These unique lodges will have you up close to the flora and fauna of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, delivering a truly unique nature experience
Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula is a place of lush rainforests, clear-water jungle streams, and pristine beaches. Flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and a tropical fjord known as Golfo Dulce to the east, it remains one of Central America’s last great wilderness areas. Throughout most of the 20th century, there were no roads and few settlers in this remote corner of the country, and this isolation helped protect and preserve one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Thanks to the Costa Rican government’s forward-looking conservation efforts, most of the Osa now falls under the protection of Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park. This protection precludes the arrival of high-rise hotels and rampant development, and instead, the peninsula is populated with a limited number of nature-themed properties that range from rustic camps to upscale but still eco-sensitive luxury lodges. Here are four top choices for getting in touch with nature without giving up creature comforts.
Botánika Osa Peninsula
Nature blends understated luxury at Botánika Osa Peninsula. This eco-luxe resort is a recent addition to the Osa lodging scene and a member of the Curio Collection by Hilton. The property sits in a coastal rainforest on the western shore of Golfo Dulce, close to the fishing village of Puerto Jimenez and convenient to the Osa Peninsula’s only commercial airfield. Botánika’s mission is to create a model for responsible development and sustainable tourism and showcase intelligent architectural design that blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces using wide verandas and expansive glass walls.
Playa Preciosa is the palm-lined beach with grey-brown sand at Botánika Osa Peninsula. Photo: Botánika Osa Peninsula
Activities
Botánika provides a curated collection of immersive coastal rainforest experiences and guided eco- adventures on land and sea. Guests can join guided nature walks, explore forest canopies on elevated zip lines, tour a rainforest research center, and ply the waters of the Golfo Dulce by boat or kayak. They also enjoy exclusive access to the Cahui Beach Club on Playa Preciosa and a large state-of-the-art fitness center. Botánika’s full-service spa offers customized body and facial treatments such as hot stone massages, chocolate wraps, and coffee scrubs inspired by the resources of the rainforest.
A proud tuna catch from the waters of Golfo Dulce, an outing from the Botánika Osa Peninsula. Photo: Botánika Osa Peninsula
Lodging
A signature feature of the resort is the natural lagoon-style swimming pool that evokes a tropical oasis as it meanders through lush, verdant greenery and natural rock walls that cascade over infinity edges, all flanked by poolside cabanas and hot tubs. Additional relaxation spaces spread through the property include a clubhouse courtyard with a reflection pond, covered courtyard bar seating, and an interior courtyard. Guest accommodations range from single rooms and suites to home-like three-bedroom villas with kitchens and additional social areas. All feature a clean, minimalist design that keeps the focus on the natural surroundings. Both indoor and alfresco dining experiences are offered at the flagship Tierra a la Mesa restaurant, which supports local farms while showcasing both traditional and innovative land-to-table and fresh seafood dishes.
A sunny day at the pool and poolside cabanas at Botánika Osa Peninsula. Photo: Botánika Osa Peninsula
Sustainability
In support of a commitment to environmental responsibility, Botánika Osa Peninsula partners with the BioSur Foundation to protect the region’s endangered wildlife. Among their initiatives is the creation of the Río Nuevo Nature Reserve, which is a new wildlife buffer zone bridging the gap between the Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve. Botánika works to protect sea turtles in partnership with Tortugas de Osa and Tortugas Preciosa to create a range of science and conservation programs, including sea turtle conservation projects with guest participation.
Mother sloth and baby clinging to branches high in the canopy of trees at Botánika Osa Peninsula. Photo: Botánika Osa Peninsula
Playa Cativo Eco Lodge
Playa Cativo Lodge is a luxury-themed eco-lodge nestled into a lush tropical forest on the shores of the Golfo Dulce. It is the only property of its type on the eastern shore of this vast body of calm emerald water. The property takes advantage of cooling ocean breezes and sunset views. Hillside rooms and cottages are also positioned for a front-row seat for the longest mammalian migrations on Earth. Humpback whales traveling from the frigid waters of Antarctica take shelter in the bay from June to September, while their northern counterparts make their annual escape from the cold between December and March. This makes a verandah at Playa Cativo one of the best places in the world for relaxed whale watching.
