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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers 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
This lodge is gorgeous and the views are unbelievable. It's located on the side of a hill and overlooks the golfo dulce. The cabins are more or less at treetop level so there are birds, monkeys, and other wildlife constantly in view. The food, drinks, and service were all top-notch. My one reservation with this lodge is that the tours are on-par (not worse, but not better) with the rest of Costa Rican lodges and tour groups and didn't offer variation. I'm a solo-traveling wildlife photographer, and Lapa Rios offers group tours or private tours, but while the private tours will give you some extra time to photograph it's not much (and one of the guides was constantly checking his watch trying to hurry things along). This would be fine for an average or lower-priced lodge but for the price of Lapa Rios I hoped for better. I had asked the manager and multiple concierges if I could book a tour and pay by the hour, or if a similar option was available so I wouldn't be rushed and each time I asked they promised to look into it and never replied (I asked the same people multiple times, same deferred answer). I still rate it five stars despite this, because it really was a great experience overall, and as mentioned above - the tours weren't worse than anywhere else, but they weren't better either. …
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Date of stay: September 2022
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Trip type: Traveled solo
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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded 2 weeks ago
Greetings Matthew from all of us in the Osa Peninsula! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience at Lapa Rios: rooms, cuisine, drinks and our service. We also enjoy the amazing photos you have shared, taken during your stay. We appreciate your feedback, as a solo-traveling wildlife photographer, we recognize your desire for ample time to capture the perfect shots without feeling rushed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the limited extra time provided during the private tours. Rest assured, we will address this issue with our team to ensure that each guest receives the attention and personalized experience they deserve. We are truly grateful for your generous five-star rating despite these concerns. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future, and we assure you that we will strive to surpass your expectations.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I told my travel agent that I wanted to go somewhere in Costa Rica that was in the rainforest and near the water at the same time. Plus, I wanted as many animals as possible. She said- I know EXACTLY the place and she did!! We went for five nights with our party of three (myself, husband, and just-turned 12-year old). It was the perfect amount of time. We flew into San Jose and spent the night at the Marriott Courtyard by the airport. The next day we headed to the domestic terminal and flew from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. I was terrified of that teeny plane but it was actually quite an amazing experience in itself! We arrived in Puerto Jimenez and encountered really our only hiccup of this part of our trip. All of the other lodges had someone waiting to whisk them off but nobody was there for us!! A taxi driver helped us out, thankfully, and directed us to a building on the side of the road once we told him Lapa Rios. In that building we found a woman who remarked- oh yes, Grovers, we had you done as flying in today but we didn't know what time! Now that seems weird to me and I'm starting to panic a little that we might not have anywhere to stay. She gave us some coconut water and told us to get comfy and she would send for the car. About a half an hour later (seemed way longer because we couldn't wait to get to the resort) a truck showed up to take us to Lapa Rios. The half an hour drive was fun- bumpy and across a stream at one point- and when we arrived at the resort- our room was actually ready (whew!) We spent most of the five days by the (warm) pool or on our deck or in the restaurant. We were so glad we had brought books, cards, and even a game or two. We did a few of the hikes (the night hike twice!), the Twigs & Pigs, and the waterfall hike (LOVED the waterfall). We had wonderful service although it was always changing- one person would take your order, another bring your drinks, another your food- which was fine but we had our favorites and hoped to see them more consistently! We stayed in Bungalow #11 and had an amazing view of the Golfo and the almond trees that the monkeys, toucans, and macaws seemed to love. I was worried after reading all the reviews about the stairs but it was really no big deal at all. Once, I even ran into a monkey when I was climbing the stairs from the spa!! So cool Our favorite thing to do- besides hiking, eating, drinking, reading... was to have happy hour on our deck at 4:30/5 each evening and just watch the monkeys play. My second favorite thing was to wake up before my family and head out to our deck with my coffee and the birds. I downloaded a cool app on my last day that was basically a Shazam for bird sounds. Wish I had it the whole time!! We wanted to see animals and WOW- did we! We realized on the last day that the front desk has a cool map/scavenger hunt but we had kept our own list and saw at least 30 different cool animals from a Fer-da-Lance to an armadillo. I LOVED the sound of the howler monkeys at night- so eerie! The food was delightful and I was obsessed with anything BANANA. Banana bread, banana ice cream, banana daiquiris- it was SO very delightful. The very last night we were treated to a beautiful candlelit dinner on the pool deck (probably because we spent so much money on cocktails and smoothies over the week!) We were still in the pool with cocktails and smoothies when our shuttle was arriving so our checkout was a little rushed. The whole tip thing was hard for me as one of the employees asked if I planned to give individual tips (they had envelopes). It would've been hard for me to do that as I liked so many different people, so we ended up just leaving a combined tip for everyone. We were about 5/10 minutes into our drive to the airport when they called to say we still had a bill at the pool bar (I had asked before we left) so our driver had to turn around. It's too bad they don't just keep your card on file for those kinds of things. All in all- I would really give it 4.5 stars for the few snafus but we 100% hope to go back someday. It really was paradise. …
