Rio Perdido

There was a time, not so long ago, before the advent of low-cost vacation packages and the rapid construction of lavish beachfront resorts, when Costa Rica was a truly wild paradise. Make no mistake, it’s as gorgeous as ever — there just aren’t as many places to get off the well-beaten paths leading from Juan Santamaria International Airport to the jungles and beaches.

Rio Perdido is one of the remaining few. The sustainably built hotel takes its name, “lost river,” from one of two waterways that converge in a dwarf forest in the San Bernardo Lowlands, a relatively remote region of northern Costa Rica. It’s a beautiful landscape, and, understandably, a protected one: this is not the kind of place where the hotel is the sprawling main attraction. It’s the kind of place where the hotel is tucked away into the forest, an extension of the natural geography. These twenty bungalows, connected by a system of elevated pathways and hiking trails, stand on stilts near the edge of the two rivers’ deep gorges. Built of stainless steel, they’re stylish but efficient — and, of course, designed to make minimal impact on the environment, which is why they’re clustered relatively close together. The interiors, outfitted with natural wood and polished concrete, are cozy, cheerful and bright. Each has a private terrace strung with a hammock. Bathrooms are eco-friendly and sun-drenched.

In a location as remote as this, you might not expect any technological amenities, but there’s free wi-fi and a flat-screen smart TVs in every bedroom. We suggest unplugging, though, at least for awhile: these bungalows were designed to let in the fresh air and the sound of the river and the forest. Outside, wooded paths and thermal waters await. You could hike for an hour and not see another living soul: you have to make an effort to get here, but this is Costa Rica as it should be.

How to get there: Rio Perdido is just over an hour's drive from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport via Routes 1 and 164.