Thinking about planning a vacation in the jungle? Perfect for adventure enthusiasts, you can view exotic wildlife and take part in a variety of outdoor adventures. From the lush landscapes of Brazil to prime tiger territory in India, these getaways are worthy of adding to your bucket list. For a one-of-a-kind adventure, consider one of these unbeatable jungle retreats.
Lapa Rios Ecolodge - Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Lapa Rios Ecolodge is set within a private nature reserve spread over more than 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical rainforest on the wild Osa Peninsula. One of the best resorts in Costa Rica, it hosts thatched-roof bungalows that are free from the buzz of a telephone, the intrusion of the Internet or television. Instead, guests can enjoy the peaceful sounds of crickets, kinkajous, and cicadas along with amazing ocean views and a huge private deck. Beach access is a 10-minute walk away, and you can also lounge alongside the outdoor pool with more breathtaking ocean views. After a day of play, including the option to take surfing lessons, kayak, a horseback ride on the beach, or a trek through the forest to spot three-toed sloths, pumas, monkeys, tree frogs, toucans, macaws and thousands of other creatures, you can indulge in a massage followed by dinner at the restaurant serving local fare with jungle views.
Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge, Brazil
Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge was constructed to be in harmony with its surroundings, yet it offers plenty of luxurious comforts, right in the middle of the world’s largest tropical wetland. Guests are completely immersed in the jungle, while trails wind through the beautiful grounds that lead to treetop lookout towers for spotting the beautiful hyacinth macaws that fly past. Activities also include canoeing, horseback riding, and even photo safaris, as this is one of the best spots on the planet for photographing birds. Rooms feature spacious verandas, and there’s a pool with more picturesque views and an outstanding restaurant for enjoying dishes made with ingredients like organic fruit and vegetables from the property’s garden along with homemade cheeses.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek - San Ignacio, Belize
The Lodge at Chaa Creek sits along the banks of the Macal River and has been considered one of the premier jungle lodges in Central America for several decades, and arguably Belize’s very best. Located near San Ignacio in western Belize, it boasts the top spa in the country, a gourmet restaurant, exceptional staff, a butterfly farm, and an infinity pool, all on beautifully manicured grounds on a 365-acre nature reserve. The large rooms in whitewash-and-thatch duplex cottages, as well as two upmarket suites, include high-quality furnishings, Guatemalan wall hangings, and bedspreads, while the newer honeymoon “treetop suites” seem to defy gravity, standing at eye level among the uppermost branches of hardwoods. When it comes to things to do, you can tour the Rainforest Medicine Trail, visit a Maya-style cacao plantation, go canoeing or horseback riding and more. Birding is impressive, with some 247 species that have been spotted here.
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica - Puerto Maldonado, Peru
A top hotel in Peru, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is an eco-lodge situated in a remote region of the Peruvian Amazon Basin. Climb the banks of the meandering Madre de Dios River, and you’ll be stepping into a totally new world where you can wake to the sounds of the tropical birds and fall asleep to the calls of the animals at night. Surrounded by a vast jungle canopy, the individual, thatched-roof cabanas combine a variety of natural materials and all feature hammocks and screened porches, organic bath products, and slippers. There’s also the Canopy Tree House, a room perched some 90 feet above the jungle floor. Guests can follow an “anaconda trail” across flooded swampland to take in a view of the forest from a walkway suspended through the treetops, as well as dine on creatively prepared meals made from fresh local ingredients, and indulge in treatments featuring exotic Amazonian botanical extracts at the spa.
Pacuare Lodge - Pacuare, Costa Rica
Pacuare Lodge is in the heart of the tropical Caribbean jungle, tucked deep within a pristine, protected rainforest along the banks of the Pacuare River just north of the Talamanca Mountains. It’s home to an abundance of colorful wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, jaguars and a wide variety of birds. The elevated thatched-roof bungalows, with a range of sizes, are private and luxurious – some even include a private pool. Some of the activities available include canyoning, rafting, horseback riding, and treks to a nearby swimming hole where you can bathe under a waterfall. Couples might want to take advantage of the candlelit romantic dinners offered at a table set high in the rainforest canopy or on the riverbank.
