Origins Lodge
Origins Floral for couples and Origins Astral for families, on one estate above Bijagua near Río Celeste
Origins Lodge, in the hills of Bijagua between the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes
Origins is a private estate above Bijagua de Upala, above Lake Nicaragua, with the Río Celeste close enough for a morning. There are two lodges on the same ground: Origins Floral, open since 2018, secluded rainforest lodges built for couples, and Origins Astral, opened in December 2025 on the hill above at 800 meters, with family villas named after planets. Guests of either can use both.
Why we choose it
- The view from the hot tub. Every Floral lodge has a terrace with a wood-fired hot tub and a 180 degree sweep over the estate, the volcanoes and Lake Nicaragua.
- A real family answer near Río Celeste. Astral's villas have kitchens, plunge pools and two to four bedrooms, plus a 25 meter pool with toddler beaches and a kids club in a dome.
- A working estate. Horses, fishing lagoons, a garden with 132 edible plants and the Catarata de Oro waterfall, with daily tours that come with the stay.
Rooms and views
At Floral, each lodge is 100 m2 of hardwood and thatch with a king canopy bed under an opening in the roof for the stars, cooled by the mountain air rather than air conditioning.
At Astral, the two-bedroom villas are 166 m2 with an open kitchen and a private plunge pool. Saturn and Uranus add a third bedroom, and Jupiter, the largest at 425 m2, has four bedrooms and a jacuzzi at the master suite. Three villas are suspended more than 5 meters up and not recommended for children under 12, so tell us the ages.
On the property
El Salto, the Floral restaurant, cooks French-inspired dishes in front of the 180 degree view, with the Skyview Bar beside it. At Astral, El Cosmo has terraces toward Lake Nicaragua and Miravalles and a fire pit for stargazing. The Laka-Tii spa does massages with warm bamboo and hot stones, and yoga is on the Koora deck. There is an infinity pool over the valley at Floral and a private Origins pool at the Agua Caliente hot springs. Birdwatching, the night walk and horseback riding are part of the stay; rafting, tubing and the Río Celeste hikes we arrange.
Location and getting there
Origins is 200 meters south of Pueblo Nuevo de Bijagua, 1 hour 30 minutes from Liberia airport and 4 hours from San José, on a last stretch of dirt road, so we send a 4WD. Breakfast comes with the stay; lunch and dinner go on a meal plan. From 20 December to 5 January the minimum stay is four nights. Read more about the Río Celeste.
Hotels we book in Rio Celeste
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Origins Lodge | Rio Celeste Hideaway | Celeste Mountain Lodge | Tenorio Lodge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Volcano setting | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
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Your Costa Rica, starting in Rio Celeste
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