Lapa Rios Ecolodge

The Osa Peninsula is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity; it’s an extraordinary region of primary rainforest and pristine beaches that’s teeming with wildlife, much of it endangered or endemic. At its tip, overlooking the sparkling Golfo Dulce is an incredible eco-lodge, Lapa Rios - part of the Boena group - whose purpose is to protect the 1,000 acres of jungle that surround it and share it with others in an eco-conscious way. Though the 17 luxe bungalows and villas look visually stunning, they’re carefully green, with organic natural linens and solar-powered indoor and alfresco showers. The restaurant dishes up sustainably sourced seafood and tropical ingredients grown on-site (try macadamia-crusted catch of the day with caramelized sweet potatoes and a mango-jalapeno relish for example). Guests wake to the calling of howler monkeys and drink morning coffee in their hammock, as scarlet macaws soar joyfully by. Guided excursions spot sloths, armadillos, teeny poison-dart frogs and endless bird species, as well as sea cucumbers and starfish in marine rock pools. A lucky few may glimpse jaguars and pumas too; even humpback whales out at sea. And on top of night-time rainforest walks and swims in a wild waterfall, guests can learn about the award-winning sustainability initiatives that Lapa Rios runs, which educate and transform local communities and all who visit. Staying here feels good, in every sense of the word.

Senderos Soul

The Osa Peninsula holds great mystique for many travellers - possibly considered the last frontier of Costa Rica; difficult to get to and home to some of the wildest terrain and most incredible wildlife and birdlife in the country. My arrival at Lapa Rios Rainforest Lodge, after a short plane journey and car ride, set the tone for the rest of the stay. Before even shedding my luggage, I headed straight for the viewing platform just in front of the restaurant and felt completely immersed in the forest while still floating above most of the canopy and spotted some extraordinary birdlife and wildlife all around me. I was overwhelmed, and that memory has had a lasting impact. Throughout my stay there, never have I spotted so many toucans in the skyline - with their distinctively shaped bills silhouetted against the light, while the buzz of hummingbirds was interspersed with the constant squawks of macaws flying overhead in pairs. Not to mention the families of howler, squirrel, capuchin and spider monkeys leaping from tree to tree past the more sedate sloths. A veritable tropical paradise!

Nicola, Senderos

Key Facts

No. of rooms: 17, all with bathrobes, hairdryer, organic cotton linens, biodegradable toiletries, ceiling fans, Air cooling canopies in Premier and Lapa Villas, morning tea delivery and turndown service

Room Categories:
Deluxe Bungalow (9) (79m²) Open-air netted room with king or 2 queen beds, ensuite shower bathroom, private deck with sunloungers, hammock and ocean views, and alfresco shower garden

Matapalo Suites (2) (slightly larger than the Deluxe Bungalows) The suites closest to the main reception area and restaurant have brick walls, glass windows and sliding doors. They have Air Conditioning and very spacious bathrooms, for an extra comfortable stay. They are particularly designed for guests with less mobility.

Premier Villa (2) (139m²) Standalone villa with king or 2 queen beds, ensuite shower bathroom, living area, reading nook, wraparound deck with sunloungers, hammock and ocean views, and alfresco shower garden

Lapa Villa (4) (156.5m²) Standalone villa with king or 2 queen beds, ensuite shower bathroom, living area, reading nook, wraparound deck with plunge pool, sunloungers, hammock, outdoor lounge and ocean views, and alfresco shower garden

Package basis: Full board (includes 3 meals a day, non-alcoholic drinks, on-site guided tours, yoga classes, transfers to and from Puerto Jimenez; excludes alcoholic drinks)

Excursion detail: On-site guided nature walks are included in the price. Guests can also opt to surf, horse ride, zipline, go whale watching and sport fishing, and visit Corcovado National Park. Private guides available for extra fee if requested in advance.

From Price: (2023) USD$563 per person per night in a Deluxe Bungalow Double (Green Season) + $25 Conservation Fee

(2024) USD$634 per person per night in a Deluxe Bungalow Double (Green Season) + $25 Conservation Fee

For full rates see the links in Gallery and Resources box below

Min age: 6

Dates of operation: All year

Facilities: Open-air Brisa Azul restaurant and bar, saltwater pool, spa, evening talks with naturalists

Internet: Throughout the lodge

Minimum stay: 3 nights (4 nights in holiday season)

Senderos recommends: 4 nights, to take advantage of the fabulous excursions and have some downtime at the hotel, just sitting, watching the wildlife around you.

Sustainability

Lapa Rios is a world-famous model for eco-tourism and has won many awards for its sustainability initiatives.

Set in a private reserve, whose purpose is to permanently protect 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest and act as a protective barrier and wildlife corridor for the 100,000-acre, mega-biodiverse Corcovado National Park.
Practises include solar energy, biomass boilers, fully biodegradable cleaning products, no single-use plastics (reusable water bottles), and the imaginative production of biogas (using their pigs!) to power the kitchen. Guests can take a ‘Twigs, Pigs and Garbage’ tour of the various Green initiatives, and can each plant a primary rainforest seedling as part of the hotel’s reforestation project.
Since its inception, the lodge has worked in close harmony with the local communities, setting up the Carbonera school to educate children, and teaching adults about conservation practises and alternative ways of feeding a family other than ‘slashing and burning’ the rainforest. Their latest project is to encourage remote villages to grow organic produce, which the hotel can then buy for the restaurant, thus encouraging their sustainable development.
Lapa Rios is a GER (Global Ecosphere Retreat) of the The Long Run - having undergone a vigorous recognition process
More information here

Need to know

Costa Rica’s most authentic and immersive rainforest experience, bringing guests face-to-face with 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.
Excellent excursions (rainforest walks, night walks, local medicine hikes, wild waterfall experience, Osa trail and sunset and sunrise birding), all with world-class nature guides.
Guest experiences on the beach, curated by the lodge
Luxurious open-air bungalows perched atop a ridge and enveloped by the jungle. Delicious imaginative organic food in the restaurant, made from local and sustainable produce.
The lodge is a global pioneer in eco tourism. Sustainability is ingrained in the guest experience.
Part of the Boena Group which also includes Pacuare Lodge, Tortuga Lodge and Monteverde Lodge

Perfect for:

Wildlife and eco enthusiasts - this is the place to stay in Costa Rica.

Getting there

Lapa Rios sits on the Osa Peninsula, on the south west coast of Costa Rica, overlooking the point at which the Pacific Ocean meets the Golfo Dulce.

by road

BY ROAD

It’s a 7-hour drive from San Jose International Airport; transfers can be arranged.

by air

BY AIR

Guests can also take a hopper flight from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez air strip, from where it’s a 45-minute transfer to the hotel.

Gallery & Resources

Follow this link to the Senderos Resources for Lapa Rios to access:

Images, our selection
Fact sheets
Presentations
Rack rates
Excursion lists
And other useful information.

Boena also has its own Media Kit with more photos and material.

Weather

With a tropical climate the weather is generally hot and sunny
Green Season (May-October): a few hours of rain, generally in the afternoon. Temperatures range from 21-31 degrees C.
Dry Season (November-April): temperatures range from 23-34 degrees C.

Links

Lapa Rios Website

Boena Lodges Website

Senderos Webinars:

Leading the Way in Sustainability in Costa Rica, 2020

Lapa Rios Lodge, 2021

Lapa Rios Lodge & Pacuare Lodge 2022

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