CHECK-IN TIME is: 2:00 PM

CHECK-OUT TIME is:  11:00 AM

Our space tends to fill up 2 - 6 months in advance and for some periods even earlier than that.  We would recommend that you investigate space availability now and if you think you would like to come and stay with us make a reservation now to guarantee the dates that you want.

We must advise you that we do not recommend less than 4 nights at Lapa Rios for anyone who is arriving or leaving by plane.  It is too short a time for most people given the experience encountered here and the variety of things to do and see.

If the space you want is available we are able to do the reservation but need a fax number for you in order to confirm.  E-mail is great for exchanging information and answering questions but we prefer the reliability of the fax machine when dealing with firm reservations, payment deadlines, flight confirmations and generally things which involve financial commitments. The fax confirms that the transmission was received.

Lapa Rios does not have air conditioning due to the nature of the minimum impact the eco lodge is committed to demonstrate.  Plus, it is not necessary!  Mosts guests feel that temperatures in the 80 degree range (25-28C) are comfortable, considering that the breezes from the ocean and the prime rain forest help keep the air moving and fresh.  The architectural design permits the constant flow of air through screen walls and creates a sense of living actually within the nature surrounding the lodge.

When arriving or leaving Costa Rica we recommend the Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn, an intimate small hotel surrounded by coffee farms outside of San Jose but only 20 to 30 minutes from the international airport.  Finca Rosa Blanca and Lapa Rios are the first two hotels in Costa Rica that have achieved the highest level of 5 green leaves in Certification of Sustainable Tourism.   Also, outside of town, the larger but equally scenic is Xandari Plantation secluded on a coffee plantation. Another beautiful property that is about a one hour drive from the airport is Villa Blanca located in a could forest reserve. Villa Blanca has recently been awarded five CST leaves.

We also recommend  the very comfortable and well run Hotel Grano de Oro in San Jose.

In Manuel Antonio, we recommend the Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort.

Arenas del Mar is a beach and nature resort located next to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. "Unique and spectacular beach and nature experiences combined with highest levels of com fort and sustainability in a local Costa Rican setting" define the concept of Arenas del Mar.

The resort caters to tourists that are looking for more than just another high end resort experience. Arenas del mar offers a luxurious lodging experience in harmony with nature in a spectacular beach and rainforest setting. Guest rooms, apartments and suites offer spectacular ocean views, upscale dining in two hotel restaurants with a focus on fresh local products and personalized service that exceeds guest expectations.

Other hotel facilities include a small spa located below the main restaurant with breathtaking views of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean, a gift shop featuring local art and souvenirs and a state of the art business center near the hotel lobby.

Sustainability is a key component of the concept at all levels of the operation and the Certification for Sustainable Tourism-a program designed by the Costa Rican Tourism ministry-serves as a guide for the building and operation of the hotel. Arenas del Mar sets out to minimize the impact on the surrounding nature, while maximizing the positive economic impact on the local community through employment.

For more information and reservations, contact: 
www.arenasdelmar.com

In Guanacaste, we recommend the Harmony Hotel in Nosara.  Nested into the sleepy coastal town of Nosara, Costa Rica, 40 miles from the nearest paved road, high standards of sustainable living meet the creature comforts of low key beach life.

Inspired by the old school tropical destinations of eras that appreciated low key glamour and total escape, the Harmony is the perfect setting for people to get in tune with their natural rhythm. Just beyond the Harmony's bananas trees, a cant miss coconut palm marks the arrival at Playa Guiones, one of the best surf spots in Nosara.

As a sustainable hotel, Harmony contributes by hiring all its staff form local community and teaching them the job. Also supports projects with local schools, turtles and monkey rescues centers. We do reforestation programs to keep the spectacular environment of Nosara. Not far away, visitors may experience other Guanacaste wonders, such as the spectacular Arribadas turtles in Ostional and various national parks.

For more info and reservations, contact:
www.harmonynosara.com

Domestic Flights from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez:  We prefer to make your
in-country flights arrangements for you.  We can guarantee the reservation
easier and more securely from here and can access space on the in-country
airlines when no one else can do it. Also if we make the reservation we can
manage any problems that might occur. 

We can arrange the round-trip flights leaving San Jose as early as 6 am and
returning to San Jose in the afternoon on your day of departure.  During
high season (December to April), there are 7 to 9 scheduled daily flights
from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez and during low season (May to November)
there are 5 to 6 daily scheduled flights.  For exact departure times, please
contact our reservations office staff directly.  Round trip tickets to
Puerto Jimenez cost between $185 and $210 per person. 

