Description
Lapa Rios, set in Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical forest, is the perfect hideaway for guests looking for comfortable and eco-friendly lodging, incredible wildlife viewing, a romantic setting, innovative cuisine and a wide range of wonderful outdoor excursions.
There is abundant wildlife and the private reserve offers excellent opportunities to see thousands of species of trees, plants, birds (over 300 bird species identified), insects and mammals. Two fantastic excursions are included during your stay and there are plenty of activities to choose from such as bird watching tours, horseback riding, night walks and nature hikes where you’ll encounter miles of private, uncrowded trails in prime rain forest home to wild waterfalls and pristine beaches. Cost Rica has the longest humpback whale watching season in the world (August-October) so catching a glimpse of these magnificent marine mammals is more than likely.
The 16 individual thatched cabins with hand-made bamboo and teak furniture, are spread down a steep path leading from the main restaurant building, with private terraces looking out over the forest and gulf. All meals are included and are eaten in the spacious main palenque with a soaring thatched ceiling and wide verandah overlooking the valley below.
Accommodation
Lapa Rios offers 16 spacious thatch bungalows with private decks and patio gardens complete with outdoor showers facing towards the Pacific Ocean.
Childcare
Children are welcome at Lapa Rios. Best for children 10 years and above due to the close contact with nature, the layout of the lodge and the excursions available. They do not have any babysitting services available which it is why it works best for older children and teenagers. An extra bed can be added to most rooms and families will be accommodated in rooms nearest to the main building, so they don’t have so far to walk.
Facilities
Lapa Rios features a restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, no internet or telephones in the rooms so guests feel totally disconnected and immersed in nature, viewing platform and large terrace.
Activities
Given its privileged beach and rainforest location there is a long list of activities including bird watching, hiking, horse riding, kayaking, canoeing, sustainability excursions, surfing, nature walks, swimming, wildlife viewing, humpback whale watching and yoga.
Services
Services include lectures, slide shows and/or informative talks on some aspect of the rainforest or wildlife draw guests together in the main restaurant palenque most evenings.
When to travel
From May to December it's the 'green season' when it rains more than the rest of the year, it can sometimes rain for 3 days in a row. However, this is rainforest and walking in the rain doesn't ruin the experience. October is the wettest month, the creeks rise and roads can be impassable. There are few people staying at Lapa Rios, though, so it’s much more intimate. January to April are the drier months, when it’s idyllic here. The busiest time of year is the second half of December, when you need to book well in advance.
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Location and directions
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Lapa Rios is 18km south of Puerto Jiménez at Playa Carbonera, on the south-eastern tip of the Osa Peninsula, on the south end of Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
How to get there
15 hour international flight (via Miami) to San Jose Juan Santamaria International, followed by a 50 minue domestic flight to Puerto Jimenez airstrip. From there Lapa Rios is a 45 minute car transfer on paved and bumpy road.
