10 Best Eco-Lodges in Costa Rica.

Rancho Mastatal is a 300-acre lodge in San Jose Province three hours drive from the capital city. A permanent community lives here, and guests can stay throughout the year. With a program of workshops, courses, and apprenticeships, it’s ideal if you have more than a passing interest in sustainability. You can hike along 10 km of trails, enjoy hidden hot springs and river swimming, or simply relax in the well-stocked library. And while many of Costa Rica’s eco-lodges can be pricey, this one remains well within budget.

• Location: 80 km from San Jose, Mastatal, San Jose Province
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La Carolina Lodge is located 8 km north of Tenorio National Park, home to the famous blue waterfall, Rio Celeste and close to the Nicaraguan border. La Carolina is an off-the-grid ecolodge with wooden cabins overlooking a pristine river and immersed in lush tropical forests with 175 private acres to roam and explore. Birdwatching, yoga, hiking and horse-riding are all available for guests at the La Carolina; for a more relaxing time, there are plenty of hammocks and even a wood-fired hot tub. The restaurant offers a farm-to-table experience with local cuisine made from ingredients that are grown on the farm or nearby that is cooked over a wooden stove. The lodge's location in the middle of three national parks (Tenorio, Arenal and Cano Negro) makes it a perfect base for day trips.

• Location: 80 km from Santo Domingo, Alajuela Province, 90 km from Liberia airport
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Rancho Margot is ideal if you want to see how sustainability works in practice. The ranch aims to be self-sufficient and produces more than 75% of its food. There are daily workshops and longer volunteer and sustainable immersion programs. Overlooking the southern end of Lake Arenal, rooms have volcano and rainforest views. Guests can hike, fish, horse-ride, kayak and take yoga classes — all while staying entirely off-grid. Other amenities include a library, bar, restaurant, and two spring-fed cold pools for a refreshing dip.

• Location: 30 km from La Fortuna, El Castillo, Alajuela Province
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Close to the scenic Arenal Volcano National Park, Finca Luna Nueva is a biodynamic farm and rainforest lodge. As a pioneer of regenerative agriculture, they have replanted rainforest trees, and their renowned Sacred Seeds Sanctuary contains more than 300 tropical medicinal plants. Bungalows have rainforest and volcano views, and the food is farm-to-table. Other amenities include a chlorine-free swimming pool, solar-heated jacuzzi and yoga pavilion. With activities such as river rafting, canyoning and mountain biking, this is an ideal choice for families.

• Location: 20 km from La Fortuna, Pocosol, Alajuela Province
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This sustainable boutique hotel is in a small protected forest, only a stone’s throw from Los Quetzales National Park. At a height of 2,600 meters above sea level and overlooking protected cloud forest, the views are spectacular and are enhanced by the lodge’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms have balconies, jacuzzis and eco-friendly ethanol fires for cooler spells. You can explore the trails on your own, or take guided tours on foot or horseback. As well as the famed Resplendent Quetzal, there are around 170 other bird species to look out for.

• Location: 87 km from San José, San Gerado de Dota, San José Province
  
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Olas Verdes is a sustainable boutique hotel in Playa Guiones, a burgeoning yoga and surf community with an eco-vibe. With access to one of the world's best surfing beaches and a surf school in-house, it's an excellent place for novice and more experienced surfers alike. With a handful of awards already for sustainable practices, the hotel is striving to be zero-waste and has a water consumption a third of other hotels of their size. Amenities include a yoga deck and saltwater swimming pool.

• Location: 7 km from Nosara, Playa Guiones, Guanacaste Province
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The Tree House is a small eco-lodge in a secluded corner of Limón Province. Accommodation is in a handful of quirky open-air houses made from bamboo, fallen trees and other recycled materials. The lodge is seconds away from a white sand beach, in a remote and ecologically diverse location. Coral reefs, swamps and rainforests all make for a wild and beautiful experience. Committed to local projects and green practices, the Tree House Lodge has been awarded the highest CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism) certification possible.

• Location: 70 km from Limón, Punta Uva, Limón Province
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Budding yogis can find inner peace at this beachfront yoga retreat and spa on the Southern Osa Peninsula. In one of the remotest parts of Costa Rica, Blue Osa is 50m from a private beach, so you can practice yoga to the sound of breaking waves. Food is farm-to-table, meals are communal, and there is an emphasis on personal growth. Amenities include a chemical-free lap pool, organic garden and spa. For excursions, Corcovado National Park is minutes away.

• Location: 12 km from Puerto Jiménez, Matapalo, Puntarenas Province
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In a far-flung location on the banks of the Pacuare River, this luxury eco-lodge will thrill adventure-lovers. To arrive, guests must raft down the river — or take a helicopter or 4x4. With luxurious suites with private terraces and plunge pools, this is the height of eco-luxury. But there is a genuine commitment to sustainability too — the lodge produces its own electricity and grows its own food, and excursions are carbon neutral. Over the years, the owners have bought and protected primary rainforest. Every stay includes eight unique trips, including canyoning and birdwatching.

• Location: 80 km from Limón, Linda Vista, Limón Province
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Bordering Corcovado National Park, this 170-acre lodge is deep in the Corcovado rainforest and only accessible by boat. Built by an American naturalist, the lodge creates its own energy with hydroelectricity and solar-power. Swim, snorkel or dive among coral reefs in nearby Caño Island Biological Reserve. Or enjoy the solar-heated swimming pool, restaurant and private beach. The lodge takes pride in its sustainable initiatives, including financing local recycling projects. 

• Location: San Pedrillo, Puntarenas Province
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Staying in an eco-lodge in Costa Rica is the perfect way to experience this beautiful country. Choose from one of our recommendations or find your own corner of paradise — either way, you’ll get up close and personal to the country’s famed landscapes and wildlife — while leaving only footprints.