We are also able to set up charter flights for you.  The airlines serving
Puerto Jimenez from San Jose are SANSA and NATURE AIR.  We recommend you fly
Nature Air as it is one of the world’s zero emissions airline and good
records in terms of safety and timeliness

98% of the people who visit Lapa Rios fly on domestic daily scheduled air. It is relatively inexpensive and the flight is only about 40 to 50 minutes long. The airstrip is in Puerto Jiménez right next to the Lapa Rios office and from there you will travel in our 4X4 Lapa Rios safari truck for 45 minutes to get to the Reserve.

There are two local airlines offering domestic service to Puerto Jimenez from San Jose: Nature Air and Sansa. Sansa flights leave from a terminal next to the international airport and Nature Air flights leave from the other airport closer to San Jose in Pavas. In some cases, it is possible to connect from other destinations like Quepos to Puerto Jimenez.

Since Lapa Rios began, honeymoon and anniversary couples attest to their truly tranquil and authentic rainforest holiday at the ecolodge and reserve. While all weeks during the year are a great time to enjoy the Lapa Rios experience, we recommend couples book the months January or February, April to June and then September to November. These months have few school holidays thereby limiting families-with-children traveling to Costa Rica.

Click photo to enlarge

The name is in Spanish since that is the language spoken here.
"Rios" means rivers in Spanish in all translations and is easily recognizable.
"Lapa", on the other hand, is considerably more elusive. In some translations it means a small reef fish and in others it is translated as a "slug". "Lapa", uniquelyin Costa Rican Spanish, however, means the scarlet macaw. Macaws are the largest member of the parrot family and are ever present in abundance in the trees and coastal forests around Lapa Rios.

So whether Lapa Rios technically translates to "Rivers of Reef Fish", "Rivers of Slugs" or "Rivers of the Scarlet Macaw" you will be sure to see these magnificent colorful birds if you come to visit here. And it is one of the last places on earth where you can do so. Help us preserve their habitat!

Although remote and isolated Lapa Rios serves food and beverages not usually offered in the wilderness. Meals rotate daily, focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables with local fish, chicken and meat. Lapa Rios can handle almost any dietary preference or restriction.

Go to the Culinary Highlights

Click photo to enlarge

All 16 bungalows are private and open to the sea; they are spacious and can sleep up to 4 people in 2 queen size beds. Each has an indoor (solar-heated) shower and a private garden shower, 2 sinks, large closets, and a deck overlooking the rainforest and the ocean. All bungalow access requires stair and path walking. There is 24-hour electricity available for battery

Important: Lapa Rios needs advance notification regarding any inability to walk steps.

We will attempt to accommodate specific bungalow requests when possible, but due to the nature of our location we cannot always accommodate such requests.

The bungalows are about 300 feet above the ocean and it is about a 7 minute walk to the beach and the ocean. The return walk is uphill and steep and takes about 15 min. The beach is normally deserted and offers good walking and exploring. There are very few shells but it is very scenic and serene. There are no rip tides or undercurrents and it is good for swimming. While swimming at the beach is good and safe the main attraction for most of our guests is the rainforest and the wildlife, not the ocean. It is a "Pacific" beach and not the white sand or crystal clear waters of, for example, Jamaica.

There is shade at the high tide mark but no lawn chairs or umbrellas. You will probably encounter more hermit crabs crawling along the beach sand than you have ever seen in any one place before. There are small and harmless but nevertheless quite numerous. Sometimes there are sand fleas and "no-see-ems" but usually they are no real problem. Mosquitos are rare here both at the main lodge and along the beach.

There is some fairly good snorkeling but it is across the gulf and you would have to go by boat.

We can arrange for Syracuse Tours, our designated tour guide operator in San Jose , to meet you at the international airport and transfer you to your hotel.  He has mini vans and a microbus. The cost is the normal taxi charge of $25 for all of you.   You have the benefit of a completely honest and dependable English speaking person.
Somebody from Syracuse Tours can meet you at the passenger exit gate with a sign with your name on it.  Also they can do transfers or tours to different places in Costa Rica or San Jose.  They are also available for Monteverde, Arenal, Turrialba, Quepos, Peninsula de Osa, Tamarindo , Liberia and any other place accessible by car.

Please give us your international flight arrival information so that we can advise  Syracuse when to meet you at the airport.

