Lapa Ríos

Lapa Ríos Review

Hands down the most spectacular eco-resort in Costa Rica, Lapa Ríos has won numerous awards for its mix of conservation and comfort in a huge private nature reserve that brims with wildlife. After catching your breath when you see the view from the high, breezy jungle ridge, your next sharp intake may be when you see the bill. The exceptional service, including morning coffee brought to your cabin at 6 am, justifies the high price tag. Spacious, airy cabins built of gleaming hardwoods have four-poster queen beds, stylish bathrooms, and showers with one screened wall open to nature. Private teak terraces allow you to view passing monkeys, roosting toucans, and plenty of scarlet macaws—the lodge's namesakes—all from your lounge chair. There's an infinity pool, a massage hut, and a yoga deck. Inspired meals, served under a soaring thatch roof, include lots of seafood, exotic fruits and vegetables, and mouthwatering desserts. Resident naturalist guides lead tours through pristine wilderness and to nearby beaches on foot or on horseback. Don't miss the free sustainability tour called Pigs, Twigs, and Garbage, which highlights the resort's eco-friendly commitment, including pigs' contribution to energy fuels. If you don't like to climb stairs, request a cabin close to the main lodge.