Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River

Nature-immersed forest bungalows which blend into Costa Rica’s biodiverse Guanacaste Province

Cooled by an ever present breeze and framed by a unique dwarf forest, Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River is a sanctuary of well-being, and the true embodiment of Costa Rica’s legendary PURA VIDA.

You’ll find Rio Perdido in the Guanacaste province, on the western side of the country. Even though the reserve is just an hour’s drive from Liberia, this rediscovered gem was once a sacred spot for the Cabecar tribes; people who recognized and harnessed the magic of the thermal gorge, hundreds of years ago.

Rio Perdido was designed to be in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Great care has been taken to preserve this one-of-a-kind setting and its precious resources, while simultaneously providing a very comfortable experience for conscious-minded guests.

Spend your days swimming in the abundant, completely natural hot springs, along a mile of thermal gorge that cuts right through the spectacular, 1,500-acre reserve with 30 bungalows.

Stylishly designed and environmentally sustainable, the 30 forest bungalows at Rio Perdido provide a peaceful retreat amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province.

Each bungalow at our lodge is accessed by elevated pathways that connect to general hotel pathways and hiking trails; they are built in a modular format, in order to ensure minimal environmental impact. The design is warm and clean, with wood accents, stainless steel, nylon rope and polished concrete floors. Thoughtful in-room perks include complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and a contemporary bathroom with a lighted makeup mirror.

*Accessible bungalows are available for those with mobility concerns.

Witness a seemingly endless variety of exotic flora and fauna throughout 32 km of hiking trails. Enjoy zip-lining, mountain biking and white water tubing, or if you prefer to relax, lounge by the pool, savour true Costa Rican cuisine prepared by local culinary artists, do some yoga on our cliff-side pods or visit our spa, for the region’s best treatments.

Wellness is not simply about counting calories and going for daily jogs. True wellness is found in everything that you do… or that you don’t do. True wellness is about being able to live optimally without really having to put enormous effort into your actions. If your daily routine is a chore, it will not last… and if it did, well… you’d probably feel miserable; certainly not healthy.

While at Rio Perdido, guests are encouraged to try a variety of local fare, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Guests are encouraged to walk… to get a bit lost and absorb all that the forest affords us, from the amazing sights and sounds, to the clean air and pristine mineral water. Visitors should consider departing from their respective comfort zones, in favor of trying something new and perhaps even a tad adventurous, whether that calls for an epic hike through the dwarf forest reserve or a strenuous bike ride through our challenging ”red loop”. Perhaps a morning exploring dozens of completely natural, geothermically heated river pools is the thing for you. Whatever the case, visitors find that days here seem to flow. You refuel your physical and spiritual energies, without even noticing it. This is a type of therapy that anyone can appreciate. This is the essence of Rio Perdido.

Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River is nothing short of enchanting. We look forward to welcoming you.

Described by visiting scientists as the quintessential tropical dry forest and by respected local botanists as one of the last, intact ”dwarf forests,” Rio Perdido’s setting doesn’t fit into any of the modern classification genres. This forest is as diverse as it is unique. On the rocky, sun-drenched mesas, both the flora and the topography are rugged. As you descend into the many intertwined, narrow canyons, the vegetation resembles that of a rainforest. This means that you can see and experience completely contrasting settings in just five minutes of trekking, and thus, spot a myriad of species. Mammals, reptiles, insects, amphibians, and birds are abundant on the property. Rio Perdido is a place of adventure for nature lovers and adrenaline junkies alike. It is also naturally a peaceful setting, where disconnecting comes easily, and the harmony of mind, body, and spirit are restored.

Proportionally, the tropical dry forest and dwarf forest ecosystems are significantly more threatened than our planet’s rainforests. There’s genuinely not much left of these unique woodlands, and we take that quite seriously. Once a dry forest is clear, regeneration is much slower than with decimated rain forest ecosystems. At Rio Perdido, we focus on sustainable transplanting. Because Rio Perdido is located in the region’s most sun-drenched area, we must irrigate our younger transplants. To accomplish this, we use most of our treated residual water as well as circulated pool water.

Today, you can notice the difference by merely viewing ”Rio Perdido” on Google Earth or Google Maps. Also, many of our repeat visitors instantly note the difference. Most of all, it is the fauna that most appreciates the positive change, indicated by the impressive and consistent increase of their presence.