Guest Information

Welcome

Welcome to the Lapa Rios Lodge and Nature Reserve. We are so happy to be sharing our valuable piece of rainforest with you. Lapa Rios is a very special place, almost untouched in nature, located in one of Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical rainforests. While enjoying your stay in the rainforest, we ask that you respect this peaceful and pristine environment and keep in mind that this is one of the last places on Earth in which people and nature are still living together in harmony.

Remember: Lapa Rios is not a zoo – the creatures that live in this forest are here in their natural habitat. We are in fact their guests. Please be careful to tread lightly and listen to the forest. It has an amazing story to tell. And please, don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything you might need to make your stay with us the best it can be.

Pura Vida,

Maureen Montenegro Resident Manager & the Lapa Rios staff

Squirrel Monkey Who We Are

In 1995 the founders of Lapa Rios envisioned a destination that was off the beaten path, where they would have the oppor- tunity to make a significant difference for environmental conservation and the local population. The Osa Peninsula was just that. Working with the surrounding community, they built the 17-room Lodge by hand, using exclusively locally harvested renewable materials.

Today, Lapa Rios is recognized worldwide as an example of successful eco-tourism, a model in which wilderness preservation as well as guest and staff education is essential to its operation. Since its inception our lodge has embodied an innova- tive commitment to protecting natural and cultural heritage. The Lapa Rios Reserve is protected with a conservation land easement in perpetuity.

In 2019, the founders and owners of Pacuare Lodge acquired Lapa Rios. While the lodges are located in different locations within Costa Rica, they share many similarities. Both are surrounded by distinctive rainforest ecosystems harboring as- tonishing biodiversity, and by joining forces they have effectively doubled-down on their commitment to our planet with a total of 740 hectares (1850 acres) of pristine tropical rainforest under protection. While nature and conservation is at the heart of our two lodges, the human element is also of fundamental importance, and are amongst the primary employers in their surrounding communities providing key economic development to support their environmental efforts. Pacuare Lodge and Lapa Rios are also both founding members of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, and have been recognized for the tremendous efforts as pioneers in luxury and sustainable travel to some of the world’s most remote and biodiverse tropical rainforest ecosystems for the past 25+ years. Mission, Vision & Values

Here at Lapa Rios, we believe that no matter how you cut it, a rainforest left standing is worth more. We strive to protect and preserve our more than 1,000 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, to integrate and assist the local community through basic education and job training, and to create an intimate guest experience that is not only luxurious, but educa- tional as well. In short, we strive to use tourism to acquire and protect the endangered rainforest instead of allowing it to take a toll on this precious and finite resource.

We value the commitment to sustainability and the pursuit of excellence, as we strive to operate in complete harmony with the world around us. Our adherence to these values is reflected in the way our facilities are designed and operated: we tend to and respect the wildlife and natural setting of the Lapa Rios Reserve, we utilize renewable materials for sustainable and low-impact construction, we produce our energy with hydroelectric nano turbines and photovoltaic systems, we promote the use of biodegradable products, organic foods, and organic and local production while minimizing the use of chemicals, we maintain the highest standard in waste recycling programs, we use exclusively local staff in our operations, and we educate our staff, our local community, and you, our guests, about sustainability, cultural, and environmental concerns. Three-Toed Sloth Sustainability & Conservation

Sustainability is more than just efficient management of resources. It is a way of operating our property. Lapa Rios imple- ments a series of processes and technologies to measure natural resource use and environmental impact.

Among our many sustainable practices, the electricity we use at the lodge is clean energy generated by hydroelectric nano turbines and solar panels, manage an on-site garden, use biodegradable cleaning products and sun-dry our laundry under transparent plastic roofs, heat water with solar panels, use ionization to clean our pool, and carefully control our waste water with our own water treatment centers, feed organic waste from our restaurant to pigs from which we capture and produce biogas.

Beyond hotel operations, Lapa Rios teamed up in 2020 with the International Wildlife Management Institute (ICOMVIS) at Costa Rica’s National University (UNA) for a project to assess the status of jaguars and other large mammals in the rainforest that lines the Corcovado National Park. We give back to the community by hiring and training staff from the surrounding communities, building and continuing to support the Carbonera Primary School, supporting local biological conservation research programs, supporting local artisans, and maintaining our commitment to educate our guests as well as the surrounding community about environmental conservation. To learn more about our sustainability efforts,we highly encourage you to take our complimentary sustainability tour. While you are here, we hope you will participate in our passion for sustainability by turning off the lights and fans when leaving your bungalow, reusing your pool towels when possible, and minimizing the amount of solid waste you leave behind in the Osa.

