Internal Tours Offered by our Expert Guides Tours offered inside Lapa Rios are part of our guide program. Our expert guides will take you on an array of hikes and wildlife tours, and they look forward to sharing their impressive local knowledge with you! At the front desk you ll find sign up sheets for the daily tours our concierge will help you decide which tours are most suitable and will explain how to sign up. Come and explore the rainforest with us!
Some recommendations. Proper Attire: Shorts and t-shirts are best for hiking. Pants are normally not necessary. Walking sticks are quite helpful on most hikes. Please take water on all hikes. Insect repellent is usually not necessary. Use footwear with good treads. Rubber boots are available for all hikes and may prove to be beneficial on slippery or wet terrain. Please see guides or reception for questions regarding proper attire for specific hikes. Safety Information Lapa Rios prohibits the feeding of any animals. While having a snack on hikes is recommended, please do not leave food scraps or trash behind. As cute as some animals may seem, feeding them will disrupt their natural feeding habits. Lapa Rios prohibits the extraction of any flora or fauna out of the forest. Please do not take any samples of plants, branches or flowers that you might find on our paths and trails. Lapa Rios prohibits hunting of any kind. Please report any illegal or strange activity you might see along the trails, around the lodge or surrounding areas. Keep your eyes down while walking. Be mindful of your step. When you want to look at something, stop moving! Look before touching. Remember that Lapa Rios and its reserve is a conservation effort. Please take nothing from the reserve except photos, adventurous experiences and good memories.
Early Birds Tour Watch the glorious sunrise and share the cool early morning air with over 360 species of bird inhabiting the Osa Peninsula. For keen birders and animal lovers, this guided tour around the Lapa Rios grounds is a guaranteed opportunity to spot numerous species of birds, vibrant morpho butterflies, and mostly likely some mischievous monkeys too. High quality binoculars will be provided, as well as tea, coffee and a light snack before you get going. 2 Hours
Wild Waterfalls Hike through the virgin rainforest to pristine waterfalls, splashing along the Carbonera River en route. This is a fun rainforest experience with some adventurous hiking. For hardy hikers looking for a little challenge. Some wet walking and climbing involved. 3 Hours
Local Medicine Tour Take a walk through the primary rainforest with our local guides as they explain the traditional medicinal uses of plants and seeds. This is a fascinating tour for all nature lovers interested in Costa Rican indigenous culture and customs. 2 Hours
Rainforest Ridge Hike Hike mostly downhill along the cool ridges of Lapa Rios most impressive primary and secondary forest as your guide highlights the many hidden treasures of the vast Pacific lowland rainforest. Filled with ancient and towering trees, the Ridge Walk through the rainforest offers breath-taking views and an unforgettable experience for all hardy hikers. 3-3.5 Hours
Osa Trail Osa offers the complete rainforest experience! The hike will take you through the Reserve s most remote and pristine forest and provides the best opportunity to see rare flora and fauna, majestic trees, 500-year old vines, and biodiversity at its best! A fantastic way to truly immerse yourself in the wonders of the tropical rainforest. 3.5-4 Hours
Matapalo Tour This tour will take you along nearby beaches and some secondary forest. En route your guide will point out some of the most lively and active creatures in the rainforest. The tour is an easy, part-road hike for nature lovers also seeking to explore our sprawling beaches. 2 Hours
Sunset Birds Tour As the sun goes down on the spectacular Osa Peninsula, head out in search of local and migratory birds in the Lapa Rios grounds. This tour can be enjoyed by all and high quality binoculars will be provided. 2 Hours
Night Walk When the sun goes down, the bugs come out! Come experience the magic of the rainforest at night! With your flashlight, follow your guide into the trees to uncover all types of unusual nocturnal creatures. The night walk is a great opportunity to see bats, insects, kinkajous, frogs, and other wonders of this hidden, nocturnal world. We ll get you back for dinner and not too spidertraumatized! 1.5-2 Hours
Plant a Tree Contribute to the Lapa Rios reforestation program by planting a primary rainforest seedling in an emerging forest area. You ll learn about your particular tree, its role in the ecosystem and also receive a certificate to commemorate your reforestation efforts. [Gift certificates can be purchased on behalf of others if you d like to plant a tree in their honor.] Planting usually takes place in the early morning or late afternoons when the soil is at its coolest! 10-20 Mins
Twigs, Pigs and Garbage: Interpreting Sustainable Practices Led by our sustainable coordinator, this highly recommended tour takes you around our lodge premises, giving you a insight into our commitment to a greener and more sustainable way of life. From renewable building materials to the biogas produced by our pigs, learn why Lapa Rios is an award-winning sustainable property. Don t miss this unique experience it s a guests favorite! 2-3 Hours
Self-Guided Trail Beginning at the main lodge and looping through the primary and secondary rainforest, this trail features eighteen marked points of interest that correspond with a biologist s guide book available at reception. This trail is a great way to experience the natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula at your own pace. For safety reasons, please inform our front desk when you depart. Be cautious: take a flashlight (darkness falls quickly) and try to arrive back to the lodge by 4:30pm. ~1 Hour
Visit the Carbonera School Originally just a dream of our local neighbors in 1991, Lapa Rios Lodge and its guests built and have sponsored the local primary school ever since. This Building for the Future project is an opportunity for you to see first-hand how sharing can empower social development. The project now extends to 14 other schools in the area, using guests contributions donated through Earth Equilibrium, our NGO partner. School desks, shelves, books, infrastructure (roofs, paint, new classrooms) are among local requests.
