Grounding at Cielo Lodge

Photo by @passiflora_studios

Imagine yourself immersed in the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest, a symphony of birdsong filling your ears and the emerald canopy dappling sunlight on your skin. Now, picture yourself connecting even deeper with this vibrant ecosystem – not just visually, but physically. This is the essence of our transformative Guided Grounding Tour, an experience unlike any other.

Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of connecting your bare feet directly with the Earth's surface. This simple act has been shown to offer a multitude of scientifically-proven health benefits, making it a perfect complement to your restorative retreat at Cielo Lodge.

The Science of Earthing:

Numerous studies have explored the grounding phenomenon, revealing its potential to:

• Reduce inflammation: Research suggests that earthing can act as a natural antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that contribute to inflammation throughout the body.

• Improve sleep quality: Studies have shown that grounding can lead to deeper, more restful sleep, leaving you feeling energized and revitalized.

• Promote stress reduction: Grounding may help mitigate the effects of chronic stress, lowering cortisol levels and promoting a sense of calm.

• Lessens pain: Earthing has been linked to a reduction in chronic pain, potentially due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Your Grounding Journey at Cielo Lodge:

Our expert guide will lead you on a gentle, meditative, barefoot walk through our lush rainforest reserve. As you explore hidden trails and encounter abundant wildlife, you'll be invited to pause at designated grounding points. Take in a deep breath and sink your bare feet into the cool, damp earth.

Your guide will provide insightful commentary on the science of earthing and facilitate mindfulness practices to enhance your connection with nature. As you reconnect with the Earth's natural energy, feel tension melt away and a sense of deep peace settle within.

Beyond the Tour:

The grounding experience doesn't end with the tour. Our 380-acre private reserve boasts numerous opportunities for barefoot exploration. Take a self-guided hike along our nature trails, feeling the soft earth beneath your feet. Relax on your private terrace, allowing the cool rainforest floor to soothe your soul. With Cielo Lodge as your sanctuary, you can seamlessly integrate grounding into your daily routine, maximizing its long-term health benefits.

Unwind, Reconnect, and Rejuvenate:

Embrace a deeper connection with nature and unlock the power of grounding at Cielo Lodge. Let us guide you on a journey towards holistic wellbeing in the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest.

Grounding is one of the activities that we include in our rates. Contact reservations@cielolodge.com today to book your unforgettable escape!

1.  Everything is Less Expensive 

• Bask in the magic of Costa Rica at a fraction of peak-season prices, from your Sansa flights to Golfito, to nightly Lodge rates, to tours and excursions. 

• This is the perfect reason to gather your whole crew - because everything is less expensive!

2. You Won't Lose a Day to Rain 

• The rain will come in the afternoon, and so our local experts and guides will get you out in the early morning, to ensure you enjoy a variety of outdoor ecotourism and adventure activities, immersed in nature.

• Return before the rain arrives, settling into authentic luxury, with downtime and relaxation. Enjoy a massage, a yoga session, or a nice nap - lulled to rest by the sounds of the rain.

3. Tons of Wildlife During the “Green Season”

• A diverse variety of wildlife shares our protected rainforest reserve, and depends on an abundance of fruits, insects, and seeds. When the jungle is vibrant, so is our surrounding wildlife. 

• Here are a few of the species you will likely see: The Squirrel Monkeys, Coatis, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Sloths, and hundreds of birds, like the Red-capped Manakin, Scarlet Macaw, Tanagers, Hummingbirds, Parrots, and Toucans. 

4. Whales!!

July - September is whale-watching season in Golfito and the Golfo Dulce!! Catch exceptional sights of the humpback whales that migrate to our “front yard”.

Experience the Best Whale Watching in Costa Rica:

• The Golfo Dulce gained Whale Heritage Site status last year, making it Latin America’s first site, and only one of only eight worldwide. 

• This hidden gem is a finite body of water allowing for calm waters and prime visibility. It is highly likely that you will be one of the only boats out on the water.

Your stay supports responsible whale-watching in Golfito and the Golfo Dulce for future humpback whale migrations and generations!! 

5. It’s Summer in the US, the Perfect Time for a Family Vacation!

• Our off-the-beaten-path location keeps adults and kids of all ages enthralled, allowing you to create life-time memories. 

• Conde Nast Traveler recently mentioned Cielo Lodge among their top picks for the best Costa Rica Airbnbs.

• We welcome all ages with our Rainforest Sanctuary Buyout package! Bring your group of 12 - 24, and enjoy your own private jungle playground by the sea. 