On behalf of the rainforest, we are truly grateful for your consideration. Why Lapa Rios?

Lapa Rios Lodge and Reserve connects the ocean to the spine of the Osa Peninsula and contains some of the last remaining tropical lowland rainforest in Central America. It harbors birds, trees and plants found nowhere else in the world. Conservationists regard the 1,000-acre Lapa Rios Reserve as a wildlife corridor, a protective buffer for the nearby 100,000-acre Corcovado National Park. Everyone involved, from Lapa Rios employees to its guests and local community, the greater tourism industry and the Costa Rican government, regards Lapa Rios Lodge as a symbol of the Osa Peninsula. The lodge defines effective biodiversity protection.

Lapa Rios was purposely designed to be small, to minimally impact the property. No living trees were cut on site during construction, and buildings were placed only on previ- ously cleared terrain. The 17-villas and bungalow project provides protection for over 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of forest. Lapa Rios is a model that demonstrates responsible ecotourism. It adheres to the following guiding principles:

• Utilizes tourism to protect endangered tropical rainforest.

• Educates stakeholders about the benefits derived from sustainable practices, demonstrates people combined with land preservation.

• Integrates and assists the local community through basic education, job training and economic stability and improvement.

Lapa Rios believes in the transformative power of education. Education empowers self respect and personal identity, and is the best tool to preserve a local culture and its natural resources. Educated citizens improve local communities. Over years, people have learned that land preservation can be forever, and, that businesses sustaining the future have the great- est long-term success. Our Osa community has new social services because our guests help us answer local needs. Get involved with us.

The lodge offers community job training and economic interaction, dedicates to operate only sustainable hospitality practices and educates the community and guests to the benefits of rainforest preservation. By building an intimate, personal experience that focuses on environmental and intercultural education, guests, employees and the local community have demonstrated that ecotourism does protect and sustain endangered rain forest biodiversity and the people whose lives depend on it. Doing our part of a global effort:

Sustainable Tourism and Conservation at Lapa Rios

Lapa Rios has long pioneered Sustainable Tourism and Conservation on the Osa Peninsula. From day one, our vision and effort were dedicated to developing a model where the region’s culture, biodiversity, and wildlife could be shared with our guests without negatively impacting their integrity or sustainability.

At Lapa Rios, we have spearheaded several important social and environmental programs in the vicinity and support local community empowerment initiatives regularly. As a part of our commitment to sustainable development, we hire directly from the local communities and go beyond the norm by providing valuable training, education, and employment to over 60 direct and 70 indirect employees and their families.

We have also purchased 1000 acres of vast parcels of primary and secondary rainforest to be preserved into perpetuity and shared with our guests, researchers, and ecologists. We will continue to make great strides to protect the environment and promote the conservation of Costa Rica’s wild areas, but the challenges we face are tremendous.

We ask that everyone who visits the region and Lapa Rios Lodge take part in safeguarding this amazing piece of paradise and help us to do good for the local communities and the planet. To do so, we’ve created a Sustainable Tourism & Conser- vation Fund with revenue generated by a recently implemented Conservation Fee. The small sum of $25 per guest/per stay will be charged upon payment of each reservation.

Guests can now feel the satisfaction and pride of contributing to the wellbeing and protection of the Osa Peninsula for the enjoyment and benefit of current and future generations.

Useful Information

In this section you will find a summary of our services.

If there is anything that you need, please do not hesitate to inquire at the Front Desk.

We are happy to accommodate any request to make your stay with us exceptional.

Most of our staff understand and speak minimal English.

Please be patient and understanding.

Scarlet Macaw Living in the Rainforest: Your Bungalow

Water and Waste: water is heated by solar panels so if the water is not hot enough, please inform reception and we will help you. All water at Lapa Rios comes from our own private spring and is safe to drink, so please stay hydrated by refilling your personal water bottle . When using your toilet, please only flush toilet paper. Personal and hygiene items need to be disposed of in the trashcan. When possible, please minimize your contribution to our solid waste as our remote location makes waste disposal all the more taxing on our environment.

Electricity: we produce our electricity with hydroelectric nano turbines and solar panels and is designed to support small items such as battery chargers and razors. Please refrain from using curling irons, dryers or clothes irons. Please help us conserve energy by turning off lights and fan before leaving your room.

Amenities: please leave all villas and bungalows furnishings inside – the furniture on the deck is designed especially for the tropical weather. If you would prefer not to use your mosquito nets, please ask for them to be removed. Please place extra pillows on the luggage rack or in the closet. We try to reduce our environmental impact by changing towels and sheets every other day, but if you wish to have your towels replaced daily, please leave them in the sink.

