This small, locally owned resort hotel on the banks of the Tarcolitos River provides an intriguing alternative to the beach resorts that dominate this region. The lodge is on the border of Carara National Park, which means superb bird-watching and wildlife viewing. It’s not uncommon to see the namesake lapas, or scarlet macaws, flying overhead. The hotel has its own trails and 1.5 miles of hanging bridges, plus a recreated rural Costa Rican village, complete with a rustic cantina and a wedding chapel based on the old colonial-era church in Ujarrás. Rooms are in single-story concrete block buildings and feature red tile floors, whitewashed stucco walls, and red clay tile roofs. They are spacious but feel a bit worn. From here it’s 15 to 25 minutes by car to Jacó, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Herradura.