Lapa Rios Rainforest Lodge

Lapa Rios Lodge protects 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest. In this immersive destination, the real luxury is in living and breathing the jungle. Every inch is waiting to be discovered.

Here, you’ll encounter iconic frogs and macaws; endangered monkeys and over 300 bird species. It’s a pristine environment where nature thrives in its rawest form.

Lapa is the Costa Rican name for the scarlet macaw, a magnificent bird you’ll likely see during your stay. When the founders of Lapa Rios first visited the property, they spotted a number of macaws flying across the jungle in tandem, creating a river of red.

Inspired by this beautiful image, they named the lodge Lapa Rios – River of Scarlet Macaws in English. Here at the lodge, we believe that no matter how you cut it, a rainforest left standing is worth more.

Long before the pillars of sustainable tourism had been established, Lapa Rios was envisioned as a project whose objective it would be to protect its endangered surroundings.

Today, the 17-bungalow lodge preserves more than 1,000 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, and assists in the development of the local community. Since its opening in 1993, Lapa Rios has won numerous awards and has been featured in the press worldwide.

In this incredible environment, guests can look forward to once-in-a-lifetime rainforest adventures, wildlife encounters and ocean activities. While some come with a bold spirit for exploring and others in search of nature’s tranquillity, both will find myriad opportunities to connect with this enigmatic ecosystem.

Lapa Rios creates an intimate and authentic experience, at once luxurious, educational and inspiring. Our included interpretive hikes, bird watching walks, sustainability tours and more provide a true window to the beating heart of the wild Osa Peninsula.

Lapa Rios is located on the beautiful Osa Peninsula of southern Costa Rica. The lodge is tucked away within 1,000 acres of rainforest reserve, overlooking the point at which the Pacific Ocean meets the Golfo Dulce.

Awake To The Call Of Howler Monkeys

Our deluxe bungalows are dotted along a ridge in our 1000-acre private Rainforest Reserve. The bungalows are open-air with screens — uniquely designed to give you an incredible indoor-outdoor experience.

In each, you’ll find harmony in this undisturbed environment, sunrise views, and an appreciation for the sounds, sights and smells of the Rainforest. Consider staying a minimum of 4-5 nights to enjoy the tours and activities available at Lapa Rios and on the magical Osa Peninsula.

Deluxe Bungalows accommodate up to 4 guests
Our 11 deluxe bungalows have all the space you need to read, rest, and relax. Each bungalow features sunrise views and its own spacious, private deck with loungers, hammocks and your choice of indoor/outdoor napping nooks. You’ll take-in the Rainforest from every angle.

Ocean & Rainforest Views
All our bungalows are positioned along a ridge where the Pacific Ocean meets the Golfo Dulce. For you, this means incredible sunrises, afternoon ocean breezes, and wildlife sightings right from your private deck.

Getting from your bungalow to the main lodge requires uphill walking. Along the way, you’re sure to be greeted by wild monkeys, toucans, macaws and other creatures of the Rainforest.

Luxurious Amenities
Each bungalow has a beautiful outdoor shower and 2 indoor showers. Indoors, you’ll enjoy a cool water shower that provides the unique sensation of showering in your own private waterfall, and a second shower that offers conventional solar-heated hot water, perfect for a well-deserved rinse after a day’s hike in the Rainforest.

The bathrooms are equipped with a screened bay window and seating perch from which you can watch the vibrant Rainforest activity. Outdoors on your private deck, you can also bathe in your glorious Rain-shower, and then dry off in the bright Osa sunshine.

Once In A Lifetime Moments
This is the real Rainforest experience. Your first morning here, you’ll realize why you came — a front-row seat to the sunrise; awake to the sound of Howler Monkeys; open your front door to freshly brewed coffee waiting for you. And spend the rest of the morning watching the Rainforest come to life.

RAINFOREST FINE DINING
At Lapa Rios, you’ll need food for fuel. Fortunately, we pack every dish with flavor and quality ingredients in every bite.

Expertly prepared a-la-carte meals combine exclusively local ingredients with tropical flair, satisfying hungry adventurers and gourmets alike. Despite our remote location, the Lapa Rios culinary experience rivals even the most delicious in Costa Rica.

