HOTELS • March 2016
Five unexpected treehouse retreats
Develop a taste for the high life and get back to nature with a stay at one of these treetop escapes, says travel writer Katie Gatens for The Club
Best for nature lovers: Tree House Lodge, Limon, Costa Rica
With Costa Rica’s lush rainforest and thriving ecosystem, where better to stay than this family-size treehouse in dense jungle. Cross walkways between sections of the house, wrapped around a 100-year-old sangrillo tree. The shower is carved into its trunk.
Back on terra firma: The sprawling Cahuita National Park is nearby for animal-spotting walks. From £208 per night.
Best for outdoors types: Human Nest, California, USA
Ever wondered what it’s like to sleep in a bird’s nest? At Treebones Resort in Big Sur you can find out. Pack your sleeping bag, climb the wooden ladder and wake to a spectacular sunrise in an artist-crafted wooden ‘human nest’. Don’t forget to bring a tent to set up nearby in case it rains: just like the real thing, this nest isn’t waterproof.
Back on terra firma: Big Sur is an adventurer’s paradise. The eco-resort hosts treks and ocean-kayaking expeditions. From £104 per night.
Best for adventure: Treehouse Lodge, Iquitos, Peru
Claiming to be the Amazon’s only all-inclusive luxury treehouse, this lodge gives new meaning to ‘living the high life’. From up here the treetop canopy stretches as far as the eye can see, a view usually reserved just for wildlife. From trapdoors in the floor to steel cable bridges, spiral staircases and glimpses of river dolphins, this lodge is brimming with adventurous opportunities.
Back on terra firma: In the nearby Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, you can tick swimming with dolphins off your bucket list, trek through the jungle on birdwatching night walks or visit a butterfly farm. From £481 per night.
Best for families: Les Nids d’Hotes, Biarritz, France
These quaint, candy-coloured, Basque-style treehouses look like something from a fairytale, built into a huge metal tree. Wooden and metal carved pathways make even staying on the ground feel magical. Kids will love the multicoloured LED lights in the sloping roof of the treehouse and round porthole doors into the bedrooms. There’s even a Jacuzzi below – so something for parents, too.
Back on terra firma: You’re only 20km from one of France’s best coastlines and a surfer’s paradise. From £95 per night.
Best for eco-warriors: Pedras Salgadas Spa and Nature Park, Porto, Portugal
At Pedras Salgadas, the sustainable treehouses are contemporary, spaceship-like structures, covered in slate and wood with floor-to-ceiling windows, and suspended among the trees. Admire the modernist Portuguese architecture of the old casino building and wander through the pine-tree forest.
Back on terra firma: At 580 metres altitude, it’s cool enough for mountain biking through the almond groves, or enjoying the thermal springs. From £121 per night. designhotels.com
This article has been tagged Destination, Hotels