Pacuare Lodge

Eating

From the delicious iced lemon juice you’re handed on arrival, you know the food and drink at Pacuare are going to be good. And despite the fact that everything you eat has to be brought here on a raft like the one you were madly paddling, chefs Warner and Alan manage to produce meals of impressive sophistication. Plus it’s all organic. Meals are eaten in the main building: a tall, open-sided wooden palenque, right by the river’s edge, with tables on the terrace outside or inside where you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen.

Breakfast is a buffet of fresh fruit, warm homemade bread, and freshly made banana pancakes, then eggs, rice and beans, fried plantain and yoghurt with homemade granola. Help yourself to coffee and a large selection of St Dalfour organic teas. Each table is given a big jug of juice and this is a lovely time of day to linger, sitting out on the terrace, watching birds flitting around and the river below you.

Lunch offers 2 choices for each course: our filo pastry parcels filled with goats cheese, pork tenderloin, and roasted vegetables were delicious.

Dinner is a real occasion here - and very romantic in the depths of the jungle. The whole palenque is lit by candles and waiters run around with head torches, emerging from the shadows to bring you a cocktail (the caipirinhas are superb) or serve dinner. We ate on the open terrace, the river lit by moonlight (you can request to dine al fresco). White linen on the tables, red napkins and pretty candle holders create a sense of formality. The waiting staff are friendly and attentive and the food is excellent. Our carpaccio of tuna was top-notch, followed by tilapia fish in a delicately spicy sauce, and the most decadent chocolate pudding imaginable. All washed down with a premium Argentine malbec - a far from rustic experience. You’ll certainly sleep well.