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Date of stay: April 2023
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Apr 29, 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience at Lapa Rios in the Osa Península of Costa Rica! It sounds like you and your family had a fantastic time at our lodge, your bungalow, our pool, hikes through out private reserve and seeing the exotic fauna that abounds. Overall, it sounds like Lapa Rios provided a little bit of paradise for you and your family! It's great to hear that your travel agent was able to recommend the perfect place for your vacation, and that despite a hiccup with transportation and tipping. This feedback is very welcome since we can only improve! We hope you all have the opportunity to visit again in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Well we absolutely loved our 4 nights here! What a beautiful place to end our time in Costa Rica. Beautiful villa to sit in our pool and watch all the monkeys and wildlife! The food and drink were amazing, the staff were brilliant. The only slight negative for me was the main dining area, so we always managed to get a seat for dinner by the bar which was more to our liking,I did feel these areas were in need of some refurbishment but we still had the best time! We decided to go on the dolphin excursion which was expensive but worth every penny, I have never felt so at one with nature, it was one of the best experiences of my life! Thank you to everyone who made our time here so wonderful.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip 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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Apr 16, 2023
Hello Becky, from all of us at the Osa Peninsula! We are also very glad that you ended your Costa Rica trip at Lapa Rios Lodge! Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us: culinary, dolphin tour, our pool surrounded by the lush flora and fauna and last but not least, our amazing staff. We also appreciate your feedback, which has been relayed to management. We hope to have you back in a future trip to Costa Rica at any of our Böëna Wilderness Lodges!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. First, the location is awe inspiring. The lodge is built in the canopy, and animals are everywhere. We would sit on our deck (they brought amazing coffee to our room each morning) and watch the birds, monkeys, coati, and butterflies. The food was phenomenal. The bed was the most comfortable I have ever tried. The tours were extraordinary. But, all of that was surpassed by the staff. They were so incredibly kind, patient, accommodating, and generous. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
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Date of stay: April 2023
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Room Tip:I am terrified of spiders, but I went on the nightwalk. The guide was great about pointing them...
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Apr 9, 2023
Thank you for your wonderful review of your stay in the Osa Península and Lapa Rios Lodge! Indeed we are a unique location, within our own private reserve, hope to the flora and fauna of the area. As you experienced it, you don't have to walk far from your room to be immersed in the rainforest. And your experience would not be complete with the attention of our amazing staff. Pura vida!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Try for villa 1,2 ,3, 4, 5 or 6. The others are a long hot walk
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 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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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We finished our holiday here, on a complete high in every sense of the word. The walk from the lodge to the rooms is in the tree tops and you are at the same level as the monkeys and can look down on the soaring birds of prey and Scarlet Macaws that frequent the area. Rooms are beautiful and very comfortable with stunning views, food excellent and the tours varied. If you want to visit the Corcovado National park it is important to book in advance as numbers are restricted. We had not been told but Hazel the concierge worked a miracle and we gained access within 24 hours. We had a superb day there with Jeffrey; saw a tapir, anteater, peccaries, boa constrictor, numerous birds and monkeys as well as dolphins on the way there. An unforgettable day made by Jeffrey’s eagle eyes and great knowledge. Danilo also guided us through the forest to the beach and was just as expert. A unique place offering unique experiences.…
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Date of stay: April 2023
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 2023
A big hello from all of us at Lapa Ríos Lodge! We are delighted that you got to experience the thriving flora and fauna of Costa Rica's unique Osa Peninsula, right on our property and at Corcovado National Park! Thank you for highlighting our amazing staff and guides, all for the surrounding communities. Our lodge is part of Böëna Wilderness Lodges (boena.com), dedicated to keeping the paradises where we operate for the enjoyment and wonder of generations to come!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nothing short of magical. It may take a little effort to get there but this was such a peaceful, relaxing way to be right in the middle of nature. We saw Macaws, Squirrel monkey, spider monkeys and Capuchins every day either on our porch or walking around. The guides were fantastic, the food was delicious and the customer service was spot on. We enjoyed the Early morning hike, a perfect beach picnic and the beach tour. We would have done more if we were there longer. Massages were awesome. I was worried about heat and humidity but we were perfect comfortable as long as we could take a dip in the pool or head to the beach mid day. We were SO sad to go and will definitely return as soon as possible!
