Guacimo Lodge in National Geographic Traveller UK’s 2026/27 Latin America Collection
Guacimo Lodge in National Geographic Traveller UK’s 2026/27 Latin America Collection
Río San Juan · Indio Maíz · Nicaragua
Guacimo Lodge is featured in National Geographic Traveller UK’s 2026/27 Latin America Collection, highlighting our lodge in Nicaragua’s Río San Juan region, between Lake Cocibolca and the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve.
Located on the banks of the San Juan River, Guacimo Lodge offers an opportunity to discover a less-visited side of Nicaragua: the tropical forests, rivers and wildlife of the country’s Atlantic lowlands.
The National Geographic Traveller UK feature presents Guacimo Lodge as a place to experience the natural environment and local character of this remote region of Nicaragua.
View the National Geographic Traveller UK feature →
Guacimo Lodge on the San Juan River, Nicaragua
Guacimo Lodge is located on the San Juan River, close to the historic riverside town of El Castillo and within the buffer zone of the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve.
The lodge is surrounded by primary and secondary tropical forest and is accessible only by boat. Its location makes it a natural base for exploring the river, the forest and the wildlife of southeastern Nicaragua.
Guacimo Lodge operates with renewable solar energy and has a small number of bungalows designed to blend into the surrounding forest. The property also maintains a private forest reserve and supports biodiversity monitoring in the area. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Exploring the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve
One of the main experiences at Guacimo Lodge is travelling by canoe along the San Juan River into the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve.
Local guides accompany guests by canoe towards the reserve and along the quieter waters of the Bartola River, followed by guided walks through tropical forest.
Indio Maíz is one of Nicaragua’s major lowland tropical forest areas and is known for its diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Guacimo Lodge’s activities include wildlife observation, forest walks and birdwatching. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Explore the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve →
Tropical forest and wildlife at Guacimo Lodge
The forest surrounding Guacimo Lodge provides opportunities to observe wildlife both during the day and after sunset.
Guests may encounter spider and howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, sloths, anteaters and a wide variety of tropical birds, depending on season, weather and the animals’ movements.
The lodge offers several nature experiences, including the Tropical Forest Trail, Birdwatching, Jungle Night Tour and River Night Tour. The latter provides an opportunity to look for nocturnal wildlife along the San Juan River after sunset. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Discover our nature and wildlife activities →
El Castillo and the history of the San Juan River
A few minutes upriver from Guacimo Lodge lies El Castillo, a small historic town dominated by the 17th-century Fortress of the Immaculate Conception.
The San Juan River has played an important role in the history of Nicaragua and in attempts to establish an interoceanic route between the Caribbean and the Pacific. Visitors can explore the fortress and learn about the history of the river and the town. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Visit El Castillo and its 17th-century fortress →
Lake Cocibolca and the Solentiname Archipelago
The location of Guacimo Lodge also makes it possible to combine a stay on the San Juan River with an exploration of Lake Cocibolca, also known as Lake Nicaragua, and the Solentiname Archipelago.
Guacimo Lodge can organise itineraries combining the Río San Juan, Indio Maíz and Solentiname, including boat and land transfers between different parts of the region. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Discover Guacimo Lodge & Solentiname →
A remote corner of Atlantic Nicaragua
For travellers interested in nature, wildlife and less-visited destinations, the Río San Juan and Indio Maíz region offers a different perspective on Nicaragua.
Rather than the country’s Pacific volcanoes and colonial cities, this is a landscape of tropical rainforest, waterways and wildlife, with the San Juan River connecting Lake Cocibolca with the Caribbean lowlands.
Guacimo Lodge provides accommodation, guided nature activities and assistance with boat and land transfers for travellers arriving from Managua, Granada, Costa Rica or other destinations in Nicaragua. Guacimo Ecolodge – Nicaragua
Plan your stay at Guacimo Lodge
Interested in discovering Río San Juan, Indio Maíz and Atlantic Nicaragua?
Guacimo Lodge can help organise your accommodation, nature excursions and transportation to and from the lodge.
Check our accommodation and availability →
Guacimo Lodge provides complete logistical support, ranging from private land transportation to boat transfers across the San Juan River or Lake Nicaragua. Whether arriving from Costa Rica or any city within Nicaragua, your trip to Indio Maíz will seamlessly combine a touch of comfort with the spirit of adventure.
We are thrilled that thanks to the publication of National Geographic, Indio Maiz reserve and El Castillo in rio San Juan will be a bit more known to travellers wishing to get a more complete picture of Nicaragua apart from its Pacific side.
Atlantic Nicaragua is closer than you think!
Please whatsapp us for more info at +505 8239 9716 or write us at contact@guacimolodge.com
We look forward to your visit. Gracias!
Guacimo Lodge