Aiyana Lodge

Are you looking for rest, relaxation and peacefulness, while feeling safe, but very close to town? As a solo female traveler, safety was a huge concern for me! I stayed in Costa Rica for three months and stayed in over ten different places. I have traveled the whole country, literally. The Carribean side is my favorite!! The temperatures are outstanding and the breezes are cool and appreciated! Out of all the places I stayed, I would say, I felt very safe here and this location is perfect! In fact, this is the best location and it has a pool!! Aiyana Lodge is everything listed above and more! When I arrived, I was pleased to see it was more than I had even hoped for. As soon as you walk in the gate, you are greeted with pleasantness and beautiful smiles. There is a desk at check in with all sorts of brochures and information. Check in was easy and I was asked to approve my room when I got here. It was perfect! The bed was comfortable, as well as the pillows and the sheets were soft. Everyone knows, a good bed is important and after a day of adventures, you need it! The kitchenette was the perfect size to put together meals and the refrigerator was nice and cold!They offer free WiFi and it worked great all over the property. There is so much to do and see in the area and at the lodge. The grounds of Aiyana Lodge are nothing short of picturesque. Everything is so green and the flowers are very vibrant! As I laid by the pool, there were some of the most beautiful butterflies I’ve ever seen, along with beautiful singing birds, including toucans, and the famous howler monkeys that live in the area. The pool was even bigger and better than I expected. It was the perfect temperature to cool down during he day and at night, it was perfect for night swimming! She has the grounds accented with the perfect lighting and there is a BBQ area, a large area for gatherings and four hammocks! There are just the right amount of lounge chairs and chairs to spend time by the pool. The waterfall in the pool and slide really set it off for the perfect combination for a siesta. In the pool, there is a seat with two jets. After some activities, that seat was a slice of Heaven! Everything you need is within walking distance and the beach is right across the road. If you’d like, you can rent bicycles and if you want to catch a ride, all you have to do is walk out to the road and you will be able to get a taxi or a tuk tuk or you can always ask the front desk. A tuk tuk to Puerto Viejo is only around 1300 Colones. The public bus stop is just right outside on the main road. I took the bus a lot. They are clean and safe! I would definitely suggest walking at least a couple of times though, because you never know what you’ll see walking: sloths, howler monkeys and all different types of birds, including toucans! At about a three minute walk, there is a store. It has most everything you need. If it doesn’t have it, keep going to Puerto Viejo, the main hub here, and you will be able to find what you’re looking for! The ATM is also in Puerto Viejo and you have the option of getting US dollars or the local currency, Colones. I found it easier to use the local currency. There are plenty of bars and restaurants near by. There are also vendors with home made jewelry, crafts, clothing and all sorts of other things set up along the street around the area. If you are walking into town and feel like a snack, fresh fruit is right there! Also, there is a produce truck that comes around. You can’t miss them, because they advertise through a loud speaker as they ride. One of my favorite places downtown to hangout was The Point. They have great drink specials, places where you can sit indoors and outdoors. The live music there was awesome! A nice couple from New Orleans, Louisiana moves here and opened it. The people here, locals and expats, are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They are patient and kind. If you don’t speak Spanish well or at all, they are happy to help. As curious as we are about there culture, they are of ours. So, don’t be afraid to ask anyone for help! Here, at the lodge, they used the current exchange rate everyday. Be careful, because some places don’t and it devalues your dollar. If you want to know the exchange rate, you can either look it up on the internet or just ask the staff. They are always more than happy to help with anything you need! They are very knowledgeable of the area. The beaches are stunning! Crystal blue waters and there is so much of the shoreline here that is untouched! This gives you plenty of options to have your own private beach for the days you are here. The ocean water here is pretty much perfect. The sand changes textures and colors every so often and you can literally feel the gradation under your feet as you walk! Black sand beaches are just right up the road and there’s one down the road too! There are perfect backdrops for photos everywhere and then black sand beaches fit that category perfectly! You really can not ask for a more perfect location! Make sure to spend some time on the beaches of Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo. They are all a short distance down the road, al though I have walked the whole Carribean side, when going to Manzanillo, I took the bus most of the time. I stayed in all these places and I learned so much at every place I stayed, but here, everything was as arms reach and Playa Cocles, the beach across the street, is great!!! It is one of my favorites out of all of Costa Rica!! Be sure that if you come here, you will remember it for the rest of your life! Aiyana Lodge is one for the record book!!