La Bastilla Ecolodge - Jinotega

Beautiful cottages, price-quality ratio, friendly staff and beautiful, green environment. if they stay here, they help the local community as gains are used for a local education project. I found small practical information online, so below an extensive review. a reservation was not easy. a phone number is out of service, the other one is not answered. they do not use whatsapp, the email address does not work (announced) and the booking form on the website is not answered. Finally I could contact with the chat feature on google maps. they have lowered their prices and their website has not yet updated. we only paid 950 cordoba per night, including breakfast, which is excellent value for money. When we arrived, we were the only guests. from jinotega you can take a pantasma or bocay bus and drive to la batilla (enpalme de la bastilla). in the theory could la bastilla pick them up, but I recommend checking in advance before the trip. in our case, her car was in the garage, so we took a taxi from jinotega (600 700 cordoba,) which was able to us all the way away with up to the last 150 meters (from the coffee factory to the lodge,) which were too steep. if they have their own car, a regular car will be able to make it with taking out the last 150 meters (you can park their car in the coffee factory) although a suv with some power is recommended. they don't need 4x4. the wooden and brick kabanas are spacious and clean rooms (except the bathroom that had a mushroom). windows have roller shutters and decent mosquito nets. there is a small veranda with two chairs and an excellent view. the king size bed is comfortable and large. shower is solar heated. there are no sockets in the room to load equipment. they can charge their phone etc. in common area. there are also Wi-Fi in common area and 4g an tigo also worked pretty well. eating was simple, but really good, although options are limited and sometimes are small in portions. we could choose two lunch/dinner options, breakfast was only tipico . there are no snacks or drinks sold, with taking water, coffee, some juice (lime jamaica) and beer. I assume the limited f b options are a result of the small number of guests and it has not disturbed me at all. what should I do? migrating possibilities are limited. there are no real hiking trails, but they can hike on a dirty road through the plantation to a point of view or to the next village. the lodge offers several tours: coffee tours: they can participate in the harvest and/or visit the production area and explain the coffee process. outside the harvest season (november to mid februar) this tour is not available. catacion de caffe. of what I understood, this tour includes the tasting of coffee and the explanation about the process in the local factory (which has not much to see outside the harvest season). if they really want to do this, they must reserve it three days in advance. 1 hour at 6.00 clock, 100 cordoba per person. we took this tour, but saw no birds because it was cold and cloudy. april is the best month to see birds (including the quetzal, toucans, papageien etc). tour. guided walk to the local community. 3 hours, 300 cordoba per person. no guide was present so that we made the hike ourselves by following the dirt road downhill. we haven't seen much village life, but the environment is beautiful. they cross a stream many times and after 1,20 hours to foot there is a good view with a bank. Shortly after that the road ends and they go back the same road. google maps show that the bujona waterfall is here, but this is wrong (they cannot wander from la bastilla). overall there is not much to do or to see outside the harvested season. Nevertheless we enjoyed staying here as t 's a very quiet and whole place surrounded by steep hills with a coffee plantation and lush tropical rainforest.

We stayed here one night with our 3 young children and it is family friendly. This a very beautiful and quiet place. We only stayed one night but wished we had stayed 2 so we could have done a good hike. The bedrooms could use mosquito netting. Not many bugs but there were a few. The beds and bedding were comfortable but one bed that was touching the outer wall had quite a mouldy/musty smell to it. Our room had an awesome covered porch with rocking chairs that we used to have a drink and listen to the sounds of the forest. Dinner and breakfast were both very good and the service was friendly and helpful. Coffee was fantastic! The road in from the main paved road was a stressful drive! We had a rental 2wd car and had a tough time getting to the lodge and actually couldn’t make it the whole way. Had to park and get picked up by a truck from the lodge. Take a 4x4 or arrange another option before you get there. Very beautiful and serene!

Simple lodge in a beautiful environment. Friendly young staff. Enjoyable meals. Still learning the hospitality industry.

The setup is beautiful and I'm sure it used to be great but this is far from the case anymore. There is nothing for tourists, no tour, no information. The staff leaves you alone, doesn't make any effort to understand or help you. The restaurant has a very limited choice, doesn't even have a beer or a juice and there is absolutely nothing else around. We decided to ask for their driver to drop us at the road, 5 km down a dirt road where no bus goes. We asked to be picked up back at 4. The driver didnt show up, we had to walk up at dark... the last day, the woman I was corresponding with didnt even bother to reply to me anymore. And expensive for no hot water, not even water at all during the day. There are far better places. Dont waste your money there, making a rich guy sitting in Costa Rica richer while the staff there has no clue.

May recommend a day trip there, but not an overnight stay. It is overpriced $22 for a bottle of wine) and the room had mice and cockroaches, granted it is the rainforest but you've been warned. The scenery is great. They charge $5 American Dollars) to give you a lift to the bus stop, while other people are able to catch a ride for free that you paid for. Steer away from their massages as they are cheap $15 but you get what you pay for, they literally just stroked your body and touch you inappropriately.