El Lugar: Awarded Top 10%
El Lugar Costa Rica Earns 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award, Joins Top 10% Worldwide
El Lugar Costa Rica has won the 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award, placing the luxury hotel and nature reserve among the top 10% of properties worldwide, according to Paris Star. The honor is based entirely on real traveler reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period — no paid placements, no nominations.
The property sits within a private 1,200-acre rainforest reserve in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica. Hotel manager Indalecio López called the recognition a point of pride, saying it reflects the team's commitment to pairing refined hospitality with deep respect for the natural world around them.
What the Travelers' Choice Award Actually Means
Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Award is earned — not bought. The platform calculates it using genuine, first-hand reviews and star ratings from real guests over the previous 12 months, as The Whig reported. Winning means a property sits in the top 10% of all Tripadvisor listings globally. That is a large field. Tripadvisor hosts reviews for over 8 million businesses worldwide.
The award carries weight because it cannot be gamed by marketing budgets. Every score comes from a traveler who actually stayed at the property. For a boutique nature retreat like El Lugar, competing in the same pool as major international hotel chains and resorts makes the recognition more striking.
A Rainforest Reserve, Not Just a Hotel
El Lugar is not a standard luxury resort. The property protects 1,200 acres of Costa Rican rainforest, functioning as both a working nature reserve and a high-end retreat, according to Chatham Daily News. Guests stay inside the forest, not next to it. Wildlife, trails, and the sounds of the rainforest are part of the experience by design.
The model places nature at the center of the guest experience. Refined hospitality — quality rooms, food, and service — exists alongside that natural setting rather than replacing it. The approach has clearly connected with travelers who leave reviews on Tripadvisor.
Sarapiquí Gains Ground as a Serious Destination
El Lugar's award also puts a spotlight on Sarapiquí, a region that has long played second fiddle to Costa Rica's more famous spots like Manuel Antonio or Arenal. The area offers a slower, quieter version of the country — dense jungle, river wildlife, and fewer crowds, as The Observer reported.
Manager Indalecio López said the recognition reflects the growing appeal of Sarapiquí for travelers who want a more deeply rooted connection to Costa Rica. That trend — seeking authentic, nature-first travel over resort-style tourism — has been building steadily across Central America.
Guest Reviews Drive the Recognition Home
Every vote for El Lugar came from a traveler who visited and chose to write about it. That is the core mechanic behind Tripadvisor's award process, according to Pembroke Observer. No judges, no panels. Just accumulated guest feedback over 12 months, weighed by rating scores.
For a small, nature-focused property in a lesser-known region, building that kind of consistent review record takes time and a reliable guest experience. Earning a top-10% global ranking through word-of-mouth alone signals that El Lugar is delivering something travelers find worth talking about.
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