If a stop in Tortuguero is on your Costa Rica itinerary, and it should be, one of the first questions will be where to stay. Our choice was the delightful Casa Pelican.

Although there are dozens of lodging options both in and around town, we think your best bet to truly immerse yourself in the culture is to choose one of the centrally located guest houses available. You can stay in a standard bland hotel anywhere…on a tropical holiday why not venture on the local side?

Although nothing is far in tiny Tortuguero Village, we were looking to be in the center of the action. We didn’t care about having a pool or fancy lodgings, but what was important as they say in real estate was location, location, location. We were looking for a local connection to the community and enjoy giving our monies to a small business owner, not to a hotel chain. While we appreciate the amenities of a resort as much as the next person, it is priceless to meet the people who live in the places we visit.

After our fun day of travel from San Jose, we arrived via boat at the dock in Tortuguero. As we disembarked our boat I was already falling in love with the village. The humid Caribbean air was heavy as we hoisted our bags on our backs and smaller backpacks across our chests. Immediately memories of endless treks down similar streets around the world caused my heart to beat a bit faster. Even as the sweat droplets began to flow we followed the other travelers down the narrow path to El Patio to check in for our stay at the adorable Casa Pelican Tortuguero.

Early in my research, I looked into several of the best guesthouses in Tortuguero Village including popular favorites such as Casa Marabella B&B, Hostal Cabinas y Tortuguero, and Tortuguero’s Adventure Beach House.

I even veered off course and checked out some great reviews for a fancier option at Mawamba Lodge, a gorgeous lodge set in the jungle. Our friends had entrusted me with the lodgings for this holiday and I wanted to make sure everyone’s wishes would be met.

At the end of the day, despite a lot of great options, we decided that the best guesthouse in Tortuguero Village for us was Casa Pelican. I loved the owner’s story and the rooms looked both casual and comfy; a perfect combo. As we arrived at the fenced yard with a sweet gate to our home away from home for a few nights, we knew we’d made a good choice.

Owned by Ronny & Ladina, Casa Pelican is our type of guest house. She is Swiss, he is Costa Rican, and they decided to build their dream guesthouse in his hometown. Ideally set halfway between the Caribbean Sea and the river, Casa Pelican is a typical guest house with the owners living on the ground floor and four spacious and comfortable rooms on the second floor for guests. I do love a good love story set in an exotic location.

A delightful balcony circles the second floor with hammocks and comfy chairs for hanging out during one of the frequent thunderstorms or simply enjoying the bevy of wildlife right outside your door. Who doesn’t love a hammock nap?

Although we booked a night safari walk as well as an entrance into the National Park, we found in our time throughout the country that we could engage in better wildlife viewings simply by hanging out at our lodging of choice. The fantastic rooftop lounge at Casa Pelican was no different. That feature proved to be one of our favorite amenities at Casa Pelican, after all a huge part of the magic of Costa Rica is the extensive wildlife around every corner.

After spending hours wandering the highlights of the village and enjoying waterside dining, we would return to the recliners on the rooftop patio on the loungers, cameras, and binoculars at the ready for the next wildlife sighting. Complete with a small fridge for guest use, and a coffee/tea station, this was also our favorite spot for morning coffee with views of the Caribbean to the East and the mangrove swamps to the West.

Our hosts had several handy guidebooks available to peruse and a phone number posted in case of emergency but other than our initial check-in we only saw them in passing.

The neighbor’s lively chickens were a source of entertainment along with the wildlife viewing but what really made our stay pleasant was the central location and nicely appointed rooms.

If you’re heading to this delightful Caribbean corner of Costa Rica, Casa Pelican Guesthouse is a lovely place to hang your hat for a few days.