Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Set in a 1000-acre private nature reserve in Central America's last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica, Lapa Rios Ecolodge overlooks the pristine point where the Golfo Dulce meets the wild Pacific Ocean, a destination matching everyone's idea of paradise. Much more than a luxurious eco lodge, Lapa Rios is a model ecotourism project and a sustainable tourism pioneer. Over the years, we have received many awards for social and environmental excellence. Home to a plethora of incredible wildlife, including monkeys, scarlet macaws, pumas, toucans, tree frogs and thousands of other creatures, a trip to Lapa Rios Eco lodges Ecolodges will be the experience of a lifetime. Lapa Rios is one of only 24 National Geographic Unique Eco Lodges of the World
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Quiet
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Ruta Nacional Secundaria 245, Cabo Matapalo 00011 Costa Rica
Lapa Rios is exceptional is every way. My husband and I travel frequently and extensively. This lodge excelled in every area. We were met at the Puerto Jimenez airport by Andres, who greeted us with fresh juice from our own coconuts. On the trip to Lapa Rios, he asked about our preferences for activities. When we arrived at Lapa Rios, we were shown our room and later presented with a personally designed schedule of tours. My husband had sprained his ankle before arriving in Puerto Jimenez and Andres modified all tours to accommodate his limited walking ability. The level of service afforded by all the staff of Lapa Rios was unparalleled! Paola at the front desk was wonderful. Nothing was too much trouble for her when it came to helping you. The tours were all excellent. The guides make each tour fun, educational and very interesting. Jose was our guide for the Sunset Bird Tour, the Early Bird Tour, Twigs, Pigs and Garbage Tour and the Osa Trail. Each tour was modified to accommodate my husband's inability to walk long distances. All were great. Jose's enthusiasm, kindness and knowledge made each tour an adventure. One of my favorite tours was with Danilo. The Starfish tour is only offered once a month in accordance with the tides. Lots of marine animals in the tidal pools and Danilo shard his extensive knowledge with me. He also accompanied my husband and I on the Matapalo Tour to give my husband a taste of the beautiful beach. Edwin is a longtime employee of the lodge and took us on the Medicine tour. His knowledge of the rainforest plants and their medicinal uses made the tour a fun learning experience. Definitely take advantage of his enthusiasm and go on this interesting tour. The Night Walk with Frank was very good. Flashlights and night creatures! Again the level of knowledge and enthusiasm was appreciated. The food was great. All fresh and beautifully prepared and presented. It was the level of service, friendly attitude and helpful suggestions that made us feel we were dining with friends that made each meal exceptional. Thank you Henry, Rolbin and Vilma! The rooms were fabulous. We began in room 9 - beautiful views, a very large deck and lots of wildlife. We were upgraded to another very beautiful and larger room so that they could offer my husband relief from the many stairs by coming to pick us up in a vehicle. Just another example of exemplary service, thanks Andres! We look forward to returning to paradise!
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Date of stay: December 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:All rooms excellent. Room 9 has great views from the large deck and lots of wildlife. New...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 28 Mar 2021
Hello Bess, from all of us Lapa Rios Lodge! We are so glad you and your husband enjoyed your stay with us and hope to have you back in paradise in the near future. You can also consider our 3 sister lodges, all located in unique areas of Costa Rica.
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My partner and I spent an unforgettable four nights here is this wonderful eco lodge. Paradise does not mean giving up creature comforts here. The lodge offers a sustainable luxury experience. The staff to guest ratio is close to 1-1 and it makes it feel like living with an extended family. It is worth the effort to get to the lodge as it is a very isolated but beautiful wilderness area of Costa Rica. There are a wide range of tropical rainforest experiences available included in the price, and all meals are included as well. The food is five star and the menu varies each day. The lodge is self contained so you can forget about the outside world for a few days. The luxuriously appointed individual lodges all have spectacular views over the ocean and you can enjoy the view whether using your inside or outdoors shower. They truly have thought of everything here. Make the effort to get there and you will not be disappointed.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 28 Mar 2021
A belated thank you for your review of your experience at Lapa Rios Lodge! We hope to have you again in the exotic Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.
