Selva Bananito Lodge

Limón, Costa Rica.

Selva Bananito Lodge generates income from tourism services, as well as nature and adventure activities for the protection of over 850 hectares (2000 acres) of primary old growth rainforest which are protected by the privately owned Selva Bananito Reserve, an important transition area or buffer zone to the La Amistad International Park, which is shared by Costa Rica and Panama alike. In addition, Selva Bananito Reserve is the most important direct watershed area for the Bananito River, which supplies the drinking water to 70.000 inhabitants of Limon. It is herein, namely watershed conservation, where the conservation effort of Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve is to be found.

Located 35 km southwest of the harbor city of Limon, Costa Rica ,and bordering La Amistad World Heritage Site or  La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, both, Selva Bananito Lodge and Selva Bananito Reserve have been visited since December
 
1995 by nature enthusiasts, adventurers, biologists, ornithologists, naturalists, families, individual travelers and students that were attracted to Selva Bananito  seeking the experience of a truly unspoiled habitat of pristine beauty while taking an active stand in an important conservation effort, the conservation of the water resources.

Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve, as well as Finca Manú on which they are located, are privately owned by the Stein family who moved to Costa Rica in 1974. Ever since, the Steins have been pioneers in sustainable development, low impact tropical agriculture and established their internationally recognized eco tourism operation as an additional way of using the natural resources without harming them.
Eco tourism and sustainable tourism are best exemplified by the operation of Selva Bananito Lodge which has gained international recognition for its low impact operation and the importance of the conservation efforts it supports: “One of the top ten eco lodges in the world”, (OUTSIDE Magazine, March 2003), “The most beautiful room in the rain forest” (GEO Saison, October 2003), “A symphony in the tropical night” (Destination, December 2005).

Selva Bananito Lodge is owned and operated by Conservación de la Selva a través del Turismo S.A. (Rain Forest Conservation through Tourism, Inc.) or CONSELVATUR, which specializes in conservation oriented nature and adventure travel itineraries through out Costa Rica and Panama. The core of any of the programs offered by CONSELVATUR is always a stay at Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve for at least three nights, based on the 4 days / 3 nights extra adventure package.
The extra adventure package at Selva Bananito is the most active offer at this environmentally friendly rain forest lodge and includes a great variety of exhilarating adventure activities, such as tree climbing, horseback tour of the farm, a full day waterfall hike with waterfall rappel, adventure horse back tour with jungle tree climbing, or an incredible canopy observation platform tour with rappel. In addition you can take part in guided natural history rain forest hikes, bird watching tours or simply enjoy the beauty and serenity of it all from the comfort of your hammock enjoying spacious bungalows, which grace the view over Selva Bananito Reserve or the Bananito River, both located at the foot of the Cerro Muchilla, or Cerro Mochila as the locals call it, on the eastern outcropping of the Talamanca Mountains.