Rafiki is a sustainable adventure lodge located in the Savegre Valley of Costa Rica. The lodge sits on 840 acres of tropical forest. Rafiki specializes in custom white water rafting, horseback riding and hiking trips. Guests sleep in imported luxury Safari Tents which feature hydro electric fans and lights. Each tent sits on a raised hardwood platform, has a deluxe bathroom with glass showers heated with solar power. The units also have a private porch with rocking chairs looking over the Savegre Valley.
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
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Afrikaans
Location
16 Km from the Coastal Highway Savegre River Costa Rica
We stayed here for our honeymoon and had the best experience! We went rafting with Kenneth and Alan who were both amazing people. Kenneth shared some great knowledge with us about the environment surrounding us and we learned so much about the native plants and animals! He also brought us up to a gorgeous waterfall where he cut fresh fruit for us and brought homemade snickerdoodles. We really really enjoyed spending the day with him as he had so much insight to share! We also went on a night hike with Randall where we saw so many frogs, spiders, scorpions, snakes, etc. Randall took great pictures on my phone of the animals and was also very knowledgeable about them. All the staff was really nice and we loved the food! Everyone spoke great English and lived in the local community about 10 minutes from the lodge. They had the best plantains of anywhere in Costa Rica and they made delicious fresh juice daily. We especially loved the hot tub hanging from the side of the lodge with a gorgeous view overseeing the property. The tents do an amazing job at keeping bugs out! If you are looking for a secluded, relaxing getaway Rafiki is perfect for you! You will see so many plants and wildlife like lizards, birds, and frogs on the property! Not to mention they have this yummy apple tree where you can pick them fresh. We loved it here!!! Thank you everyone at Rafiki for being so great!
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
This was our third time visiting Costa Rica and we wanted to stay somewhere off-the-beaten path. We read the good reviews, and now we'd like to add our own.
The service was exceptional. Rey (sp?) was a great concierge and made sure we always had activities organized for us. My 11 year old son was particularly impressed by his friendliness. It was great to be able to do organized activities straight from where we were staying. We did horseback riding, the water hike, the night hike, and white water rafting (though had it been pretty dry and the water wasn't too white), all from Rafiki. I love birding, too, and I saw so many species just walking around the grounds.
The pool and water slide were great for our kids, aged 11, 14, and 17. They went down the slide so many times our first two days there they were too sore to do it on the last day! It is fast! The views from the pool, restaurant/bar, and even the tents are incredible.
The rooms were great. Even though they are based on tents, I wouldn't really say were were roughing it. The bathrooms were huge and modern and there was plenty of electricity to charge our devices and keep cool. I was nervous about being too hot at night for sure, but it cooled off nicely and we even made use of our blankets.
The food was delicious with two or three options at each meal, plus one for kids. My kids loved ordering Fantas and smoothies at the bar, and we adults enjoyed the grown up beverages as well. They have a nice variety of interesting cocktails.
Lastly, a huge shout out to the amazing staff. The kitchen, restaurant, desk, and cleaning staff were so efficient and friendly, as were Rey and Loki, our hosts. Huge special thanks to our amazing guides Alan, Kenneth, and Randol. These guys were knowledgeable, friendly, positive, and really worked hard to make sure we had a fantastic time.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
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.
Rafiki Lodge is worth way more than 5 stars! It is amazing here! Everyone there is so hard-working and incredible. They all took care of my family and me. I felt safe the entire time and did all my excursions through them. All the excursions we did there were unbelievable. We not only did their white-water rafting tour but also went on a long beautiful hike through the rainforest to a waterfall, went horseback riding, went on a night tour in the forest, and kayaked through mangroves to their other location on the beach. I'm probably forgetting some things we did when writing this because there is so much! At the actual lodge, there is a gorgeous view of the jungle. Breathtaking! When you aren't soaking in the view, there is a crazy fast and fun slide to go down. Everything about this place is a paradise. Couldn't recommend enough! The staff is great! They're such a big reason why Rafiki Lodge is the place to be. Kenneth and Randol are such amazing guides! They seem to know everything about the surrounding area and make your visit there magical! From everywhere I've been this vacation has been my favorite! I don't think anything will ever beat this trip!
(Even though it says 2023, I went to Rafiki Safari Lodge in May 2021)
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
This is an idyllic paradise, set a 30min drive off the main road, surrounded by beautiful secondary rainforest. The wildlife abounds - so much to spot from the lodge veranda.
The accommodation is extremely comfortable , with well equipped bathrooms.
I second all the comments about the food - every meal was delicious, with a varied choice and unbelievable quality, given the remoteness of the place and tiny kitchen.
The best part were the guided tours. All the guides were fun, knowledgeable and very safety conscious.
