Let Nature Transform You at Costa Rica's Lapa Rios Lodge
Böëna Wilderness Lodges: Life-changing Adventures in Paradise
Quote of the Week
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
- Lao Tzu
Dear Postcard Travellers,
Calling all wildlife lovers! This week we’re visiting Lapa Rios Lodge, deep in the dense rainforests of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.
Part of the sustainable Böëna Wilderness Lodges collection, this extraordinary eco-lodge offers up-close encounters with wildlife on land and sea.
Life-changing adventures are also on your itinerary. Rappell down wild waterfalls, kayak through the turquoise Golfo Dulce, zipline through the jungle, surf, whale watch and horseback ride along the beach. You can do all this and more at Lapa Rios.
Pura vida!
Karen Hastings
Editor, Postcard Travel Club
This Week’s Featured Partner: Böëna Wilderness Lodges
Böëna Wilderness Lodges are for travellers with a purpose.
All five luxury lodges offer transformative experiences in Costa Rica’s most spectacular wilderness destinations, from Pacuare Lodge on the rushing Pacuare River to the lush rainforests of the Osa Peninsula, the heights of Monteverde's cloud forests and the jungle-rimmed waterways of Tortuguero on the northern Caribbean coast.
These destinations are nature's cathedrals—privileged places where dazzling biodiversity blends seamlessly with awe-inspiring landscapes. Here, wildlife thrives, nature sparks your senses and life-changing adventures and authentic local connections await.
Excellence in environmental sustainability is also a core value at Böëna Wilderness Lodges. Through consciously crafted environmental initiatives, Böëna strives to preserve these paradises for generations to come.
More than just luxurious retreats, all these lodges are sanctuaries for the soul.
Let’s venture deep into the wildlife-rich rainforests of the Osa Peninsula to Lapa Rios Lodge:
Unique Activities
Explore Lapa Rios Lodge
At Lapa Rios Lodge, you can immerse yourself in a sanctuary of luxury and ecological harmony.
Lapa Rios Lodge emerged organically within the core of one of the final lowland rainforests in Central America. Enveloped by 1,000 acres of safeguarded woodland, hosting unparalleled biodiversity, this extraordinary haven consistently unveils remarkable natural encounters.
Here, the scarlet macaw, known locally as "lapa," graces the skies, painting a breathtaking river “rio” of red across the jungle. Sloths, monkeys, toucans, whales, dolphins and manta rays are just some of the other magnificent species that live in the pristine wilderness around the lodge.
Conceived in 1993 as a visionary bastion of sustainable tourism, Lapa Rios is not merely a lodge but a testament to the profound belief that a standing rainforest is an invaluable treasure.
Beyond its 17-bungalow haven, the resort offers a transcendent experience, inviting you to explore the beating heart of the wild Osa Peninsula through interpretive hikes, bird watching walks, and sustainability tours. At Lapa Rios, your connection with nature is both intimate and life-changing.
Enjoy the Sweet Life on Golfo Dulce
Golfo Dulce, ‘the sweet Gulf’, is the perfect playground for aquatic adventures.
Learn to surf with personalized lessons from the best local surf school, paddle through epic scenery on a stand up paddleboarding excursion, and witness the world's longest humpback whale season.
Dolphin experiences are also a highlight. Take a Rio Esquinas Dolphin Tour and keep your eyes open for manta rays and whales as you cruise the turquoise waters.
For the thrill of sport fishing, cast your line in the renowned Golfo Dulce and Costa Rica's Pacific coastal waters, where marlin, mahimahi, sailfish and tuna await in these prolific marine habitats.
Prefer to experience a mix of land and sea? Opt for the horseback riding and kayaking tour.
Spot Rare Treasures in the Rainforest
Lapa Rios is a nirvana for nature lovers — especially birders. Scarlet macaws, toucans, woodpeckers and king vultures share the treetops with monkeys, sloths and iguanas, providing heart-pounding sightings of some of nature’s most beloved rainforest species. Keep an eye out for vivid morpho butterflies, too.
Awaken your senses with a sunrise birdwatching adventure at Lapa Rios or hike along the Rainforest Ridge, which includes a refreshing dip in a river. You can also enjoy an easy downhill hike along the Osa Trail and spot wildlife along the way.
High-quality binoculars and/or spotting scopes enrich your experience, allowing close-up views of the spectacular wildlife in the biodiverse tropical lowland forest.
Hike to Wild Waterfalls
Explore Costa Rica's breathtaking cascades on the Wild Waterfalls Hike.
Traverse the Rio Abajo and Carboneras rivers, winding through mountainous primary and secondary rainforests, encountering slippery and rocky terrain, and crossing riverbeds on your journey to two breathtaking waterfalls.
Delight your senses as you witness endemic species of frogs, reptiles, and birds, and indulge in the refreshing cool waters of the Carboneras River before the uphill trek back to the Lodge.
If adrenaline-infused adventures are more your style, opt for the waterfall rappelling experience or the exhilarating Canopy Zipline Tour.
Learn about Restoring the Coral Reef of the Golfo Dulce
Ever heard of a coral gardener?
In the Golfo Dulce, ‘coral gardeners’ tend to the coral reefs as part of an important project run by Raising Coral, a one-of-a-kind nonprofit in Costa Rica, which helps restore these precious marine environments.
Lapa Rios Lodge helps fund this program under the guidance of Priscilla Murillo, Böëna Wilderness Lodges’ sustainability coordinator.
Find out more about this important project and learn how it ripples out into the local communities.
Lodging
Your Luxe Jungle Hideaway
At Lapa Rios, you will stay in the lap of luxury embraced by Mother Nature.
Whether you choose one of the Lapa Villas, Premier Villas or Deluxe Bungalows, you’ll be perched above the lush canopy of primary rainforest with sweeping views of the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), home to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and surf breaks.
You’ll be immersed in the symphony of sights and sounds – monkeys traversing treetops and scarlet macaws chattering overhead. You might even spot breaching humpback whales from your room.
Dining
Feast on Farm-to-Fork Cuisine at Brisa Azul
Nourishing, locally sourced organic food dominates the menu at Lapa Rios Lodge’s Brisa Azul Restaurant.
Choose from thoughtfully crafted menus catering to diverse palates. One menu is plant-powered; the other offers omnivorous delights, including local produce, meat, dairy and fresh-caught seafood. All meals are paired with world-class wines.
Fire up your tastebuds with specialities such as black risotto with grilled octopus, shrimp, calamari, and squid ink or feast on plant-based options like vegetarian poke, coconut curry and beetroot risotto.
No matter what you order, you’ll taste the passion, creativity, and locally sourced perfection that defines Lapa Rios' culinary artistry.
Sustainability Story
At Lapa Rios, sustainability is a core value. Böëna Wilderness Lodges is a means to preserve the endangered rainforest, reflecting a commitment to operate in harmony with nature.
This philosophy extends across all Böëna Wilderness Lodges, where initiatives include low-impact construction, use of renewable materials, support for local communities, and education on sustainability. Böëna Wilderness Lodges generate their own clean electricity and heat the water with solar power. The vast majority of staff are local residents.
Each lodge showcases how practical, sustainable tourism can strengthen conservation efforts and benefit communities.
Discover More Immersive Experiences at Lapa Rios Lodge
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