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First of all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of the wonderful people at this resort...Frank, Jose, Stephanie and the crew who made us feel so welcome with their hospitality, knowledge, patience and good humor. The trip is a bit arduous traveling an hour from the airport over a pothole invested road which I was informed will be fixed in the coming year. That having been said it was all worth it beginning with their upgrading us to a villa when they lost my request for a lodge near the restaurant. Although there is a new walkway from the villas to the bar and decks where food is served they picked my wife and I up whenever we needed it by way of a back access road sparing my knees the climb. The dining area and bar are set on a ridge ( as are most of the 'bungalows' with decks overlooking the forest. The view was complemented by the wonderful and varied food (included) and service with a smile. We became "friends" with the staff also because the resort is set away from other food and tourist venues leaving one to peacefully partake of the included tours. Our "villa" had a large deck an air conditioned "hood" over the bed and a plunge pool which we used several times. In front of our deck an entourage of monkeys, toucans and various animals appeared resulting in my keeping my camera very busy. This experience is not inexpensive but is one in a lifetime and we are grateful not only for the nature experience but to meet such dedicated staff and naturalists. One day we hope to go back.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:The lower numbered rooms are near the bar and restaurant.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 27 Dec 2021
Walter: A big hello and happy holidays from your friends at Lapa Rios Lodge. Thank you for your detailed review of your experience visiting and enjoying the lush Osa Peninsula, located in the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Yes, we are relatively isolated, if you are seeking a true rainforest experience while enjoying amazing dishes and comfortable villas. That does not mean that our guests are isolated from sharing with locals, that make up our amazing and dedicated staff, from cooks to naturalist guides. We hope to have you both in the future! Also consider our sister lodges: Pacuare Lodge, Monteverde Lodge and Tortuga Lodge.
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We stayed at Lapa Rios in late February. It is a truly magical experience. If you're a bit nervous about sleeping virtually outdoors, think again. You are woken at dawn by the huge chorus of howler monkeys and exotic birdsong. Meanwhile you sit in bed and watch the sun come up over the sea, possibly with monkeys playing g on the decking and mackaws and toucans sitting in the trees. There's nothing like it. We joined all the in house walking trails except the waterfall one which were excellent. You really don't need to go off site. The guides were all brilliant and , best of all, they take you to the top of the hill so there isn't much climbing to do!, As everything is included except alcohol, it is easy to relax with food and drink when you come back from a walk. We spent spare time on our huge decking in the shade just watching the wildlife. We also spent time by the pool which has fabulous views but really needs more shade..Look out for the iguana as you sit there. Lapa Rios is possibly the loveliest place I have ever been. However, I am not quite sure that it is as green as it once was. We were told of the lack of power sockets and the hair dryer ban but there were more than enough sockets and a hairdryer was provided. Also, ignore the advice about wearing long trousers - shorts are fine in the dry season. The food , room, guides, wildlife and views were all amazing.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 28 Mar 2021
Hi Nina! Belated thanks for your kind comments about your stay at Lapa Rios Lodge!
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Lapa Rios is absolutely amazing! The resort is remote and the property's land extends for like 1,000 acres! There are approximately 17 villas, with 3 different levels of comfort. We were in a Lapa Villa with a private plunge pool. The villa was 5 star! Very large and very private, with an outdoor and indoor shower. Some units see full sunrise views. We were concerned about no air conditioning, but they have introduced a cooling system over the bed in some of the villas and it made it quite pleasant. The unit is screened in, so the breeze comes through at night. The howler monkeys wake you up around 5 am! We liked the plunge pool to cool off in the afternoons. All of the food and activities on property are included in the price. We took full advantage of the on property hikes, doing all but 1-2 of them in a 4 night stay. Our favorites were the Osa Trail, the Ridge hike and the Waterfall hike. Lapa provides high rubber boots for hikes that go across rivers. The food was delicious! The guides were top notch and so knowledgably. The wait staff and concierge team took care of everything! We also did the private day tour to the Corcovado National Park. On the 1 hours boat ride to the park, we saw a humpback whale breach, hundreds of different types of dolphin, manta rays and birds! Inside the park we saw an abundance of wildlife including the tapir! I cannot say enough positive things about Lapa Rios. If you have any questions about it, please ask me!
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Date of stay: March 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:We were in villa 13, our friends were in a Premier villa #15.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 28 Mar 2021
Hello Debby, thank you so much for your visit to Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula and your in-depth review of Lapa Rios Lodge! We hope to have you again in the near future or at any of our sister lodges: Pacuare Lodge, Monteverde Lodge & Gardens and Tortuga Lodge & Gardens.
