Sometimes a hard, bumpy drive ends up just hurting your back side! Other times it discourages the faint hearted and you find a paradise at the end of the road. We stayed at Tiskita for only about 24 hours but it was certainly worth the effort to get to this outstanding location. Peter and Lisbeth have preserved the real Costa Rica. This is not for the zip slide and hot tub crowd. This is for serious nature lovers, especially birders and star gazers. We lucked out and got to go on a 3 hour nature walk with this experienced couple and saw and heard things that the casual hiker would miss. The cottages & lodge are made from the wood they have managed to find and log out in their preserve. The meals were communal and there was plenty to go round. It is tough to get to by 4x4, a long ride on poor roads, but that is alot of the reason it is so stocked with all those features that other resorts have to fence in. If you want to see Costa Rica like it was before 'development' go to Tiskita, you won't be disappointed!

I stayed at Tiskita over the summer for 4 nights during a voluntourism trip, and this was my first time in Costa Rica. It was an experience unlike any other! When we first arrived, trying to get a tour bus up the small dirt roads was a task, but we really felt as if were in the remote jungle. The lodge is situated along a mountainside near the beach, so that our view from the veranda was of lush jungle and beautiful ocean- just amazing! The owners are so nice, and have many interesting stories about their land and lives. You must be a nature lover to stay here- we were constantly seeing monkeys, humming birds, butterflies, and much more (also including a few less desirable creatures such as scorpions, bats and such!) While I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect, I must admit that the first night was very difficult to fall asleep due to all the creature noises and a rain downpour which often happened. The rooms were simple cabins with open air bathrooms in the back of each- not luxurious but very eco-friendly, as energy efficiency is a primary goal of the owners.
The owner took us on private tours of the jungle, and we sampled lots of exotic fruits I had never heard of and saw interesting, almost alien-like vegetation! The owner also created a beautiful waterfall on the property that had a fun little pool area at the top that we all went in (NOT a manmade swimming pool, although they also have one of those on site) There was also a bar with the honor system in which you write down what alcohol you took and you paid a bill at the end. This bar was right next to the swimming pool and activity area (ping pong table, eating area), so we had a lot of fun nights enjoying night swims under the moonlight.
The resort felt very private, the nearest homes were quite a drive away, and I don't believe there was internet or even phone service. The food they prepared us was mostly quite good- for a group member's birthday we had the best home-made cake with chocolate and raspberries. The dining area is open air and not fancy, which was no problem for a group of 20-something year olds. The meals were authentic to the Costa Rican diet, so it was good to experience.
Overall, if you are open to living among nature, and want a private escape in the jungle, I would definitely recommend Tiskita. I would love to go back someday! For good pictures, check out their website, they are very accurate and much better quality than photos I took.

Tiskita Jungle Lodge and the area surrounding it is the most amazing place I have ever been. My parents had been here five years prior, so we went on their recommendation. It was everything they said and more.

First and foremost, the owners, Lisbeth and Peter, as well as the staff, are some of the warmest people I've ever met. Lisbeth and Peter take a genuine interest in and care for their guests' stay there, whilst emmersing their guests in the fascinating nature and adventure that surrounds the lodge. They also share in their life experiences of keeping conservation on the forefront of their lives. (They are specifially known for the re-release of the Scarlet Macaw, which is an ongoing project.) All of the staff are friendly and the best of cooks in the kitchen. The tour guides are more than knowledgeable. They will spend as much time as you like guiding you through the trails, the orchard, the tidepools on the beach, explaining every living creature and plant/tree.

The accomodations are private and you would feel alone there, part from the many birds surrounding you, as well as the howler monkeys who are a built in wake up call most mornings. The sound of the roaring ocean was just what I needed to fall asleep every night.

If you are an outdoors type of person, this is definitely a place for you! Getting away from the craziness in my life, and settling in to a completely different lifestyle of relaxation and emmersion with nature was just what I needed. We will definitely be going back next year, and the year after, etc.

Would you like to experience the jungle and still be comfortable and feel a little pampered? Peter and Lizbet Aspinall have done an amazing job restoring this portion of Costa Rica, its birds and animals to its original state and also are most caring of their guests. It's not a zoo so you will learn alot.
You will leave having experienced all you expected.