Boots. Knowing what to pack is always a difficult call. You might only need comfortable walking shoes and regular lightweight hiking boots with deep traction. We have rubber boots available for you to wear for some of our trails where you are likely to encounter water and mud (important: bring long sports socks to avoid the rubber boots against your skin). We recommend something like L.L. Bean high "duck boots" with deep traction if possible and durable walking shoes with deep traction. You will likely hike on some trails with boulders and sharp slanted rocks, and through and along rivers. We don't recommend the boots that fit over your shoes because they tend to result in less surefootedness and stability.

What else should you bring? Guests are encouraged to bring only lightweight, casual clothing, sunscreen, insect repellant, a bathing suit, sturdy shoes and/or hiking boots, and a large beam flashlight (preferably with Panasonic batteries as they are the only ones that get recycled in Costa Rica). Although our guides are well equipped with the most advanced animal observation equipment, if you have binoculars bring them. You will get wet and sweaty at Lapa Rios and former guests have said "I should have brought more T-shirts and shorts".

We at Lapa Rios will provide you with biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner. We prefer that you use these products which will not harm the surrounding environment.

Dress Code: Completely informal. Our waiters wear shorts, white socks and tennis shoes. You can too, even for dinner. No ties, coats or formal attire is necessary or even desirable. We only require that a shirt be worn in the main lodge and during meal times. We are fortunate to have superb weather, but there is some seasonal variation that might affect your choice of informal clothing (see the Weather section below). Tevas style sandals work well on the waterfall hike and on the beach.

Weather in Lapa Rios

At Lapa Rios, and in the Osa Peninsula in general, expect warm, breezy days, with highs of 82 - 92 degrees, lows 75 - 85. Because of afternoon clouds, August through November are cooler months, highs in the 70s. Temperatures during January through April are in the mid-80s.

From the middle of December to the end of April it is rare that it will rain at all. This is the summer season here and excellent sunny weather can be guaranteed. Weather the rest of the year is explained below:
The "green season" is probably the best time to be in Costa Rica for a rain forest adventure. Rain here is not the same as it is in the temperate zones. This season is generally from 15 May to 1 November. Outdoor activities and work do not stop and you don't get cold. The general pattern is for it to rain 3 - 4 times a week, most likely in the afternoon and more likely at night. The days are evenly distributed between partly cloudy or overcast. It can mist or give you 8 inches an hour. If it rains that hard you want to be here. It's incredible.

The 15th of July is the middle of a usually occurring 6 week mini-dry season. It's called canicula in Spanish and though it is not guaranteed to be rain free the possibility of rain during this time is much less than the rest of the green season. Half of June and half of August are usually included in this period.

While May and October tend, over the years, to be the months with the heaviest rain there is no certainty that there will be much rain in either May or October.

Climate is what people expect, weather is what they get.

Weather in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tropical country located between 8 and 11 degrees north of the equator. It has twelve bioclimates, three different rainfall regimes and many microclimates, so researching its climatological conditions can be an almost never-ending task.

Although Costa Rica is considered to have a stable climate, it is important to note that different temperature and weather conditions may be experienced within the same day, or within short distances, due mostly to the rugged terrain of this mountainous country. There are two well defined seasons: the rainy/green season (invierno), and the dry/summer season (verano), with one main difference between them: rainfall averages. Dry season runs from December to April, and the green season from May to November. Rainfall averages for the country may reach the highest point during the months of September and October -- approximately 650 mm per month.

Seasonal changes don't bring significant changes in temperatures, although nights may be cooler in some areas during the rainy season. Mornings will most commonly be sunny all year round. San José is located 1150 meters above sea level, and has a moderate temperature throughout the year. It may go as low as 15º C at nighttime, and up to 26º C during the day, giving rise to the image of San José as a city with an eternal spring climate. The Intermontane Central Valley where San José lies has an average temperature of 20º C, and may actually be considered as dry compared to the humidity of the Caribbean Slope. When it rains, temperatures will drop slightly, mostly because of humidity and winds.

The Caribbean coastline has an average temperature of 21º C at night, and 30º C during the day. The rainy season has a rainfall average of 224 inches (5,600 mm) per year, along the coast, on the eastern face of the mountains and in the Caribbean lowlands. In most of Costa Rica the peak periods of rainfall occur during May to June and September to October, although precipitation remains substantial throughout the period. Though it is considered to be the wettest region of the country, rains usually occur in the late evening and nighttime. Due to humidity and trade winds, temperatures will remain low, and even drop noticeably during rainy nights.

