Hotel Rio Perlas Spa and Resort

Rainforest walks and thermal pools in Orosi

Follow a trail through rainforest, dip your toes or spend a reflective moment beside the river and return for a soak in thermal mineral water at Hotel Rio Perlas Spa and Resort. Its Orosi Valley setting gives the hotel day several different directions, from a fishing lake to the natural hot spring that feeds the spa and pool area. This is a moderately priced resort to consider when you want both time on the property and a closer look at the region.

An afternoon on the grounds

The property extends across 250 acres of rainforest and borders a river, with trails for walks and birdwatching and a lake for trout fishing. Choose a swim in the cool pool, time at the children's pool or a warmer pause in the thermal mineral-water pool. Jacuzzis, a steam room, dry sauna and Turkish bath add other ways to spend the afternoon around the lounging area.

Spa time connected to the hot spring

Natural volcanic mineral spring water is used in hydrotherapy and mud wraps. The spa's menu also includes hot-rock and water massages, facials, detoxification and rejuvenation treatments, with a personal trainer available. Choose the treatment that appeals to you as part of your time at the resort; the hot-spring setting gives this pause its connection to place.

Decide where to dine

Two restaurants use organic fruit and vegetables, fish caught on the estate and other locally sourced foods in traditional dishes. Breakfast is included; lunch, dinner or both can be added to your hotel package. That flexibility lets you decide how much of the day's dining to keep at the resort. The poolside bar also serves snacks and refreshments around the pool area.

Culture close to the rainforest

A chapel replicating the Orosi Colonial Church can be used for weddings, bringing a distinctive architectural connection to the grounds. Costa Rica's oldest still-operating Catholic church, the original Orosi church was built in 1743 and is about five miles away. Attend services or visit the small museum in its old convent, where religious artifacts include silver pieces. The Basilica offers Byzantine design and a rich cultural history, with pilgrimages by devout Catholics every August.

Active Irazu, Costa Rica's highest volcano, offers a different landscape from the resort's forest. Tours reach trails around three craters in tundra-like terrain above the tree line. On a clear day, views can extend to both the Pacific and Caribbean, with a line of volcanoes across the country. Keep that clear-weather condition in mind and choose the outing for the high-country landscape as well as the possible panorama.

Rooms, gatherings and arrival plans

Spacious rooms are angled for added privacy but share a wraparound terrace for enjoying the surroundings. Cable television, a refrigerator and a private bathroom with a bathtub are included, and adapted rooms are available. Compare the room's access and shared outdoor-space arrangement with your party's needs rather than assuming the terrace is private.

The conference center accommodates up to 150 people, with meals at the two restaurants, free WiFi and conference rooms available. Together with the chapel, those facilities give gatherings and weddings a setting in the valley. From San Jose airport in Alajuela, allow approximately 1.5 hours driving southeast, depending on traffic, before settling into the resort's forest and thermal-water rhythm.