Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River

The West bungalows are impressive, with a huge room, a big window onto the forest, and an outdoor shower and bathtub. Every day when we returned from breakfast, the room had been cleaned beautifully. Getting here from Liberia airport was easy, too. We spent three nights at Rio Perdido for our honeymoon, and the welcome set the tone right away. The staff greeted us so warmly, gave us welcome drinks and cool towels, and surprised us with a room upgrade after we mentioned the honeymoon. My mother-in-law had also arranged a honeymoon package with champagne and roses, which was a lovely touch. The hotel is tucked into the forest, surrounded by peaceful nature and wildlife. We saw more animals just outside our room than in the national park. The layout and design made it one of the best hotels we’ve stayed at. Breakfast was excellent every day with a gorgeous view, and the restaurant staff were great. We especially liked the woodfired pizza, El Chorro cocktail, and jumbo shrimp and risotto. The bartenders also made off-menu drinks when we asked them to surprise us, and some of those were among the best cocktails we’ve had. Wesley was especially good. Manuel was very friendly and showed us how they make their tamarin and the fresh juice he made from it. It was a 12 out of 10 kind of stay. We’d recommend it to anyone.

There was plenty to do, from hikes and hot springs to yoga and a spa day. My fiancée and I had a wonderful stay, and the staff were lovely. The food was delicious.

We spent the first five days of our honeymoon here, and the hospitality was unlike anything we've experienced, from arrival through checkout. The golf cart drivers, reception team, housekeeping, bartenders, waiters, and excursion staff all made us feel like celebrities. They knew our names and room number after just one day. We loved being able to do so much without leaving the large property, which made the trip feel wonderfully easy. We had amazing food at every meal, and the complimentary breakfast was phenomenal. The bartenders made the best drinks we've ever had, with so much care. Carlos, Alex, Enjeel, and Ronald were standouts. Ask each of them for their favorite drink. We also loved the excursions, though they were pricey. The convenience of not having to arrange transport ourselves made them worthwhile. We took Carlos's barista class, had a couples massage, tried the sunrise mountain biking, visited the thermal river, joined the free yoga and hike, and went white water tubing. The biking was honestly difficult, but Oscar still made it fun, and all the tubing guides added to the experience. We loved the bungalow and how remote it felt. A small snake did get into our outdoor shower, but that's something you kind of have to expect. After this stay, the boutique hotel we visited in Tamarindo felt like a letdown, and we kept comparing everything there to Rio Perdido. We've already recommended Rio Perdido to friends and family, and can't wait to return.

This was my third trip to Rio Perdido, and I’m sure I’ll be back. I love staying surrounded by nature, soaking in the natural hot waters, and taking in the sunrises and sunsets. I’d stayed in an East bungalow before and loved how cozy they are. This time I got to try both Center and East Bungalows, and I especially recommend the East ones. They’re incredibly comfortable, and the simple, warm decor makes the stay feel peaceful. I liked waking up among the trees, making a fresh cup of coffee, then heading straight for the outdoor shower. A good friend rode a mountain bike while I ran the trails with him for over three hours, and we never used the same path twice. I also tried the in-house zipline, which was a blast. The skilled local Chefs, Sara Michelle, took great care of us, and every breakfast, lunch, and dinner was delicious. Dinner came with perfect cocktails, too. An unforgettable stay, and I hope to return soon.