Mikado Natural Lodge

We went to three hotels during our trip with three teenagers. The other hotels were on the beach. And yet, Mikado Natural Lodge, set into the hills near Pinilla, was by far our favourite stop. There are a few great reasons for this: First you are greeted by Lolo as the lodge's wonderful hostess and founder along with family and staff. She has a natural way of making us feel at home and became an immediate friend. Second is the lodge itself. Simple with 6 cabins on a 7 acre lot surrounded my trees and open sky. There is one dining area which starts the day off with a great breakfast. Then the pool area is as stunning as you see in the pictures. Makado is a perfect place for those wanting a simple, uncomplicated setting to unwind and chill out. Don't come if you need all sorts of services and additional amenities like at a Four Seasons. Come here only if you seek NOT to have a complicated stay. Third are the rooms. Details, details, details. Each room is beautifully designed and laid out. Airco is in place and yes, there are TV's that emerge from the bed-end. Mattresses are firm but not too firm. You feel like you are in a well-kept surrounding. Fourth, being set in nature means you do end up leaving to go to the local town of Pinilla which gives you a very authentic experience. Even our teenagers commented how much they loved the 'real' soda's compared to the restaurants at the other hotels. You have to check out Cactus if you go. This left us with a real authentic Costa Rican experience. I can't say enough about this place. But I'll end this review with my truth that what you see online is what you get. Unlike other hotels that try and photoshop out imperfections, this place has very few imperfections and it gives you a great feeling being a guest there.

We stayed at Mikado in April of 2024 for four nights. Lolo, the owner and host, greeted us on check-in and immediately made us feel welcome and at ease. Our bungalow overlooked the surrounding hills and forest and we could see the ocean over the hills. The view was spectacular, especially in the morning and at sunset. We heard and saw a family of howler monkeys in the morning and sometimes in the evenings. Lolo is a great chef and the meals were excellent. Breakfast is available every morning and we had dinner at the lodge on two nights and each was incredible. We wanted to check out beaches and attractions in the area and Lolo gave us tips on when to go, where to park, which restaurants to eat which proved invaluable for a couple of first time Costa Rica travelers. The onsite facilities including the pool, lounge, restaurant area, and grounds are very comfortable and we felt as if we had the entire facility to ourselves at times. Sitting by the pool enjoying a Lolo made cocktail looking up at the stars after a long day of exploring was a wonderful way to end each day. I can't recommend Mikado highly enough, an amazing experience!

I stayed with at Mikado last week with my brother, his wife, and my boyfriend (we had bungalows right next to each other). Our stay at Mikado was wonderful! Lolo was so warm and welcoming. She gave us great recommendations for places to eat and explore around the area. She even helped some of us who weren't feeling too well with dietary restrictions (breakfast was absolutely delicious), medication recommendations, and even gave us some fresh aloe vera from one of the plants on site. The area is gated, so we had extra piece of mind that our cars and surf boards would be safe. The pool area lights up beautifully at night and they provide ice for an ice bath next to the hot tub which was great for mosquito bites. We saw some iguanas and heard howler monkeys while we were on the grounds which was super cool too. It's far enough removed from town that it's peaceful at night, but also just a short drive to many beaches and other towns. The rooms were beautifully designed (the perfect mixture of comfort and luxury that you want while on vacation) and made us feel right at home. The bathroom is also beautiful and private, but has screened-in windows so you can experience some nature! Overall, a really great place to stay and we look forward to returning on our next trip to Costa Rica! Thank you for everything Lolo!

We planned only one night there - and stayed for three. Nicely located in the hills this lodge is perfect for a relaxed stay. Lolo, the owner and host of Mikado is truly lovely and will welcome you with great hospitality. The rooms are wonderful, always a nice breath, fully equipped and beautifully designed. The breakfast is all handmade, from the bread to the Marmelade, even the Joghurt! Highly recommended - we will come back!

Just returned from trip to Costa Rica and spent 4 nights at Mikado. Beautiful accommodation in bungalows on the edge of a hilltop about 30 min from Tamarindo. Bedroom area was “indoors” with panoramic views and the bathroom area “outdoors” - completely open air. Rooms and bedding were excellent. Great balcony with a breeze even in the heat. Excellent pool large enough to really swim in. Had a wonderful time also with Lolo the owner who is a chef and her family. She goes out of her way to make the stay enjoyable and gave us excellent advice for restaurants etc. Delicious breakfasts with her homemade fresh bread, homemade yoghurt, fresh local fruit, homemade jams from her friend and crepes every day. She also cooked an amazing 3 course dinner for us one night. This place is really a “hidden gem” and excellent value for everything provided compared with similar accommodations in the area.

Lolo the owner is a great host. The cabin is very clean and nice. The road to the place is not good, which accounts for a average rating. One caveat is to make sure you do not go on a road recommended by WAZE where you have to cross a stream. Call the owner and get direction's for another route.

A wonderful oasis in the jungle - everything done with tender loving care. Lolo and her team were sweet. Kind and helpful. The rooms were beautiful and comfortable. The jungle stunning. We arrived stressed from travel mishaps but the warm welcome soon settled us and we felt right at home. Breakfast was lovely and Lolo couldn’t do enough to ensure our every comfort.

Beautiful and pristine accommodations in lush surroundings. We stayed in one of the private bungalows and were visited by howler monkeys just outside our terrace. Lolo was a wonderful host and took care of us during our stay. She gave us great recommendations for restaurants and went above and beyond to help organize exciting activities. Breakfast was served poolside and we enjoyed dinner prepared by the private one evening. Everything was delicious and so fresh! We will return for another visit for sure! Thank you Lolo for your exceptional hospitality. ❤️

Mikado lodge is a wonderful hilltop retreat, and proved to be a great base for our two week trip to Costa Rica. The lodges and pool are well designed giving a feeling of space and tranquility. However much you love the beach being able to retreat up to the hills with the cooler air and quiet is very welcome at the end of the day! Lo-Lo has done a great job of building a comfortable and relaxing adobe. Lo-Lo is also a distinguished chef, and uses her years of running European restaurants to provide excellent dinner menus, as well as lovely poolside breakfasts. Mikado lodge lived up to its five star reviews. Thank-you Lo-Lo. PS GPS or Waze is pretty much essential in order to explore Costa Rica.