By Dave Stamboulis Travel Expert April 26, 2022
Photo courtesy of La Lancha
While many holidaymakers seek sunshine, adventurous travelers know that rainforests and jungles offer the ultimate outdoor vacation experience. The wet weather isn't something to be avoided – it's meant to be celebrated for bringing lush greenery, amazing fresh air, plenty of wildlife and soothing sounds. With all the right gear and all the right creature comforts, rainforest hotels are the perfect setting for the vacation of a lifetime.
Here are five of the most scenic rainforest and jungle retreats you can find.
Photo courtesy of La Lancha
When you're a Hollywood icon like Francis Ford Coppola, you certainly want hidden paradises to retreat to, and this Guatemalan luxury lodge is one of six Coppola family hideaways aimed at those seeking an Oscar-worthy escape. Set above magnificent Lake Petén Itzá in a rainforest just a short drive from the magnificent Maya ruins of Tikal, La Lancha is the ultimate hideaway resort, where you'll be surrounded by howler monkeys, toucans and all the sounds of the jungle.
There are only ten suites and charming rainforest "casitas" here, which feature marble bathrooms, rain showers, thatched roofs, hammocks and espresso makers, as well as an array of Indigenous Guatemalan carvings, furniture, artwork and fabrics all personally selected by the Coppola family.
Outside, there are decks to lounge on and take in the beautiful jungle and lake views. The property also boasts an inviting swimming pool, an open-air restaurant and a rooftop bar looking out at the parakeets and jungle canopy. There are even complimentary canoes to use out on the lake. Getting here is half the fun, as the resort's boat will take you along breathtaking Lake Petén Itzá to La Lancha's private dock, from which a funicular will whisk you up through the jungle to the main area of the resort.
Photo courtesy of La Lancha
Besides just marveling at the jungle surroundings, there are plenty of activities and experiences to get involved in while at La Lancha. Topping the list is a visit to Tikal, the Maya ruins considered to be one of the archaeological wonders of the Americas. It also features some of the most iconic jungle temples in the world, such as the evocative Lost World Pyramid, Double-Headed Serpent Temple, and Temple of the Grand Jaguar.
La Lancha can set you up with well-trained guides for stunning and unforgettable sunrise tours, and there is even a personalized tour with a Maya shaman that takes you deep into Maya culture and beliefs.
You can also go horseback riding, learn about medicinal plants of the rainforest, walk suspension bridges or zip-line above the rainforest canopy at the nearby Ixpanpajul Skyway, and tour the magical small communities along the lake. La Lancha can even arrange private helicopter tours to the lost Maya jungle settlement of El Mirador, normally only accessible by a brutal five-day jungle hike.
If you're here in the wet season, it will be all the more lush, and this plush hideout all the more captivating.
When you check rates and book independently reviewed hotels through our site, we may earn a small commission.
Photo courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Vancouver Island is noted not only for its abundant rainfall, but also for its phenomenal outdoor beauty and pristine environment, with majestic conifer forests, lush ferns and old- and new-growth rainforest. Set in the UNESCO-designated Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve and accessible only by seaplane or boat, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge gives guests access to 600 acres of wild nature.
At Clayoquot, the lodge offers a series of extraordinary nature-based adventures, and a personalized itinerary is created for each guest and presented on arrival. Options range from rock climbing to hiking to canyoning, horseback riding and more.
Photo courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
There are ample wildlife viewing possibilities from this magical spot, as the protected ecosystem here is home to black bears, cougars and wolves, as well as humpback, orca and gray whales in the sound. In addition to the land- and water-based activities, Clayoquot even offers bespoke heli adventures, from private helicopter fishing tours to heli-hiking, taking in empty secret spots otherwise inaccessible to visitors.
It doesn't get much more off the beaten path than this. Just make sure to pack your Gore-Tex, but also plenty of sunscreen, as you just might get lucky with the weather!
Photo courtesy of Mashpi Lodge
Set just three hours from Quito in Ecuador, Mashpi Lodge is all about getting up close and personal with the rainforest. Set on a scenic plateau on the doorstep of the 3,000-acre Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve, Mashpi is far more than just a luxury hotel. You'll find resident biologists staying here, as well as researchers from around the globe coming to work and study, so you'll be in the company of experts.
All guests receive a pair of rubber boots and a rain poncho upon arrival, as the resort expects you to get out and experience the jungle. They offer guests personalized and guided experiences in nature, where you can encounter 400 species of birds, trees, frogs and endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Photo courtesy of Mashpi Lodge
The reserve at Mashpi ranges from 1,600-4,000 feet in altitude, offering both subtropical and tropical climates which bring out the best of the cloud forest. You can hop on the lodge's sky bike, where you can pedal across the jungle canopy, or get on the Dragonfly gondola, where you glide through the trees and look for sloths.
There are day and night hikes, a hummingbird garden and trails full of howler and capuchin monkeys. And don't forget about the lodge itself, which boasts rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the forest floor or canopy, and there is a spa, open-air hot tub and yoga deck, the perfect complement to all the natural surroundings and experiences.
When you check rates and book independently reviewed hotels through our site, we may earn a small commission.
Photo courtesy of Silky Oaks Lodge
The world's oldest living rainforest can be found in Australia. The Daintree Rainforest is around 180 million years old and boasts an amazing ecosystem featuring ancient plants and hundreds of species of birds and wildlife. At the Silky Oaks Lodge, 40 treehouse-style suites put you right on the doorstep of this magical spot.
Part of the Baillie Lodges collection, Silky Oaks was recently given a full renovation. Bordering the national park, the lodge property is home to 74 species of mammals, twice as many types of reptiles and amphibians and 330 kinds of birds.
Photo courtesy of Silky Oaks Lodge
In addition to the Daintree Rainforest, Silky Oaks Lodge also sits just near both Cape Tribulation and the stunning Great Barrier Reef. You can dive the reef, go kayaking, hiking and even hot air ballooning or heli-adventuring from here. The lodge also has a connection with the Indigenous Kuku Yalanji people, and their local tour operator can take you on guided tours of the Mossman Gorge and on walks through the Daintree.
While you'll be out at the mercy of the elements, the end of the day here is all about fine pampering. Silky Oaks' new pavilion rooms feature skillion roofs with glass walls and an atrium with an outdoor bath, and you can avail yourself of the lodge's infinity pool, plunge spa and fireplace for those wet and cold nights.
When you check rates and book independently reviewed hotels through our site, we may earn a small commission.
Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis
Being surrounded by the rainforest is one thing, but being able to immerse oneself in geothermal water while enjoying the sights and sounds of the rainforest is another. At Tabacon Resort, set at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, an entire hot river runs through the property. Needless to say, sitting in the middle of the jungle in 98-100° F pools is the main pastime here.
You don't even have to go to the rainforest at Tabacon – it comes to you. The resort also boasts a spa, a gourmet restaurant, and 42 comfortable guest rooms and suites. Even if you aren't staying here, it's worth getting a one-day pass that allows you to experience this jungle magic under the volcano.
Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis
Tabacon is set on 900 acres of lush tropical reserve and is the largest network of flowing hot springs in the country, as well as Costa Rica's first thermal bathing spot. It's hopelessly romantic here, with steam rising, mist descending and dozens of different pools to choose from as the river descends through the property.
Rainy season or not, it doesn't really matter what the weather is when you've got a hot pool to contentedly soak in. For those who aren't lovers of the wet, this might be the best rainy season find yet.
When you check rates and book independently reviewed hotels through our site, we may earn a small commission.
A division of USA TODAY · Copyright © 2022 www.10best.com. · All rights reserved.