El Lugar: A Regenerative Rainforest Retreat Rooted in Conservation, Craft, and Community
Written by Daniel Fusch
Imagine arriving at a place where the touch of the rainforest is always near, where handcrafted rooms open onto a chorus of birdsong, and each path invites slow discovery. Picture architecture that breathes with the landscape, where the breeze is part of the design and outdoor living blends with polished interiors. This is a place that feels like a pause from busy life, an invitation to wander, reflect, and adventure. This is the sensibility that shapes El Lugar.
El Lugar is a restorative retreat tucked into the lush Sarapiquí lowlands alongside Braulio Carrillo’s protected forest. It presents an experience that pairs refined comfort with grounded conservation: handcrafted casitas and villas sited to preserve native trees, trails that guide visitors through regenerating forest, and service shaped by local knowledge. Guests encounter an offering that seeks to be both peaceful and engaging, a place designed to encourage curiosity while honoring surrounding ecosystems.
As an eco-resort and nature reserve, El Lugar’s mission is to regenerate and preserve the land while welcoming visitors who want a quieter, more intentional way to experience Costa Rica’s rainforest. The property weaves together hospitality, conservation, and agriculture. Accommodations are fashioned with reclaimed antiques and local craftsmanship, so interiors feel lived-in and gracious.
The resort’s origins are rooted in family stewardship of the land. The founder, Gary Douglas, had a long relationship with the estate and was determined to steward it for the future. “We wanted to invite people to start making conscious choices that honor our planet, choices that can ensure future generations enjoy it as we do, or with a little luck, even more,” he says. That sentiment informed design decisions from the outset and continues to shape operations as the reserve matures.
A defining element of El Lugar’s identity is its approach to construction and technology, which leans on methods intended to harmonize buildings with the land. Structures are elevated on helical pylons that help maintain natural drainage and allow groundwater to move through the site as it always has. Cross-ventilation and the placement of buildings to catch prevailing breezes reduce reliance on mechanical cooling.
Additionally, water heating relies on a thermodynamic system that captures ambient warmth through refrigerant panels, a solution chosen because it works in varied weather and aligns energy needs with the dispersed layout of individual casitas.
This integrated approach to infrastructure extends to wastewater treatment, which follows a landscape-led model. Gravity-fed flow carries effluent through settling and biological purification stages, where plant root systems and filter beds contribute to cleansing before release. The resort frames this as a living treatment garden, a system that minimizes chemical inputs, can operate without pumps during power outages, and harmonizes with the site’s natural contours. Douglas says, “We were looking for cutting-edge technology to do as little damage to the land as possible, and that is what we have done.” That intention is evident in the way infrastructure sits lightly on the terrain and in the resort’s broader commitment to longevity and repairability.
This ethos of environmental sensitivity also shapes the guest experience. El Lugar’s program of activities emphasizes connection to the reserve and its wildlife, inviting visitors to engage with the landscape rather than simply observe it. Birdwatching is a central offering. The reserve lies along a convergent migratory corridor and supports a high diversity of species.
Among the birds that draw visitors are the keel-billed toucan, Montezuma oropendola, great green macaw, broad-billed motmot, and slaty-tailed trogon. “These are species encountered during guided forest-edge viewing and deeper walks into quieter habitats,” Douglas shares. Guides enrich these experiences with local knowledge of seasonal movements and song, tailoring tours for both novice watchers and seasoned birders.
Equally immersive is the horseback riding program at El Encanto, which offers a window into a living equestrian tradition. The Costarricense de Paso, or Costa Rican walking horse, features prominently, alongside a diverse stable trained for trail work and guest comfort. Rides are customized to pace and skill, winding through shaded tracks, open pastures, and toward secluded river clearings, where a pause in nature often becomes the highlight of the day.
The resort’s evolution reflects its thoughtful design philosophy. Development has unfolded in stages. The initial phase established core hospitality and visitor experiences, including the reception and dining hub, handcrafted lodging, and equestrian base. Meanwhile, future phases aim to expand event facilities and dining options. These additions will incorporate systems such as water-cooled climate control and infrastructure for larger gatherings, all while maintaining the original commitment to ecological sensitivity and community integration.
That commitment is also evident in El Lugar’s approach to staffing and training. Many team members hail from nearby villages and receive instruction that blends guest service with ecological stewardship. “The goal is to foster livelihoods aligned with conservation,” Douglas states. “We aim to position the resort as a learning site where visitors can witness and participate in enjoyable and regenerative practices.”
El Lugar’s evolution is only beginning. What started as a commitment to protect a single piece of land has become a blueprint for what regenerative tourism can look like when every decision is made with care. The intention is simple but ambitious: to inspire a shift in how Costa Rica, and eventually the world, approaches development in sensitive ecosystems. If El Lugar can spark that conversation, it will leave a legacy far greater than its footprint: a living example that building with nature isn’t just possible, it’s the new frontier.
