STAY
After flying from the United States to San José, the capital of Costa Rica, connect to a 50-minute domestic flight to Puerto Jiménez. There, you will be picked up and escorted on a 45-minute road transfer to your hotel, Lapa Rios Lodge. Popular with Harper members, Lapa Rios is located in an isolated corner of the 35-mile-long Osa Peninsula, in the southwest of Costa Rica, close to its border with Panama. Founded by American conservationists Karen and John Lewis, the resort is set on a 1,000-acre reserve, close to the Corcovado National Park, an enclave that is, according to National Geographic, “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” The property is named for the lapa, or scarlet macaw, flocks of which can sometimes be seen streaming through the sky like rivers (ríos). Over 300 bird species have been recorded here, including the harpy eagle, the largest raptor of the Americas. Of the 17 accommodations at Lapa Rios, the villas, featuring wraparound decks, plunge pools and living areas with daybeds, are especially well-suited for families.

DINE
Throughout your stay, enjoy exquisite meals featuring local ingredients at the outdoor ocean-view Brisa Azul Restaurant.

EXPLORE
Embark on a rainforest hike with one of the resort’s naturalist guides. In addition to myriad birds, the forest is home to numerous mammals, such as howler and spider monkeys, kinkajous, two- and three-toed sloths, bats, agoutis, peccaries, anteaters and armadillos. Lapa Rios also offers several marine adventures. Cruise the Golfo Dulce in search of dolphins and whales, or go sea kayaking along the coastal mangroves. Relax in the wellness center, where massages, body treatments and yoga classes are available, or simply spend your days on your private deck, gazing at the sublime view.

STAY
From Lapa Rios Lodge, it is a scenic four-hour trip over the mountains to Hacienda AltaGracia. Managed by the distinguished Auberge Resorts Collection, this luxurious retreat is set on a 150-acre highland estate surrounded by tropical gardens and rainforest. The 50 plush guest accommodations are divided among stylish one- and two-bedroom Casitas, all with large seating areas and patios.

DINE
In the evening, enjoy dinner at Grano, the resort’s chic main restaurant, which serves a menu of Costa Rican and Latin American cuisine. Cienfuegos, the other on-property dining option, offers a lively culinary experience inspired by rodeo and Korean barbecue.

EXPLORE
At AltaGracia, the menu of activities is so comprehensive, guests are spoiled for choice. Ballena Marine National Park, home to humpback whales and several types of dolphins, is 90 minutes away. Guests can also experience foraging excursions and coffee farm tours. The more adventurous can try ziplining. Personalized journeys by light aircraft from the resort’s private landing strip enable guests to enjoy day trips to both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. Enjoy a guided hike along the property’s miles of trails. The birding here is exceptional. At the resort’s lavish stables, a team of caballistas cares for more than 40 horses. Go for a trail ride through the foothills of the splendid Talamanca Mountains.

Relax at the Well, the resort’s 20,000-square-foot spa, which has an indoor pool, daily workout sessions and separate outdoor pools for families and adults. One signature treatment, Hierbas y Flores, uses local herbs and flowers in a chakra-balancing massage. Therapies are augmented by a heated tepidarium, vitality and heated jet pools and an aromatherapy steam room.

STAY
Transfer to the airport and take a 30-minute flight back to San José. There, you will be met by a chauffeur-guide for the three-hour drive to Nayara Tented Camp, located in the highlands of northern Costa Rica, near the town of La Fortuna. Set beneath the dramatic Arenal Volcano, an imposing 5,437-foot cone whose green slopes are extensively scarred by the lava from recent eruptions, this imaginative and stylish hideaway within the sizable Nayara resort complex. The original resort, Nayara Gardens, was later joined by adults-only Nayara Springs. At the Tented Camp, 35 lavish tented lodgings feature king beds draped with mosquito netting, along with hardwood floors and outdoor showers screened by bamboo walls. Spacious terraces offer plunge pools fed with hot-spring water.

DINE
While Mediterranean cuisine can be enjoyed at Ayla, the Tented Camp’s newly added restaurant, guests have signing privileges at any of the dining venues and bars in the Nayara complex. Amor Loco, the fine-dining restaurant at Nayara Springs, is a short drive by golf cart. Other restaurants include Mis Amores, for Italian dishes, and Asia Luna, for pan-Asian cuisine.

EXPLORE
In the morning, go on a private bird-watching tour with a naturalist guide. The route features half a dozen hanging bridges, each 200 or 300 feet long, suspended high in the forest canopy. In the afternoon, either trek through the lava fields on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano or take a kayaking trip on the nearby lake. On returning to the resort, relax in one of the property’s six natural spring-fed pools, each a different temperature, that cascade down the hillside, or enjoy a treatment at the new spa.

STAY
Two hours away by car, Origins lodge is set on the northern slopes of 6,286-foot Tenorio Volcano and surrounded by a national park. This remote and exceptionally tranquil property appeals chiefly to those who are looking for an otherworldly enclave of calm. From its open-sided main lodge building, an unforgettable panorama extends across a verdant landscape to the glinting shoreline of Lake Nicaragua. The six cottages come with handcrafted beds, steeply pitched wooden roofs and well-appointed baths. Private hot tubs, set on scenic decks, provide glorious panoramic views. There is also a three-bedroom villa augmented by a kitchen and Jacuzzi.

DINE
The open-plan dining area of El Salto has a large wine wall and extends into an open kitchen. There, French chef Jean-Luc L’Hourre presents sophisticated regional and seasonal cuisine.

EXPLORE
Activities at Origins include horseback riding and guided hikes through the national park, which is famous for the brilliant turquoise waters of the Rio Celeste. And a two-hour drive away, the wetlands of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge spread out in a tangled expanse of marshes, reed islands and sinuous channels. The ecosystem is fed by the Frío River, which during the rainy season (May to October) overflows its banks to form the Caño Negro Lagoon, which is located directly beneath the flyway for migrant North and South American birds. Vast flocks of waterfowl, along with storks, spoonbills, ibis, anhingas and cormorants, arrive to overwinter at the beginning of the dry season each December. In the evenings, take a guided night walk through the grounds to look for nocturnal mammals, lizards and insects.

STAY
From Origins, it is a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the Pacific coast of Guanacaste province, where, in contrast to the volcanic highlands, the weather is consistently dry and sunny (especially from December to May). The family-friendly 181-room Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo overlooks two pristine beaches backed by tropical forest. Lodgings feature balconies or terraces, rattan and bamboo furnishings, and local artwork. Spacious Canopy Suites, a steep climb or complimentary shuttle from the main resort offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the jungle canopy.

DINE
Dining options include lively Añejo for Latin American cuisine, Pesce for seafood-oriented Italian fare and Nemare, a contemporary steakhouse. Throughout the property, there are other more-casual spots, including a beach club, a rum bar and Palapita, the restaurant at the tennis center serving Costa Rican street food and local beers.

EXPLORE
The resort offers a panoply of amenities you won’t find anywhere else in Costa Rica, including a scenic seaside Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center with group classes, a beach club and a kids’ camp. At the breathtaking spa, indulge in a locally inspired treatment, such as a mask made with clay from the Arenal volcano or a cacao ritual and massage. Beyond the resort, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and catamaran sailing excursions can be arranged.

Four Seasons Resort Papagayo is an hour west of Liberia, the provincial capital, which has direct flights to the United States.