Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat is a family run sustainable tourism project dedicated to rainforest conservation, contributing positively to the community and providing an unforgettable tourism experience.
The site is run by the married couple of Davis Azofeifa and Meghan Casey. Davis and Meghan are members of the Chilamate School Board, the Sarapiqui Chamber of Commerce, and founding and active members of a local community development association Asociación Para el Desarrollo y Gestión Productiva de Linda Vista, Chilamate.
Meghan is also the regional coordinator for the World Leadership School program and arranges itineraries for the students while in Costa Rica, which all include a service project of some sort to the communities of Chilamate and Linda Vista. Recently, Meghan and Davis have been busy creating a greenhouse project in Linda Vista and are in the midst of builing playgrounds as well!
The area of Chilamate is a critical section of the San Juan La Selva Biological Corridor and one of Costa Rica´s most biologically diverse areas. Around the Retreat you can enjoy easy sightings of the capuchin, spider and howler monkeys, the Collared Aracari, Keel-billed and Chestnut mandibled Toucans, the Great Green Macaw and Kingfishers, to mention just a few names of the over 500 bird species, 5000 butterfly species, 6000 types of plants, 350 species of trees, 139 mammal species, and 135 reptile species, that depend on the perpetual conservation and expansion of protected areas in the region.
From January to June of 2011, Meghan and Davis hosted Rainforest Biodiversity Group (RBG) volunteers Ryan and Sarah Helcoski at their site to assist in community projects as well as to keep up to date observation lists of wildlife seen on the property. Below are the final submissions of species observation lists from Ryan Helcoski from his six month term. Many thanks go to the volunteers from RBG and Chilamate Rainforest Eco-Retreat.
Amphibians
Birds
Reptiles
Mammals
While at the Retreat you will also enjoy the personalized attention, beautiful accommodations, made to order delicacies in the garden eatery, a full bar, rainforest trails, edible gardens, natural swimming hole, Sarapiqui riverfront and a private rainforest reserve.
It is a great place to just hang out in a hammock or if you want more adventure try whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canopy and zip tours, biking, hiking and just about any other adventure you could imagine as well as yoga, massage, and trips to local farms or ventures a bit farther to nearby volcanoes and hot springs.
Click here to read a review of this site in Costa Rica's English newspaper The Tico Times.
Contact Information
To make a reservation at Chilamate Rainforest Eco-Retreat, contact Davis Azofeifa and Meghan Casey via email at info@chilamaterainforest.com.or by phone at +506-2766-6949. More information is available at http://www.chilamaterainforest.com.
From San Jose, follow Highway 32, east toward Limon. Cross mountains and go left at main intersection on Highway 4, north for 33 km to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. The road ends at a T intersection. Go left and head 6 km to Chilamate. Turn left on dirt road at elementary school, before Aventuras del Sarapiqui sign. Cross the bridge and take immediate right to arrive at lodge.
