FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Laura Davidson Public Relations

Dana Curatolo/ dana@ldpr.com

Cathryn Vaccaro/ cathryn@ldpr.com

CIELO LODGE, A PRIVATE HIDEAWAY IN COSTA RICA’S GOLFITO REGION, OPENS WITH COVETED INDUSTRY ACCOLADES

The brand-new eco luxe lodge wins 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Hot List and Travel + Leisure It List awards, announcing new offers and seasonal incentives

Golfito, Costa Rica – June 1, 2021 – Cielo Lodge, Golfito, Costa Rica’s newest and lauded exclusive hideaway, is officially open following two industry recognitions. The exclusive eco lodge was awarded coveted places on both Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List and Travel + Leisure’s It List as vaccinated travelers gear up for 2021 journeys.

Travel + Leisure first announced its annual It List last month, outlining the best new hotels of the year, highlighting the 73 most remarkable new and refurbished properties across the globe. Selected by the editors of Travel + Leisure, the hotels on this 16th annual list showcase experiences that are sure to inspire wanderlust for stifled global travelers. The 2021 It List is featured in the May issue of Travel + Leisure, and available for view here. Cielo Lodge leads the Central + South American section of the roundup.

Condé Nast Traveler then revealed the 2021 Hot List earlier this month, unveiling the editorial team’s favorite new hotels around the world. This year’s list featured 69 destinations across the globe, Cielo Lodge being noted in Best New Hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central & South America, Best New Nature Hotels and Best New Sustainable Hotels.

Situated on a lush green mountain just behind Golfito overlooking the Golfo Dulce, the lodge is set amidst 380 sprawling acres of primary and secondary rainforest. The lodge was designed with a modern and minimalist approach—celebrating the region and all it offers. Staying at Cielo Lodge offers an incredibly intimate experience; six Canopy Suites accommodate between 2-4 people, for a total lodge occupancy of just 12-24 guests. Only 30 minutes from the town of Golfito, the lodge feels an entire world away.

Each suite is elevated and separate from other guests, offering ultimate privacy and incredible views of the nearby canopy. All are 660 square feet and feature a king size bed, a full-size sofa bed, an indoor and outdoor shower, and an expansive terrace/ outdoor living room. Cielo Lodge’s suites have lots of light and air—encapsulating a true jungle atmosphere. Each boast two fans and natural airflow, circulating the fresh mountain breeze.

With privacy and “pod travel” in mind, Cielo Lodge created the Rainforest Sanctuary Buyout Package—drawing small groups of friends, family and loved ones to experience Cielo Lodge in its entirety. Package includes access to the full grounds, transfers and all meals and activities within one flat daily rate for six suites (beginning $ 4,920). For those who book the buyout package, Cielo Lodge creates customized programming based on the group’s interests—e.g., wellness or environmental pursuits, surfing retreats, and more. Advance planning and consult is required prior to arrival. For guests not seeking a full buyout, travelers can also reserve individual suites; groups of guests are naturally socially distant from one another based on the lodge’s layout. All public areas are open air, allowing disparate groups to share spaces while maintaining social and physical distance. Individual suite rates begin at $410 per person per night ($820 per suite/ double occupancy). Single occupancy rates begin at $738 per night. Included in rates: transportation to/from Golfito airport, three multi-course meals daily, snacks, coffee and teas, WiFi in all rooms and common areas and a variety of tours and activities. A 15% commission is available to travel advisors, and 25% to Destination Management Companies (DMCs).

Commenting on the lodge’s opening, Owner Nicole Goldstein noted, “We built Cielo Lodge as a respite for people seeking to reconnect—with nature, with each other, and ultimately with themselves. Especially after such a challenging year, we are delighted to officially announce our opening and to share this incredibly special hideaway. And we are really thrilled to witness the enthusiasm for the lodge following these coveted awards. We are ready to welcome travelers!”

At Cielo’s Lodge’s main building, an infinity-edge saltwater pool offers breathtaking views for guests. Adjacent to the pool sits the dining room, where Executive Chef Cesar creates artful, local and seasonal dishes infused with an innovative, international approach. The Sunset Bar on the second story of the lodge provides additional expansive views, and an incredible sunset overlooking the Golfo Dulce.

Activities and Wellness Programming are abundant for guests at Cielo Lodge. Daily itineraries include morning and evening naturalist-led rainforest walks, detox hikes, sunrise yoga, holistic massages, private surfing expeditions to Pavones, mangrove tours, dolphin watching and much more. With the Golfo Dolce’s whale season beginning in July, the team is also offering whale watching journeys.

Cielo Lodge’s Connection to Community program features the likes of a customized agritourism retreat—including a visit to local farms where guests learn about the local harvesting and processing of Costa Rica’s three main crops (palm oil, chocolate and coffee). For the culturally curious and engaged, Cielo’s Connection to Community program additionally involves visiting one of Costa Rica’s eight indigenous groups, The Boruca, who live in a community just north of Cielo Lodge. Guests can visit the homes of traditional weavers and mask makers, and learn about their history and stories, including their fight against the Spanish conquistadors.

“Golfito and the Southern Zone of Costa Rica teem with natural beauty and biodiversity. Birders, whale-watchers, sports fishermen, and surfers have long been enjoying the hidden treasures of the area,” said Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, Gustavo J. Segura Sancho. “We celebrate entrepreneurs like Keith and Nicole Goldstein who are investing to develop ecotourism in Golfito and the Southern Zone."

The lodge is in an ideal location, allowing convenient access to all of the region’s major transportation hubs (Golfito Airport), and just 30 minutes to the nearby village, offering the conveniences of shops, groceries, health services and more.

For more information, please visit cielolodge.com. For bookings/ reservations, please click here. Minimum age for guests is ten years old.

  About Cielo Lodge

Cielo Lodge is an eco-luxe lodge situated on a lush green mountain in Golfito, Costa Rica overlooking the Golfo Dulce. The Lodge is set amidst 380 sprawling acres of primary and secondary rainforest, featuring six exclusive Canopy Suites that accommodate between 2-4 people, for a total lodge occupancy of just 12-24 guests. For more information, please visit cielolodge.com. Follow us on Instagram: @CieloLodge and on Facebook: Cielo Lodge.

Cielo’s Lodge’s Commitment to Safety

The safety of our guests is of the utmost importance and priority. Afternoon and evening security guards, security cameras and a local medical doctor on call are a few of our safety measures. The nearest hospital is in Golfito, 30 minutes distance by car, and easily accessible in case of emergency. All naturalist guides are certified in CPR and First Aid. Covid-19 Protocols are in place with all staff wearing masks when indoors or when social distancing is not possible. Suites are left empty for 24 hours between guests for deep cleaning and sanitation. Hand sanitizer is provided for all guests and located throughout public spaces. Staff temperatures are taken upon arrival at every shift. All cars are sanitized between rides.

Cielo Lodge’s Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainability is an important and key aspect of Cielo Lodge’s ethos. We are committed to sustainability and to protecting the amazing natural resources that surround our property. We use solar and micro-hydro to feed a battery bank, which then feeds our lodge. We are part of the FONAFIFO Program, a government program designed to preserve the Costa Rican rainforest. We have planted over 4,000 trees—fruit trees to native hardwoods and use bio gardens as a secondary septic treatment. We additionally use biodegradable soaps and cleaning supplies. We have partnered with several local NGOs who are focused on protecting the environment (e.g., Osa Ecology which rescues sea turtles, and conducts research on dolphins and whales, and Osa Conservation, which is tracking all of the wildlife in the area through a complex system of cameras and audio studies).

###