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Luna del Rio

  • Luna Del Rio San Juan
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  • NIC_RioSanJuan_LunaDelRio (1)
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Luna del Rio is a quirky family-run guesthouse on the banks of Rio San Juan in El Castillo.

Riverside El Castillo is certainly a quirky little place, with its jungle-fringed wooden houses shading vehicle-free lanes and alleys all loomed over by the vast hilltop Spanish fort.   You almost have the impression that you are in a Latin American magical realism novel and this feeling is only enhanced if you stay at the Luna del Rio.


This delightful small wooden guesthouse is at the quieter end of town. Perched right on the wide Rio San Juan’s bank, it is managed by its friendly Spanish owner, Margarita, and her husband Miguel. There are just five small rooms with (occasional) hot water and air-conditioning. Two of the rooms have balconies with comfy chairs overlooking the rapids on the river – stay in one of those if you can.


Downstairs is a small bar and you take (an excellent) breakfast on a veranda right at the water's edge: watch the birds dipping and weaving or villagers fishing according to centuries-old practices. Other meals can be taken in restaurants around town; Margarita will take your order and you turn up there at the pre-agreed time. In spite of the opening of a new bridge crossing the river to Costa Rica, El Castillo is still remote:  carry a torch for use in a power cut.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Margarite & Manuel were fab hosts - like staying with a family. Couldn't do enough for us. Lovely balcony overlooking the rio San Juan. Rooms on the small side but…

    RJD, Chippenham Apr 2018
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Our Expert's Opinion

Carrie
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

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