The Making of El Lugar - An Eco-Resort Designed by the Land

Located on over 1,200 untouched acres in the Sarapiquí region and 2 hours from San Jose, El Lugar (meaning The Place) is a resort that wasn’t built so much as listened to. Designed to preserve the land’s natural form—no hills flattened, no trees cut unless felled by nature—the resort is a rare example of architecture shaped by topography, not imposed upon it.

The story of El Lugar is as much about sustainability and design innovation as it is about escape and luxury:Designed by the Land: The buildings were laid out based on the natural flow of the land, using sustainable light steel framing, reclaimed materials, and building orientation to maximize airflow and minimize energy use.

• Invisible Impact: No cars—only electric carts. All water is naturally filtered via reed-bed aerobic bacterial systems. Heating uses thermodynamic systems. Every aspect of the resort was created to leave nature untouched.

• A Living Horse Ranch: El Lugar is also a fully functioning horse ranch, with over 90 horses on site. Guests—whether beginners or advanced riders—can explore the jungle on horseback through creeks, forest trails, and rivers.

• Architecture Meets Stillness: The 56 luxury accommodations (spaced for maximum privacy) blend Spanish colonial style with Costa Rican tradition. Each is designed to offer profound quietude—no traffic, no crowds—just the rhythm of the rainforest.

El Lugar opened its doors in 2024 after nearly seven years of intentional development. It’s now fully operational with a main restaurant, bar, pools, spa, and curated outdoor experiences—ziplining, white-water rafting, horseback riding, birdwatching, and more. Phase 2 of the eco-resort will be underway in 2026, adding an additional restaurant as well as a conference center.

Would you be interested in a story angle or interview around the making of and land-based design philosophy, construction and regenerative thinking, or destination experience and peaceful immersion?

Here are a few angles that might fit your coverage:

• A profile on the making of El Lugar (including interviews with the architects or founders)

• Sustainable Doesn’t Have to Be Rustic: Inside Costa Rica’s Most Elegant Eco-Resort

• Where Architecture Listens: El Lugar’s Radical Approach to Sustainable Resort Design

• A feature on sustainable resort design

• Designed by the Land: How El Lugar Eco-Resort Let Nature Lead the Blueprint

• Reclaimed, Renewable, and Reverent: A Blueprint for the Next Generation of Eco-Development

• A travel story on Costa Rica’s best-kept eco-luxury secret

• Costa Rica’s Best-Kept Secret: An Eco-Resort Where You Can Ride Through the Rainforest

• Nature’s Quietest Luxury: Inside Costa Rica’s Horse Ranch Eco-Resort

• From Jungle Trails to Plunge Pools: The Costa Rica Getaway That Has It All

About El Lugar

El Lugar is a pioneering eco-luxury resort located in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, just 90 minutes from San José, Costa Rica, and set on 1,200 acres of regenerating rainforest within the North Atlantic Biological Corridor. Designed in harmony with its surroundings, no trees were cut, and no land was leveled in its creation. El Lugar opened its doors with phase one in 2024 after nearly seven years of intentional development.

Phase one is fully operational featuring handcrafted casitas, villas with private plunge pools, an infinity pool, equestrian experiences at El Encanto, and nature-based activities including birdwatching, ziplining, white-water rafting, river swims, horseback riding and rainforest trails. Phase two of the eco-resort will be underway in 2026, adding an additional restaurant and conference center. By blending cultural authenticity, sustainable architecture, and refined comfort, El Lugar redefines what responsible luxury can look like in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.el-lugar.com.