Bahia Rica Fishing & Kayak Lodge — Local services in Paquera

This place is amazing and should be considered a "must" for anyone visiting the area. We signed up to stay a night in their "El Bambu" private room, the bioluminescent kayak tour and their home cooked meal dinner (breakfast was included).

First, the lodging. It was like nothing I've ever experienced before. This place is really out in the sticks, we were greeted by the sound of howler monkeys and soon realized this place is closer to camping than a 5-star hotel. The "El Bambu" private room with private bathroom was separate from the main guest house. You have to walk down about 15 stairs to reach it. It's a make-shift shed with a door that locks and a double bed, little else. The bathroom is about 20 feet away and you must go outside the room to access it. It was really cool and it felt like you were in nature without having to sleep outside. There are about 250 steps to descend before you reach a beach that looks like paradise. If you hate activity or have an injury that makes it hard to climb stairs, you won't like this place. If not, you'll probably love it as much as we did.

The bio kayak tour was amazing. Our tour guide, Eddie, was great. We had ideal conditions the night we went out. The phytoplankton lit up when disturbed and there were bats flying around. It was more of a white light with some green for us. I'm told it's different every night.

The dinner was delicious. Ms. Vigdis cooked up the best schnitzel I've ever had in my life. Along with some ceviche and a fridge full of cold drinks (the fridge drinks were not free but tea and water was). Much to our surprise and pleasure, Thomas and Vigdis joined us for dinner along with Bella the dog and Mancha the cat. There were other cats but I don't remember their name. It was a true family style meal and we really loved getting to know our hosts. They're great people and we're lucky to have been able to share the time with them.

So, yeah I loved everything about what Thomas and Vigdis are doing at Bahia Rica. I'll recommend anyone that asks to visit Bahia Rica if given the...

Bahia Rica is an eco friendly lodge located in Punta Cuchillos, Paquera - 1.5 kilometers from the Ferry Naviera Tambor traveling between Puntarenas to Paquera - accessible via a dirt road.

The lodge is owned by Thomas and Vigdis, a Norwegian couple, who are not only very friendly but incredibly knowledgeable of the area, finishing, kayaking and the local wildlife. More importantly their enjoyment of the area, their lifestyle and what they do is contagious!

We arrived to Bahia Rica unannounced and with no reservation. From the main arrival point we walked down a narrow dirt path that opened up to an ample space leading down to a bay. Our plan was to stay one night and carry on our travelling. Vigdis was incredibly accommodating and although there was no available cabins she offered a spot in the garden given they do not technically have a camping site. We pitched our hammocks about 30 meters from the beach and ended up staying two nights. The atmosphere was serene and chilled out providing the perfect serene environment. It sits adjacent to a bay that is calm and protected from the wind. The facilities outside of the cabins is very good, offering hammocks, deck chairs by the shore, an outside shower and a full bathroom with a very cool eco shower.

In addition to offering accommodation in cabins or camping (tents and hammocks) Bahia Rica offers a variety of tours and activities including kayaking, paddle boards, fishing tours and bioluminescence tours. Their two boats and kayaks are top of the line and meticulously maintained. I rented a kayak for 30 dollars and headed to some of the islands in the area, enjoying the interaction with large pelicans and birds. Bahia Rica is a beautiful spot for those seeking a combination of serenity, closeness to nature and some healthy activities. Bahia Rica is in all...

Luis was our guide for the nighttime bioluminescence tour, which was 7:30-8:30pm. We helped ourselves to some water, lemonade, and snacks before he gave us our safety briefing and gave us our life jackets. I booked this excursion specifically on a night I knew we would have a meteor shower (Geminids, December 13 2023), which made this even more special—it was pitch dark other than a few lights across the way from some small buildings, plus a new moon. Ideal conditions for seeing the bioluminescent algae and the several shooting stars! Both the sky and the waters gave us a show.

Luis would point out fish and would also take us to specific spots that weren’t as recently disturbed (and therefore were more likely to have brighter bioluminescence). My husband and I were in a double kayak, and he did most of the paddling while I took photos and videos. Photos and videos don’t really do it justice, and unless you have one of the newer phones with nighttime visibility cameras (I have an iPhone 14 Pro and I got a couple good videos), it’s harder to capture the bioluminescence in photos or videos, so I’d say keep the phones away and just be in the moment. It’s pretty magical.

I didn’t get as wet as I thought I would on this excursion, but I still recommend having sandals or flip flops and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. I’m also prone to tons of mosquito bites, so I also recommend bug spray. I am fairly certain this was the best value bioluminescent tour I found and am glad we came...