Brisa Azul Restaurant & Bar
Great Flavors & Views to Match
Our open-air Brisa Azul restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a side of the Osa’s best ocean views. Kick start a day of adventures with our famous Costa Rican coffee, tropical fruit and freshly baked pastries.

Enjoy delectable varied menus featuring responsibly-caught seafood from our very oceans, grass-fed beef, hormone-free chicken and fresh local veggies throughout the day. By night, trade stories with fellow explorers over a glass of organic South American wine at our full-service bar.

Dock To Dish
Sustainable Seafood, Locally Sourced
We’re proud to have partnered with the Dock to Dish Program. This means that we receive deliveries of freshly and sustainably caught seafood from the fishermen right down the road. At Lapa Rios, we can promise that your seafood is always local – and always delicious. Catch of the Day is back!

Waterfall Luncheon
Rainforest Dining at its Finest
Enjoy a private luncheon in the middle of the tropical rainforest with spectacular views of a cascading waterfall.

Feast on three courses from a special menu to the soundtrack of the jungle, with your own personal waiter always on hand. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit – you’ll want to appreciate this enchanting setting a while longer from the plunge pool.

Lunch With A Guide
Discover the Secrets of the Osa
They’ve been described as “walking encyclopaedias”. Their cumulative experience of all things rainforest amounts to almost 50 years. Indeed, for anyone interested in delving deeper into the secrets of the Osa Peninsula, our guides are the ultimate dinner party guests.

Unanswered questions about our two-toed sloths? Keen to know more about local conservation efforts? Invite one of our expert guides to lunch for good food and even better jungle stories.

DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT
There is certainly no shortage of adventures to be had at Lapa Rios. Equally, there’s no place quite like nature in the raw to experience pure relaxation and serenity. Here on the lush Osa Peninsula, a true sense of ‘Pura Vida’ well-being is in the air.

Watch your stress melt away to the song of scarlet macaws and toucans. Feel an inner peace while showering outdoors, immersed in nature.

Bask in the blissful light of Golden Hour, watching the sun set over the Golfo Dulce from your crocheted hammock. And when you want to kick back in between adventures, you’ll love our luxury amenities.

OUR 1,000-ACRE RESERVE
Lapa Rios Lodge is a gateway to Costa Rica’s natural wonders. Situated in a 1,000-acre private reserve on the Osa Peninsula, the opportunities for exploring are exciting and boundless. All guided on-property tours are included in your stay — so immerse yourself in the rainforest and join as many tours as possible!

Our four highly experienced Naturalist Guides offer an authentic local interpretation of the extraordinary natural beauty of our rainforest reserve. With them, discover 360° of our biodiversity — from the roots of the trees up beyond the canopy, and out to the sea.

All guided tours in the Lapa Rios Reserve directly support the ongoing maintenance and land preservation of the rich Osa Peninsula biodiversity.

NIGHT WALK
Experience the magic of the rainforest by night as you uncover the hidden world of unusual nocturnal creatures. A great opportunity to see frogs, kinkajous, and other rainforest-dwellers before dinnertime.

WILD WATERFALLS
Hike through the virgin rainforest to pristine waterfalls and splash back along the Carbonera River. Pause for a refreshing dip in the plunge pools during this adventurous rainforest experience.

BIRDWATCHING
Grab a pair of binoculars at sunrise or sunset – there are over 320 bird species inhabiting the Osa Peninsula, including scarlet macaws and toucans. A favorite tour for avid birders and novices alike.

MATAPALO TOUR
Hike along nearby beaches and secondary forest as your guide points out some of the most lively and active creatures of the rainforest. The best of both worlds!

TWIGS, PIGS & GARBAGE TOUR
From renewable building materials to the biogas produced by our pigs, tour the lodge and learn why Lapa Rios is an award-winning sustainable property. Highly praised by guests and one not to be missed.

LOCAL MEDICINE TOUR
Follow our guides through primary rainforest as they explain the traditional medicinal uses of various plants and seeds. A fascinating tour if you’re interested in indigenous culture and customs.