The Pacific coast is warmer than the Atlantic by 3º to 5º C. The northern part of the country is totally dry for six months of the year. Rainfall averages only 59 inches (1,500 mm) a year in the northwest and central part of the country. The South Pacific region, where Lapa Rios is located, is generally wetter than its counterpart to the north. General rainfall will reach up to 197 inches (5,000 mm) a year. High mountainous areas, such as the region surrounding Costa Rica 's highest peak Cerro Chirripo, have cold, windy and cloudy conditions all year round. Chirripo remains below 10º C (50º F) during the day, and may experience temperatures as low as 0º C (32º F) at night. Frost and even snow have been reported (okay, just once in the last century). As a general rule, temperatures decline with elevation at a rate of approximately 3.5 Fahrenheit degrees per thousand feet in Costa Rica (6.5º C per 1000 m). Thus, average December temperatures vary from 79ºF (26ºC) at Orotina on the coast, to 66ºF (19ºC) in San José at 3500 feet (1100 m), to a chilly 43ºF (6ºC) in Villa Mills at 10,000 feet (3050 m).

First-time visitors to Costa Rica often neglect to bring a warm jacket with them after reading about the climates of the coastal regions and the Central Valley . A medium-weight fleece jacket is ideal.

There is no flat land and no standing water in and around Lapa Rios. That means there are very few mosquitos! Sometimes after an extended rain we have some and for that reason insect repellant is a good idea. Any good brand that works where you live will work as well in Costa Rica.

Sometimes near sundown there are some "no-see-ums" but their presence is very temporary and usually not bothersome. At the beach there may be sand fleas and "no-see-ums" and protection might be advisable there.

Corcovado Nationl Park with it's huge lagoon is another story and insect repellant for that tour is advisable. It is also a good idea to use insect repellant in Puerto Jimenez on your way in and out.

There is a clinic 12 miles from the hotel in Puerto Jimenez that can handle first aid only that is about 45 minutes by car. There is always a vehicle at the hotel for any such emergencies.

Puerto Jimenez has a 24-hour flight service which attends to emergency medical flights to a hospital in Golfito (8 minute flight) or to San Jose (50 minute flight). In case of extreme emergency or disability a helicopter can be ordered from San Jose and land in a nearby field.

San Jose has excellent hospitals, medical facilities and doctors that attend almost exclusively to foreign residents and travelers.

No immunizations, shots, inoculations or vaccinations are required to enter the country. The only notable disease problem reported in some locations of the country in the last few years is occasional localized dengue fever (spread by mosquitoes in certain urbanized locations with stagnant water and a history of the disease). However, it would be wise to check with your personal physician for individual recommendations. Some physicians prefer for their patients to obtain typhoid immunizations and persons who plan to visit certain coastal areas are advised to take malaria pills. Reported cases of malaria in the Caribbean lowlands and coastal zone have occasionally been noted in recent years, so it would be wise to take preventive measures. Up-to-date recommendations on such preventive measures are issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC office issues health advisories via FAX for travel throughout the world. (Information provided by ICT).

The CDC in Atlanta would have you take 5 or 6 shots and probably malaria pills. The amount of precaution taken for your health is a little like deciding how much liability insurance you need. It depends greatly on who you talk to but the ultimate decision is very personal. There is no permanent risk of contracting any tropical disease in Costa Rica . From time to time there are very local outbreaks of various diseases that are quickly brought under control. They affect very few people and are not overly prevalent in tourist areas. No guest of Lapa Rios has ever contracted a tropical disease. We have no malaria here at Lapa Rios or in the vicinity.

There are two other basic approaches to this concern and we pass on the following opinions as guidelines for your decision: As for what we recommend for travelers to Lapa Rios (and the general Corcovado area), please keep in mind that these types of lists change regularly. This type of information is what "travelers clinics" are designed to provide. They should go to a real travelers clinic at least 2 weeks (and preferably one month) prior to travel. Travel clinics tend to recommend that the following vaccines be "up to date" when traveling internationally, especially to tropical areas: Polio, Tetanus, Measles, Malaria (prophylaxis), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

Although the water at Lapa Rios is excellent, this is not true in all parts of Costa Rica . Oral ciprofloxacin may be useful for the treatment of traveler’s diarrhea. Finally, it is important to remember that far more travelers die in car accidents, accidental drowning and other avoidable common causes of trauma than from infectious illnesses. A physician cannot prescribe common sense, but it is an essential element of safe traveling.