Belongings: to keep out insects, please zip your belongings closed and store them on top of your closet. Furthermore, we suggest you check your garments for insects prior to dressing. Please store all of your valuables in the safety deposit box located in your closet. For storing items you frequently use at the lodge or at the pool, a cubbyhole is located in the Front Desk.

Brisa Azul Restaurant and Services

Menu: full menu service in our Brisa Azul restaurant is available during the following hours (Snacks are available throughout the day):

Breakfast: 7:00am to 10:00am. A limited, cold early breakfast can be ordered the night before for an early departure.

Lunch: 11:30am to 3:00pm. Please inquire in advance if you would like a picnic lunch.

Dinner: 6:00 to 8:30pm. Casual clothing is suitable for dinner, but out of respect to all guests. We ask that everyone wear a t-shirt or cover-up in the dining room area.

Lapapalapa Bar: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Sunset Drinks: you can sign up during the day for any drink to be delivered to your bungalow at 4:30pm.

Snacks: bocas or Costa Rican style snacks are available throughout the day, but please do not take food to your bungalow or villa, as insects and critters may then choose to share your space.

Coffee: coffee or tea is made available starting at 5:30am on the deck of the main lodge, where early risers are invited to witness the morning chorus. Alternatively, you can sign up during the dinner hour for coffee or tea to be delivered to your room at 6:00am. Other Services Laundry: Reception opens from 6:00am to 10:00pm

A personal laundry bag can be found on the luggage rack in your room. Laundry brought to reception before 9:00am will be returned to your room before 5pm the same day. Please, sign the laundry list and include your room number.

Wake Up Knock: before or during the dinner hour, you may arrange at Reception for a wake-up knock at your door the following day.

Cell Phones and Internet: in order for you to truly experience the rainforest, we invite you to disconnect from the hectic technological lifestyle in favor of connecting with the perfectly balanced environment of the Osa Peninsula. How- ever, we do have Wi-Fi Access available for our guests at the Restaurant and bar areas. Some international plans do have coverage in the rooms, so please respect the experience of fellow guests and use your cell phone on vibration mode. If you need to make a call during your stay at Lapa Rios, please contact our Front Desk staff and they will be more than happy to help you.

Checking in time is at 2pm and check out time is at 11:30am. If you are to depart before 6am, please settle your account after dinner the evening prior to your departure. On the day of your departure, please allow one hour for your meal and fifteen minutes for the checkout process.

Late Departures: if you are leaving later than check out time, we are happy to store your luggage for you at reception.

Luggage: please leave your luggage outside the door of your bungalow for pick up. If it’s raining, leave your luggage inside but please remember to leave the door unlocked.

Payment and Gratuities: we gladly take cash (US dollars, Colones, or Euros, only) or credit cards to settle your account. Envelopes for gratuities are at the reception desk. Unless specifically addressed to an individual staff member, your gifts will be shared among all employees who assist in the operations of Lapa Rios (waiters and guides are not included in the general gratuity system). By Costa Rican law, you have paid a 10% gratuity to the restaurant staff for their service. Please drop gratuities at the Reception Tip Box. The Lapa Rios World

To guarantee your safest and most comfortable stay possible, please adhere to the following guidelines.

Take care when out in the sun, avoid overexposure and over- exertion. Wear sunscreen, rest frequently, and stay hydrated.

Stop and Look: when walking, always look down at the path. Avoid missteps – stairs and paths can be slippery, especially after a heavy rain. If a bird or animal catches your eye, don’t try to observe while walking. Stop to look at it.

Equipment: always use flashlights (available at reception) at night, even on lit paths. Umbrellas are provided for you in your room as well as the main lodge, and rain boots are available in the guides’ hut.

Trails: inside the Reserve, guides must be present with you on all trails (with the exception of the Self-Guided Trail). When hiking or picnicking, do not leave food scraps or trash. Feeding the wild animals as well as extracting any flora from your surroundings is prohibited to make sure that we don’t interfere with the natural balance of the rainforest.

Baird´s Trogon

The Beaches

Most guests visit Lapa Rios to experience the rich biodiversity of the surrounding tropical rainforest. However, the adjacent beaches of Golfo Dulce are equally impressive – one of only four tropical fjords found in the world’s tropics. While you are here, take the time to explore and maybe even experience why surfers from all over the world flock to Golfo Dulce for its warm water and exceptional waves. What You Need to Know: finding some of the beaches surrounding Lapa Rios can be a challenge as there are very few (if any) visible signs. Please use our property map as a guide, and remember that pathways begin to get dark at 4:30pm.

