Secluded Natural Escape in Rio Perdido

From the moment you arrive and enjoy a welcome drink made from fresh hibiscus juice, the charm and hospitality of the staff at Rio Perdido is unmatched. The reception area is located in the main building at the heart of this expansive property. This building also houses the indoor bar, a restaurant area where meals are served à la carte, oversized locker rooms, and a small gift shop. Everywhere you look, glistening wood finishings that were created and are maintained by carpenters on staff greet the eye. Also from the main building, guests can access three thermal pools of varying temperatures.

Rio Perdido was originally opened as an adventure center, and the hotel accommodations were added a few years later. This means that guests benefit from a plethora of activities offered on site, which is a little different from many other properties in the area. Rio Perdido can provide their guests with experiences like ziplining or tubing on the thermal river within their own property, as opposed to utilizing third-party tour operators. Clustered among paved trails leading to each bungalow, the bungalows each offer their own private accommodation, completely separate and detached from adjacent units. In fact, guests have limited to no visibility of neighboring bungalows, creating an effect of being solitarily immersed in the surrounding nature.

The property offers three categories of accommodations. There are 20 East Bungalows on property, the smallest room category, each with its own private patio with hammocks, one king bed or two twin beds, and a daybed.

The Center Bungalows (10 on property) do not have a patio but do offer a private, open-air, outdoor shower area and sleek, black, and wooden finishings that highlight the lush green of the Costa Rican canopy, visible through floor-to-ceiling windows. Completing the modern look of the rooms are black floors made from volcanic stone.

Center Bungalows are outfitted with a king bed and can accommodate up to 2 king beds or four twin beds, making these a great choice for families. The final category, West Bungalows, are the most luxurious suites, with private patios with hammocks, an outdoor shower area with a stone tub that can be filled with hot, cold, or thermal water from the thermal river, and a full window wall overlooking the stunning green canopy.

All bungalows have air conditioning, a mini bar, and free coffee and tea. East and West Bungalows have flat-screen TVs, and Center Bungalows have a projector and retractable screen to give guests the option of watching the TV or having an uninterrupted view of the canopy through the expansive window wall. Finally, all reservations include a complimentary yoga class and a guided hike, and West Bungalows also come with additional activities and amenities.

The drive to Rio Perdido is not terribly difficult and most of the trip was via well-paved highways. Additionally, this property does allow a certain amount of day passes for the facility, meaning that some property amenities such as the thermal pools may be open to people not staying on property. The minimum age for this property is eight years old.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Costa Rica page.