Night Tour

Exploring the rainforest after dark is a completely different experience, and guided night walks are not offered everywhere. At Tiskita, one of our experienced local guides leads guests into the forest when conditions are right for nocturnal wildlife.

A favorite stop is the jungle frog pools, where Red-eyed Tree Frogs may be seen calling, mating or resting among the vegetation.

Nocturnal Wildlife

Many rainforest animals become active only after dusk. Depending on the night, you may encounter tree frogs, insects and arachnids, owls, kinkajous, pacas, armadillos, porcupines and other nocturnal wildlife.

Even the forest itself can look different after dark, with bioluminescent fungi sometimes glowing along the trail.

Blacklight & Forest After Dark

Our guide uses a blacklight to search for scorpions, which fluoresce under ultraviolet light and can be surprisingly easy to spot once you know where to look.

The walk may also include some of the traditional ways people have made light in the forest, such as burning the aromatic resin of local trees.

When Night Tours Are Offered

Night tours are arranged when conditions are suitable. Moonlight, weather and recent animal activity can all affect what is likely to be seen, so availability varies from night to night.

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Horseback Riding

Tiskita has its own horses and offers guided rides through the private biological reserve and along the coast. Riding experience is not necessary; our horses are well trained and the route can be adapted to the riders and conditions.

Rides

• Tiskita Biological Reserve
• Beach ride
• Ride to Pavones
• Custom rides

Tiskita Biological Reserve

A trail loops through Tiskita’s reserve, with much of the ride passing through rainforest and opening at points to views over the Golfo Dulce. The full ride takes approximately three hours.

Monkeys, macaws and other wildlife may be seen along the way, and when tide conditions allow, a section of beach can sometimes be included on the return.

Beach Ride

One of our favorite rides follows the coast to Río Coco, a quiet beach where a river flows out of a rainforest valley into the Pacific. The ride takes approximately an hour and a half each way and, conditions permitting, there is time for a swim before returning.

The beach is remote and usually very quiet — often with few or no other people around.

Ride to Pavones

Another option is to ride north along the beach toward Pavones, the small surf town a few kilometers from Tiskita. Along the way you may see local fishing and surfing, and when there is a good swell, surfers riding Pavones’ famous long left-hand wave.

Pavones also has a handful of small restaurants and shops.

Custom Rides

For guests who particularly enjoy horseback riding, longer or custom rides may also be possible. Please contact us in advance if horseback riding will be an important part of your stay.

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Chocolate Workshop

Discover how cacao grows and how its colorful tropical fruit is transformed into chocolate, from tree to finished bar.

Cacao has been grown at Tiskita for more than 30 years. Much of the original crop was lost in the 1980s, but over the past decade we have been planting cacao again and producing our own small-batch chocolate here at the lodge.

From Cacao Pod to Chocolate

Learn about the history of cacao and follow the process from growing and harvesting through fermentation, sun-drying, roasting, grinding and tempering.

The workshop is hands-on, with guests taking part in the chocolate-making process and, of course, tasting the results along the way.

Cacao at Tiskita

Growing cacao again has become part of the continuing story of Tiskita’s farm and orchard. The workshop connects what is growing outside with the chocolate we make here, giving guests a chance to experience much more than simply tasting the finished product.

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Tortilla Making

Learn how to make traditional corn tortillas by hand in a simple, hands-on cooking activity.

Tortillas are a staple throughout Costa Rica and much of Latin America, and making them from scratch is a fun way to learn a little about the food and everyday traditions of the region.

Make your own tortillas, cook them on the griddle and, of course, enjoy them while they’re still warm.

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Birding at Tiskita

Birdlife is abundant at Tiskita, from hummingbirds and manakins in the gardens and orchard to toucans, trogons, parrots and raptors throughout the reserve.

Whether you are a serious birder or simply enjoy watching birds, there is excellent birding right around the lodge as well as along more than 15 km of rainforest trails. Our experienced guides can help locate and identify species that are much easier to miss on your own.

Guided birding walks may also be arranged for non-guests by advance reservation. Please contact us to ask about availability.

Tiskita Bird List

More than 175 bird species have been recorded at or near Tiskita, including trogons, tanagers, honeycreepers, toucans, hummingbirds, manakins, parrots and many others.

Tiskita Bird List
Bird & Wildlife Gallery

Regional Species

The southern Pacific region of Costa Rica and neighboring western Panama is particularly interesting for birders because of its regional endemic and near-endemic species. Birds such as the Orange-collared Manakin and Baird’s Trogon can be found at Tiskita.

Guides & Equipment

Our guides know the reserve well and are experienced at spotting and identifying local birds. They use binoculars and spotting scopes in the field, and printed bird lists are available at the lodge.

Scarlet Macaws

Tiskita has been involved in Scarlet Macaw conservation since 2002, when captive-bred macaws were released here as part of a reintroduction project. The released birds and subsequent generations adapted successfully to the wild, and Scarlet Macaws are now a familiar sight around Tiskita and the surrounding area.

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Beach & Tide Pools

The beach below Tiskita is a wild Pacific beach stretching for miles, with dark volcanic sand, coconut palms, rocky outcrops and very little development.

It is a wonderful beach for long walks, playing in the waves and exploring at low tide. As the tide goes out, broad areas of sand and rocky pools are exposed, making it especially fun for children to explore.

Swimming & Waves

The beach is wonderful for wading, playing in the waves and cooling off in the ocean. Around low tide and as the tide comes in, broad sandy areas and shallower water make it especially enjoyable for families and children.

This is an open Pacific beach rather than a protected swimming bay, so conditions change with the tide and swell. When the ocean is calm, guests can enjoy the water comfortably; at other times the waves are better suited to bodyboarding or surfing.

