Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 229

EcolodgEs of costa Rica

Almost a quarter of Costa Rica's land is protected in a well-organized network of
national parks, private parks and reserves. Despite the large growth in tourism in recent
years, by protecting its mountains, cloud forests, lakes, beaches and abundance of
wildlife, Costa Rica remains Central America's premier ecotourism destination. The
government's commitment to sustainable tourism (including its pioneering Certificate of
Sustainable Tourism eco label, see p.248) has also helped develop dozens of genuine
ecolodges that not only use low-carbon technologies but help to conserve biodiversity,
promote low-impact activities and contribute to the economies of local communities.
Here are our ten favourites.

wooden cabins (made by local Cabécar Indians)
in the heart of the Talamanca Mountain Range,
where you can explore the rainforest on foot or
on horseback. Pacuare supports primary-school
programmes and has helped to reintroduce
howler monkeys to the forest. W www.
junglelodgecostarica.com; T [phone].

300 Lapa Rios
Costa Rica's best-known luxury ecolodge has
the maximum five stars in the government's
Certificate of Sustainable Tourism, principally
for its low-impact presence and protection of
lowland tropical rainforest packed with rivers
and waterfalls. The lodge has sixteen bungalows
with sensational views of the forest and Pacific.
W www.laparios.com; T [phone].

302 Luna Nueva Lodge
Just 16km from the Arenal Volcano, this good-
value ecolodge on an organic herbal farm is at
the edge of a 200-square-kilometre conservation
area of primary rainforest. Climb up an
observation tower for views of the volcano, then
join guided walking and horse-riding tours into
the rainforest (including day-tours outside of the
Arenal volcano area). Afterwards return for a
soak in the natural spring-fed swimming pool or
solar-heated hot tub before an authentic Costa
Rican dinner looking out over the lush tropical
gardens. W www.incalunanuevalodge.com; T +506
2468 4006.

301 Pacuare Lodge
The most thrilling way to arrive at this lodge
is by rafting the Pacuare River - one of the
best white-water rivers in Central America.
The lodge consists of thirteen cat-tail-thatched

In the lap of luxury at Lapa
Rios ecolodge

303 La Cusinga Lodge
La Cusinga offers eleven simple, elegant cabins
bordering 2.5 square kilometres of private
rainforest reserve and the Ballena Marine
National Park, established to protect humpback
whales. There are locally guided trips into the
forest while at the coast you can go snorkelling,
surfing, kayaking, scuba diving or dolphin- and
whale-watching. W www.lacusingalodge.com;
T [phone].