Supporting Our Staff

At Lapa Rios, our staff – including management – is 100% Costa Rican, with a great majority coming from nearby Puerto Jimenez. Hiring locally is the cornerstone of our commitment to the community. Lapa Rios salaries are far higher than the national average, and we employ all of our staff year-round, never laying them off in low season as is the case with many hotels. Each member is not only dedicated and helpful, but also genuine.

We also support local transportation companies for boat, air and ground transfers, and invite local dance groups and artisans to perform and sell their crafts at the lodge.

“Sustainability” also extends to lifestyle, in particular physical and social well-being. As such, every member of staff at Lapa Rios has access to a company doctor in nearby Puerto Jimenez. For a nominal fee of just US$1.5 per month, all healthcare consultations are free of charge for them and for their children. While taking care of our staff, our goal is also to incentivize private doctors to relocate to this rural area, improving the overall quality of healthcare in the region.

Typically the young men and women that apply for entry level positions at the lodge have very limited formal school education and almost no knowledge of the English language. We actively seek to create opportunities for professional growth for all of our staff, some of whom have been with Lapa Rios for over 20 years. Every year we have success stories to tell of cross-training courses, language classes and more.

A number of our employees who started out cleaning rooms at the lodge are now in middle management positions or working as nature guides. Many of our former staff members have gone on to become local entrepreneurs in Puerto Jimenez or have made successful careers in hotel management in other areas of Costa Rica.