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Date of stay: March 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Get ready to walk some stairs if you are in the villas! But totally worth it!
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Mar 25, 2023
Thank you Emily for your 5-star review and enthusiastic recommendation for those seeking exotic destinations! Our lodge and the Osa Peninsula are indeed are a magical paradise to be close to nature and to relax. We will share this with our staff and guides to let them know to keep up the amazing work. We are so glad that both of you got to enjoy the views of our villas, the flora and fauna, the beaches that close by, our spa and pool. Hope to see you both in a future visti to the Osa Península!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is one of the most beautiful and wonderful ecotourism lodges in the world. It is located within its own reserve of jungle in southwestern Costa Rica in the Osa peninsula overlooking the ocean. The rooms are stunning and integrated into the surrounding jungle by screens and open porches. The service is incredible and is highlighted by brilliant naturalists. The food is world class -- every meal is as good as you could find at a top restaurant in a major city in Europe or America. The front desk is excellent, although the number of excursions offered every days is much less than on their website and getting to the National Park is farther and more difficult than advertised. That said, the jungle within their own nature reserve is teaming with wildlife making going to the park of marginal value. Most of the rooms are located on a ridge connected by a walkway, which is its own canopy walk. On this walkway we saw all dozens of monkeys -- of three different species -- as well as toucans and rare tree frogs. As we arrived at the lodge, a troop of white faced monkeys was waking right by and over the dining room. On excursions we saw both kinds of sloths and the naturalists were extremely helpful in getting great photos with their high power scopes using our phones. Guests can be driven down to the lodge's private beach, which is beautiful, and the staff will bring down water and chairs. The beach is magical as you swim in warm tropical water while pelicans soar over you and perch on gorgeous rock formations and palm trees. The Beach Walk excursion is beautiful -- we saw a rare out of season humpback whale just a few hundred yards off the beach. The night walk excursion was fun, enormously atmospheric, and you see the majority of animals that prefer to be awake at night in the jungle but it is filled with creepy crawlies like scorpians and, if you are lucky, a snake. The rooms themselves are beautiful -- filled with beautiful wood and perfectly laid out for a ecotourism experience. Ours had a beautiful and large desk with a view of both the Pacific and the Gulf of Dulce. We loved sitting out on the deck watching the gorgeous Scarlet Macaws flying right by! The pool is beautiful with warm water and provides a wonderful alternative to the jungle. The open air lodge is gorgeous, filled with beautiful furniture and books on topics relevant to the guests. The Bird watching excursions were excellent -- you are driven out to more open ranchland, where it is easier to see them. The naturalists were excellent at pointing out the birds and describing their behaviors. We saw dozens of species over two such excursions and the other guests, who were birders, seemed very excited with their experiences, going back again and again, to this excursion. Indeed, I was very excited to discover a hawk's nest and my wife found a tiny and beautiful hummingbird nest. If you are lucky, you can even see a caiman (a type of crocodile), on this excursion. The jungle walk excursion was amazing as you walk on a trail along a ridge line through the center of their private nature reserve. We saw many animals and the naturalist was outstanding at explaining how they fit into the rain forest. The lodge is excellent from ecological standpoint. Their reserve is pristine and filled with animals -- indeed on our last morning, Coatis (small mammals, similar to raccoons) were foraging under the walkway and nearby an Agouti -- a large rodent -- walked by . The lodge is powered mainly by solar and hydro although they do the run a generator in the early evening when electrical usage is highest. (Comment: The lodge should consider adding more solar and batteries to close this gap.) Each room has recycling containers in addition to regular trash. The lodge works very hard and successfully to process its trash. A minor issue is that the local roads are a bit bumpy. The lodges' 2 roads are improved and perfect but they are not allowed to improve the roads built and maintained by the government that run from town and the airport. These roads are highlighted by a ford across a creek where the bridge is out -- kind of fun actually -- and the local roads are unpaved with some bumps here and there. Some other guests seemed worried about snakes outside their villa but the lodge was responsive and we never saw any near our room. Indeed the staff sweeps all their paths every day, including those used for excursions, to enormously reduce the challenges posed by the jungle and its animals. Some other guests also seem worried about the possibility of bugs getting in their rooms but the rooms are very buttoned up against bugs and the lodge sprays the rooms regularly (although they were better at spraying then cleaning up the results thereafter). The cost of this resort is high, but if you have the money do not hesitate -- the value is outstanding. As we drove to the airport our driver slowed the vehicle and out popped a gorgeous scarlet Macaw from its cute hole in a tree to see us off.…
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Date of stay: January 2023
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Room Tip:Ask for a room on the ridge overlooking the Pacific or the Gulf of Dulce.
