COSTA RICA  RAINFOREST Lapa Rios Activities Return to Lapa Rios

Tours and activities available:

All guided tours in the Lapa Rios Reserve help support the ongoing maintenance and pay back the land acquisition of the reserve. Choosing to hike and learn with a knowledgeable local guide gives the community continuing economic support and demonstrates that this diverse lowland tropical rain forest left standing is more valuable than one cut down.

Sign up at reception for the reserve tours. All walks leave from the front desk and length of time is approximate. Shorts, cotton T-shirts and boots with good treads are recommended. Rubber boots are available. Take water with you - bottles are at the bar and reuse. Please preserve: extract nothing.

In this 1,000 acre reserve you will see all 4 species of Costa Rican monkeys: spider, white faced, squirrel and howlers. Other animals include agouti, coati mundi, collared and white-lipped peccaries, jaguars, ocelots, margay and puma. Birds seen include: crested and solitary eagles, toucans, macaws, great curassow, crested guan, trogons, aracaris, honey creepers,
herons, hummingbirds, tinamous, woodpeckers, wood creepers, ant birds, manikins, tanagers, caciques, euphonias, thrushes, hawks, and parrots.

Unique to the Osa Peninsula is the black-checked ant tanager. (At Corcovado experience the tapir, Central America's largest mammal.) The trees and vegetation you see in the Lapa Rios reserve are diverse and unique: the Sangrillo tree, unique to the Carbonera, stands over 200 feet. See giant buttresses and liana vines more than 500 years old!

Certain risks are inherent in such a pristine place you need to understand that that is your responsibility to act in a cautious manner when you are in our challenging trail. Carefully listen to guides.

Early Birds Tour:
Share the cool early morning air with some of the over 319 bird species inhabiting the reserve. Ride to Matapalo Beach or up the mountain to walk back for breakfast around 8:15AM. For keen birders and animal lovers, this guided tour with a Swarovski telescope will guarantee numerous species of birds, morpho butterflies, monkeys and other mammals. Binoculars highly recommended. High quality 8x30 Swarovski binoculars can be rented.
For everyone, 2 hrs.

Swim with Dolphins Tour:
Navigate along the waters of the Golfo Dulce with our expert guide.   The tour takes about 4 hours where you will be able to look at different types of birds. There are also two types of dolphins that can be found, bottle-nosed and spotted, and if the conditions are right, you might be able to swim with them. During certain seasons, whales and turtles can be seen along the way. Come and join them!

Wild Waterfalls:
Hike up and down through virgin rain forest to pristine waterfalls and splash back along the Carbonera River. A rain forest experience with adventurous hiking. Difficult, but great fun. For all hardy hikers looking for a challenge (wet walking and some climbing). 3 hrs.

Medicine Walk:
This walk follows an old track through primary forest. It's an opportunity to view the cool, primary forest along with fascinating "local" explanations of medicinal uses of barks, leaves, saps. Our shaman-guide will teach you the traditional Indian medicines from the rain forest. Transport to trail head. Medium hike with hills. 3 hours.

Starfish Walk:
A walk along the beach and tide pools in front of Lapa Rios and back through one of the rivers teaches you about the marine biology of the area. See various land crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers, etc. 2 hours. Tide dependent tour. Easy, and unique! 2 hrs.

Rain Forest Ridge Walk:
Hike down the hills along cool ridges through Lapa Rios' most impressive primary forest. Your guide will introduce the flora and fauna, and highlight features of the forest's immense diversity. Medium to difficult because of hills. 3 - 3 1/2 hours.

The Osa Trail:
The complete rain forest experience! This tour descends through the reserve's most remote and pristine forest. The 4 km. trail features many different types of rain forest vegetation and offers you the best opportunity to see something rare. Transportation to trail, road permitting. Medium-difficult, 3-4 hrs.

Full Day Hike:
For serious hikers! After breakfast, you will begin to walk up the Ridge Trail. At noon, arrive at a platform in the forest, where you can have your pic-nic lunch and rest for an hour. Return in the afternoon through the Osa Trail. Great opportunity for experiencing deep rainforest at its best. Difficult, because of length (10 miles, aprox.) 6-8 hrs.