At low tide, some of the larger protected pools among the rocks also become natural swimming pools and are great places to cool off and explore.

Bodyboarding

The waves in front of Tiskita can be great fun for bodyboarding, especially for guests who want to play in the surf without committing to a surfboard.

Bodyboards are available at the lodge at no additional charge.

Tide Pools & Snorkeling

At low tide, rocky areas along the beach reveal pools of different sizes and depths. They are fun to explore on foot, and a few spots can be suitable for casual snorkeling when conditions are right.

You may see small tropical fish and other marine life among the rocks and pools. Snorkel gear is available at the lodge at no additional charge.

For guests particularly interested in snorkeling, a boat trip into the Golfo Dulce is usually the better option, with calmer water and access to additional snorkeling spots.

Ocean Safety

There are no lifeguards on the beach at Tiskita, and ocean conditions can vary throughout the day. Rip currents and stronger surf can occur, so guests should use normal ocean caution and ask lodge staff or guides about current conditions if unsure.

Children should be supervised around the water, particularly when the surf is stronger.

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Surfing

The southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica is well known for surfing, and Tiskita is just a few kilometers from Pavones, one of the country’s best-known surf destinations.

There is also a beach break directly in front of Tiskita, with additional beach breaks around Punta Banco. Conditions vary with the tide and swell, with the main surf season generally running from December through April for Punta Banco. Big swell season for Pavones starts in April and conditions get bigger in Punta Banco.

Surf Lessons

For beginners or guests who would like some local guidance, we can arrange surf lessons with experienced local instructors who know the area and its waves. A surfboard is included with the lesson.

If you already know how to surf, we can also help arrange a board rental.

Surfing at Tiskita & Punta Banco

The beach break in front of Tiskita can be fun for a range of surfers depending on conditions. Nearby Punta Banco has additional beach breaks and is generally much quieter than the better-known surf spots farther north.

Pavones

About seven kilometers north of Tiskita, Pavones is famous for its exceptionally long left-hand point break and attracts surfers from around the world when a good swell arrives.

Even guests who do not surf often enjoy visiting Pavones to watch the surfers, explore the small town or stop at one of its restaurants and cafés.

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Golfo Dulce Boat Tours

Explore the Golfo Dulce and the remote coastline around Punta Banco by boat. Tiskita works with experienced local boat operators to arrange outings depending on guest interests, weather and ocean conditions.

Trips can head into the Golfo Dulce in search of marine wildlife and snorkeling spots, or follow the coast toward Matapalo for a day of secluded beaches, waterfalls and a picnic lunch.

A Unique Tropical Gulf

The Golfo Dulce is an unusually deep, sheltered tropical gulf, sometimes described as a tropical fjord. Its narrow opening, deep interior waters and surrounding rainforest create a distinctive and biologically rich marine environment.

These protected waters are particularly important for marine wildlife. Humpback whales migrate into the region seasonally, including mothers with young calves that use the calmer waters of the gulf. Dolphins are found here throughout the year, and whale sharks may also enter the Golfo Dulce to feed.

Whales & Dolphins

The sheltered waters of the Golfo Dulce provide important habitat for marine mammals. Dolphins can be encountered throughout the year, while humpback whales arrive seasonally.

From roughly July through October, humpback mothers and their calves can be found in the region, with September and October often especially good months for whale watching. It is one of the highlights of visiting the southern Pacific during the green season.

Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but a boat trip offers one of the best opportunities to experience the marine life of the Golfo Dulce.

Snorkeling

Some boat trips can include snorkeling in calmer parts of the Golfo Dulce, where conditions are generally better suited to snorkeling than the open Pacific beach in front of Tiskita.

Snorkeling locations vary according to tides, weather and visibility.

Coastal Day Trips

Another option is to travel along the coast toward Matapalo, stopping at remote beaches and waterfalls along the way. Depending on the trip and conditions, a picnic lunch can be arranged for a full day exploring this beautiful stretch of coastline.

Fishing

Fishing trips can also be arranged with local boatmen. The waters around the Golfo Dulce and southern Pacific coast are home to species such as snapper, tuna, roosterfish, dorado and mackerel.

Please contact us before your stay if a particular boat trip, snorkeling excursion or fishing outing is important to you. Trips are subject to availability and ocean conditions.

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More Activities

There are plenty of ways to enjoy your time at Tiskita beyond the trails, beach and guided activities. Depending on availability, we can also help arrange wellness, creative and independent activities during your stay.

Bicycle Rentals

Bicycles are available for exploring the local area, whether you want to ride south toward Punta Banco, north toward Pavones or stop at some of the beaches along the way.

Yoga

Our open-air yoga shala sits within the rainforest with views through the trees toward the Pacific. Guests are welcome to use the space for their own practice when it is not being used by a retreat or group.

Depending on the season, yoga classes can also be arranged with local teachers. Tiskita hosts yoga retreats and teacher trainings at different times of year.

Explore Yoga & Retreats at Tiskita

Massage

Massages can be arranged with several therapists who live nearby. Treatments and prices vary by therapist, so please let us know in advance if you would like us to arrange a massage during your stay.

Painting Classes

A local artist can come to Tiskita for a relaxed, hands-on painting class. This can be especially fun for families, groups or anyone looking for a creative activity between outdoor adventures.

Classes are arranged in advance and can be adapted to the group.

Clay Workshop

A local artist in nearby Pavones also offers clay workshops, which can be a fun option for families and groups. We can help arrange a class and transportation when available.

Please contact us if there is a particular activity you would like to arrange during your stay.

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