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WOW just wow, loved this resort and wish we had spent more than 3 nights here. Met upon arrival and given the cold towel and welcome drink served by Gabriel ( a true gentlemen). Well set out resort. Two new villas at the front which come with air conditioning and windows. These two miss the jungle environment. We were in room 3 the closest after a bit of a walk to reception, bar, pool and restaurant and glad we were no further away. A couple of the villas have pools but the longest walks. Our villa was beautiful, the views to die for, sunrise over the pacific ocean. Two large beds, great verandah, outdoor shower and right in amongst the jungle. Love listening to the howler monkeys from 4am as you lie in bed, waiting for sunrise. If you want tea/coffee just ask and they provide you a thermos to take to the room even cold milk. You can also request a cooler to keep your water cold. These room were magic, no windows just fly screen between you and mother nature. There is also two fans provide, one free standing, one on the roof. We only needed the overhead one and never in the night. The staff are very good, kind and courteous. Make sure you do as many of the inhosue tours as possible, all included in your stay, and very very good. The guides are amazing. Suggestion: Book your tours as soon as you can and book all at the same time, as there is limited numbers and the tours can book out. You can always cancel if you go external at a great cost. The resort has so many birds and wildlife and is well maintained. The pool is lovely. One gripe, getting a towel is very hard as staff in that area lax. Management need to review the pool staff/ towel issue. It took us a microflight and 45 minute drive to get to the Osa Peninsula and worth every bit of effort. We wish we had of stayed 4-5 nights rather than just the 3. We highly, highly recommend Lapa Rios and if we ever get back to Costa Rica we will definitely return here.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Try for villa 1,2 ,3, 4, 5 or 6. The others are a long hot walk
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 7 Apr 2023
Hello Lisa! Thank you for sharing your experiences at Lapa Rios Lodge located in the exotic Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica! Our rooms and villas are designed to provide all the comfort needed but also they don't isolate guests from the the ambiance of the rainforest. That said, you get some of the most rewarding and peaceful sleep possible. We appreciate highlighting our inhouse tours within our private reserve. Thank you for the feedback regarding the towels. We hope to have you back in the near future and also consider visiting any of our sister properties: Pacuare Lodge, Tortuga Lodge, Cloud Forest Lodge and Monteverde Lodge, all located in unique areas of Costa Rica.
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Amazing glamping experienced perched in the middle of the rainforest. When you arrive you are greeted with a cold drink and a 3 minute neck and shoulder massage - nice touch. You quickly find out you need to be in decent shape to stay here: Most of the cabins require walking down paths that are at points gravel and fairly steep. You need sturdy shoes. You will get a major workout going down to your cabin and up to the main lodge. Our cabin was beautiful and very private with large screened windows covering a major portion of the cabin and a large deck overlooking the rainforest. You are awakened every dawn by howler monkeys making lots of noise, birds, and the light coming into your cabin. As an eco lodge, there is no air conditioning, TV, or internet in your cabin. They want you to unwind and enjoy nature. You can get internet in the main lodge of the resort. They provide you with a walkie-talkie for any needs and for the evening you have a solar light to use to walk up the dimly lit paths to the main lodge. Food was very good (amazing green gazpacho), but limited, and rotated every other day.
It was very humid (could wring out my clothes when I got back to San Jose) with frequent rains. When the sun was out, it was very hot, but it cooled off so nights were comfortable for sleeping. We had an amazing thunderstorm late one of the nights we stayed at the resort. It would have been nice at times to have air conditioning, but I understand the need to make this place eco-friendly. They have a nice pool. We enjoyed outdoor massages on our deck one day. You can get very hot walking up and down the paths, especially if you are down low. Overall, a very unique place to stay.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:If you stay in the cabins in the higher numbers (13 and above) you will have a major walk to get...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Faultless lodge I just don’t know where to start with the praise so let’s start with the staff they could not be more charming and helpful in every way from the front of house ,bar staff and waiting staff a credit to the hotel.The food was amazing and most of it very healthy the green chilled soup was exceptional. The rooms were good and very clean with great views but may be a few more lights on the steps up and down at night would be good .The guides were very knowledgeable and kind again a credit to the lodge. We did have a problem but not the lodges fault at all and did complain to them and I am sure they will be aware that a gentle word would be all it takes. The pool area is lovely and most of the time very peaceful just what you need after a very early bird walk and so much wildlife visits just sitting in the peace watching them was a true treat. Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had the privilege of staying 5 nights in two of the Deluxe Bungalows the week before Thanksgiving.
Words don’t really do justice to describe how amazing of an experience it is to stay at Lapa Rios where you are truly immersed in the rainforest and gifted with impromptu wildlife encounters throughout the day and night. We absolutely adored the open air bungalows and cherished essentially living in a “screened in porch” WITH supremely comfortable mattresses and pillows, luxurious sheets, a mosquito net to “feel safe”while asleep, a to die for, indoor, open-air shower overlooking the lush vegetation with views and the sounds of the ocean below and a second, private outdoor shower, both with great water pressure and hot water. A large deck looking across the Golfo Dulce complete with a table and chairs, chaise loungers and a hammock to enjoy watching the 4 species of monkeys as they passed by (yes, we saw all 4 every day), flyovers from Scarlet Macaws, Toucans, Coati Mundi, Tamandua, Fiery Aracari, Hawks, Woodpeckers, poison dart frogs, and so much more. It was like a safari right from our bungalow deck! Yes, it rained a lot and yes, it was humid but, we loved the whole experience and would never choose one of their rooms with A/C over being immersed in nature as we were in our adorable bungalows. It was an AMAZING experience.