“Seeking adventure in solitude, two families book an entire rainforest lodge for themselves and spend a week zip-lining, jumping into rapids and boating through eerie mangroves. ‘Even the teens were impressed.’”

— Heidi Mitchell wrote for The Wall Street Journal about her group’s eco resort takeover with our Rainforest Sanctuary Buyout package

6.  Everything is Less Crowded, Including National Parks 

• Witness wildlife uncompromised by big crowds at our nearby gems adjacent to the Osa Peninsula, like Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park, Pavones Beach, and the Río Coto — a birder’s paradise with mangroves, secluded shorelines, and river-side jungles.

7. Settle into the Dramatic Afternoon Rain & Nature’s Rhythm…

• Craving solitude? Relax in the canopy of the rainforest from your suite's private terrace and hammock, and sink into the hum of the jungle. Enjoy a hot outdoor shower, get lost in a good book - the afternoon rain creates a rhythm that encourages downtime.

• More group fun? Pass the afternoon and sunset up at the lodge’s open-air terraces with a cooking class. Or, take in the views over an afternoon treat with warm herbal tea and board games.

Reset your body to the rhythm of nature, and feel transformed by a sense of rejuvenation.

Visit Costa Rica’s Southern Zone between May and October, and capture the essence of true Costa Rica ecolodge luxury, with upscale comforts in the heart of the unspoiled jungle of Golfito, overlooking the Golfo Dulce. 

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We are thrilled to announce that Cielo Lodge guests can now visit Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, with a one-day excursion that will allow you to experience a place that is home to an astonishing 2.5% of the world's biodiversity within just 0.001% of the Earth's land area. 

Of course, our nearby rainforest on the green mountain behind Golfito is also host to astounding bio-diversity (and zero crowds). After all, we share the same greenbelt as the Osa.

But Corcovado is a crown jewel of Costa Rica, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our guests there.

Here is what your day-trip to Corcovado will look like:

Accompanied by one of our Certified Naturalists, you will depart the Lodge at 4:30 am, with a gourmet picnic breakfast and coffee. You’ll head down the mountain road to meet our boat captain in Golfito, where he will take you on the 35 minute boat ride across the Golfo Dulce to Puerto Jiménez. You’ll then transfer to a slightly larger boat, for the 1.5 hour boat ride to the Sirena Station in Corcovado.

You’ll eat your breakfast on the larger boat (you can’t bring food into the park, but snacks are available for purchase later on), and after a wet-landing on the beach, you’ll find yourself at one of the ranger stations for check-in and a bathroom break. You’ll then set out on a 4.5 hour, naturalist-led tour from the Ranger Station.

The trail is flat and winds along the park's waterside and nearby beaches. You will have a great chance of seeing Costa Rica’s 4 types of monkeys, caiman, tapirs, scarlet macaws, and even anteaters. The tropical rainforest of Corcovado is home to 140 species of mammals, 367 birds, and 117 amphibians and reptiles, so really, the possibilities for wildlife sightings are endless.

You’ll enjoy a nice snack at Sirena Station and then leave the Park at around 12:30 pm, venturing back the same way you came. You’ll be back at Cielo Lodge by around 3:30 pm, where we’ll greet you with refreshments and more snacks, and you can then enjoy a luscious nap, a hot shower, and restful down-time.

We are thrilled to be able to offer our amazing guests this hassle-free, remarkable adventure - a day-trip to Corcovado National Park, a Crown Jewel of Costa Rica.

For more information about all of the activities that we offer, including many that are included in our rates, please visit our Activities Page on our website. Or write to us at info@cielolodge.com and we’ll get back to you quickly.

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Donny Nunez, one of our extraordinary Certified Naturalists, grew up in Golfito, in a small barrio just below Cielo Lodge. His home life was simple, no cell phones or computers and very little television. Like most kids, he spent his time outdoors, exploring nature - on the water and on the mountain of Golfito.

His childhood appreciation for the surrounding abundance of nature and wildlife motivated Donny to pursue studies in wildlife, English, and hospitality. It was a perfect combination for the path that he's chosen.

Since he grew up here with a very keen awareness of the full spectrum of wildlife, Donny offers each of our guests a highly personalized, curated and immersive experience, allowing our guests to really learn about our nearby ecosystems, as well as the authentic history of Golfito. He’s an inspiration to many of our younger guests, a few of whom have said “I want to be just like Donny when I grow up”.

He's worked in Nature Tourism for over 10 years, in many Costa Rican locations that are farther away. Working at Cielo Lodge allows him to live at home, of which he is very appreciative.

