Summary
There’s nothing quite like waking up in a rainforest — the sounds, sensations, and sheer size of these biodiverse landscapes are a magical reminder of the magnificence of nature. However, unless you’re traveling with your own camping gear (and some serious survival skills), the best option is to check into a well-appointed lodge for a worry-free wilderness retreat. Fortunately, many eco hotels in rainforests also encourage responsible tourism, from preventing deforestation by purchasing expansive areas of forests to supporting wildlife conservation projects. Therefore, as more travelers seek new ways to consciously connect with nature, here are some of the best rainforest stays.
Explore an old-growth rainforest in Canada
Many people don’t associate Canada with rainforests, but that’s precisely why Clayoquot Sound — home to one of the last great tracts of ancient temperate rainforest — remains one of British Columbia’s best-kept secrets. Nestled on the emerald banks of a pristine ocean inlet on Vancouver Island, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is a true mecca for nature enthusiasts. The resort’s off-the-grid location (accessible only by seaplane, helicopter, or boat) ensures that every part of the stay is a decadent adventure. With 25 luxuriously appointed guest tents set among towering conifer trees, even showering comes with verdant views. Moreover, action-packed daily excursions reveal the region’s impressive wildlife, including black bears, whales, and bald eagles. Those looking to marvel at thousand-year-old trees can join a guided hike through the old-growth forest, where giant mushrooms, berries, and blankets of moss create a masterpiece of color and texture. After immersing yourself in nature, you can savor it at dinner, where executive chef Asher Blackford regularly transforms foraged ingredients into edible art.
Stay in a tree house in the Peruvian Amazon
Located on a private ecological reserve in Peru’s Amazon rainforest, yet only a 25-minute flight from Cusco, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica feels remote, but it’s actually very accessible for anyone on Peru’s popular “Gringo Trail.” The eco-luxury lodge sits on the edge of the Madre de Dios River, where caimans, Andean bears, and sloths can frequently be spotted. With 35 wooden cabanas inspired by the Ese’Eja culture and a canopy tree house perched 90 feet above the jungle floor, there is ample space to explore your wild side. Thanks to an à la carte menu of daily excursions, you’ll almost forget the absence of Wi-Fi. Consequently, after a few pisco sours, you’ll relish the experience of falling asleep to the melodious sounds of the surrounding Tambopata National Reserve. In 2022, Inkaterra became the world’s first carbon-negative hotel brand, providing another compelling reason to indulge in glamping in the Amazon.
Maroon yourself on a private island in Panama
The Gulf of Chiriqui off Panama’s Pacific Coast is one of the last few places in Central America that is truly pristine. If you’re seeking a private island escape that makes you feel like an intrepid adventurer, there’s no better place to stay than Isla Palenque. With just eight casitas that open onto a golden-sand beach and a villa that sleeps 14, guests can experience true privacy while exploring 400 acres of primary rainforest teeming with howler monkeys and migratory birds. The trails here are steeped in history, as the island once served as a refuge for Indigenous groups who escaped the slave trade during Central America’s colonial period. As part of the Cayuga Collection, this property has made a dedicated effort to not only preserve the untouched wilderness but also employ almost entirely local staff, enhancing every guided experience.
Visit the world’s oldest living rain forest Down Under
After debuting a multimillion-dollar refurbishment in December 2021, Silky Oaks Lodge is providing us yet another reason to visit Australia. With its reopening, the enduring Tropical North Queensland retreat is offering even further immersion in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. The property has long been renowned for its 40 luxury tree houses styled with Baillie Lodges’ signature contemporary aesthetic, allowing views of the Mossman River to shine. However, cultural and ecological sustainability are now becoming even more central to the Silky Oaks experience. After all, the rainforest is home to 74 species of mammals, twice as many types of reptiles and amphibians, and 330 varieties of birds, as well as the First Nations Kuku Yalanji people. To honor the traditional custodians of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, whose history dates back around 50,000 years, the property invites guests to connect with the Indigenous heritage through Aboriginal artwork and culinary creations infused with traditional flavors.
Hide out at a Hollywood director’s Belizean abode
Filled with natural swimming pools, waterslides, caves, and Mayan ruins, Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a playground for rainforest enthusiasts. There’s perhaps no better place to soak it all in than Blancaneaux Lodge, Francis Ford Coppola’s luxury hideaway set among tropical pines. This property was Coppola’s private family retreat before he opened it to the public in 1993. Fortunately for visitors, it serves as an excellent base for those wanting to explore the pristine Cayo District, including the 13,000-acre Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park, where a dense jungle and spectacular waterfalls await. Furthermore, Blancaneaux Lodge recently joined the Preferred Hotel Group’s new Beyond Green travel portfolio, allowing guests to feel good about the property’s sustainability measures, including employing staff from nearby Mayan villages, harnessing hydropower as a renewable energy source, and utilizing organic gardens to supply the kitchen daily.
Sleep in a cloud forest in Ecuador
It’s remarkable that Mashpi Lodge, a sleek 47-guest-capacity hotel perched at the intersection of a rainforest and cloud forest, is just 60 miles from bustling Quito, Ecuador. While gazing through the floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass windows overlooking a 2,500-acre private reserve, you feel completely cocooned in lush vegetation. Whether you’re bird-watching with your morning coffee from the terrace or admiring fluttering butterflies from the viewing platform that juts out over the forest, spotting rare and magnificent species is common. After all, it was only in 2020 that the Mashpi frog and a rare orchid species — both endemic to this very forest — were identified. Today, discovery remains integral to the Mashpi experience, which includes a working on-site laboratory and knowledgeable naturalists always ready to guide guests through a wonderland of flora and fauna.
