"I’ve been eying this resort for years, and finally got to experience it in all its wonder! From the welcome at the office in town (yummy coconut drink!) to check-in, we’d already fallen in love. The other places we stayed in CR were lovely, but NOW we felt like we were in the rainforest. Like really IN the rainforest! All the staff … the drivers, naturalists, waitrons and bartenders are so friendly and kind and eager to share their obvious love of this area. Our room and its view, took our breath away. Love the outdoor shower. And the walkways that connect everything are magical and where I spotted my first (Spider) monkey. By the end of our stay, I’d seen all four types (my main goal of this trip!) We found the food very good and felt there were plenty of choices (we were there for a week and didn’t get to try everything we wanted to) Taking the safari bus down to the beach became an afternoon habit, followed by a dip in the pool. Taking surfing lessons was a bucket list for my husband. It was hard but fun (I got up!) I could go on and on but will just say, GO! It’s well worth the money and a magical place."

"Some places don’t just meet expectations — they quietly, elegantly redefine them. Lapa Rios Lodge is one of those rare properties. Perched within a private rainforest reserve on the Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios feels less like a hotel and more like a privileged invitation into one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. From the moment you arrive, you realize you are not simply checking in — you are being welcomed into a living sanctuary where scarlet macaws glide overhead, howler monkeys announce the morning, and the ocean and jungle exist in perfect harmony. The accommodations strike an exquisite balance between refined luxury and deep respect for nature. Open-air bungalows capture sea breezes and birdsong, with handcrafted wood details, pristine linens, air cooled bed, and sweeping views that make even the most seasoned global traveler pause in awe. This is eco-luxury done right: thoughtful, elegant, and immersive, yet not showy. What truly elevates Lapa Rios, however, is its people — and in particular, Nikole, who embodies everything the Boena brand stands for. Nikole’s service was not only attentive and seamless, but deeply personal. She has an intuitive understanding of what luxury travelers value: anticipation rather than reaction, warmth without intrusion, and excellence without pretense. Whether arranging bespoke experiences, ensuring every detail was flawless, or simply offering thoughtful guidance about the reserve, Nikole made us feel genuinely cared for, not just accommodated. She is an extraordinary ambassador for Boena’s commitment to sustainable, soulful hospitality. Dining at Lapa Rios is equally exceptional — fresh, beautifully prepared cuisine that reflects both Costa Rica’s vibrant flavors and the property’s dedication to sustainability. Each meal feels curated, not catered. Thanks to Karolina and others for their incredible, personal service! What makes Lapa Rios unforgettable is that it doesn’t try to impress you — it simply is impressive. It offers something increasingly rare in the world of luxury travel: authenticity, environmental stewardship, and emotional connection, all delivered with five-star grace. This is not just one of Costa Rica’s finest lodges — it is one of the most meaningful luxury travel experiences anywhere in the world. And thanks to Nikole and the Boena team, it is a place you leave already dreaming of returning."

"I had dreamed of going to Lapa Rios for many, many years, since I first read about this ecolodge not long after it opened. It did not disappoint. The location is unreal. We were completely surrounded by the rainforest and its many inhabitants, and also had phenomenal views from our Lapa Rios Villa (and there were beautiful views throughout the property). The amount of wildlife at our door step was breathtaking. Just on the walks from our room to the dining hall we saw all four kinds of Costa Rican monkeys, sloths, coati, toucans, scarlet macaws, a red eyed green tree frog, and a herd of peccary. All close. We also saw many mammals and birds from our villa, including close encounters with monkeys while we were showering! It was really thrilling. If you go to Costa Rica to see wildlife, as we did, stay at Lapa Rios. Lapa Rios is also a beautiful, comfortable place to stay. Our villa was huge and we had plenty of room for our family of four (2 adults and 2 young adult children). There are no windows/glass. There are large sliding screen doors and screens instead of window panes so you do feel like you are in the rainforest. I was concerned about bugs and being too hot in the room, but neither was an issue at all (as long as we kept the screen the doors closed). Because you are so immersed in the forest you will hear the very loud howler monkeys early in the morning. If you have a teen who wants to sleep until 11:00, that will not happen. We also had the light from the sunrise shoot straight into our eyes at 6:00 each morning (we were in villa 17), but even our kids in the next room did not experience that so I think it depends a lot on the exact angle of your bed and the time of year. But bring eyeshades and ear plugs just in case. That helped me sleep a bit longer. Also, our villa was at the edge of the property which meant more animal sightings but also a longer uphill walk to the dining room/lobby. It was OK for us and gave us more opportunities to see animals, but we did need to plan extra time into our day to walk back and forth to the room. The food and service at the lodge were very, very good. We really enjoyed our guides, one of whom - Danielo - had been guiding on the Osa Peninsula for decades and was an incredible fountain of information. Everyone was kind and accommodating. The only downsides were the sun in our eyes at 6:00am, noted above, and some confusion/miscommunication about our boxed lunch during our trip to Corcovado. Different staff told us different things about what we could order and the menu was confusing. We ended up with very little food for a tiring 9 mile hike and the drinks we thought we'd have at the end of the trip were not delivered. I know this is a minor thing, but it impacted our enjoyment of what was supposed to be the highlight of our time in Costa Rica. I was really dragging at the end of the hike and normally 9 miles, even in hot weather, would not be a problem for me."

"The grounds of the hotel are lovely and the hiking trails on the property are terrific, especially the primary forest. The food was fresh and there was great variety. There is an impressive wine selection. We stayed in the Matapalo Suite, which was great because it had AC. The room was large and comfortable. One complaint is that the refrigerator in the room wasn't stocked with anything and we had to ask 4 times before they would deliver sodas and waters for it. There also was no hairdryer in the room but they gave us one right away. They have no iron or steamer for safety reasons. The nature guides were quite knowledgeable and spoke good English. The trip to Corcovado by boat was a highlight. The main weakness of this hotel is the service. We love that they employ local people, but there was clearly a language and training gap that we didn't expect at this price point. It seemed like the staff rely heavily on tablet computers, but either they are not reliable or the staff isn't well trained on how to use them. For example, I have a severe nut allergy, which was noted in our reservation and which we reminded the staff about at every meal, and yet much of the time it seemed like they couldn't remember it anyway. Our food and drink orders got mixed up a number of times, also. And often when we tried to alter something on the menu, we got confused looks. In terms of activities, we enjoyed all the activities (the wildlife os amazing) but there is a sameness to many of the onsite hikes. The waterfall is lovely but we only needed to see it once. Given that, we felt we stayed a day too long. We were there 4 nights but three would have been enough."

"Fabulous hotel with absolutely stunning views. Great facilities. Wonderful staff especially the tour guides and Frank in particular - so passionate and knowledgeable, we learnt a lot. We loved all our trips and were very sorry to leave. A wonderful experience."