| Environmental
Considerations
 The
Lapa Lapa Lodge was designed taking in to considerations
all elements of our environment. It’s high ceilings
let hot air rise creating a cool and pleasant refuge
to escape from the mid day tropical heat. The Lapa
Lapa Lodge’s long and extended roof eaves also
shade and cool the house during hot summer days while
keeping the interior dry from the torrential down
pours throughout the rainy season.
The high ceiling allows for large open windows and
the raised eaves grant unobstructed and spacious views.
From a hemispherical perspective, Guaria de Osa is
situated in close proximity to both the Caribbean
and Pacific Oceans in the peaceful country of Costa
Rica, the balanced place and geographical link between
North and South America. These elements alongside
many more create an ideal location for the bridging
together of Eastern and Western cultural beliefs,
spiritual views and practice.
Built from Reclaimed Hardwoods
Throughout the entire building process tremendous
effort was invested to ensure environmental sensitivity,
which is of critical importance to us. Over 95% of
the timber used to construct our lodges has come from
old fallen trees laying for over 25 years in cattle
pastures in the settlement of Los Planes. The lodge’s
remarkable main pillars all came from a huge Manu
tree fallen in a windstorm. The massive trunk was
leaning against a cliff face curing since the1970’s.
All the wood was milled on site and brought in by
oxen teams and horses from as far as two hours away.
Hundreds of bags of cement, thousands of floor and
ceiling boards and over a thousands bricks were brought
in by boat, unloaded on peoples' shoulders and carried
onto the site! The entire building has been earthquake
retrofitted as well. The architectural design has
met safety specifications and has been approved by
a re-known Costa Rican architect.
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Guaria
de Osa's main lodge is called the Lapa Lapa Lodge, named after
the majestic neighborhood Scarlet Macaw (Lapa) that reside
permanently on our beach. Surrounded by exuberant botanical
gardens and a pristine rainforest and beach environment, the
Lapa Lapa Lodge is a unique feat of architecture. The lodge
is a three-storied 36 foot high structure. 
Overlooking
the palms and gardens the first two floors are 35
x 50 feet (10 x 15 meters) in size with a combined
floor space of over 3500 square feet. Its observatory
and meditation cupola, on the third floor, offers
a panoramic view of the sparkling Pacific Ocean and
Rainforest clothed ridges. The first floor is set
up on a raised rock wall running the 50-foot span
of the house.