When is the best time to visit bucket list travel destination Costa Rica?

The best time to travel to Costa Rica's Pacific Coast is between December and April

The Destination: Costa Rica

The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April on its Pacific Coast when the weather is at its driest and brightest, and between March and September on the Caribbean side. Travel is also recommended in Costa Rica's green season, from May to August. September, October and November are the ideal months to take advantage of the low season rates.
 

The Hotel:

Origins Luxury Lodge by Mantis| Location: Bijagua de Upala, Costa Rica

• Best for eco-conscious travellers and wellness enthusiasts

• Awarded Best Sustainability Policy for Hotels at the Prix Villégiature Awards 2022

The Food:

Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Luc L'Hourre created the resort's culinary offering influenced by local cuisine and selects visiting chefs to run the kitchen. Local Latin ingredients are sourced from the onsite organic garden and weaved into elevated cuisine at the French fusion eatery, El Salto.

The latest visiting chef, Guillaume Boileve, brought five-star culinary experience from years of working in some of the world's best restaurants such as Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in the UK and Cayola in France.

Bismark Herrera and Hanssel Beguido, our Costa Rican chefs craft dishes that change daily and are inspired by what's growing in both the lodge's organic garden and what is growing wild on the wider estate.  

Produce that cannot be grown on the property is sourced from a 100km radius. For example, tilapia, a type of fish, is sourced from one of the surrounding lakes, as well as from fishermen in villages near Guanacaste, along the Pacific coast.

Activities:

There are a wide range of adventure activities available at Origins Luxury Lodge by Mantis such as white-water rafting, horseback riding through farms and across rivers, hiking to waterfalls, night-time wildlife and flora tours, learning how to make chocolate from bean to bar, tubing down the river and more.

Guest Rooms & Facilities:

Origins Luxury Lodge by Mantis is situated within 111 acres of lush rainforest jungle in the north of Costa Rica, Influenced by Costa Rica's pre-Colombian circular architecture, with six one-bedroom circular luxury lodges and one three-bedroom Villa Vertigo. The lodge also features a Spa Suite, and natural and indigenous ingredients are used in treatments. There is also a  spacious bamboo yoga studio.

Eco Credentials:

MANTIS stands for "Man And Nature Together Is Sustainable" and Origins is the embodiment of this in every aspect. From the use of sustainable structural bamboo, adobe walls for humidity control, recycled bottles planted under the lodge's floors, to the natural air conditioning provided by the floating roofs on buildings, and the minimal
number of trees removed during construction.

Room rate: Lodges from £731/ €867 per night (based on double occupancy). Breakfast included and onsite activities including guided walks with Origins' naturalist for our sustainable tour, horseback riding in the jungle, lagoon fishing, and a wildlife night tour.
NB: 2-night minimum stay, not suitable for children under age 6  

Email: contact@originslodge.com
Website: https://originslodge.com

For the full list of eco initiatives which include organic amenities, sustainable produce beyond the kitchen garden, a recycling programme, solar power, bees and more please see below.


Eco Initiatives:
Organic amenities: Organic amenities are made on-site from the Ylang-Ylang trees on property. These are high-quality products which do not harm the environment and are beneficial for skin and hair. It took nine months to master the art of making Origins Ylang Ylang Bath Amenities, consisting of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, body lotion, and facial soap. The staff trained diligently with the experience of the Julima Holistic Cosmetology Centre.

Sustainable produce beyond the garden: The lodge has natural lagoons with hundreds of local fish, which are used in the kitchen. The property has a small farm with chickens and quail for organic eggs, and the property´s own cow, Margaret provides 13 litres of milk to produce daily house made cheese. In addition, there is a small sugar cane plantation to produce sugar cane juice and natural sugar.

The goal is to do fair trade as much as possible, helping the local farmers and other entrepreneurs to succeed and strengthen the local economy, which helps the villagers for better life quality.  Origins currently works with more than 30 providers from the local town, and 95% of hotel employees are from the local town. The lodge has positively impacted approximately 300 people in town to support the local economy.

Organic kitchen garden: The team uses vermicomposting, the scientific method of making compost by using earthworms. The earthworms feed on organic waste materials and excrete nitrates and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and potassium which enhance soil quality. According to Kiwa international certification the soil is 100% organic.    Guests are welcome to visit the garden kitchen.

Bees: To further aid local biodiversity, the property has 25 Melipona beehives onsite.  Melipona bees are the smallest species of bees and do not sting.  The bees produce honey that can be used in the kitchen.  

Solar power: Solar water tanks are placed in each room to heat the water of the showers. There is also a natural treatment plant for the soapy waters to be able to reuse them to water the plants.  In addition, there is no air conditioning, and the property uses LED lights to reduce the carbon footprint.

Plastic-free: Origins Luxury Lodge by Mantis is proud to be a plastic-free Hotel. They are part of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme pledge) for single-use, plastic free policy. The property has its own waste management and recycling program with organic waste for the compost and non-organic recycling of glass, plastic, paper, and cardboard.

Recycling programme: The hotel has a waste management and recycling programme for organic and non-organic waste.  Organic waste for the compost and non-organic recycling and reusing of glass, plastic, paper, and cardboard. By taking advantage of this recycling programme, they reduce the waste at the property considerably.

Socially responsible: The Origins team has developed a socially responsible program to support education, health, labour, culture, and environment, and has alliances with the CR Wildlife Foundation, including helping the Central America Tapir, which is the largest terrestrial mammal in the neotropics and also one of the most ecologically important species. However, this beautiful animal is in danger of extinction. They are known as the "Gardeners of the Forest."  The Tapir disperses a variety of large seeds and are not only important due to their roles as ecosystem architects but are also one of the strongest allies in our fight against global climate change.

Trees: Each year, the Origins' team plants approximately 500 native double or triple-purpose trees, to aid reforestation, to provide food for the local wildlife which in turn aids pollination. Guests and local people can enjoy the leaves, seeds, fruits, and edible flowers many of which have nutrients, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Fallen trees are taken to the onsite carpentry shop where they are crafted into furniture and or stored to use as firewood in guestrooms and to maintain roofs, among many other things.

Origins Luxury Lodge by Mantis has partnered with Planta mi Arbol, a Costa Rica Foundation devoted to reforesting specific areas throughout the country, and guests can participate in the program through purchasing different tree packages to reduce their carbon footprint while traveling.

www.mantiscollection.com