STARFISH WALK
Learn about the marine biology of the Golfo Dulce, one of only four tropical fjords in the world, as you tour pristine palm-fringed beaches in search of land crabs, starfish and sea cucumbers. Tide dependent tour.

RAINFOREST RIDGE WALK
Hike down along the cool ridges of Lapa Rios’ most impressive primary and secondary forest, discovering rare flora and fauna along the way during this truly immersive walk.

THE OSA TRAIL
Descend through the reserve’s most remote and pristine forest, filled with enormous trees and exuding the unforgettable energy of raw Osa nature.

PLANT A TREE
Contribute to the Lapa Rios reforestation program by transplanting a primary rainforest seedling to an area of secondary growth. Learn about your chosen tree, its role in the ecosystem, and receive a certificate to commemorate your efforts.

Wild & Unspoiled Wilderness
Lying along Costa Rica’s south-western coast is the Osa Peninsula. This tiny stretch of land, just 35 by 20 miles, is home to Lapa Rios and the world-famous Corcovado National Park, crown jewel of the country’s national park system. But the region houses much more.

Despite its size, the Osa Peninsula packs an astounding 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity into just 0.001% of its surface area. According to National Geographic, this makes it “the most biologically intense place on Earth”.

Nearly all of Costa Rica’s mammal species make the Osa their home, as well as a disproportionate number of birds, reptiles and insects. The pristine rainforests, secluded beaches and raw natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula make this untouched region among the most captivating in Costa Rica.

Here, endangered pumas and jaguars find sanctuary amongst ancient trees. Scarlet macaws soar freely and humpback whales return to our warm shores year after year.

Where The Rainforest Meets The Ocean
Lapa Rios Lodge enjoys a privileged location where the rainforest meets the ocean. Unlike other land-locked jungle lodges, guests of Lapa Rios have easy access to a number of secluded beaches along the sprawling Golfo Dulce coastline.

Admire views of these rare tropical fjords from your private deck. Surf the cerulean waves. Explore the unusual marine life that thrives in the tide-pools or search for whales further out.

Punta Carbonera To Playa Pan Dulce
Surf’s up!
Size up the waves of this beach from the lodge’s pool or yoga deck, then head down for a surf lesson. Lots of long right-breaking waves come around the point on this beach making it an excellent spot to get up and riding Costa Rican style. No experience required.

Backwash Bay
Sprawling sands for relaxing
This long sandy beach is ideal for unwinding by the water. Waves break large in Backwash, especially during low tide, making it less appropriate for swimming but even better for admiring Mother Nature.

Playa Matapalo
Relax and people watch
While the immense size of Matapalo’s waves make this beach unsafe for swimming, it remains an excellent spot for relaxing and observing the powerful strength of nature. That and a few brave surfers!

Naturalist Guide Training
Budding biologist? Long-time wildlife lover or major David Attenborough fan? Join our expert in-house guides at Lapa Rios for 5 nights to learn the essentials of nature guiding. Distinguish your squirrel from your spider monkeys.

Identify the calls of toucans amongst the jungle chorus. Know your medicinal flora and your venomous fauna. Tap into almost 50 years of cumulative guiding knowledge, learning indispensable techniques while out hiking our nature trails.

Interact with the community and experience the wild Osa Peninsula from a new perspective. Maximum 8 participants per group

Costa Rica’s Most Immersive Wildlife Experience
A stay at Lapa Rios is much more than an opportunity to observe fauna. Amongst 1,000 acres of rainforest teeming with life, we offer the most immersive wildlife experience in Costa Rica.

Here, guests enjoy the unique opportunity to live alongside our ubiquitous rainforest residents. A chance to learn about our animals while experiencing and protecting their endangered habitat.

Our mission is for our guests to return home from Lapa Rios with a deep understanding of our ecosystem and an appreciation for the importance of its conservation.

Mammals
Follow the trails through lush hills and habitats of myriad mammals
Lapa Rios Lodge exists in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. More often than not, you needn’t even go looking for mammals to find them. Howler monkeys – nature’s alarm clock – will make their presence known to you at dawn.