ALL of employees are wonderful people who take care of you during your stay like family. Some that stood out during our stay were Elier, Emily, David, Vilma, Sandra, and Jafa and Efrain. Dining was something to really look forward to each day as each meal here was a delicious event and the service was outstanding. We were blown away by the quality of all of the food and scratches made dessert, ice creams and sorbets.
The Lapa Rios guides were both professional and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our daily tours with Danilo, Frank, Jeffrey, and Jose. The guided tours really enhanced our vacation experience. The exotic black sand beach is a beautiful gem and not to be missed during a stay here. We also loved swimming in the pool while watching Toucans and monkeys in the trees above us, how cool!
Hands down, there is no better place to stay to be surrounded by nature, immersed in its beauty with 5 star service and amazing dining. Excellent value, highly recommend!
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Book your vacation here you won’t be disappointed!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 8 Dec 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your incredible experience at Lapa Rios! We are overjoyed to read about your enchanting stay in our Deluxe Bungalows, immersed in the vibrant rainforest. That is our purpose, to immerse guests in the Osa Peninsula! It warms our hearts to know that you found joy in the wildlife encounters from your deck, creating a true safari experience. We strive to provide an unforgettable connection to nature, and your detailed account reflects the magic we aim to deliver. Your kind words about our dedicated team, especially Elier, Emily, David, Vilma, Sandra, Jafa, and Efrain, are truly appreciated. It's heartening to hear that the dining experience was a highlight, and we're delighted you enjoyed the culinary delights created by our talented kitchen team. Our guides, Danilo, Frank, Jeffrey, and Jose, are thrilled to have contributed to your vacation with their expertise, sharing the exotic species of Costa Rica! Your enthusiastic recommendation and acknowledgment of the value we offer mean the world to us. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable moments in nature. Wishing you many more adventures and memories in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.
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This resort is phenomenal. If you want a real Costa Rica Experience and not that of a chain hotel that you can get on any Caribbean island, this is the place. I can’t stay enough good things about the staff and how professional and well trained they are. The customer service is a ten; as is the food. Most everything is locally sourced and you choose from the daily menu earlier in the day as it is prepared on demand. The head chef is a very young woman who cooks with the experience I have a 40 year veteran. The rooms/ cabins are perfect with breathtaking views of sunrise as they are facing east. I had coffee delivered each morning at 5 AM and was on my private secluded deck watching the sunrise listening to the howler monkeys each morning by 5:30. The excursions offered are not the cruise ship style canned adventure but significantly more personable. Too, the free excursions offered on the property by the five or so full-time nature guides are wonderful. They have adventure for every level of fitness, but one can choose to do a significant amount of hiking and see every creature on the Osa Peninsula as well as beautiful waterfalls. It is not inexpensive, but you certainly get what you pay for. My wife and I will most definitely be back for another visit.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Plan at least four days if you can. We stayed seven, and could easily have stayed longer.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 20 Jun 2021
We are very glad to have you David and your wife at Lapa Rios Lodge! Love your description of the Osa Peninsula and our lodge as a real Costa Rica Experience, it is something we strive for every day here and our other 3 sister properties part of Böëna Wilderness Lodges, all located in unique areas of Costa Rica. Our amazing staff is something we are very proud of, they are an essential part of making Lapa Rios a success every day. A cup of freshly brewed Costa Rica coffee is a must for early risers such as you to enjoy our spectacular sunrises, vistas and the sounds of the rainforest waking up. Howler monkeys deliver a good wake up call ;) We hope to have you both again in the near future, again immersed in the rainforest and enjoying adventures that the our destination offers. Pura Vida!
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regarding your knee there are 2 things to consider.....1st to stay at the lodge you need to ask for one of the rooms close to the restaurant......they are spread out along a beautiful high walk ....but if you are at the end it is 300-400m and quite a climb...2nd the best activities all involve some degree of walking to see the wildlife...there is a lot of wildlife around the lodge....which you can see from your room and the restaurant....we did several of the guided walks and according to my garmin the night walk was about 1.5km whilst the other walks were longer...in the 3-5km range
My partner and I were there in February and there were quite a few young teens there at that time. They seemed to enjoy the guided walks with their parents so if the family bond is strong it should be fine. It would be harder for kids who prefer to be on their own.
"We brought a micro fiber cloth to be able to wipe off the sweat from our faces. I also packed my wife 's small rechargeable pregnancy fan which came in handy on occasion. "
There are more places to choose from in the Cabo Matapalo area.
PRICE RANGE
S$1,710 - S$2,354 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
lapa rios ecolodge hotel playa matapalo
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasOsa PeninsulaCabo Matapalo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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