Marenco Beach & Rainforest Lodge

One of the finest spots on the Osa Peninsula, adjacent Corcovado National Park... the wildest place in Costa Rica.

What makes Marenco Beach & Rain Forest Lodge truly special is its proximity to world renowned Corcovado National Park, one of the most important natural wilderness areas in all of the Neotropics. The unsurpassed biological diversity of Corcovado and its great visual beauty have made the park a Mecca for bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts and tropical biologists.

Just getting to this remote locale is an adventure! From San José you'll fly by small plane to Drake Bay on the west coast of the Osa Peninsula. From there a short drive then a boat trip up the coast will bring you to Marenco Beach & Rainforest Lodge. Set amidst spectacular tropical forest, and with a stunning view of the Pacific, Marenco is a place made for rambling, photography, and snorkeling in the clear, pristine waters. Excellent trails, cordial and extremely competent guides, great food, and comfortable accommodations make this our top choice for the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from our hilltop facilities which are exposed to cooling sea breezes. The lodge was built in harmony with the surrounding rain forest and beach environment. All rooms include a private balcony and are fully screened.Simple  and attractive thatch-roofed cabins sit in a small clearing by the rainforest edge, atop a high promontory. Viewed from every balcony, Marenco's endless sky and the Pacific Ocean present an ever-changing panorama of light and motion. From these heights, ponderous Humpback Whales can often be seen breaking the water surface on their seasonal migration.

As you explore the extensive network of trails in Marenco's rainforest the astounding variety and complexity of tropical nature is revealed. We will see dozens of exotic bird species, several species of monkeys, sloths, coatimundis and much more. Jaguars, pumas and other cats also live here, but are very secretive.

Activities can include: Hikes in the forest, explore deserted beaches, snorkel among the rocks and corals, and horseback riding. Scuba diving and fishing can be arranged. Tours to Corcovado National Park and nearby Caño Island can be included in your tour package.

Corcovado National Park
Located in Osa Peninsula, Corcovado is an irreplaceable part of the natural wealth of Costa Rica Rain Forest. A lagoon set in a forested alluvial plain which opens to the Pacific on the west, flanked by mountains on the east and south by a low plateau to the north, Corcovado's 43,735 hectares is home to at least 800 species of birds, 139 of mammals, 116 of amphibians and reptiles, plus over 6,000 insect species. It is a major refuge for the American Crocodile, jaguar, tapirs, Squirrel Monkeys, giant anteaters, Harpy Eagles, Scarlet Macaw, and Red-throated Caracaras. Some of the forested areas, such as the Llorona Plateau, with high densities of large trees, are as species-rich as any in the Neotropics (over 100 species of trees per hectare). The canopy height reaches 55-60 meters, the tallest in Costa Rica.

The relatively small area of this park contains, like Costa Rica itself, an amazing diversity of habitats. At least 13 different vegetation associations can be mapped, ranging from floating herbaceous swamp in the center of the Corcovado Lagoon to the mangroves along the coast, to high forest on the plateau and the mountains. High diversity of tree species is characteristic of most habitats within the park. However, one also finds striking examples of monospecific stands, such as the Raphia palm swamp which surrounds the central lagoon, or the Pterocarpus swamp forest near the mouth of the Llorona River.

The park has numerous hiking trails and rustic camping refuges. A guide is recommended. Less adventurous visitors can also enjoy the park on boat excursions or arrive by plane at the Sirena station. Visitors who keep their eyes open can see whales and macaws in Corcovado, as well as many other animals in danger of extinction. Visitor services include information, a park ranger station, trails, signage, restrooms, drinking water, a landing field, camping area, radio communication and rustic lodging.

Activities / Excursions

1 - Isla del Caño National Park
This day you should bring your beach towel and snorkeling gear along (available for rent). It all starts with an early departure. This is an hour boat trip to the island. In the early morning, we land on the island. Immediately upon arrival the guide leads a hike up to the site of the Indian graves that are found all over the island's central plateau, where archaeologists unearthed mysterious stone spheres and finely worked artifacts, testimonies to a vanished culture. Along the way, notable differences between the island and mainland forest will be pointed out. Following lunch, you are at your leisure to swim and soak up the sun. You will be free to visit other parts of the island or snorkel among the corals and brightly colored reef fish. By late afternoon, it's time to return to MARENCO, a short distance by boat, but an entirely different world. Watch for the dolphins along the way! Overnight stay is not permitted on this Biological Reserve except by express permission of the Costa Rican National Park Service for visits involving active research.

2 - Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station)
This full day tour, accompanied by a naturalist guide, begins right after breakfast. A short 25-minute boat trip from Marenco landing takes you to San Pedrillo Station, the northernmost ranger station of Corcovado National Park. After disembarking, there is a walk of about an hour along the beach, to a forest trail up the Rio Pargo. Once more the rain forest story unfolds before you. The trees in this area are magnificent in height and support an outstanding variety of epiphytic plants such as orchids, bromeliads, ferns, even shrubs and small trees. Monkeys, agoutis, sloths and other critters will entertain you. By noon, the tour returns to the beach to enjoy the shade of a mango tree while watching the surf. After lunch, a short walk to the San Pedrillo river (time to get our feet wet) brings you to a pristine rain forest waterfall. As always, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful birds and secretive wildlife. Kingfishers and Jesus Christ lizards are residents of this river. In late afternoon, we board the boat for return to Marenco.

3 - Marenco Biological Reserve
This full-day tour, accompanied by a naturalist guide, begins right after breakfast. During the course of the walk along Marenco's primary rain forest trails, you may visit a beautiful creek or the big tree, a giant of several hundred years. The naturalist will point out wildlife and also explain points of interest in the ecology of the rain forest. The trails are relatively steep in places, but the pace is slow. A system of trails through various areas of Marenco Biological Reserve are excellent for bird watching, wildlife observation and exploration. One can expect to see numerous birds such as toucans, parrots, and other exotic species as well as various animals including 3 species of monkeys. The hike will lead you the mouth of the Rio Claro, a natural fresh water swimming pool right next to the ocean. After arriving to Rio Claro you continue an additional 20 to 30 minutes along the beach trail to a beautiful beach called San Josecito. After lunch, you will have the afternoon free to snorkel on the reef or rest on a hammock in the shade of the palms, relaxing until the boat comes to pick you up and bring you back to the lodge around 2-3 in the afternoon.

4 - Diving Tour
Enjoy world-class scuba diving with our professional PADI Certified Instructors and Divemasters contracted with local suppliers. Caño Island offers the novice and experienced diver an excellent diving venue. Diving in the waters here will bring you face-to-face with a wide variety of underwater marine life. Glide through the water with a giant manta ray or observe the huge schools of barracuda, jacks, and rays that frequent the area. Swimming side-by-side with a sleek but non-aggressive reef shark will certainly send a tingle of excitement down your spine. If you're lucky, you may even witness an awe-inspiring whale shark! All this makes Caño Island one of the best dive locations found anywhere in Costa Rica! If you don't have your own dive gear, rentals are available. We offer only top quality, name-brand equipment from Sherwood Scuba and Henderson Aquatics.

5 - OTHER
Offshore fishing for Yellowfin Tuna and other species.
Horseback riding.
Swimming.