Squirrel monkeys will never be too far from breakfast. Self-assured coatis strut through the main lodge, blissfully unaware of the stir they create.

Other mammals frequently seen around the lodge include spider and white faced monkeys, kinkajous, two and three toed sloths, three species of bat, agoutis, skunks, peccaries, anteaters, armadillos, opossums and more.

Our cats, including pumas, jaguarondis, ocelots, margays and jaguars are shy but not impossible to spot either.

Birds
Spot them from sunrise to sunset… all 300 plus
Binoculars at the ready – over 300 bird species have been sighted at Lapa Rios, including our namesake lapa, or scarlet macaw. At certain times of the year, large flocks of scarlet macaws can be seen flying together resembling colorful “rivers” (rios) on the horizon, hence our lodge’s name.

Other species frequently spotted include the chestnut-mandibled toucan, aracaris, and the endemic black-cheeked ant-tanager. The sheer abundance of impressive, colorful birds that flitter through our treetops could turn any first-timer into an avid birder.

Reptiles & Amphibians
Watch your step for our most well camouflaged creatures
A host of reptiles and amphibians scurry, slither and hop around the lodge. Glimpse Jesus Christ lizards dart from the path on your way to breakfast. Sunbathe beside prehistoric-looking iguanas. Watch diminutive poison dart frogs splash around after rainfall.

Our expert guides will point out various other lizards, geckos, skinks, tree frogs and snakes including boas, corals, vines and vipers.

Insects
The essential little ones that keep our ecosystem ticking over
Bugs are all part of the Lapa Rios safari. Hard-working leaf cutter ants haul their fruitage along the reserve’s trails.

Bright blue morpho butterflies flirtatious glide from tree to tree. Stick insects crop up in unexpected places and noisy cicadas keep up the rainforest rhythm. There is something about seeing insects in situ that makes them more magical than menacing.

Marine Species
Osa Peninsula wildlife thrives beyond the rainforest
Just a stone’s throw from Lapa Rios Lodge: the Pacific Ocean and Golfo Dulce. On their shores dwell crabs, starfish and sea cucumbers. Out in the blue swim green sea turtles, dolphins, and both pilot and humpback whales which can even be spotted from the lodge.

Private Nature Reserve
We protect 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest
Lapa Rios sits within a 1,000-acre private nature reserve. Our vast and pristine property acts as a wildlife corridor and protective barrier for the 100,000-acre, mega-biodiverse Corcovado National Park.

To guarantee the permanent protection of this parcel of tropical rainforest, the visionary founders of Lapa Rios signed a conservation easement.

Undertaken in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Costa Rican land conservation organization Cedarena, the easement is a binding agreement that ensures that the rainforest conservation of Lapa Rios is preserved in perpetuity.

The easement comes with strict guidelines around land use. It prohibits all extractive activities, such as mining, forestry and hunting, as well as the building of mass tourism facilities and infrastructure.

It even caps trail construction at a maximum of 10,000 metres (there are currently 8km of trails around the reserve). At the same time, the easement encourages both scientific and educational activities within the reserve.

Research, Rivers & Trap Cameras
Wildcat conservation on the Osa Peninsula
The Osa Peninsula is one of the last landscapes that can still support not only Jaguar, but also Margay, Ocelot, Jaguarundi and Puma. Over the years, Lapa Rios has supported various wildcat conservation programs, donating cameras and video equipment, and offering the use of our property to researchers.

This allows them to study feline behavior and population densities in order to better protect these highly endangered species. Since 2015 we have also been monitoring the water quality of Rio Carbonera, a crucial resource for the health of our flora and fauna.

Currently we are collaborating with Osa Conservation, the University of Florida (Laboratory of Spatial Ecology), and a number of other research initiatives. We have recently started offering room and board for scientists and field operatives, and are considering hosting a full-time onsite scientist.

At the lodge, we offer a special tour through the rainforest upon request that allows guests to install and review camera traps that generate photos and data essential to the survival of our precious felines.