If you choose to drive, let us know ahead of time, and then please call us during the day while you are en route to advise the approximate time of your arrival in Puerto Jimenez. We need to know this in order to advise our personnel at the hotel and provide the transfer in our vehicle to Lapa Rios in the event you do not have a 4-wheel drive vehicle or one with good ground clearance.

Driving from San Jose to Lapa Rios.

During the Green Season, May to December, 4-wheel-drive is recommended. By road from San José take the Inter-American (Pan Am) Highway (Ruta 2) to San Isidro de General (2 - 3.5 hrs) . An interesting rest stop for refreshments is at Ojo de Agua (Km # 76 , 1 -1.5 hrs) Continue through Buenos Aires (1 - 1.5 Hrs) to Palmar Norte (1 - 1.5 hrs). Thirty-three kilometers past Palmar Norte take a right turn at Chacarita. At Chacarita you will see a service station by the name of " Corcovado ". The right turn to Puerto Jiménez is directly after the service station. On this paved road you will drive 44 km to Rincon where the pavement ends. 33 more kms will take you through La Palma and eventually on to Puerto Jiménez (1 - 2 hrs). When in Puerto Jiménez, please check-in at the office. We are at the corner of the landing strip and the cemetery. Feel free to ask anyone in the town where the Lapa Rios office is. We will give you directions to Lapa Rios from there (3/4 - 1 hr).

An alternative route is to drive from San Isidro to Dominical (3/4 - 1 hr.) and follow the coast road to Palmar Norte. This route is shorter and faster but is not a paved road. Approximate travel time is 7-10 hours depending on stops, sightseeing, weather and road conditions.

Driving from Dominical

During the Green Season, 1 May to 1 December, 4-wheel-drive is recommended.

From Dominical drive South along the coast road (on route 34) until Cortés (1 - 1.5 hrs). You will turn left before actually getting into the center of town and follow the road to Palmar Norte (15 min.). At Palmar Norte turn right (South) on the Carretera Interamericana. Thirty-three kilometers past Palmar Norte take a right turn at Chacarita. At Chacarita you will see a service station by the name of "Cocovado". The right turn to Puerto Jiménez is directly after the service station. On this paved road you will drive 44 km to Rinc÷n where the pavement ends. 33 more kms will take you through La Palma and eventually on to Puerto Jiménez (1 - 2 hrs). When in Puerto Jiménez, please check-in at the office. We are at the corner of the landing strip and the cemetery. Feel free to ask anyone in the town where the Lapa Rios office is. We will give you directions to Lapa Rios from there (3/4 - 1 hr). Approximate travel time just from Dominical is 3.75 - 5.5 hours depending on stops, sightseeing, weather and road conditions.

Driving from San Vito. (3 - 4 hrs.)

Do not go to Golfito. The ferry to Puerto Jiménez is only for people not cars. Go to Puerto Jiménez and then direct to Lapa Rios. Check in with us at the office before heading out of town for any last minute road information. You should have no trouble reaching the hotel in your own car.

To get to Puerto Jiménez from San Vito follow road to Cuidad (Villa) Neily. Then take the Inter-American Highway back towards San Jose past Rio Claro (approx. 30 km further) to Chacarita. It may not be on your map as "Chacarita" but at that location there is a gas station called " Corcovado ". Turn left there and take the road to Puerto Jiménez. Feel free to ask anyone in Puerto Jiménez where the office of Lapa Rios is. We are at the airstrip in Puerto Jiménez. From there we can give you the exact directions to the hotel.

Try to arrive in Puerto Jimenez no later than 4:00 PM to avoid darkness in your trip to the hotel. The hotel is 20 km from Puerto Jiménez and the trip takes about 45 minutes.

Please view the MAP of Costa Rica

Although Lapa Rios is an ideal location for a family vacation, we don't encourage you to bring children under 5 at Lapa Rios. The reason is that the lodge and rooms are literally on a steep ridge in the rain forest and the jungle and there are hazards such as steep drops along the pathways, poisonous snakes, high cabin decks, a tall 40 foot circular stairway in the main lodge and other hazards to small children. Parents must exercise more care and give more attention to their children here than in a more traditional family resort. The emphasis here is on nature and wilderness and there are no standard forms of entertainment to occupy younger children. We do not have TV, internet or video games or activities designed for children. We have a pool but children must be attended there at all times. We are also not equipped to provide babysitting services.

We accept children of any age and many have come with their families and everyone has enjoyed themselves. It's just a bit more work for Mom and Dad.