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Jan 30, 2023
Thank you Phil for your 5-star review and enthusiastic recommendation for those seeking exotic destinations. We deeply appreciate taking the time to write your amazingly detailed experience of your stay in the lush Osa Peninsula. It will be very useful to those planning on staying at our lodge! Thank you for highlighting of our amazing staff, from the concierge desk to our knowledgeable naturalist guides, all are ready to make our guests feel right at home and show them the best of what Costa Rica has to offer such as it flora, fauna, beaches and rainforests. Indeed the road to our lodge, from the local airport, is unpaved, about 40 minute drive. We are in a remote area and getting here is part of the adventure! We hope to have you back in a future visit! Our lodge is part of Böëna Wilderness Lodges, dedicated to keeping the paradises where we operate for the enjoyment and wonder of generations to come!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a completely wonderful stay. A beautiful room with a stunning view over the Pacific and spider monkeys playing in the trees next door. There is a good size pool.The staff, especially the waiting staff, could not have been more friendly. The food was excellent with particularly good starters. The five full time guides ( at least two have been there for over 25 years) took it in turns to guide a range of trips and we treasure the two macaws we saw ,the squirrel monkeys and the trail which revealed how many plants have medicinal uses. In short a wonderful stay and we shall return. David and Primrose PS No American Express which is a tiny pity
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip 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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Jan 27, 2023
Thank you David and Primrose for taking the time to share your experiences at our lodge and the Osa Peninsula! Glad that could hang out with your neighbors the spider and squirrel monkeys, macaws. We really appreciate your shout out of our amazing staff including our naturalist guides. We would love to have you back in a future visit to Costa Rica. Also consider our sister lodges, all part of Böëna Wilderness Lodges!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Totally magical resort … just kept pinching ourselves that we were right there overlooking the sea surrounded by incredible wildlife. Lots of hikes organised by the Lodge - early morning bird walks and night walks too. Stunning to swim in the sea along an isolated cove with just the two of us and some pelicans diving for fish. Staff were very professional and friendly. Awesome place would love to return. The must do activity is apparently the boat ride into Corcovado national park - but this needs to be booked at least six weeks in advance which we did not realise. We instead did the walk into the park which was not pleasant - 31 degree heat.. 3.5k walk just to get to the entrance of the park along the boiling hot sand. Honestly we saw more wildlife on the trip to and from the park!…
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Bring great binoculars and a good camera! iPhone is ok but not the best.
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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.
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Response from Andres Madrigal, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapa Rios Lodge
Responded Jan 21, 2023
Thank you for your review of your stay at Lapa Rios! Our lodge is located within our own private reserve and we have our own naturalist guides that will show our guests the lush flora and fauna of the Osa Peninsula. Also we have access to the beach from our lodge. Last but not least, appreciate your shout out to our amazing staff. Regarding your feedback of Corcovado, indeed it is better to book a tour in advance. Yes, you can walk there but as you experienced, it is a long trek on the sand. If you plan to do it, it is better to plan ahead, bring water and snack and leave early. We hope to have you back in a future visit to Costa Rica!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.