I made my way up a little stone walking path that cut through lush foliage, climbed a few steps, and suddenly found myself on the terrace of a Maleku-style lodge, perched high on a mountainside overlooking northern Costa Rica’s rainforest. With miles of tree-topped landscape before me, stretching all the way to Lake Nicaragua, I couldn’t help but pause to take in the striking view before returning my attention to the terrace—and the inviting spa situated at the outer edge of the deck, right alongside a wood-burning fireplace used to heat the water.
This is Origins Floral Lodge, and it couldn’t be more spectacular.
There’s no television or air conditioning, and no glass panes on the windows that line the circumference of the round, cone-roofed cabins—a design inspired by the living spaces of the indigenous Maleku tribe and constructed from locally sourced materials, including felled trees.
Instead of glass panes, wooden louvers cover windows, and mosquito netting around the plush, large beds protects guests from insect bites in the night. It might sound rustic, but it’s the epitome of luxury inspired by nature.
The bathroom, for example, feels more like a grotto. It’s large and luxurious, with walls of stone, lots of natural light, and an open bathing area under a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead. (The water, by the way, is heated by solar tanks that are outfitted to each lodge, and the soapy runoff is captured by a treatment system and reused for sprinklers and irrigation.) Bath products are made on-site from the ylang ylang trees that grow on the resort. There’s that private spa on the terrace, of course. And the dining experience is gourmet—and picked fresh. An Origins farm—which guests can tour—grows much of the produce used by the restaurant, El Salto. What isn’t grown on the property is sourced from local farmers, ranchers, and other food purveyors.
It’s also serene. Seven guest lodges—yes, only seven—dot the hillside of the 111-acre property. (A new sister resort, Origins Astral Lodge, is located higher up the hill and comprises seven modern villas, each with two to four bedrooms. More about those accommodations in a bit.) Nature is all around you here. Howler monkeys usher in the sunrise and sunset with their distinct call. The sound of birds chirping in the trees provides a joyful melody throughout the day. Even the croak of frogs at night makes for a soothing soundtrack.
Everything about this place is alluring, beckoning you to experience the world around you—a rainforest thriving with biodiversity. There’s so much to explore. A 60-minute hike along a marked trail through the jungle takes you to the Catarata de Oro waterfall. Along the way, you’ll see frogs, beetles, butterflies, birds, flowers, and foliage so colorful and unique that you’ll want to stop for a closer look and snap a photo to capture the memory. The resort is also home to seven fishing ponds and horse stables, a spa, and a large, circular, open-air yoga pavilion that gifts guests a stunning 360-degree view.
Guests on vacation have a plethora of other activities to choose from—rafting down the Rio Tenorio, ziplining through the rainforest, exploring the Tapir Valley Nature Reserve to see the wildlife, or booking special tours of a chocolate farm or butterfly sanctuary. Origins can even arrange for cooking and sugar cane winemaking experiences.
All of this is available to guests of the new Origins Astral Lodge, too. While Origins Floral is ideal for couples, Origins Astral is perfect for families and small groups of friends traveling together. There’s even a kids club to keep the little ones entertained if Mom and Dad want to sneak in some alone time. The lodgings are larger and modern, with celestial-inspired design elements—a wink to the resort’s name. And the same level of environmentally conscious practices and technology was applied in the construction.
On my Origins visit, I was part of a small group of journalists who were invited to experience the Floral Lodge and get a sneak peek at Astral. We were there for only three days, but we managed to pack a lot into that short period of time. We took a soapmaking class and ventured off-property to a nearby family-owned coffee farm, where we sampled brews and noshed on fresh, handmade tortillas. We also ventured out after dark for a nocturnal nature tour around the fishing ponds.
The waterfall hike is something I’ll remember forever. We trekked up, rode back down on horseback, and stopped at the Origins farm for a quick tour before heading to the spa lodge for a relaxing massage.
Luxury enhanced by nature, indeed.
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