Rio Perdido

The location is breathtaking. We would walk half a day to get to see and experience the Rio Perdido, a loverly small river with hot water in such a nice environment. Having the luxury of being able to stay there in such a nice hotel makes it an unique experience. We had a centre bungalow for 4, which was very nice, great food, excellent service, lovely tours ... all very nice. The only downside - also the water in the swimming pool is very warm and not refreshing. Thank you very much for a lovely stay. Highly recommendable.

One of the best vacations ever. It had everything. Relaxation (no fighting over chairs at the pool), adventure (with zip lining, hiking, and inner tubing), delicious food, outstandingly gracious service, and thrills (beware of those capuchin monkeys)! We knew before arriving that we would be in for a treat, based on the reviews, but Rio Perdido is better than the reviews. We were greeted upon arrival with the MOST delicious hibiscus drink. They provided a map of the property and then took us to our room. Had everything we needed. For me, most importantly, it had hammocks. Bed was comfortable, air conditioning worked perfectly, and there was lots of room to put away our clothes. We stayed 8 nights at Rio Perdido and so really felt it was like home by the time we left. We took advantage of most of the activities: inner tubing on property, zip lining, star gazing, bird watching, the free hike, the free yoga, and a mani/pedi. We also did one off-property activity, inner tubing on the Río Celeste (blue) river and sloth visit. This last activity was definitely a highlight. Our Rio Perdido companion, Keylor, went above and beyond to help me spot unique birds, even stopping at a lagoon on our way back! All the activities were solid: the free hike was pretty strenuous from the heat, the 2-hour bird watching with Dani was superb, the zip lining was super fun, and the yoga was well rounded for a diverse class. The star gazing was a bit of a let down since it was a full moon. The property itself is absolutely stunning. All the rooms, the main building, the winding (and well lit at night) paths, and vistas. The pools were amazing. Clean and warm. I was worried it wouldn't be refreshing to go in a hot pool in hot weather. I was wrong. It's amazing. But better still.....NO ONE was ever down at the thermal river! We had it to ourselves each time we went. Unbelievable, because it was the best thing ever! We ate almost everything on the menus both in the main restaurant and at the bar restaurant. My husband said the calzone he had (weekends only) was one of the best ever. The quality of the food was superb! Did I love everything I had? no. I tend to lean towards less "sauce" but my husband can't have enough. So there's the rub. It's hard to have food for every taste. But the menu was diverse enough that it worked! Did I mention the cocktails??? So original! We had to try them all!!! But one of the best parts about Rio Perdido is the people. The staff there really seemed to like people and like their job. We noticed that even got to enjoy some pool time, which I think is really important. Some of the folks we spoke with seemed to even be local! I cannot state enough what a difference it means to have your employees care about the business they are working for. You feel it. So management, keep it up. Because your guests can tell the difference. I will add that we did have a minor incident in our room and management swiftly, and graciously took care of it. Rio Perdido deserves its 5 stars!

We had a fantastic stay at Rio Perdido for my birthday weekend getaway. The property is absolutely beautiful and incredibly well maintained, really unique design and great attention to detail throughout. I especially really liked how well the architecture and designs integrated with the natural surroundings. Another thing that really stood out to me was how peaceful and private the hotel felt, even while fully booked. I really loved the thermal river and surrounding nature + canyon views around it are just stunning! Service was warm and attentive, and the food was consistently great as well. Overall, a really amazing property and experience (especially if you like eco-luxury) I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a unique stay in northern Costa Rica.

