Drift Away Eco Lodge in Playa Avellanas Costa Rica

The cool moist cloth felt nice and refreshing on my face and neck after the drive on the bumpy dirt road. Even with the windows closed and the air conditioning on, I still felt like I had been sprinkled with dust.

Sitting on the couch in the outdoor reception area of the Drift Away Eco Lodge, I was greeted with the moist cloth and a glass of fresh juice made from oranges and grapefruit grown on the property.

The newly renovated Lodge is the perfect escape from the busy touristy town of Tamarindo which I had just been visiting in the Northern Pacific side of Costa Rica. Just as in its name, the lodge not only cares about its guests, they also care about the environment. The day to day operations includes high sustainability standards.

Getting To The Eco Lodge In Costa Rica

The Costa Rica airport you want to fly into is Liberia. This is the second-largest airport in the country and the only one in the northern part. If you wanted to visit the central valley or southern Costa Rica, then you would fly into San Jose. Depending on the route and traffic, San Jose is about 3 – 4 hours’ drive to Liberia, Costa Rica. After arriving in Liberia, you will drive towards Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica. Drift Away Eco Lodge is located about 30 minutes south of Tamarindo in the quiet area of Playa Avellanas.

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The Playa Avellanas Area

Costa Rica is known for being a perfect setting with its natural beauty, gorgeous beaches, and rugged rainforests. Its protected forests and jungle cover about a quarter of the country. This area is home to a myriad of wildlife and countless plant species.

Drift Away Eco Lodge is located in the area known as Playa Avellana. It is a quiet area and offers the ideal place to unwind and relax in nature. The serene beach of Playa Lagartillo is steps away from the lodge. Her you may find yourself being the only one on the long stretch of beach. A handful of people will eventually come here to watch the stunning sunset. The calm waters make this beach an ideal place for swimming.

If you want to go surfing or to a beach with more people, then you should walk about 15-minutes North to Playa Avellanas. This beach area is more popular, but not as busy as Playa Tamarindo, located about 30 – minutes’ drive from the lodge. At Playa Avellanas you can take surf lessons, go boogie-boarding, swim, tan, and eat. There is only one restaurant on the beach, however, several new restaurants have opened within walking distance in the past couple of years.

Heading south you will find Playa Negra. This tiny town has several restaurants, convenience stores, and a few shops. You will need to make your lunch and dinner plans at other locations because The Driftwood Eco Lodge does not serve lunch or dinner on site. However, they will make some great recommendations for excellent restaurants nearby and a couple of places will deliver if you don’t want to leave the property.

The Eco Hotel

The Drift Away Eco Lodge is a perfect place for anyone who wants to enjoy nature and relax. I stayed there on a solo trip and enjoyed it. The rooms are also well designed for those traveling as a couple or with a friend. The two-bedroom villas are perfect for families and friends traveling together.

Striving to make a positive impact on the local community and Costa Rica in general, the lodge conserves water and electricity. The eco-lodge uses well water and has a septic system in place and only use biodegradable and natural cleaning products. They also encourage guests to use the locally sourced biodegradable toiletries that are supplied in all the rooms and villas. The swimming pool uses a UV ionized system which eliminates the need to add chlorine to the water.

The lodge grounds offer a quiet garden space with a few hammocks for resting or reading in. There is a screened-in room that is ideal to play games in, read, practice yoga, or just visit with friends. They have several books and games for you to use. The open-air breakfast area is the perfect place to start your morning and the juice bar area is available throughout the day. Additionally, the spacious patio area surrounding the pool is a relaxing and inviting space.

The Open-Air Breakfast Area

The best way to start your morning here is with the complimentary breakfast that is included in your room. Water and coffee are self-serve. After sitting down at a table of your choice you are brought a bowl of fresh fruit along with a glass of fresh juice. You then have your choice of three different breakfast dishes. For someone who is very hungry and wants to eat a traditional breakfast, they can have eggs, Pico de Gallo, and rice with beans. Alternately, you can have eggs (cooked to your liking) with artisan bread. If you don’t want eggs you can have a large bowl of fruit topped with yogurt and granola.

I stayed for two nights at the lodge. My first morning I had the fruit with yogurt and granola. The second morning I had scrambled eggs with artisan bread. I enjoyed my breakfast both mornings.

The Drift Away Eco Rooms

Guests can stay in one of the main lodge rooms or a two-bedroom villa. All the rooms contain the following:

• locally made wood beds with memory foam mattresses
• luxurious 100% organic cotton sheets
• plush hypoallergenic feather pillows
• a dining table with chairs
• organic local coffee and herbal tea
• accented with touches of driftwood décor
• energy-efficient air conditioners

The en-suite bathrooms feature:

• hand-carved wooden sinks
• hot and cold water
• duo-flush eco-toilets
• low flow showerhead
• organic cotton towels
• complimentary organic biodegradable toiletries including soap, cream/lotion, shampoo, and body wash in refillable containers

There are four types of rooms available.

Standard Twin Room

This room is ideal for two friends traveling together or when two separate beds are required.

Standard Queen Room

This room comes with a queen-sized bed and a minibar. Items in the minibar are for purchase.

Deluxe King Room

The King Rooms are the spacious rooms and most premium at the lodge. They also come with a minibar with Kombucha, Ginger Beer, Craft Beer, and Iced Tea for purchase. This room had one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in.

The Two Bedroom Villas

The villas are ideal for a group of friends or family. Each room contains a set of twin beds or a king bed. They have an open kitchen and living room area, along with a private bathroom. The entrance to each villa is through a private terrace overlooking the garden.

Activities in Costa Rica

There are numerous activities to do throughout Costa Rica. While you are staying at the lodge you can use several items free of charge. They include Surf Boards, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Boogie Boards, and Bicycles.

Additionally, you can participate in the following activities in the area and throughout Costa Rica:

• Beaches – There are countless beaches in Costa Rica
• Surfing lessons
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Yoga class or book a yoga retreat
• Ziplining – I loved going zip-lining through the cloud forest
• Visit the Rio Celeste
• The Hot Springs – I stayed at the Baldi Hot Springs and the Tabacon Costa Rica is very popular
• Mountain Biking
• LADE Spa
• Kayaking
• SUP
• Fishing
• Llanos de Cortés Waterfalls
• Canyoning (repelling down waterfalls) – my personal favorite thing I did in Costa Rica

Here is a complete list of Activities, Tours, and Things To Do in the province of Guanacaste Costa Rica

The Costa Rica Pacific coast is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. These are just a few in the area:

• Playa Avellanas Costa Rica
• Playa Brasilito Costa Rica
• Playa Conchal Costa Rica
• Playa de Matapalo Costa Rica
• Playa Dominical Costa Rica
• Playa Flamingo Costa Rica
• Playa Grande Costa Rica
• Playa Lagarto Costa Rica
• Playa Langosta Costa Rica
• Playa Manuel Antonio Costa Rica
• Playa Matapalo Costa Rica
• Playa Minas Costa Rica
• Playa Negra Costa Rica
• Playa Nosara Costa Rica
• Playa Ostional Costa Rica
• Playa Potrero Costa Rica
• Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica
• Playa Ventanas Costa Rica

Costa Rica vacations are very popular right now. With more people planning holidays based on eco-adventure, eco-tours, eco-resort, and a yoga retreat Costa Rica is high on people’s bucket list. When you are planning your Costa Rica holidays make sure you book a stay at the Drift Away Eco Lodge.

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