A particular shout out to Alan and especially Randell, who expertly got us down the rapids white water rafting and took us on an amazing hike - he was so knowledgeable and made the trip really fun for my young son - showing him how to skid down fallen tree trunks - no skateboard needed!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Rafiki means “friend” and we believe we made some amazing friends here this week! I cannot say enough about Lautjie and Mauren, and the incredible staff that is Rafiki!! We took 15 family members and two “nannies” to help with the little ones, to Rafiki, signing up for the “super leaker safari package” which included 6 nights accommodation, transport from San Jose, and activities and meals every day. Our tents were super comfy Our food was delicious every meal Our adventures were thrilling The swimming pools and slide were a fabulous refuge after an adventure out Lautjie was exceptionally patient and flexible as plans needed to be changed to accommodate the needs of each family The setting is stunningly picturesque We didn’t want to leave! Our last two nights were in their facility on the beach, just as lovely S it was different. If you’re wondering about this destination, I hope my review encourages you to pack your bags and go! You will not regret it. We have made some incredible memories that will last a life time! Thanks Rafiki! God bless the amazing conservation work you are doing there too 🌸🌸🌸
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
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 Lautjie Boshoff, Owner at Rafiki Safari Lodge
Responded Sep 3, 2021
We loved having you guys at the lodge and appreciate you trusting us with your family holiday. We hope to see you again soon! Thank you kindly for the nice words.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had the coolest experience of my life as a first time traveler to Costa Rica! My sister-in-law helped book white water rafting for our group through our airbnb, and we had the most memorable experience. Randal made it worth while!!! He's so knowledgeable and passionate about the land. White water rafting was just the half of it-- we stopped at a GORGEOUS waterfall where he gave us fresh clay masks and let us explore! Once we got back, we were served a delicious lunch with the most incredible view. I would 100% recommend this experience to a family or friend traveling to CR. You get your moneys worth, and more! PLEASE visit Rafiki Safari Lodge & request water rafting with Randal.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
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 loved Rafiki. After a long drive from La Fortuna and then 45 mins on a rocky road, we really hoped it would be worth it and it was! Sleeping in a tent in a beautiful, magical valley surrounded by all the sounds of the jungle was an amazing experience. On top of that, the guides who took us white water rafting were fantastic and everyone else was helpful and fun. Thank you!
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
The tents are comfortable and the bathrooms lovely with nice hot showers. Hardly camping even though in a tent! The staff was just lovely and so helpful. I traveled solo and they provided 3 personalized guided tours. The guides were knowledgeable, kind, thoughtful, and just plain pleasant to spend time with! I highly recommend the night hike, waterfall hike, and the white water rafting. The food was incredible and the other guests were clearly enjoying their time as much as I did. I wish I had more time there and I look forward to returning!
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Bring bug spray
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.
This experience and the excursions were an incredibly unique. The people, the location, the animals and food all made this so special. The water slide with natural fed springs and warm bath was so fun with great views of the sunset. We loved the whitewater rafting. Kenneth was an excellent guide for families with kids who love nature and are curious.
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Date of stay: March 2023
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.
Spending three days at Rafiki Safari Lodge was the perfect way to begin our two-week adventure in Costa Rica. The platform tents provide an authentic, immersive jungle experience complete with the 5:45 am jungle birds alarm clock. A reasonable level of physical fitness is helpful to fully enjoy the offerings, though even families with small children found plenty age-appropriate activities. The guides, who are mostly raised and trained locally, are highly knowledgeable and eager to joyfully share the secrets of their beautiful bit of paradise. The “waterfall hike” has several options from rigorous to easy, so you can tailor your experience to your interest, experience, and level of fitness. Our mountainous 9 km hike was much more than just a waterfall experience; we loved it. The long, rough, and winding access road to Rafiki ensured extreme isolation for our time there, and made us thankful that we had hired an expert driver (using Costa Rica Vacations) to navigate the road. We went in February during the dry season; during the rainy season that road would be even more daunting.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Be prepared to haul your own baggage here. The bellman services are limited. Take advantage of...
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.
June is a fun time to enjoy any and all water activities such as white water rafting since the rivers are starting to get swell after months of dry weather. Rain tends to come in the early and late afternoons giving you the morning to enjoy "dry activities," like horseback riding and hiking, before the rain starts.
Hope this info helps!
Hi,
The Savegre Valley brings cool breezes from over 12,000 feet down to the camp, so it is quite pleasant at night. Rafiki is not really all that buggy. You will find the beaches in the country to have more bugs. We (unfortunetaly in my opinion) have improved the internet at the lodge. You don't have to tell your kids, but yes there is good quality wifi. I prefer to see family play cards, engage in conversation with other families, sit in the hot tub and watch the stars, or go down the slide at night (yeooow!).Let me know if you have any other questions! Sincerely, Lautjie
There are more places to choose from in the Perez Zeledon area.
PRICE RANGE
$200 - $265 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rafiki safari hotel province of puntarenas
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of San JosePerez Zeledon
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
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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