Guided Nature Walks
More than 15 km of trails wind through Tiskita’s private biological reserve, from easy walks near the lodge to longer routes deeper into the rainforest.
Join one of our guides to look for wildlife, learn about the forest and discover some of the plants and animals that live here. Guests can also explore many of the trails independently.
Private Biological Reserve
Organic Orchard
Guided Walks
We offer guided rainforest walks with one of our naturalist guides. They are the best at showing you our particular forest and animals. Once you've explored with them guests can go on their own as well. We try and tailor walks to what guests are interested in the most- medicinal plants/birding/hiking etc.
If you are not a guest at Tiskita, but you would like to go on a guided walk, please contact us.
Night Tour
For those interested to experience the rainforest at night, Tiskita offers a night tour when the conditions are right (moon, weather, animal activity etc.). Creepy-crawlers like spiders and insects galore.
Birdwatching
Birding is easy at Tiskita, the pool area and around the cabins are great spots for birding. Tiskita’s guides are well trained in spotting and identifying birds, so they can help you find more elusive birds.
Fruit Tasting Tour
Tiskita’s organic orchard is situated in a small valley fringed by the jungle. Over 125 types of native and exotic tropical fruit grow in the orchard, a great location for spotting wildlife.
Sample delicious seasonal fruit, such as Cacao (Chocolate), Anona, South American Sapote, Starfruit, and Mangosteen.
back to top
Night Tour
Let one of our experienced guides take you out for a unique night tour! The highlight of the tour is the jungle frog pools, where, with a bit of luck, the Red-eyed Tree Frog can be spotted, calling, mating, or just hanging out.
Nocturnal Creatures
Many secretive creatures like Kinkajous, most owls, Pacas, armadillos, and porcupines are active only after dusk. At night, these animals come out to forage and mate. Tree frogs are active, insects and arachnids lurk around, while bio-luminescent mushrooms glow eerily in the dark.
The night tour is offered depending on the moon cycle, because the moon has an effect on animal activity.
Blacklight
Tiskita’s night tour guide has a black light to look for scorpions. Rubber boots and walking sticks are available at the lodge, free of charge.
back to top
Horseback Riding
Tiskita has its own horses and offers guided horseback riding. A horseback riding trail loops through our Biological Reserve offering spectacular views of the Golfo Dulce.
Horses & Rides
Our horses are very well-trained, experience is not necessary.
Rides offered:
- Tiskita Biological Reserve
- Beach ride
- Ride to Pavones
- Custom ride
Tiskita Biological Reserve
The horseback trail that loops through Tiskita takes about three hours. Most of the trail is in the rainforest which is a great way to spot monkeys, sloths, macaws, or other wildlife along the way. When the tide is right, a section of beach can be included on the way back.
Beach Ride
The most popular beach ride we offer is to Rio Coco. Rio Coco is a coconut-fringed river that flows out of a rainforest valley, into the ocean. The river marks more or less the start of the Conte Burica Indigenous Reserve. It takes about an hour and a half to get there, and it is a great place for a swim.
The paradise-like beach is typically very quiet, you may be the only person there.
Ride to Pavones
Another beach ride is to go to Pavones, the small surf town a few kilometers north from Tiskita. Along this beach ride you may see the locals fishing and surfing. When there is a good swell in Pavones, you can watch surfers from all over the world ride the famous wave. Pavones also has some small restaurants and shops.
Custom Ride
For the horseback riding fan we can put together longer, custom rides as well. Please contact us in advance if you are particularly interested in a horseback riding vacation.
Horse Retirement
Tiskita takes animal welfare and equality very seriously. When our horses get too old to work, they retire and spend the rest of their days playing around in our pasture.
back to top
Chocolate Workshop
Learn about Cacao; its history and how we turn this bitter tropical fruit into delicious chocolate!!
We have been growing cacao for more than 30 years but most or our efforts were wiped out in the 90s. Over the last 10 years we started the replanting process and now we are making our own organic farm-to-bar chocolates right her at the lodge!
Learn all about growing, harvesting, sun drying, roasting, grinding and tempering chocolate in this beautiful jungle setting.
Our guests love being able to learn about and participate in the entire process and of course enjoy the fruit of their labour afterward by taking a little piece of Tiskita home with them in the form of CHOCOLATE!
back to top
Participate in a special cooking class and learn all about the magic of making tortillas. A cultural and food staple of the Latin American diet.
Birding or Birdwatching
Are you a serious birder or consider yourself more of a casual bird enthusiast? Costa Rica has a high biodiverity and a high level of endemism, making it particularly attractive for birdwatching. In Tiskita, birdlife is plentiful, from the tiny Little Hermit Hummingbird to the large, majestic King Vulture.
Tiskita’s Bird List
For your convenience and ease of use, we've composed a list 175 species of birds that can be found at or near Tiskita, including a variety of trogons, tanagers, honeycreepers, toucans, hummingbirds, manakins, parrots, and more.
Tiskita Birding List
Gallery: Birds
Endemic Species
Some species of birds in Tiskita are endemic to the southwest of Costa Rica (and western Panama). Some of these species, for example the Orange-collared Manakin and Baird’s Trogon, are common in Tiskita.
