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Eco-Friendly Escapes: 10 Stunning Resorts in Costa Rica

Eco resorts in Costa Rica are famous all over the world, this country is considered a pioneer when speaking about eco tourism and environmentally friendly resorts.

The impressive collection of luxury eco-lodges Costa Rica keeps strict ecological standards and all of their actions are in accordance with high standards of sustainability and environmental protection.

A short history of eco tourism Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a unique country not just because almost 30% of its territory is covered by national parks and protected areas but also because here live more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Costa Ricans are aware of the natural treasures that can be found in this tiny country and they do their best to preserve the environment and wildlife.

Everything started around the year 1960 when the first national park was opened in Costa Rica.

Today, all across the country are more than 30 national parks, many of them owned by environmental groups and not-for-profit companies.

Prior to the 1960’s, everything was different in Costa Rica: there were massive deforestation, wide-scale logging, and protection of nature was the last thing they cared about.

But starting with the 1960’s and 1970’s things changed and the country starts to build its reputation as an eco-friendly destination.

Today everywhere you go, no matter if is on the coast, in the heart of the jungle, or on top of the volcano, you will find Costa Rica luxury eco resorts with breathtaking views and incredible services.

Here is a list of my favorite Costa Rica eco lodges which should not be missed during your next Costa Rican adventure.

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Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula terrace ecotourism in Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula terrace ecotourism in Costa Rica

Eco resorts in Costa Rica

1. Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

Monteverde Costa Rica eco lodge and Gardens has a long list of awards and medals including the Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence and it was included in National Geographic’s Tours of a Lifetime.

It is a cozy lodge located right on the edge of the most famous cloud forest from Costa Rica and offers great accommodation and services and incredible food.

On-site there are many knowledgeable guides with who you can take a lot of tours in the nearby cloud forest and find much useful information about the local fauna and flora.

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens Pool Jungle

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens Pool Jungle

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens dinner

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens dinner

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens Room

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens Room

All these guides are experts and they dedicated their whole life studying this part of the forest and discovering new species and new things about what can be found in the area.

2. El Silencio Lodge & Spa | Bajos del Toro Cloud Forest

El Silencio Lodge & Spa is another eco resort Costa Rica located about 2 hours away from the capital city of San Jose.

Ranked by many as the best eco resort in Costa Rica, the hotel blends in nature and impress with its modern design created with natural materials.

On-site there is an organic garden and a trout pond and the hotel’s chef uses these organic products in cooking your meal day after day.

El Silencio Lodge and Spa

El Silencio Lodge and Spa

El Silencio Lodge and Spa Room

El Silencio Lodge and Spa Room

Right near the eco lodge start 3 hiking trails that lead to 3 different waterfalls, and private tours inside the forest with a specialized guide are available.

You can also book a birdwatching tour, horseback riding, or a coffee plantation tour with a personal guide directly from the reception.

The hotel sustains the local community and many locals are hired at the hotel for cleaning, maintenance, and guides.

3. Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River

One of the newest and luxurious eco resorts in Costa Rica is Rio Perdido or “Lost River” as you translate into English located in Guanacaste province.

What makes this location so special is the thermal river that crosses the property of which waters have healing properties especially for those with skin problems.

Actually, the hotel uses this thermal water to provide heat and hot water for all the hotel guests.

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River pool

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River pool

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River room

Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River room

Besides the thermal river on the 600 acres property, you will find canopy bridges, zip-lining, and tubing as well as hiking and mountain biking trails.

These are the new essentials you have to pack for your trip

Rio Perdido is another hotel that supports the local community as more than 90% of the employees come from the nearest town Bagaces.

Most of the food served at the property is organic and vegetables and plants come from the hotel’s own gardens.

4. Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

Nestled in the middle of the forest, Tortuga Lodge and Gardens is located in the heart of the jungle right near Tortuguero National Park.

The resort is located along the river so guests can sleep, dine and swim with the river view in their eyes.

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens pool

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens pool

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens room

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens room

You definitely have to book at least one tour along the canals and why not learn to fish with more experienced ones.

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens is a good place to camp if you want to observe turtle’s nesting and hatching season that lasts from July to October.

5. Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

One of the wildest eco resorts in Costa Rica nestled in the middle of a private rainforest is Pala Rios from the Osa Peninsula.

The bungalow with ocean views and its unique design is a fascinating transition from indoor to outdoor elements.

From your bed, you can listen to the sounds of the forest, feel the smell of the trees and look after the sights left by animals around you.

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula terrace ecotourism in Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula terrace ecotourism in Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula room

Lapa Rios Osa Peninsula room

The resort is conveniently located in Osa Peninsula, and is the best destination for exploring Corcovado National Park and Drake Bay.

While enjoying your breakfast and sipping your coffee you can watch toucans and Scarlet Macaws roaming around.

