In the southwest corner of Costa Rica, the remote Osa Peninsula is the home of Corcovado National Park, a vast expanse of steaming cloud forest, thundering waterfalls and golden beaches that provides sanctuary for an abundance of bird and wildlife. On the eastern edge of the peninsula, just outside the boundaries of the national park, Botánika Osa Peninsula is a gateway to this adventure playground set in 21 acres of lush tropical landscape: a boutique escape with a focus on conservation and scientific research, and the newest member of Hilton’s Curio Collection.
More than just a hotel, the site is home to the Botánika Science and Nature Center, where scientists from major universities give talks and lead excursions into the rainforest and the warm waters of the Golfo Dulce - a vast inlet to the east of the peninsula - to tag fish, dolphins and sharks for research. The hotel has also partnered with non-profit foundation BioSur to host the largest insect museum in Costa Rica, with more than 6,000 species of butterflies, beetles and moths.
The first phase of the resort features 44 rainforest residences ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites, complete with private terraces and rooftop lounges to bask in the sights and sounds of the forest. The suites, created by Florida-based design and architectural studio Modus Operandi, feature kitchenettes or full kitchens with high-end appliances and floor-toceiling windows that blur the lines between inside and out. An additional 79 residences will open next year.
The natural world is really the star of the show on any trip to Costa Rica. Guests at Botánika can take overnight and daytime hikes through tropical lowland or nearby Corcovado National Park, set out on monkey and bird watching tours or take a zip-line tour through the rainforest; or explore the tropical waters of the Golfo Dulce - whose waters are covered in rich volcanic reefs, crevices and caves - and look out for humpback whales, dolphins and whale sharks.
