Natural Lodge Caño Negro

Part of our complete guide: Fishing Lodges in Costa Rica: Every Lodge and Fishermen-Run Resort, by Zone

What it is

Natural Lodge Caño Negro is a lodge in Caño Negro village, the small community in the middle of the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica's far north. The refuge is a vast seasonal wetland on the lower Río Frío, famous for its birds, and the lodge leans that way too: most of its tours are about herons, jabirus, caimans and monkeys. Its blog has been posting through 2025 and 2026.

But it also runs its own sport fishing tours, and that makes it a good choice if you're travelling with people who'd rather watch birds while you chase a tarpon.

The lodge

The hotel sits in gardens and forest in the village, with green-roofed buildings around a swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar. Superior rooms have a king bed, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker and a safe; standard rooms have 2 double beds, air conditioning, hot water and a safe. Rooms and tours can both be booked online.

The fishing

Trips leave at 6 a.m. and last either 4 hours (a morning or afternoon half day) or 8 hours (a full day split into 2 sessions). The boats are Pantanal-style aluminium and fibreglass boats, and the guides are local people who grew up on the wetland, know its wildlife well and speak English. The boat, the guide and basic tackle are included.

The lodge names 4 fish:

• Tarpon (sábalo real). Atlantic tarpon that swim up the San Juan river system from the Caribbean into the lagoons and the Río Frío. Every tarpon must be released in Costa Rica.
• Snook (róbalo). Found in the same waters.
• Guapote (rainbow bass). The country's favourite freshwater game fish, which the lodge says can top 12 pounds.
• Gar (gaspar). The long, armoured tropical gar, a fish to handle gently and release.

The lodge's tour page calls mid-December to April the best season, the drier months when the lagoon shrinks and fish gather in smaller channels. Its fishing article suggests March to June and October to November for most tarpon. Our Caño Negro and Río Frío guide explains why sources disagree on tarpon timing. The lodge also writes about fishing farther afield on Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River, so ask if that interests you.

For tarpon on spinning gear, it suggests a 6.5 to 8-foot rod and a levelwind reel with 150 to 200 yards of 15 to 20-pound line, and it likes yellow and silver mirror-sided lures.

Licences and the closed season

You'll need a fishing licence and the refuge entry fee, neither of which is included. Fishing in the refuge is rod and line only, with rangers on patrol. Caño Negro also closes to fishing for part of each year, and sources disagree on the months: one 2026 travel guide gives an open season of July 1 to March 31, others put the closure at April to July. Confirm with the lodge before booking from late March to July. Our freshwater fishing guide has more on the rules.

How to book

Call or WhatsApp reception on +506 8547 0437 (also the after-hours line), email [email protected], or book rooms and tours on the website. For the village lodge that has fished the lagoon since 1998, see Hotel de Campo Caño Negro.