Beach Pick-Up: beach pick-up is offered at 12:00pm and 4:30pm at the bus station next to the beach entrance road (see map). Please sign up for this service at Reception prior to departing for the beach. If you choose to exercise and walk up, it is easiest to use the Green Gate entrance to the bungalows.

Rocks and Waves: the ocean floor surrounding Lapa Rios has a fairly rocky bottom, so many people prefer to wear water shoes. The two beaches in front of Lapa Rios, Carbonera and Pan Dulce, are both safe for swimming but have large Pacific waves with strong currents, so please take care when exiting the water.

When to Go: the beaches face eastward, so the morning hours are hot and require hats and sunscreen. Many people prefer the afternoon shade. Hint: get up by 5:00am to watch the sun rise over the Pacific Punta Carbonera to Pan Dulce is our most popular beach, as it is safe for swimming and most surf lessons take place here. It can be seen from the pool, and entered directly from the hillside road, going straight ahead to the sea. Take care, although this beach is safe for swimming, it is home to some large and unexpected Pacific waves. Playa Carbonera is accessible from Playa Pan Dulce during low tide only,and has tame waves that make it a safe swimming beach. Please be careful as you enter the water, as rocks can be sharp. Don’t forget to take a refreshing dip in the cool, spring-fed Rio Carbonera on your way back to Lapa Rios.

Backwash is a long stretch of sandy beach with large breaking waves, making it unsafe for swimming, but a great place to relax on the sand.

Playa Matapalo is one of the last beaches along the Matapalo Road, unsafe for swimming due to huge waves and an abun- dance of sharp rocks. It remains an excellent spot to relax and observe the incredibly powerful strength of nature. Enhance Your Experience

All guided tours in the Lapa Rios Reserve help support the ongoing maintenance and land preservation of this pristine area of the Osa Peninsula. We invite you to join us on as many of our guided tours as you can, as they are included in your stay in hopes that while at Lapa Rios, you will experience everything that the tropical rainforest has to offer. Do keep in mind that all forest trails follow mountainous terrain and require a certain amount of exertion, so please speak with your guide to help you select the most appropriate tours according to your skills. Please refer to our Front Desk to find a summary of Lapa Rios tours as well as tours offered outside the property at an additional cost. And don’t forget to check out our wellness program here at Lapa Rios; after a long hike through the rainforest, there’s nothing bet- ter than a relaxing massage set to the sound of the Pacific waves below.

Remember When on Tours: Certain risks are inher- ent in such a pristine place. Understand that it is your re- sponsibility to act in a cautious manner when you are in this often challenging terrain. Listen to the guides and abide by their instructions. Sign Up Procedures for Lapa Rios Hikes: All Lapa Rios hikes begin at the Guide’s Hut at the time specified on the sign-up paper. Hikes are limited to 8 participants, priority to advanced sign up.

External Tours: arrangements for the tours that are offered away from the lodge needs to be made with 24-hour notice as these are tours offered by the community; not with Lapa Rios guides. Last minute cancellations will most likely be charged, depending on the tour provider. Some as much as 100%.

Proper Attire: Shorts and t-shirts are best for hiking. Long pants are unnecessary, and often too restrictive. Exception: middle of the rainy season. Use footwear with good treads. Our rubber boots are available for all hikes and may prove beneficial on slippery or wet terrain. Walking sticks are helpful on most hikes, an extra hand. Available at the Guide’s Hut. Please fill your own refillable water bottle for all hikes. Bring sunscreen and a hat when appropriate. Insect repellent is usually unnecessary.

Suggestion:

• Do not purchase products derived from endangered flora or fauna species (i.e. fur, turtle eggs, turtle products, leather, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, etc.).

• Do not extract any products from any part of the forest.

• Protect Nature: consult our management or guides if you notice any illegal poaching (of flora or fauna). Things Not to Miss While at Lapa Rios

The complete vacation experience is more than just drinks by the pool. Read on for our short guide to making the most of your stay here at Lapa Rios.

Experience: Hike the trails with one of our knowledgeable staff naturalists and experience the biodiversity of the Osa’s interrelated species. End up dirty, sweaty but refreshed under a wild waterfall. Return to the lodge and savor delicious Costa Rican foods and recipes, all served with an enthusiastic Buen Provecho! To take these experiences to the next level, ask staff about our 3-course private Waterfall Lunch.