The eco-lodge takes many actions in preserving nature and if you are interested you can take part together with locals and other guests in the reforestation program sustained by the resort.

6. El Sabanero

Located very close to Tamarindo town, El Sabanero is a beautiful eco lodge that offers outstanding views of Cañafistula valley.

Among the facilities available at this eco lodge Costa Rica are an infinity pool, outdoor and indoor yoga studios, and an open-air lodge.

The resort is built with natural materials, local teak wood being the main material used while all the cleaning products used are made from biodegradable materials.

El Sabanero

El Sabanero

El Sabanero Room

El Sabanero Room

The meals served at the resort are made from organic products, all vegetables, fruits, and meat come from organic farms located in the nearby area.

Among the most popular outdoor activities that you can try in the area are snorkeling, horseback riding tours, surfing, and zip-lining.

7. Drift Away Eco Lodge

Located 25 minutes away from Tamarindo town right near Playa Avellanas, Drift Away Eco Lodge is the definition of simple luxury made in a sustainable way.

Drift Away lodge sustain the local community by hiring people from the nearby towns and villages, and buying organic products directly from farmers.

The list of sustainable actions and environmental policies continues with biodegradable toiletries, organic vegetables from their own garden, organic bedding, and plastic-free operation.

Drift Away Eco Lodge bar

Drift Away Eco Lodge bar

Drift Away Eco Lodge pool

Drift Away Eco Lodge pool

Drift Away Eco Lodge room

Drift Away Eco Lodge room

There is also an outdoor swimming pool that is treated with organic products so the waters are safe for adults and kids.

The resort has just 8 rooms and 4 villas that have direct access to the beach where you can practice surfing, swimming, and paddleboarding.

8. Danta Corcovado Lodge

My list with the most beautiful eco resorts lodge in Costa Rica continues with Danta Corcovado Lodge, a beautiful lodge located right near Corcovado National Park.

This resort is a good starting point for a large number of outdoor activities like mangrove kayaking, forest walks, animal tracing tours, and encounters with the local population, the Ngabe people.

Danta Corcovado Lodge

Danta Corcovado Lodge

Danta Corcovado Lodge room

Danta Corcovado Lodge room

The resort is built with natural materials like teak floors and bamboo furniture, the buildings are perfectly integrated in the jungle picture.

Prepare yourself for a unique wake-up call, as the squirrel monkeys jump from the trees to the roofs and make a lot of noise very early in the morning.

9. La Leona Eco Lodge

Located right between Corcovado National Park and the Pacific Ocean, La Leona Eco Lodge is a family-owned resort with 20 tent-like cabins and candles to read by.

Each tent is equipped with comfortable mattresses, mosquito nets, and a private terrace overlooking the stunning beaches from the Pacific coast.

It is the best place for contemplation and meditation and to find your inner peace and enjoy nature.

La Leona Eco Lodge Costa Rica

La Leona Eco Lodge Costa Rica

La Leona Eco Lodge

La Leona Eco Lodge

You are surrounded by jungle and nature so this place is perfect for spotting monkeys, Scarlet Macaws, and even tapir not to mention about the rich flora.

During the day you can take a horse-riding trip along the beach, and during the night you can watch the turtle hatching event or book a guided tour in the forest to observe the wildlife that lives around.

All the meals can be served at the resort’s restaurant and most of the food comes from organic farms, the place being famous for the delicious food served.

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10. Arenas Del Mar, Manuel Antonio

One of the most beautiful eco resorts in Costa Rica located in the vicinity of Manuel Antonio National Park is Arenas del Mar, a beachfront resort hidden in the lush jungle.

The hotel is rated with a 5 leaf rating and is one of the leaders when talking about sustainable and eco-friendly policies.

Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort

Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort

Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica

Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica

When this resort has been built, a few trees had been cut down but almost 7,000 new ones had been planted instead.

From the balcony of your room, you will see a wide range of animals that lives in Costa Rican jungles like sloths, howler monkeys, and iguanas.

Among the amenities and facilities available at the hotel, I would mention a swimming pool, a restaurant, and a bar beside the 36 luxurious rooms.

Conclusion

Costa Rica is one of the world’s best destinations for observing wildlife and discover the beauty of our planet.

Rainforests, beaches, animals, and volcanoes are just some of the things that you can see on your trip to Costa Rica.

If you choose to stay in one of these eco lodges you are actually choosing to travel responsibly and decrease the impact you have on the environment.

All these eco resorts in Costa Rica demonstrate that sustainable luxury is possible and you can enjoy the best conditions all across the country.

 

Logistical tips and tricks for your trip

Book your accommodation

We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.

You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.

Don't forget travel insurance

We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money, plus COVID coverage.

When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.

Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected events and cost like illness, COVID, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.

We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.

Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.

We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.

Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.

We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.

Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.

Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.