Night Walk:
Departing from the lodge at 6:00 PM., experience the sights and sounds of the rain forest after dark. With flashlights and use of "eye shine" the forest's nocturnal creatures come alive after dark. Medium. 1 - 1 1/2 hrs. to return for dinner

Jungle Overnight:
Spend the night in the middle of the rainforest! Try to have an early dinner, and depart at 9:00 p.m. Do a 1-2 hour night walk, arriving to a covered platform in the forest by 11:00 p.m. Sleep or rest in foam mattresses (we'll provide clean linens). Return at 5:30 a.m. after coffee and bananas snack. Arrive at the hotel by 9:00 a.m. for breakfast. Your guide will be with you at all times. See nocturnal species! More information available at reception. Difficult. All night

Corcovado National Park Tour:
Led by Felipe or William, this tour offers excellent opportunities to see big mammals in the nearby national park. Go by taxi early AM to Puerto Jiménez and fly into Sirena Station. Walk a 4 hour circular route, return to Sirena for lunch. Then a 3 hour walk in the forest to Rio Claro; optional swimming in the river. Return by late PM. Take binoculars, hiking boots, camera, hat,
insect repellent, bathing suit and a waterproof pouch. The cost includes your guide, taxi and airplane transfers, park entrance fees. 4 people maximum with guide for airplane (you'll take a picnic lunch, water and snacks).

Self-Guided Trail:
Beginning at the main lodge and looping through the prime forest into the secondary forest and lower bungalows, this trail features 18 marked points of interest that correspond with a biologist's guide book available at the reception. Easily learn about the flora of the forest in a short medium walk, 1 hr. No charge

Plant a Tree in the "Volunteer Rain forest:"
Contribute to sustainable development in the Lapa Rios reforestation program by transplanting a primary rain forest seedling to an area of second growth. Participants will learn about "their tree", it's role in the ecosystem and receive a certificate to commemorate their efforts. Gift certificates can be purchased on behalf of others and the trees planted in their honor. Plan 10-20 minutes, planting is at 7AM when the soil is cool.

The Carbonera School:
On Tuesday or Friday (barring conflict) we will be pleased to take guests to our local school for a visit with the children. Any sharing you can contribute - songs, stories, photos, reading - is highly encouraged. Depart at 8:15AM, return by 9:00 AM. No charge


Tours offered by community members though NOT a part of Lapa Rios. 

Most tours require 24 hours advance notice with all guides charging a cancellation fee, sometimes as much as 100%. Length of time for all tours is approximate, tour prices subject to change.without notice. Tours and guides are endorsed by Lapa Rios. On occasion the guide and services may not be available.

Therapeutic Massage:
The masseuse offers massage therapy sessions to foster a greater sense of health and relaxation. Meet at the reception and go to the privacy of a forest overlook near the main lodge.

Hatha Yoga lesson:
Go to the pool deck at dusk, and obtain harmony and balance for body and soul. Cushion mat provided. 1 hour,

Horseback Riding:
Gentle but responsive horses follow a forest road through secondary and virgin jungle and finish galloping on the beach. Arrangements must be made by mid afternoon for the next day. A highly recommended tour for horse and nature lovers. 2-3 hours.

Surf Lesson:
Private lesson with an expert. Board provided. 1-2 hours,

Sea Kayaking:
Sea kayak around the Matapalo area. A guide takes you to the beach for a paddle on the Golfo Dulce and, weather permitting, around to the open Pacific. No experience necessary and lots of fun. Take plenty of sunscreen. Tide and swell dependent. 2 hrs.

Rio Esquinas Boat Tour:
Taxi and then boat from Pto.Jiménez to see dolphins, flying fish, sea birds, maybe a whale! A spectacular trip, tide dependent, is to float up the Rio Esquinas and explore deep into a tree-covered river alive with shore birds, mangrove swamps and rain forest. 4-5 hours, meal included if necessary. Boat capacity is 750 lbs.Tide dependent tour, some days not available due to tide changes.

Botanical Garden:
Visit a private botanical garden begun over 20 years ago. Hundreds of different species of tropical orchids, ornamental plants and trees. Accessible only by taxi and boat ride on the Golfo Dulce. AM only, not available on Fridays.