) is nothing short of min opening. After they convinced their father not to cut down the rainforest they protect it by showing us what the land has to offer. You will find yourself immersed in true nature. You will cross several streams to get there (watch that license plate), and you are welcomed by romantic little lodges that offer a great view and have almost all conveniences and after all you didn't come here for it to be like any other old hotel. You will dine on delicious local food overlooking the land, listening to nature and seeing beautiful flashing little critters. Spend your day riding on the back of a horse or trek yourself up to a waterfall and spot wildlife along the way.
This is a great place to learn about the role of the rainforest in the ecosystem and I will give it 2 thumbs up! And did I mention that you won't have internet or phone service. Great!