External Tours Offered by Community Members Tours offered outside Lapa Rios are not part of our guide program. However, Lapa Rios also supports locally led tours and guides. Most tours need to be booked 24 hours in advance. Outside tour operators charge a last minute cancellation fee, sometimes as much as 100%. The duration of the tours is approximate, and prices are subject to change without notice. Note: many of these tours do not leave from Lapa Rios. Please check with our concierge department for changes in price, departure time and any other request you may have.
Canopy Bosque Mar If you would like to experience the rainforest at high speed, we recommend the Canopy Zip-Line. The thrilling Miramar Canopy is the first zip-line canopy tour on this side of the Peninsula. Five lines stretch between five platforms, running 600m over the primary forest plenty of adrenaline! The activity is low impact, and speed is easy to control. The zip-line is located about 45 minutes from Lapa Rios, on the road back to Puerto Jiménez. 2~3 Hours Tour Price $85 per person Two people minimum Transportation Price $90 round trip
Waterfall Rappelling Enjoy 4 waterfalls in 4 hours of pure adventure in a truly beautiful deep forest setting. This rappelling tour (also known as abseiling or canyoning) takes you into the heart of the rainforest through a wild river canyon. Bring your cameras for this one, as the photo opportunities are unbeatable. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes, and bring a hat and sunscreen. Reasonably fit people with a good sense of balance can enjoy this tour. Two people minimum. 2~3 Hours Tour Price $85 per person Two people minimum Transportation Price $35 round trip
Kayak Take an kayak trip around Golfo Dulce and visit the mangrove swamps which are brimming with marine life! Mangroves are small forests with flora and fauna adapted to live in salt water conditions. We recommend that you take a bathing suit, sunscreen, long pants and a dry fit fabric long sleeve shirt for sun protection (especially from December to April), tennis shoes or sandals (shoes will get wet), light rain jacket (only from August to November), hat, dry clothing, towel, and plastic bags for wet clothes. Don t forget to bring a water bottle, and dry bags for all your gear (including cameras) are suitable to bring if protected. 2~3 Hours Tour Price $65 per person Two people minimum Transportation Price $90 round trip
Kayak Fishing Take out a one or two person kayak to the Golfo Dulce where you ll use techniques like trolling, casting, jigging and different forms of bait to catch and release snappers, bonito, mackerels and barracudas amongst others. The tour is led by a fishing expert who ll take you to the best spots, provide all equipment, and bring snacks. Tours leave either very early in the morning or in the evenings and you may fish for 3-4 hours or 6-8 hours. Don t forget to bring a water bottle, sunblock, a hat and sunglasses, pants and a long sleeve shirt, a towel and clothes to change into. Hours 3-4 or 6-8 Tour Price $100 per person 3-4hrs $180 per person 6-8hrs Two people minimum Transportation Price $90 round trip
Horseback Riding Gentle horses and a local guide will meet you at the property's green gate before taking you up the hill from where you ll enjoy gorgeous views of Golfo Dulce and the rainforest. Your guide will lead you through farm lands before emerging on the beach of Lapa Rios. This tour give you the opportunity to interact with local farmers and is highly recommend for all horse and nature lovers. 2~3 Hours Tour Price $75 per person Two people minimum
Dolphin Watching Enjoy snorkeling and exploring the lush coastline of Golfo Dulce. A great opportunity to see 3 species of dolphins (common, bottled-nosed or spotted), gray and pilot whales, and sea turtles. Wear a swimsuit and bring a hat, long sleeve shirt and sunscreen. Snorkel equipment is provided. 4~5 Hours Tour Price $400 total for 1-5 people Transportation Price $60 per extra person $90 round trip
Dolphin Watching & Rio Esquinas Boat Tour On this tour you ll see dolphins, flying fish, sea birds, and maybe even a whale! Depending on the tide, float from the Gulf up the Rio Esquinas to explore deep into a tree-covered river brimming with shore birds, and delve deep into the mangrove swamps of the lush rainforest. 4~5 Hours Tour Price $500 total for 1-5 people Transportation Price $60 per extra person $90 round trip