Outside Playa Cativo Eco Lodge, kayakers explore the mangroves of the Osa Peninsula, one of the activities offered at the lodge. Photo: Playa Cativo Eco Lodge
Activities
Guests can participate in various water and nature-themed activities, including coastal and mangrove forest kayak trips, snorkeling, guided nature walks, and after-dark rainforest explorations. The lodge also offers a range of spa treatments and yoga activities. Day trips from the resort take in the forests, trails, and beaches of Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park. The Dolphin and Whale-Watching Quest is a unique activity with a “whale warranty.” For tours conducted between August and October, participants are guaranteed to see whales, or they are not only refunded the tour’s price but also rewarded with a one-hour spa treatment.
An aerial view of the expansive coast with dark sand beaches and turquoise sea along the shores of Playa Cativo Eco Lodge. Photo: Playa Cativo Eco Lodge
Lodging
The lodge’s 18 guest rooms, private casitas, and villas showcase exquisite artisanal woodwork and tile craft and are constructed from rich hardwoods obtained from sustainable and reclaimed sources. Each category of accommodation is situated for maximum privacy and views, and all have terraces or outdoor decks overlooking the forest and the Gulf. Luxury class casitas add private plunge pools and expanded living spaces. The El Galiván Restaurant specializes in bespoke à la carte menus based on seasonal organic produce harvested from an onsite organic farm and paired with fresh seafood and locally sourced meats. More casual fare and libations are offered at the poolside Boruca’s Bar, which is set among palm trees and lush gardens.
The pool and hot tub are surrounded by tropical gardens at Playa Cativo Eco Lodge. Photo: Playa Cativo Eco Lodge
Sustainability
Playa Cativo is committed to all aspects of sustainable operation. The resort operates on 100 percent clean electrical energy from solar and hydropower. All bathroom amenities, cleaning, and laundry products are biodegradable and manufactured in Costa Rica to minimize carbon footprints. The lodge supports a coral reef protection and restoration program, sponsors educational initiatives for guests and the local community, and maintains a wildlife monitoring network for research purposes.
The exterior of the three-level main lodge at Playa Cativo Eco Lodge. Photo: Playa Cativo Eco Lodge
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge delivers a fully immersive rainforest experience minus the camping and cold-water showers. This four-star eco-lodge is located on the southwestern tip of the Osa Peninsula within the Golfo Dulce Wildlife Refuge. This preserve connects to the Corcovado National Park and one of Costa Rica’s most pristine habitats. The 200-acre property is covered in primary and regenerated rainforest, with birds and white-faced monkeys filling the treetops and a variety of wildlife roaming the grounds. A network of jungle trails connects the hillside property to hidden valleys and waterfalls in the heart of the rainforest and descends to a secluded Pacific beach lined with tidal pools.
An aerial shot of the coastline with a snorkeler floating above the reef off the coast of El Remanso Rainforest Lodge. Photo: El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Activities
Relaxation and wildlife encounters are the primary attractions at El Remanso. The lodge offers guided walks, birding trips, nighttime jungle excursions, and wildlife lectures. For guests looking for more adventurous activities and wanting to explore more of the Peninsula and the Golfo Dulce, the lodge can arrange everything from dolphin watching, zipline canopy tours, and mangrove kayak paddles to waterfall rappelling, horseback rides, tours to archeological sites, fishing trips and surfing lessons.