Field Equipment
Our guides are well equipped including high quality binoculars and telescopes . Printed bird lists are available at the lodge.
Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction Project
Tiskita has hosted an ongoing Scarlet Macaw reintroduction project since 2002. The Scarlet Macaws released in Tiskita were bred in captivity by the Costa Rican macaw conservation organization aka 'The ARA Project'. The macaws and their offspring have adapted to the wild and are now a common sight in the area.
back to top
Snorkeling & Bodyboarding
The beach by Tiskita is a wilderness beach stretching for miles. Along the beach there are rock formations with tide pools to explore. Some of the tide pools become like swimming pools at low tide and are ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
The beach by Tiskita has black volcanic sand lined with Coconut Palm and Beach Almond trees. The laid-back surf town Pavones is located a 50-minute walk up north, and to the south of Tiskita lies Punta Burica, the largely undeveloped peninsula that shares a border with Panama.
The beach and the warm ocean are ideal for horseback riding, bodyboarding, surfing, and snorkeling.
!! Note that the safety of our guests is very important to us here at Tiskita. Spending time in or near the ocean is a wonderful way to spend the day but please be aware that there are no lifeguards on duty here. Take a moment to read and learn about the dangers, how to spot, and swim out of and away from Rip Tides before wading out into the water.
Bodyboards and snorkel gear are available at the lodge, free of charge.
Bodyboarding
Want to hit the waves but don't feel like surfing? Bodyboarding may be the activity for you. You can check out a board at the front desk free of charge.
Snorkeling
The tide pools vary in size and temperature. Some of the tide pools that are exposed at low tide are large enough to swim and snorkel in. They can also be explored on foot.
Snorkel gear is available at the lodge, free of charge. More experienced snorkelers may want to bring their own gear.
There are several boat tours which depart from Pavones and into the Golfo Dulce where there are calmer seas and some coral reefs- great for a mini snorkeling adventure. Please inquire when booking.
Tropical Fish
There are many colorful species of tropical fish and other marine life in the tide pools, for example, parrot fish, pufferfish, moray eels, and angelfish. When the tide comes in, bigger fish appear.
back to top
Surfing
Tiskita offers surf lessons (surfboard included) from local surfers instructors who know the area and its waves. If you already know how to surf, Tiskita can help you find a surfboard to rent.
Breaks
Right in front of Tiskita is a beach break. It is an excellent spot to surf for both beginners and experts. Punta Banco has two more beach breaks.
Wikipedia can explain a bit more about the different types of surf breaks.
Pavones
Only seven kilometers away, is Povones; a world-renowned surf destination with one of the world’s longest left breaks. The break in Pavones is a point break.
back to top
Golfo Dulce Boat Tour
Explore the Golfo Dulce, one of the only four tropical fjords in the world.
Tropical Fjord
Tiskita faces the Golfo Dulce. The Goflo Dulce, a tropical fjord, is an exceptional biodiversity hotspot. The beaches in the bay, including Pavones, are popular for surfing, and local fishermen use the bay for small-scale fishing.
Summary about the Golfo Dulce by George W. Bassel:
“The Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica is one of three tropical fjords in the world. This unique aquatic habitat is home to a great diversity of marine life including dolphins, sea turtles, tropical fish, and is an important place for humpback whales and whale sharks to both breed and give birth. The beaches surrounding the Golfo Dulce also serve as a major nesting ground for hawksbill, Olive Ridley and leatherback ocean turtles.”
Tropical fjords are extremely deep:
“The topography of the Golfo Dulce is such that the mouth of the gulf has a depth of 50 meters, while the interior region of the gulf reaches depth of over 200 meters.”
Boat Tours
Tiskita offers boat tours to explore the Golfo Dulce.
Activities Rates
Whale & Dolphin Watching
Sometimes, depending on the season, whales and dolphins can be observed. The most common whales in and around the bay are Humpback and Pilot Whales.
Sea Fishing
It is possible to go fishing with the local fishermen for Red Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, Kingfish, Dorado, Mackerel, and more.
back to top
Deep Sea or Sport Fishing
Is your idea of fun and excitement to go fishing with the local fishermen for Red Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, Kingfish, Dorado, Mackerel, and more?
Bicycle Rentals
Rent a bicycle and peddle your way to Punta Banco or Pavones or any beach in between.
Massages
Massages are also available and we have several masseuses close by. Please let us know beforehand if you'd like to book a massage, each masseuse offers different types of massages and prices vary depending on masseuse/type.
Yoga
Our yoga deck is embedded in the rainforest and has a view of the ocean and sunset through the trees.
We have during the high season a certified yoga teacher on-site or you can lead your own practice. We also have several yoga teachers which live close and so classes are easily arranged.
We also have a second yoga space right above the lodge which is particularly useful when the shala is occupied with a retreat or for a night session or ceremony.
Please see our yoga page for upcoming retreats and Yoga Teacher Trainings. Retreats usually run from Jan-April and YTT are mid-November for 3 or 5 weeks.
back to top