I stayed at Rio Perdido with my family in April 2026 as part of a trip to Costa Rica where we wanted both jungle and beach. With limited time, the distance between La Fortuna and the coast felt like too much travel, so Rio Perdido was an ideal solution. As a travel advisor, this property had been on my radar as a place I wanted to experience. In short, we loved it and I would absolutely recommend it. The setting is beautiful and peaceful and the accommodations feel thoughtfully integrated into the environment while still offering a refined, elevated experience. We stayed in the Center Bungalows (a mid-level category) and found them incredibly comfortable and well-designed. The outdoor shower was a highlight and the floor-to-ceiling windows brought the surrounding nature right into the room. Traveling with two kids, we appreciated the option to select our bed configuration and generous space. On our first morning, my son looked out and said, “I wish I could wake up to this view every day.” For honeymooners or couples, I would likely recommend the West Bungalows for added privacy, though all room categories are beautifully executed. Service throughout the stay was exceptional, and the food and drinks were amazing. We really enjoyed the thermal river and pools and took part in several activities including yoga, a guided morning hike, zip-lining, and a night hike (off-property). The concierge team was proactive and detail-oriented, ensuring everything was seamlessly arranged in advance and reconfirmed prior to arrival. Rio Perdido is a natural fit for honeymooners and couples, and also works well for small groups or couples traveling together. While the property welcomes children ages 8 and up, it is best suited for slightly older kids. My children (age 12) truly enjoyed the experience and we felt welcome, though the overall atmosphere leans more serene and adult-oriented. I particularly love this as a pairing with a beach stay for travelers looking to experience Costa Rica’s jungle in a way that feels both distinctive and effortless. It’s a place I would return to without hesitation!

Wow! What a great vacation we had at Rio Perdido! This is a beautiful resort, very tastefully designed and meticulously maintained. The food was healthy AND delicious, yet not expensive. We spent four nights. We live in Florida. Accommodations. All accommodations are free standing bungalows. The bungalows are situated facing the trees and joined by a common road and various “short cut” paths. The road is well maintained and lit for nights when you walk to the main building for dinner. We stayed in one of the West bungalows, which are the newest. The bungalow was spacious for our family of four, with a double (queen?) bed and two single beds. There was a fair amount of closet space. The place was very tastefully decorated and furnished and was spotless clean. The showers (and bath) are outdoors but private. The bungalow has floor to ceiling windows so you are always looking at nature. Main complex. There is one main building that houses reception, main dining, bar, pools, and an outdoor restaurant (The Canyon Bar). The building is 14 years old but looks new; it is very well maintained and clean. The construction used a lot of natural wood. The entire place is very tastefully designed, decorated and furnished, right down to the wood napkin rings. Food. There aren’t any/many restaurants close by so we ate all our meals on site. I would have expected to pay a big premium and was shocked by how fair the prices were. We ate well yet didn’t spend more than $200 for a meal for a family of four (except for the private diiner discussed below). Each dish ranged from very good to outstanding. Every dish tasted healthy and fresh. They only use locally-sourced products and the owner told us he had the chefs design the menu using recipes they know and love. We loved everything but highly recommend the gallos (Costa Rican tacos), the tostada appetizer with sea bass, the wood grilled octopus salad (at the Canyon Bar) and the chocolate brownie for desert. (I love sweets and this was one of the best brownies I have ever had. The chocolate was sweet but tasted natural. We ended up eating brownies after every meal.). We ate every breakfast and dinner in the main dining room and every lunch at the Canyon Bar, which is more casual. (You can wear your swimsuit.) We were celebrating our daughter’s graduation and did the private dinner on the floating platform. That was a beautiful experience. Activities. We did tubing, zip lining, hiking, and the thermal river. The tubing was fun, but not very intense. The ziplining was great! There are five separate zip lines and you had to climb up steep rock faces and/or hike a little between each one. We did two hikes - one to the “volcano look off” and another longer one to a second look off. The hikes weren’t too intense; just enough to work up an appetite. The thermal river runs through the property. There are several “wading” pools. It is deep down a gorge so very peaceful. We were alone some of the times and with other resort guests other times. It is best to wear sneakers to get down the path to the river, which involves a lot of steps and rocks. Drinks. We had great cocktails at the main bar and at the Canyon Bar. Prices were similar to what we pay in the US. Staff. All employees were friendly and helpful. Almost all spoke fluent English. This includes the wait staff at the bars and restaurants, the guides for tubing and zip lining, and all others. We used the resort shuttle service to and from the airport, which is a little more than an hour’s drive. We can’t wait to go back!