High up on a northern Costa Rican mountainside with panoramic views of the valley and Lake Nicuragua below, the spectacular volcanic setting is home to a huge range of animals and plants. Jaguars and cougars, toucans, howler monkeys and sloths inhabit this area, which is a half day’s hike from the spectacular Rio Celeste waterfall.
Now ready for bookings, this newly opened location is accessible by private shuttle, or helicopter – a jaw-dropping way to first see the mountain setting of the lodges and the nearby lake and volcanoes. Each roof is planted with local vegetation that allows the whole complex to blend into its natural surroundings.
Each 100m² lodge boasts 180⁰ views out onto the valley, especially from the private terrace with fire-heated outdoor baths. Their design is influenced by the locale’s 15th century ‘pre-Colombian’ culture – from before the arrival of Spanish settlers – and built using 100% local materials such as bamboo, stones and adobe.
However, no luxury is spared in the interiors, where you’ll find canopy beds, Wi-Fi, a coffee maker and room service. The bathrooms, which have been created with a ‘greenhouse’ roof to flood the space with natural light, are particularly striking.
The ultimate place to stay at Origins Lodge is the 220m² Villa Vertigo, which sleeps up to nine in three en suite bedrooms. With a living room and well-appointed kitchen, the villa sits high above the other lodges, with a huge private terrace and wood-fired Jacuzzi.
Origins’ restaurant is helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, who incorporates produce grown in the Lodge’s own gardens in his menu. It’s possible to join him for a walk as he selects the items for that day. The wine cellar offers a wide range of well-established and rare labels, with pairings suggested for each dish.
Outdoors, Origin’s infinity pool is a truly astonishing location to unwind. Meanwhile, the spa offers massages using bamboo or shells in a range of open-air settings such as the lakeside, a waterfall or within the rainforest itself. More adventurous pursuits include rappelling into ancient caverns, a midnight nature walk in the rainforest, horseback riding, and fishing in one of the area’s 11 lagoons. Outside the grounds, one can take a hike, kayak, go tubing on white water rapids, or meet members of the nearby indigenous Maleku tribe.