An avid birdwatcher, Donny is constantly updating our bird list, based on what our guests have seen in the rainforest and on the water. He also is helping us to reforest our land, by recommending native species that will attract more wildlife at different times of the year,

With his roots still deep in Golfito, Donny also actively engages with local school children, to share his story and to lead them on hikes and conservation activities. He has brought classes of children to Cielo Lodge to plant young trees, and to bird watch, teaching them how to use binoculars. He is passionate about inspiring the next generation, and encouraging them to think that, like him, they can build careers around a shared passion for nature.

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Aren’t the Summer months the rainy season? Will we really see the Whales?

Yes and Yes!! It is the rainy season. But you will not lose a day to rain. The rain generally comes in the afternoon. So, we’ll get you out early for your excursions, including your whale-watching tour. And then, you’ll enjoy afternoon down-time - get lost in a book, nap in a hammock on your covered, protected terrace, maybe take a cooking class with our amazing kitchen crew, or enjoy a session of yoga or massage. The afternoon will be yours, set against a backdrop of mother nature’s dramatic rain showers.

YES!! We have Whales!!

The Southern Antarctic Humpback Whales are starting their yearly migration north, and they will arrive in the Golfo Dulce at the beginning of August, where they will give birth and nurse their young. They generally stay in the area through the end of September.  

The quiet, protected waters of this natural tropical fjord are the BEST spot in Costa Rica from which to catch sight of them.

Why? What Makes the Golfo Dulce so Special for Whale-Watching?

• The Golfo Dulce is a finite body of water, so if there are whales, our Boat Captain and Naturalist will definitely find them. 

• There are no waves, so you won't get seasick.

• The Golfo Dulce is an untouristed hidden treasure. It’s highly likely that you’ll be one of the only boats on the water.

Ready for a “Whale of a Welcome”? Write to us at reservations@cielolodge.com and we’ll help you book your reservation and help you with all of your logistics.

What if your next vacation directly impacted more women in the travel industry? You hold the power to choose such a destination, where exceptional service meets the genuine pillars of an eco-conscious luxury eco lodge, focused on community and authenticity.

Today, and all month long, we celebrate International Women’s Day, and, in honor of this special occasion, we are turning the spotlight of admiration onto our General Manager - Catalina Torres Portela  –  a true pioneer in eco-tourism in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. 

 After graduating with a degree in tourism and a minor in botany, Catalina collaborated with an NGO to develop the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge and managed it for 16 years. She is also an entrepreneur. Before joining Cielo Lodge, she ran her own bed and breakfast in Golfito, and helped establish Golfito as an eco-tourism destination among her guests, who came from over 30 countries. 

Catalina’s professional presence and leadership has a ripple effect, positively impacting employee morale and ensuring an impeccable guest experience.

With the support of Cielo Lodge’s owners, Nicole and Keith Goldstein, Catalina continues to encourage the development of local micro-businesses, including many women-owned businesses, thereby benefiting many families in the Golfito area.  We have partnered with a local uniform supplier, local fruit and vegetable purveyers, local fisherman, and local boat and tour operators to bring the best of the area to our guests.

Her connection to community also allows us to provide truly authentic experiences for our guests.  A visit to a family-owned chocolate-farm, a day-trip to the indigenous community of Boruca, an afternoon spent with an artisanal fisherman, or a beach lunch served by a local family are all activities that we are able to program and arrange because of Catalina’s personal connections.   

And it is because of Catalina – her connection to the community, her passion for the environment, her focus on all things local -  that Cielo Lodge was named to National Geographic’s Six of the Best Luxury Eco-Lodges in Costa Rica

 We cherish Catalina's life-long passion of true hospitality and ecotourism, unlocking doors for other women’s’ futures. Her signature style of exceeding expectations attracts a dedicated team of local talent, and there is a constant buzz felt around the Lodge from proudly serving natural and memorable experiences and cuisine that guests carry home for the rest of their lives.

Ready for your bespoke Eco-friendly luxury trip to one of the best Eco Lodges in Costa Rica? Inquire about your dream family vacation or eco resort rental buyout for group travel by emailing Catalina at info@cielolodge.com .

We’ve gotten through 3 years of construction, with all of the ups and downs. And we’ve made it through the operational startup, opening years. During the middle of Covid no less! The behind-the-scenes craziness has subsided, and we now have a bit more time to reflect on all that we have accomplished, and all that we plan to accomplish.

What better way to do that than with a blog?

We’ll have updates on our guest experience, our activities, our community engagement, our staff, our wildlife sightings... Tasty-tidbits to keep you up to date.

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Sending you all our best, and much “pura vida”.

Nicole, Keith and Catalina