Hanging on tight while rappelling a waterfall at El Remanso Rainforest Lodge. Photo: El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Lodging
The lodge is an upscale boutique property with 16 guest accommodations in five categories, including forest and ocean view rooms in the central lodge, private bungalows, and luxurious one- and two-story villas with private pools. The décor is a study in classic simplicity, with minimalist white walls offset by rich woodwork, netting-draped beds decked in fine bed linens, indoor and outdoor showers, and ceiling fans to complement sea breezes ushered through open windows. All structures are built from wood harvested from naturally fallen trees, and windows are fitted with wooden shutters and curtains rather than glass to prevent injury to birds. The lodge’s open-air restaurant serves elevated Costa Rican cuisine featuring fresh and organic ingredients sourced from an onsite garden.
One of the pool lodges at the El Remanso Rainforest Lodge that are set in the middle of the jungle. Photo: El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Sustainability
El Remanso was one of the first properties in Costa Rica to generate sustainable electricity through a micro-hydro system. The lodge creates a sustainable livelihood for 30 local workers while extensive recycling, wastewater purification, and composting efforts minimize the ecological footprint. Cleaning products and toiletries used are biodegradable, and water is responsibly sourced from a pair of natural springs.
Evening at the open-air Remanso Restaurant in the Osa Peninsula. Photo: El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Bosque Del Cabo
In operation since 1990, this landmark property is one of the region’s original rainforest nature lodges, and its location alone makes Bosque Del Cabo Lodge a top choice in the Osa region. The resort sits within a 750-acre nature preserve at the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula. Private bungalows perch atop the 500-foot-high bluff of Cabo Matapalo, commanding panoramic views of both the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to the Golfo Dulce. Flocks of macaws, toucans, and parrots flit through the rainforest canopy. Monkeys, coatis, kinkajous, agoutis, and sloths make their home among the branches, and it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of peccaries and jungle cats such as pumas, ocelots, and jaguars roaming the grounds.
A villa at Bosque Del Cabo is set up with a hammock offering ocean views. Photo: Bosque Del Cabo
Activities
Hiking trails crisscross the preserve, lead deeper into the rainforest, and to a deserted beach at the base of the bluff. The resort offers a full range of eco-themed activities on land and sea, plus several adventures unique to this location. Tree climbing is elevated from a children’s pastime into a natural climbing gym with a roped ascent up the twisted strands of a 70-foot-tall strangler fig tree. Guests who would rather go down than up are clipped into a rappelling harness and lowered through the cascading waters of the King Louis Waterfall. Aspiring wave riders have enviable access to the remote and celebrated waves of Cabo Matapalo, known as one of Costa Rica’s hidden gems of surfing.
A guest at Bosque Del Cabo travels through the canopy from platform to platform via a zipline at Bosque Del Cabo. Photo: Bosque Del Cabo
Lodging
Bosque Del Cabo is a boutique property with ten thatch-roofed bungalows spaced for privacy amidst lush landscaping and flowers. Open floor plans usher in ocean breezes and the murmur of crashing surf from below the cliffs. Porches and observation decks provide sweeping ocean sunset views, while outdoor shower gardens complement modern ensuite baths. Families and groups can opt for luxurious two-bedroom bungalows with full kitchens and separate social areas. Guests can opt for in-room spa treatments or enjoy a massage in a secluded forest clearing.
Tree top view of pool and grounds at the Bosque Del Cabo. Photo: Bosque Del Cabo
Sustainability
Bungalows, the resort restaurant, and other facilities are solar-powered, and the resort pool is designed for minimum ecological impact, using solar-powered pumps and a low-impact ionization filtering system that requires minimal chemicals. These and other initiatives have earned Bosque special recognition through the Costa Rican Tourism Board’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism program. This program promotes the balanced and appropriate use of natural and cultural resources to protect the ecosystem while also improving the livelihoods of the local communities. Bosque also remains active in environmental charities and programs such as sea turtle conservation, native plant workshops, hosting of research interns, and wildlife monitoring.
The thatched-roof restaurant at Bosque Del Cabo is solar-powered. Photo: Bosque Del Cabo
