Shawandha Lodge

A wonderful place, just a few meters from Playa Chiquita and yet in the middle of the rainforest. We saw sloths, toucans, hummingbirds, howler monkeys and agoutis on the grounds. The local beach, Playa Chiquita, can be reached in 5 minutes via a specially constructed footpath. When you get there, you will find a Caribbean bay under palm trees, with clear water and a beautiful sandy beach that is not too busy and that you have more or less to yourself. Everyone at the lodge is very friendly and helpful, with tips and organizing excursions. We had a great time.

Great experience, magnificent place, so cool to be woken up by the howler monkeys, great filtered water offering which makes it really easy to fill in your bottle. Nice pool, nice access to the beach, beautiful grounds. Apart from breakfast, the restaurant service is to be improved, no typical Caribbean food, international dishes not cooked well.

We stayed in a King Quadruple room, and the fan and ventilation meant the room was pleasantly cool without needing air con. Room was very spacious and charming, as was the bathroom. Lazing on the balcony while monkeys swung above us, felt like paradise. It is a short walk across to the beach which is idyllic, although beware of riptides! Not far to either Playa Cocles, Playa Punta UVA or Playa Manzanillo which are also beautiful and calmer. Breakfast was delicious. There were some flying ants enjoying it too when we were there, but everything is covered. Staff were all very friendly. We didn’t eat in the restaurant for lunch or dinner, as there were so many other great options nearby we ran out of time. Would stay again if ever we’re lucky enough to be back in Puerto Viejo.

What a beautiful experience! We spent a lovely week here. Everything has been perfect! The accommodations are beautiful and comfortably furnished. Imagine waking up to the sounds of the rainforest! Even on a rainy day, we were happy to sit outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Staff here are very welcoming. Everyone has been helpful, friendly, and cheerful. After we checked in, the desk manager dropped by the next day to make sure that we were happy. That's great service! The beach walkway through the jungle is a short pleasant path to Playa Chiquita. There is a lovely pool area as well. There are water stations placed throughout the grounds, proving hot or cold filtered water. Breakfast buffet is very nice, with an omelet station, fresh baked goods, and lots of fruit. Housekeeping staff do an excellent job. Gardeners are also friendly and dedicated to their work. Landscaping is beautiful, with numerous flowering plants along pathways. Highly recommend!

I stayed in the 2 person loge with my husband in December. It was absolutely amazing. We had a pool right outside the lodge that is shared with 4 other lodges and a comfortable seating area. There were even filtered water stations around the area to fill up water bottles and such. The staff was very nice, attentive and gave us very good advice for restaurants and things to do in the area. The front desk has a tuktuk phone number to call for rides into town. There is also a very convenient trail across the street from the lodge area to the beach. (it can be a little muddy, so don't wear nice shoes). There was very delicious breakfast included every morning with plenty of different choices of fruit, pastries, omelets and other savory options. My experience at Shawandha Lodge was very relaxing and it was the best place to get away for a little while.

Even though a hotel should be responsible for the security of its customers, this is absolutely not the case here. The area around the pool wasn’t safe at all. Luckily only material damage happened to me but this could have been a lot worse, needless to say that if it wasn’t but a child or an elderly person this could have been treacherous. I fell in the swimming pool in the middle of the night, from head to toe with my backpack and all my valued belongings because it wasn’t secured nor illuminated. The receptionist even told us that she didn’t understand why it was illuminated and confirmed it could have been very dangerous, all of this was said in front of a witness. It was confirmed to me twice that they will refund my camera (for a very small amount but ok whatever). They even asked for my banking details!! When I came back to Switzerland it was a complete turnaround, I received a rude reply saying that the hotel is not responsible for material damage and they even told Booking they never asked for my banking details! I do not recommend this hotel at all. Unsafe area and lying staff! Do not waste your money there.

The hotel is beautiful and the bungalows are super spacious and clean, located in the middle of flowers and trees where you can only hear the animals including the howler monkey in the morning. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The pool and "garden"/jungle area is very beautiful and peaceful. To go to the beach, just leave the hotel and follow a small trail. Breakfast could have had more variety of fruit, but it was quite nice. Restaurant prices are a little high.

Lovely eco lodge set in beautiful grounds. Walking distance to the beach . Short ride away to busy restaurants and bars. Only down side was breakfast wasn’t replenished . So if you were after 9am a lot of the selection was finished . Cleaning a bit hit and miss , but after a chat with management it was sorted out . Nice quiet pool area .

One of the nicest and most accommodating eco-lodges I have ever stayed at in the Caribbean. Service from the staff was exceptional. And the spa services, especially the chocolate massage, were terrific! I would highly recommend this place for a low-budget travel experience.