The Rio Indio Adventure Lodge, located on the banks of the San Juan River, is a gateway to the wild and virtually unexplored Rio Indio-Maiz Biological Reserve in southeastern Nicaragua. The magical wilderness reserve, which spans 640,000 acres, is the largest lowland tropical rainforest north of the Amazon.
Tropical lowland forest, mangrove estuaries, mile upon mile of jungle waterways, lagoons and pristine Caribbean beaches make exploring the reserve a truly unique and remarkable experience. With more than 600 species of birds and 200 species of mammals, the area is the ultimate destination for eco-tourists seeking adventure at its bests.
Historically, the economic importance of the San Juan during the California Gold Rush captured the interest of Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose oceanic steamship service used the route to transport thousands of men and tons of gold on the 42-day journey between New York and San Francisco, via Nicaragua. Vanderbilt constructed gigantic dredges in the lagoon to place much needed sand for railroad beds in low-lying areas. One dredge is still visible from the Rio Indio lodge, in the shallows of the bay.
After hundreds of frenetic years, the San Juan is again quiet, peaceful and serene. The jungle trains are silent; the dredges have melted slowly into the water and the forest has reclaimed the clearings. The old railway beds now serve as hiking trails for intrepid tourists and forest beasts. The only thing missing is you.