On the best beach on the Osa, Iguana Lodge isn't your typical four-star beachfront hotel.

We're not for everyone.

If you’re looking for the Marriott, this isn’t it.

At Iguana Lodge, we pride ourselves on offering an unconventional paradise where your heart will find a second home.

And a place where many guests choose to return year after year. Our belief is simple — many of our guests have very full lives, and our goal is to provide a spot where guests can relax, explore the natural wonders of the Osa Peninsula, and enjoy the beauty of their lives, while helping to preserve this peninsula through sustainable ecotourism.” Lauren and Toby Cleaver ~ Owners since 1999 ~ Pura Vida.

We love to travel, and bought this place after we took a swim. It has been and continues to be an incredible ride - particularly given the wonderful spirit of Costa Ricans, the Natural Wonders here on the Osa, and the zillions of fascinating and wonderful guests we have had pass through our lives.

For Helpful Travel Info and Fun Facts, please see our Iguana Lodge Travel Magazine 2024.

The Osa Peninsula - One of Nature’s Masterpieces

…And Iguana Lodge is fortunately for us (and you), located on the best beach on the Osa - no kidding!

This stretch of beach isn't just six miles long; deserted, pristine, conspicuously untouched…It’s just us, you, and the scarlet macaws.

We’re more than just a destination: here we do our best to be conscientious stewards of the magnificent Osa Peninsula and its interplay with the fabulous community of Costa Ricans that live here. Join us and check it out.

Sustainable tourism is our way of life, with low-impact practices that preserve the environment, support our local community and conservation, while safeguarding paradise. We follow the Costa Rican and Global Tourism Sustainability guidelines in establishing and operating the Lodge.

At Iguana Lodge, we believe that staying in a beautiful place shouldn’t be carelessly taken for granted; as well as not all who wander are lost.

Sustainable Tourism

Our Vibrant Community: Join the Pura Vida Life

Here, you can connect with locals, support grassroots initiatives, and create lasting memories with the people and wildlife of the Osa.

We've been involved in three biggies over the years:

  • • We built the library years ago (and continue to fund it).

    • Guests and others have helped immensely with book donations!

    • Each year, we support projects at the library, generally to encourage young readers to discover the magic of books.

  • • We started and funded the Save the Osa Turtle Project.

    • For years, Iguana Lodge has released approximately 10,000 baby turtles yearly. Recently, securing permits to continue the project has been challenging (long bureaucratic story...)

  • • Most exciting of all, however, is our Todo Es Posible (Everything is Possible) project, which has sent over 80 kids to university.

  • • Lauren, the former volunteer English teacher at the local public elementary school, developed her own program called "333 Words Basic English Language Program". The program has now become an app and a website, and is looking for a good home. It's the "The Fastest Way to Learn English on the Planet." Hah! Lauren's innovative approach to English hopes to change how the world communicates 333 words at a time.

    • Toby was a road maintenance chief for years, driving his motor grader with the pride of a child with a new Tonka truck. Unfortunately, the grader recently died – no resuscitation was possible.

    • We always hire Costa Ricans first and purposely choose not to offer most tours ourselves, arranging for local entrepreneurs to provide tours to our guests.

    • Iguana Lodge prides itself in participating in local activities, too. We consistently donate funds to the local schools, the Red Cross, and other community projects.

    • Iguana Lodge is active in the local soccer scene and has arranged equipment donations from State-side teams. Many kids play barefoot, not out of choice, but out of necessity: they must play soccer!

World-Class Activities

Iguana Lodge itself is exquisite; however, exploring the Osa is not to be missed (even if it does require a bit of wrangling to get out of your hammock).

Explore the jungle, boat out to watch pods of jumping dolphins, hike through the rainforest with your private guide, surf, kayak, bird, zip, jump out of trees, rappel down waterfalls, go find some poisonous dart frogs — we've got it all.

We definitely recommend hiking through the rainforest: the flora and fauna will blow your mind: 140 mammal species, 400 bird species, 116 reptile and amphibian species, 10,000 insect species, and 700 tree species.

More into the beach vibe? Catch some waves with world-class surfing, boogie board, explore the waters with kayaking and paddle boarding, or enjoy world-class sports fishing. Whale sharks, humpback whales, three species of dolphin, and sea turtles are alone worth the trip on one of the few tropical fjords in the world.

Incredible adventures and unforgettable memories are found here.

“It is a place where jaguars still roam the jungles, Scarlet Macaws fly freely around the towns, and monkeys are found in numbers unmatched in all of Costa Rica.

Non “mainstream” travelers have discovered this previously little-known, rugged paradise and come from around the world to experience the “wild side” of Costa Rica.”

— Jeff Lantz, Costa Rican Travel Expert