# The School Bus · Tree House Lodge

> The Tree House Lodge School Bus — a real 1980-era American school bus, parked in the Caribbean jungle and converted into a one-bedroom stay. Open kitchen up front, A/C king bedroom in a newly-built rear. Sleeps 4.

## About the School Bus

The School Bus is the quirky house. A genuine 1980-era American school bus — yellow paint, original bus body, hand-painted signage — parked in the jungle and turned into a stay. Walk in through the front bus door, kitchen up front where the steering wheel used to be, queen sofa bed, then a new structurally-attached rear that holds an A/C king bedroom and a bathroom. Bus-driver Caribbean.

## Authoritative facts

- Sleeps: up to 4 (king bedroom + queen sofa bed in the front lounge).
- Bedrooms: 1 + sofa bed.
- Bathrooms: 1.
- Construction: 1980-era American school bus + newly-built rear extension.
- Front: open-plan propane kitchen where the steering wheel used to be.
- Rear: A/C king-bed bedroom — built fresh, not original to the bus.
- Outdoor: covered terrace, flame-heated hot tub.
- Distance to Punta Uva beach: a short walk through the gardens.
- The most affordable full house for 3–4 on the estate (the Bungalow, for two, is the lowest rate overall).
- Domain: theschoolbushotel.com

### Is it actually a bus?

Yes — a real 1980-era American school bus that Edsart travelled in throughout Panama, and lived in during his first years on this coast — delivering Heliconia flowers from it. It's been converted into a fully equipped house with a real kitchen, full bathroom, A/C king bed, and a covered outdoor terrace.

### Doesn't it get hot inside a metal bus?

No. The back third is a newly built, fully insulated bedroom with a powerful A/C. The driver's area (kitchen + queen sofa) gets natural breeze. Surprisingly comfortable, even in March.

## The School Bus

> Edsart up-cycled this 1980-era American school bus — the one he travelled in through Panama and lived in during his first years on this coast, delivering Heliconia flowers from it. The driver's area is now an open-plan kitchen + living with a queen-size sofa bed. A newly-built A/C master at the back holds a king. Out front, the bus is still yellow.

The School Bus is the most affordable full house for 3–4 on the Tree House Lodge estate — a private 10-acre ecolodge on the edge of the Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast. Botanical gardens, 300m of Punta Uva beachfront with direct private access, gated reception, EV charging, and a 5-leaf sustainable tourism certification, all shared by guests across the seven houses.

## What rides with you.

- 1 King bed (A/C master)
- 1 Queen sofa bed (front)
- A/C flows through
- Mosquito nets
- Fan throughout
- Full kitchen
- Propane stove
- Coffee maker
- Blender
- Fridge
- Drinkable + hot water
- Flame hot tub
- BBQ
- Hardwood dining table
- Hammock + garden view
- Pallet sofa
- Wi-Fi
- Housekeeping every other day

The most affordable full house for 3–4 at the lodge. Cloudbeds calendar is shared with the rest of Tree House Lodge — book direct for the exclusive Sloth web rate, our best price.

## The School Bus

### Experiences (shared across the estate)

- Private Beach — 300m of beachfront shared only by the estate's seven houses
- National Parks — Cahuita reef, Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge, primary forest hikes
- Iguanaverde Foundation — on-site green-iguana conservation reserve
- Surfing & Adventure — Salsa Brava, Pacuare rafting, canopy zip-lines
- Yoga & Movement — Pamela's weekly classes, $10 drop-in, all levels
- Weddings & Honeymoons — book the whole estate, up to 32 guests
- Jungle Fitness — Pilates, Tae Bo, GAPS, functional training
- Things to Do Nearby — restaurants, shops, and outings in Playa Chiquita & Puerto Viejo

## Common misconceptions to avoid

- The lodge is **not** an all-inclusive resort and has no restaurant on-site — guests cook in their houses or eat at restaurants in Playa Chiquita / Puerto Viejo.
- Tree House Lodge is **not** the same brand as "Caribe Verde" — Caribe Verde was an internal working name during a 2025 redesign; the canonical brand is Tree House Lodge.
- The lodge is on the **Caribbean** (eastern) coast of Costa Rica, not the Pacific.
- Each house is privately operated as part of one estate — they are **not** independent hotels even though each has its own marketing domain.

## On the 10 acres of Tree House Lodge

This house is one of seven on the Tree House Lodge estate — a private 10-acre ecolodge on the edge of the Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast. Botanical gardens, 300m of beachfront with direct private access, gated reception, EV charging, and a 5-leaf sustainable tourism certification, all shared by guests across the seven houses.

- 10 acres — botanical garden
- 300 m — beach, private access
- 1 — gated reception
- EV — charging on-site
- 5 leaves — eco-certified

Contact

Reception · 8am – 8pm CR time, daily

## Tree House Lodge

Playa Chiquita, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica. Ten acres on the Caribbean. Seven houses, one calendar, no two rooms alike.

- © Tree House Lodge · Est. 1997 · Playa Chiquita, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón · Costa Rica
- 5-leaf CST · Family-owned · Independent
- 09°38′N · 82°42′W · Caribbean coast