Fodor's Expert Review Bosque del Río Tigre Lodge

You can't get any closer to nature than this off-the-grid lodge, famous for its excellent birding and hiking trails, wedged between forest and the banks of the Río Tigre. Stay in a private cabin along a garden trail or in one of the four second-story rooms with shared baths that have chest-high walls, and above that, are open to nature (no screens, just mosquito nets over the beds). In these almost-alfresco rooms you're at eye level with the trees, the better to spot visiting birds. Tuck into the linens and pillows that always feel fresh, and enjoy natural air-conditioning provided by the rushing river. Electricity is solar generated, but there's enough power to recharge batteries and power a Wi-Fi connection. On-demand gas heaters provide plenty of hot water in the garden showers. The gourmet fare here rivals that of the best luxury-lodge kitchens. At dinner, guests gather around a communal table with owners Liz Jones and Abraham Gallo to plan the next day's birding. Abraham, a lifelong local, can show you hidden mountain trails leading to Corcovado National Park, less than a mile away. More than 390 bird species have been spotted on the property, including 255 species from the lodge porch, placing this lodge in the top three hottest birding sites in the country.