Description
El Gavilan is named after the numerous, feathery-leaved "Gavilan" trees that grow along the Sarapiqui River. This lowland river flows just behind the lodge and is an excellent area for seeing a variety of rain forest wildlife such as iguanas, sloths, caimans, toucans, and many parrots. While the hotel itself is located near riparian forest, the owner also has a small, private rain forest reserve that can be visited with a guide. El Gavilan is one of the more quiet lodges in the Sarapiqui area
and is the closest to the La Selva biological station run by the Organization for Tropical Studies. Birders can visit for a day for a fee to take pictures of the many colorful bird species that visit their fruit feeders.