Learn: Be a part of evening’s presentation and explore nature in depth with guides and their photograph. Be curious! Stop to read signs, and learn about Central American food, plants, and meal preparation in one of our classes. Ask staff and guides any and every question you may have – whether you’re curious about a bird you saw or want to learn some Spanish, we’re here so we can learn from each other.

Connect: Interact with local Ticos, and talk with our staff about your family and theirs – get to know them personally. Visit the nearby Carbonera School, learn its 20 +-year history, share your talent and time with the students, and even play a game of pick-up soccer.

Relax: Wake up to witness a Pacific sunrise and listen to the howler monkeys and the morning bird chorus. Unwind in your villa or bungalow private outdoor shower while watching the scarlet macaws fly by or enjoy a relaxing massage or yoga class set to the sound of the Pacific waves below. Disconnect, break away from your routine, and depart feeling replenished, inspired and changed. Staff Naturalist’s Biographies

Danilo Alvarez Segura

Danilo was originally born in our capital city San Jose, but from there his family moved to the Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste where he grew up in Puerto San Pablo de Nandayure a small village near to the ocean. Since he was a young boy, he was always interested in nature in special with marine ecosystems and the dry forest. When older he studied marine Biology in the National University after which he started the first marine shrimp farm in Guanacaste. Danilo started doing trips as a natural guide in the 80s. After he moved to the Osa Peninsula, he worked for Marenco Biological station in the Drake Bay area for 10 years, after this, he started working for the first time with Lapa Rios as a guide. Now Danilo has two children and lives with his family on their beautiful rainforest farm overlooking the Golfo Dulce.

Jeffry Tijerino

Jeffry was born in Puerto Jimenez in February 1987. Jeffry studied in a local junior High School, and started working at the age of 19 in a nearby lodge in the restaurant, this is where Jeffry’s interest in tourism and nature was piqued. Ever since he started helping out with the lodges’ transfers picking people up from the local airport, he found a passion in showing visitors our beautiful country. A father of two daughters, Jeffry now lives with his family in Puerto Jimenez and today after having worked as an experienced waiter in Lapa Rios restaurant for the past 8 years, Jeffry enrolled in a guide’s course that Danilo - guide at Lapa Rios - opened up mid-2016. Even though his experience as naturalist guide is short, Jeffry makes up for it with his passion and unique knowledge of the area’s history, things only a true local could have. Edwin Villarreal

Edwin was born in Golfito, the east side of the Golfo Dulce. He lived in a small town, La Vir- gen, until the age of 14, and then moved to the Osa Peninsula where he participated in gold extraction and worked extensively on a cattle farm with his family. Edwin then went to the Caribbean Coast to work in banana plantations. In 1995, Edwin began work at Lapa Rios, and for over 8 years was the leader of housekeeping. In the year 2000, he began to develop his special fondness for the forest and its environment. He attended a natural history course at the National Institute of Education and continued training with our guides. Since 2004, Edwin has been exclusively guiding tours, sharing a wonderful local interpretation of the forest. If you have any questions regarding the early years of Lapa Rios, Edwin is one of our long-standing employees; he knows many secrets!

José Parajeles

José’s captivation with nature began at an early age. From his hometown in Puerto Jiménez, his interest in nature grew, with birds becoming his focus. He began working as a naturalist guide in 2009. Within this time, he took several courses on natural history and marine Biology, flora and fauna, ornithology, and bird watching with the Costa Rican Institute of tourism (ICT). In addition, José has worked as a freelance guide in several Rain Forest Lodges and National Parks in the area. He currently lives in Puerto Jimenez where he works full time as a profes- sional birding and natural history guide for Lapa Rios. “I love birding and, I have always said that when you work in what you love, you will always have something to do” Birds and the love for nature are his life hounds. He is always looking forward to expanding his knowledge of the natural world and thrill to share his experience with enthusiasm.

Capture the true essence of Costa Rica by combining sister properties, the Pacuare Lodge in the verdant Tala- manca mountains, and Lapa Rios on the southernmost coast of the Osa Peninsula.

Both Lodges are members of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World and have been pioneering luxury and sustainable travel to some of the world’s most remote and biodiverse tropical rainforest ecosystems for the past 25+ years. Immersed in unspoiled rainforest, Pacuare Lodge is located in the Caribbean foothills adjacent to the Pacuare River. Founded in 1995 the lodge has become an unmatched infusion of an intimate luxury experience inspired by its vibrant nature, adventure and local indigenous culture.

Toll free: 1-800-963-1195 | Toll free from UK: 0-800-051-6420 | Costa Rica: +506 4070-0420 [email protected] | www.pacuarelodge.com #1 HOTEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA #9 IN THE WORLD