Sani Lodge - Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
Sani Lodge is run by the local kichwa-speaking Sani community, who worked dispersed among other lodges before coming together to operate this magnificent lodge that offers one of the world’s best jungle getaways. This incredibly tranquil setting, deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon in a wildlife-rich corridor of rainforest between the Cuyabeno Reserve and the Yasuni National Park, is made up of 10 thatched cabanas that sit at the edge of a lake. The eco-lodge offers prime birding, from the dining room to the nearby tree tower and beyond. As it uses pure solar energy, there is a greater presence of wildlife that would otherwise be frightened away by the noise – and, there are almost always caimans lurking around the lagoon at night. Sani community guides lead excursions on both the land and water and introduce guests to their families in the nearby village. The lodge offers both a cultural element to understand life in the Amazon Rainforest and a focus on nature.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia
The Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Borneo is surrounded by an incredibly biodiverse wildlife sanctuary, and it’s one of the only places on Earth inhabited by as many as 10 monkey species, including four that are endemic to Borneo, and the largest number of orangutans in Malaysia. The region’s forests are also home to sun bears, leopards, Sumatran rhinos and Asian elephants. Built of local hardwood and linked by raised walkways, the lodge blends into the rainforest while remaining just removed enough to make for a comfortable guest experience. You can step right from your room into the jungle on the elevated boardwalk, stopping to see wildlife, including Bornean pygmy elephants, and tropical plants. Activities include morning and afternoon cruises in small electric riverboats to see the wildlife that congregates at the water’s edge; nature walks, and lectures by the lodge’s guides. The restaurant serves international cuisine, while a lounge offers wine, cocktails, tea, and other beverages. An outdoor pool, sundecks, library, pool table, and board games are right onsite too.
Black Rock Lodge - Black Rock, Belize
The Black Rock Lodge sits on the banks of the Macal River in Belize, clinging onto a dramatic hillside just above the water that rushes through Black Rock Canyon. It’s totally off-grid, with all energy produced through solar and hydroelectric power, and the majority of food served is organically grown right here. There are cozy cabins, all with hammock-slung balconies that offer awe-inspiring views, and its 242 acres are an outstanding spot for bird watching, with more than 200 species, including all three species of toucan, along with hawks, trogons, and kestrels. Visitors can also enjoy caving, mountain biking, and canoeing.
Cristalino Lodge - Grosso, Brazil
Often ranked as one of the best jungle lodges in the world, Cristalino Lodge is tucked within a private nature reserve on the banks of the Cristalino River, a tributary of the Amazon. It’s known for its upscale accommodations in rooms and bungalows that offer just about every comfort you can imagine. A favorite with birding enthusiasts, visitors can explore both the waterways and forest to view some of the 500 species that call the jungle home, including macaws, parakeets, and parrots, as well as endemic species such as the white-nosed saki monkey. The lodge also boasts the highest canopy tower in the Amazon, where you can enjoy impressive views of the rainforest and the birds that soar above it. After dark, enjoy sipping caipirinha while gazing at the stars and listening to the calls of the nocturnal animals. Guides lead river and land excursions, and cooking classes are available too, where you can learn the culinary tricks used to create the dishes served here.
Banjaar Tola, A Taj Safari - Kanha National Park, India
Banjaar Tola, A Taj Safari is a jungle camp in the middle of prime tiger territory in Kanha National Park that offers the chance to watch the big cats on daily safaris. The park is also home to animals like the ant-eating pangolin, leopards, striped hyenas, and porcupines, along with some 70 species of trees. The plush “tents,” are luxurious, semi-permanent suites made with compressed bamboo walls and floors. They include deep bathtubs, silk drapes, and hand-crafted furniture, and private decks, all along the riverbank in an ideal spot for enjoying views of the spectacular jungle wilderness. The swimming pool makes a perfect place for a cool refreshing dip while taking in more jungle vistas, while the camp cuisine is made using fresh ingredients from the property’s own garden.