Interested in helping? Quality trap cameras are hard to source in the rainforest. We rely mostly on friends traveling here to kindly bring them over. If you are interested in donating a camera trap and/or transporting one over for us, we would be more than grateful.

Biodiversity
We provide sanctuary to some of the world’s rarest flora and fauna
For over 20 years, Lapa Rios has successfully protected 1,000 acres of predominantly primary rainforest from logging and uncontrolled development.

Providing an important buffer for neighbouring Corcovado National Park, our reserve acts as a wildlife corridor and sanctuary for the incredible array of flora and fauna endemic to the region.

The Osa is one of the last strongholds of the jaguar in Central America, and is home to all four Costa Rican monkey species, including the squirrel monkey, white-face capuchin, mantled howler, and spider monkey.

Other forest inhabitants include the three-toed sloth, silky anteater, tapir, different species of poison dart frog, and over 300 bird species including the scarlet macaw and toucans.

Biologists also indicate that an immense rainforest tree called the Sangrillo Colorado (Paramuchaerium Gruberi) can only be found in the Lapa Rios reserve. Not even is it present in nearby Corcovado National Park, home to almost 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.

We invite our guests to contribute to the Lapa Rios reforestation program during their stay by transplanting a primary rainforest seedling of their choice to an area of secondary growth.

Beyond Your Comfort Zone
At Lapa Rios, the smell of adventure is thick in the air. Our remote rainforests are full of surprises. Every hike is an opportunity to indulge the inner Bear Grylls; a chance to cross paths with a puma; a window to an enigmatic ecosystem.

On the Osa Peninsula, six year olds and seniors alike will discover their adventurous spirit. Here, the search for rare birds, endangered mammals and undiscovered creatures is always on.

We lace up our boots at dawn. We dive beneath gushing waterfalls. Comfort zones are left behind along our network of pristine nature trails.

Join Us Off The Grid
At Lapa Rios, we switch the fast pace of modern life for a slower rainforest rhythm. 1,000 acres of private reserve await those seeking a way back to nature. Oversized hammocks promise quiet and calm for others in search of space to think. Jungle trails lead the way to inspiring places few come to know.

Here, you can catch a breath of fresh Osa air far away from civilization. Dare to digitally detox and wander where the Wi-Fi is weak. You’ll find respite from a world of noise; reconnection with yourself and your loved ones; a renewed sense of inner peace. All in complete, off-the-grid comfort.

Rainforest Luxury
Much like married life, Lapa Rios is a unique journey. The ultimate honeymoon for lovers who also love nature, our lodge provides equal parts romantic luxury, exhilarating adventure, and rejuvenating seclusion.

Combine the wildlife thrills of the Osa Peninsula with its incredibly beautiful beaches for stories you’ll be telling the grandkids. Here, you’ll enjoy five star service, a sense of privacy, and experiences that far surpass cocktails by the pool.

Note: For honeymoons, we recommend visiting Lapa Rios in late April and early June. These months are typically quieter at the lodge and may feel more intimate.

The Trip Of A Lifetime
Lapa Rios is a family vacation like no other. Here, the opportunities to see wildlife up close and personal are in every tree and under every leaf.

At the Lodge, you’ll find complete rainforest immersion far from the distractions of modern-day life. Learn all about our rich tropical ecosystem in a fun, inspiring way; experience true nature conservation in action. And just watch as the kids become budding biologists.

Our Commitment To Sustainability
Since our inception, sustainability has been a core value at Lapa Rios. Nature conservation and community development are our very raisons d’être.

We strive to use tourism as a means to acquire and protect the surrounding endangered rainforest instead of allowing it to take a toll on this precious and finite resource. At Lapa Rios, we endeavour to operate in complete harmony with the world around us.

Our sustainable philosophy is reflected in our design and guides our every decision: we respect the wildlife and nature around us; we utilize renewable materials for sustainable and low-impact construction; we promote use of locally-sourced biodegradable products and organic foods; we employ exclusively local staff; we educate them, our local community, and you, our guests, about sustainability, cultural and environmental matters.

Website: www.laparios.com

Rooms: 17

Price: from 435 EUR per night