Dolphin and Whale Watching Explore the stunning and peaceful Golfo Dulce while you look for two species of dolphin as well as two whale species in these beautiful, tropical waters. Snorkel through the reefs, discovering an abundance of marine wildlife, enjoy the sprawling beaches and exploring the mangroves. The season to see whales in the Golfo Dulce is September-November. The Gulf is home to Southern Right and Humpback whales. 4~5 Hours Tour Price $400 total for 1-5 people $60 per extra person Transportation Price $90 round trip
Sport Fishing with José Let us take you out on a 22ft motor boat and the knowledgeable José will teach you all about the beautiful Golfo Dulce and the wildlife of the surrounding area. On the whole day tour (6:30am- 3pm), you ll have plenty of time to catch big game including marlin, sail fish, mahi-mahi and tuna. On the half day tour (6:30am-12:30pm), you ll fish closer to shore for red snapper, rooster fish, grouper, jack, and African pompano. A picnic lunch will be provided, including sandwiches, fruit, beers and other drinks. Your professional local captain and mate will ensure a thrilling day of world class fishing! 6-8 Hours Tour Price $500 Half day $750 Full day Transportation Price $90 round trip
Corcovado National Park The world-famous Corcovado National park is one of the most biologically rich places on Earth. Spanning 47,000 hectares, it is home to some of the world s rarest wildlife including jaguars, peccaries, tapirs and 450 bird species. As for plants, approximately 700 tree species have been identified. Accompanied by one of our naturalists, this full-day tour includes lunch and a round trip boat trip into Sirena Ranger Station. En route you ll pass by impressive cliffs, caves, and rocky islands home to marine birds and frequented by schools of dolphins. 6~8 Hours Tour Price By boat $1.217 for 2 people $1.257 for 3 people $1.297 for 4 people Transportation Price Included
Corcovado National Park Accompanied by one of our naturalists, depart the lodge early for a 1:30hr transfer to Drake bay where a boat transfer awaits to take you to the Sirena Ranger station. this full-day tour includes lunch and transportation price. En route you ll pass by impressive cliffs, caves, and the famed Caño island home to marine birds and frequented by schools of dolphins. 6~8 Hours Tour Price By boat $773 for 2 people $813 for 3 people $853 for 4 people Transportation Price included
Corcovado National Park Depart Lapa Rios in a 5:00 am transfer, taking you for 1 hour along the scenic road to Carate. Walk approximately 4 hours (depending on hiker s skill) along a nature trail next to the national park s coastline. Witness one of the area s largest tropical lowland forests and some of the world s rarest wildlife. During the trip we ll provide a healthy picnic to give you energy for this tough full day tour. 6~7 Hours Tour Price By Land $415 for 2 people $430 for 3 people $445 for 4 people Transportation Price Included
Turtle Tour There are seven species of sea turtles in the world and all of them are considered threatened or endangered due to poaching, predation, habitat disturbance and degradation, and in-water threats. The world s sea turtle population is incredibly susceptible to human and environmental threats and are in urgent need of global protection. Help us to protect and save the sea turtles by releasing the recently hatched babies into the sea. This tour is seasonal and only runs between July and December. 2~3 Hours Tour Price $65 per person Two people minimum Transportation Price $50 round trip
Surfing Have you always been in awe of those super cool surfers? You ve come to the right place! We ve got beautiful beaches, warm tropical waters, and world class waves. Master this epic sport with true professional surf instructors who offer group or private lessons for all levels in this spectacular rainforest setting. 2 Hours Tour Price $65 per person 2 people minimum for group lesson $110 per person private lesson $75 per person family lesson, min 4 people
Stand-up Paddle Boarding Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) originated in Hawaii but the sport is equally popular out here. Glide across the warm waters of the Golfo Dulce taking in the views of the rainforest backdrop; you might even be able to spot some of the marine wildlife including turtles, manta rays, dolphins and a variety of fish species. SUP is also an excellent physical workout, helping you build core strength and improve balance. This tour is offered around high tide when the waters are calmer. 2 Hours Tour Price $65 per person 2 people minimum