Top ecolodges in Costa Rica
Article updated November 2021
As an international leader in green tourism, Costa Rica is home to numerous ecolodges where you can better appreciate its abundant wildlife and breathtaking natural beauty. Read on for our pick of the best of them.
Stay in Costa Rica's rainforest
If you’re interested in exploring the rainforest, head off the beaten path to Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, in Costa Rica's northern lowland region. This remote ecolodge offers rustic rooms and serves buffet-style meals. The main attraction is its setting, in 505 hectares (1,250 acres) of rainforest, that are home to hundreds of species of birds. As its name suggests, there is also a lagoon that supports lagartos (caimans). There are around 10km (6 miles) of hiking trails to explore, plus horseback riding, canoeing, and opportunities for boat trips up the Río San Carlos to the Nicaraguan border.
Nearby, the Maquenque Ecolodge is a more luxurious destination, offering high-roofed cabins, a swimming pool, and an excellent restaurant set around lakes in the 60,000-hectare (148,000- acre) Maquenque Wildlife Refuge. Both the above lodges sit amid some of the last remaining nesting sites of the increasingly endangered great green macaw.
In the middle of rainforest. Photo: Lapa Rios Lodge, Costa Rica.
Corcovado National Park without a tent
A pleasant alternative to sleeping in a tent in Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula is to bed down at one of the nearby ecolodges. At one end of the scale is Lapa Ríos, set in its own primary forest preserve, with high end thatched-roof bungalows perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean. It’s as luxurious as it gets here, but like all lodges that endeavour to reduce their carbon footprint, there's no air-conditioning, few cellular connections and limited Wi-fi access.
You can experience a stay at this rustic, luxurious location for yourself as part of Insight Guides' Costa Rica Eco-Adventure trip.
Nearby Bosque del Cabo is just as luxurious, and a favourite hangout for abundant wildlife including monkeys. In Carate, within walking distance of Corcovado National Park's entrance, cheery, laid-back Lookout Inn is right on the beach, with guaranteed sightings of scarlet macaws, while Luna Lodge, famous for its yoga retreats, contemplates the park from a mountain perch. The closest you can stay to the park's entrance, and in some comfort, is at La Leona Eco Lodge, in a tent pitched on a platform, with an attached private bathroom. Guests at the upscale Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge can hike directly into the bordering park. Near the new El Tigre park entrance, rustic Bosque del Tigre Lodge in Dos Brazos has some of the best birding and hiking in the Osa, while nearby, the affordable Danta Corcovado Lodge offers simple but comfortable rooms, as well as private cabins in the woods.
Volcano Arenal. Photo: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock
A volcanic eco-experience
One of the most enchanting, and least visited, national parks is Tenorio Volcano National Park. The country's most beautiful river runs through it – the Río Celeste lives up to its name with heavenly blue water. Here, you can hike through primary cloud forest to a waterfall and swim in cool pools. Along the river there are pockets of hot springs and volcanic mud, which you can smear on your skin for a natural beauty treatment. Colorful butterflies, birds and wildlife abound. Snakes sun themselves on sunlit paths, so be sure to wear hiking boots and look where you are treading. Stay overnight nearby at Heliconias Rainforest Lodge, an eco-friendly establishment run by a local cooperative, near the village of Bijagua. Simple cabins and comfortable private bungalows overlook Lake Nicaragua with Miravalles Volcano in the distance. Miles of birding trails run through the surrounding forest.
Alternatively, big-hitter on the traveler trail, Volcano Arenal is another destination with plenty of eco-conscious accommodations. Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa Hotel offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscapes, while sustainability initiatives include an on-site water treatment facility, natural hot springs and a comprehensive recycling program.
Enjoy a luxurious stay here as part of Insight Guides' Beaches & Volcanoes trip.
Close to nature in Costa Rica. Photo: Lapa Rios Lodge, Costa Rica.
Ready to plan a trip to Costa Rica?
Our local experts can help you to plan and book fantastic tailor-made trips in Costa Rica. Simply contact us to let us know your ideas for the trip and when you would like to travel. We will then prepare a personalized itinerary especially, which you can amend until you're totally happy with every detail before booking. Seek inspiration in our existing Costa Rica itineraries, and keep in mind that they can be fully tailored to suit your specific needs.
