Rancho Quemado Day Tour
You’ll visit Rancho Quemado, a rural village at the heart of the Osa Peninsula, where residents have formed a development association and use tourism as a structured source of income for the community.
First, you’ll visit the home of Don Juan, a former gold miner, and hear firsthand how gold shaped the lives and livelihoods of generations. Over freshly brewed coffee and traditional arepa orera, learn about the region’s past and the complex balance between survival, conservation, and opportunity.
Try your hand at traditional gold panning in the creek that passes behind his house. You’ll even be able to take home the small flecks of gold you find. Then, you’ll visit a traditional sugarcane mill led by Don Johnny, where you participate in each step of the process, from cutting cane to preparing and tasting fresh products on site.
Tourism Built From the Inside
Rancho Quemado sits at the heart of the Osa Peninsula, far from the main road and most tourist circuits. The community here did not wait for an outside operator to arrive. Residents formed their own development association and built a tourism model grounded in what they actually have: a gold mining history, a working sugarcane mill, and families who have lived on this land for generations.
Don Juan’s creek is the same one his father panned. Don Johnny’s mill is still running.
What You Need to Know
Experience the Osa beyond the rainforest.
Our team is here to help you plan your stay and arrange your experiences at Lapa Rios Lodge.
