Boutique Hotel Review: Eco-Conscious Luxury at Costa Rica’s Lagarta Lodge
Hotel Lagarta Lodge embodies all the trappings you might expect of a luxury Eco Lodge in Costa Rica: plush loungers set at the edges of sparkling turquoise pools, rock-ringed hot tubs hewn into organic shapes that disappear into their natural surroundings, a dawn trip down dusty back roads in the back of a safari jeep to witness turtles hatching on the black sand beaches, and monkeys that peep through your shower window before meandering disinterestedly away into the private, on-site nature reserve.
It’s not difficult to picture yourself by the pool with a fresh-squeezed guava juice in hand, relaxing the days away under the Tico sun, or watching the riot of sunset colors streak across the sky from the stone hot tubs set into the rocks and greenery.
But the thing that truly sets Lagarta apart is its people. Like any truly fantastic boutique hotel, its secret to success is the warmth and hospitality of the staff who remember your name, who pause in their busy days to chat with you, and with whom you can build such a rapport, your goodbyes are laced with promises of return. Not to mention, two of its owners are Costa Rican, which means your tourism dollars directly benefit Costa Ricans and their local economy.
at-a-glance: Why Stay at Lagarta Lodge?
Co-owned by local Costa Ricans alongside their Swiss partners
Home to a private, on-site eco reserve
Awarded the highest certification for sustainability (Certification of Sustainable Tourism)
Tastefully designed to bring the outside in
Solar panels and water recycling systems
A percentage of room rates are invested into education and conservation projects
Hotel-run art gallery showcasing the culture of the indigenous people such as the Maleku
Yoga offerings and spa services overlooking the jungle and ocean
Hotel Lagarta Lodge
Nestled on a bluff overlooking stunning jungle/ocean (and sunset) views in Nosara, a popular spot on the Nicoyan peninsula of Costa Rica, Lagarta Lodge is a stunning boutique hotel that boasts its own private nature reserve and a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility (we love that!)
In addition to nature excursions and guided hikes in the Reserva Biológica, Lagarta offers yoga courses, spa services, and surf access. It also partners with local tour operators on a variety of activities such as horseback riding, surf lessons at Playa Guiones, a Canopy ropes course, and language courses.
We spent four nights at Lagarta and, like most boutique hotels I stay at, I still find myself dreaming of going back. Not only is the location perfectly situated in an area with tons to do, eat, and see, but everything about the property earned it 5 stars: cleanliness, the quality of the food and drinks at the on-site restaurant, the kind and engaging staff, glasses of fresh-squeezed fruit at the poolside, watching monkeys scampering on the branches outside our hotel room shower at sunset, days spent lounging in the dappled sunlight under massive flora, an exploratory excursion through the reserve to the beach below to watch the fishermen at sunrise, and learning how the local communities protect the endangered turtle populations with sound and light ordinances at hatching season.
In a country celebrated for its ecotourism, it can be challenging to see through the occasional greenwashing and pick accommodations and tours that have a truly positive impact. Our stay at Lagarta Lodge was a truly special experience, and one emblematic of what you hope to find at the intersection of sustainability, luxury accommodation and values-driven hospitality in Costa Rica.
Rooms
The hotel features 26 junior suites, which are really anything but junior. The teak furniture and artful accents highlight the natural environment, while expansive windows and balconies help to bring the outside in. All rooms have both air conditioning and fans (a must in Costa Rica).
There are 8 Jungle Suites, 11 Panorama Suites (our choice for its triple jungle-river-ocean view), and 7 Flor Blanca Suites, which are the most exclusive and boast breathtaking ocean views settled amongst lush greenery.
Why Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse locations in the world, and offers an active vacation spot for anyone interested in a healthy and nature-filled vacation. While expats and surfers have long been drawn to the coasts (especially Nosara and the Nicoyan peninsula broadly), adventure seekers and nature lovers can be found all over this beautiful country—from coastal beach towns to jungle zip lines and cloud forest hikes in the inland rainforests and jungles.
Studies also show that Costa Ricans live longer, healthier lives than most other people thanks to pura vida (“pure life” - a positive expression that’s also used colloquially as hello and goodbye, all good, same to you, etc.) In fact, the Nicoyan peninsula in particular (where Lagarta Lodge is located) is considered one of the world’s five “Blue Zones”—where people are shown to be happier and healthier, with a greater share of healthy 100+ year olds. It shares that honor with locations like Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (California), and Ikaria (Greece).
Beyond the pura vida lifestyle is the local reputation for “Tico (a local term for Costa Ricans) hospitality.” By and large, Tico people are kind and warm, and overwhelmingly welcoming to tourists. Perhaps that’s why Costa Rica draws such a large number of expats to its coastline—once you visit, you’ll never want to leave.
Costa Rica has also done an incredible job of valuing and protecting its natural resources, in part thanks to the huge draw of ecotourism; a perfect case study of travel as a force for good.
When To Go
While the weather varies a bit by region (think generally: higher humidity on the Caribbean coast with an average temp between 70 and 80, and lower humidity in the Northern Pacific region with temps around the 90s), the best time to visit Costa Rica is from mid-December through April, when the country experiences its dry season. However, it’s also the hottest and most popular (meaning expensive) time to visit. Prices are lowest between May and November if you don’t mind trading a bit of rain for a good deal.
We went over New Year’s, which was gorgeous but definitely busy. That being said, crowds were never unpleasant (even in the popular “cloud forests” or adventure hotspots like Arenal), and I’ve definitely been to more overrun and overtourist-ed locations at their peak seasons.
How to Get to Hotel Lagarta Lodge
Lagarta Lodge offers free shuttle service to and from the local Nosara airport, although you’ll have to take a puddle jumper with regional airline Sansa to get there first.
Alternatively, you can fly in to either Liberia airport in the north, or San Jose airport in the capital further south and rent a car or arrange for a private transfer (the hotel’s concierge service—reachable through the Lagarta Lodge website—can help you book this in advance).
