When Minnesota natives John and Karen Lewis sold everything they owned in 1990 to buy 930 acres of Costa Rican rainforest, they had a unique vision in mind: an ecotourism destination that would conserve the country's last lowland tropical rainforest, enhance nearby communities, and offer travelers a luxurious escape to nature.

By all accounts, they succeeded beyond even their own ambitious dreams. Lapa Rios has become a prototype of the successful eco-lodge, and the Lewises are considered pioneers and gurus in the now-booming ecotourism industry.

From above, the 16 thatch-roofed bungalows of Lapa Rios look like tiny islands in the dense, green canopy of the private reserve. In fact, those rooftops are emblematic of the Lapa Rios mentality—made from Suiita palm thatch in the architectural style of the Osa region, they demonstrate a respect for tradition and an appreciation of local knowledge and materials.

Beneath the thatch, you'll find an open, airy

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When Minnesota natives John and Karen Lewis sold everything they owned in 1990 to buy 930 acres of Costa Rican rainforest, they had a unique vision in mind: an ecotourism destination that would conserve the country's last lowland tropical rainforest, enhance nearby communities, and offer travelers a luxurious escape to nature.

By all accounts, they succeeded beyond even their own ambitious dreams. Lapa Rios has become a prototype of the successful eco-lodge, and the Lewises are considered pioneers and gurus in the now-booming ecotourism industry.

From above, the 16 thatch-roofed bungalows of Lapa Rios look like tiny islands in the dense, green canopy of the private reserve. In fact, those rooftops are emblematic of the Lapa Rios mentality—made from Suiita palm thatch in the architectural style of the Osa region, they demonstrate a respect for tradition and an appreciation of local knowledge and materials.

Beneath the thatch, you'll find an open, airy bungalow with wood floors, bamboo furnishings, indoor and outdoor showers, and views of the tranquil Golfo Dulce from the hammock on the deck.

Each day begins with organic coffee delivered to your doorstep. For breakfast, maybe some gallo pinto or pancakes made with diced tropical fruit. The onsite restaurant, Brisa Azul, takes pride in its lack of a "chef." The cooks are local men who use Central American ingredients to create dishes like the signature Osa bouillabaisse, made with fresh coconut milk and seafood, and the pineapple upside-down cake, topped with a tapa dulce (local brown sugar) caramel sauce.

Tempting as it may be to laze the day away in your palapa, Lapa Rios has an expansive slate of guided activities, proceeds from which help local conservation efforts. A sampling: learn about the region's medicinal plants, 319 bird species, and other forest-dwellers on a hike through the reserve; picnic under a waterfall; spend a night beneath the stars; kayak along the mangrove-rimmed coastline; learn to surf or shore fish...

If you'd like to take a more hands-on role in the lodge's conservation and community-enhancement efforts, you can plant a primary rainforest seedling, take a cultural tour of a local farm and village, learn about the lodge's environmental initiatives on a "sustainability tour," or visit the Carbonera School, a local primary school built and supported by Lapa Rios.

Educating guests about ecotourism is part of the Lapa Rios mission (they won't just ask you to keep your flashlight off at night; they'll tell you which nocturnal forest critters would be frightened by the glow). Before you even step foot on the property, you'll find a veritable encyclopedia of sustainability information on the Lapa Rios website. But none of the lodge's do-good-ness interferes with the top-notch vacation experience—if anything, it enhances your appreciation of the beauty that surrounds you as you enjoy this special place.

Kimberly Lisagor is a freelance journalist who covers travel and the environment from her home base in San Luis Obispo, California. She is the co-author of the book Disappearing Destinations: 37 Places in Peril and What Can Be Done to Help Save Them and has written for publications including Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and Men's Journal.

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The 16 open-air bungalows and main lodge of the Lapa Rios Rainforest Wilderness Lodge are no tent-in-the-woods accommodations. Hardwood floors, bamboo walls, and a vaulted, thatched-roof ceiling provide plenty of space and privacy. Other luxuries include soft mosquito netting over the queen-sized bed and a secluded garden shower. Former Peace Corp volunteers Karen and John Lewis built the retreat in 1993 as a way to save hundreds of acres of rainforest from development. All those monkeys and birds that wake you up in the morning are a tribute to their brilliant success.