LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced its acquisition of the 189-acre Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, marking its first international expansion. The ocean-front property, which will be renamed SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, is the only lodge to border the renowned Corcovado National Park. The lodge was purchased in partnership with Madison, Wis.-based Hovde Properties from its original developer, naturalist Steven Lill.
“Soul Community Planet is a growing holistic hospitality company founded on the values of healthy, kind, and green. We are working to thoughtfully build a collection of unique, sustainable accommodations in the world’s most spectacular destinations. Costa Rica, and in particular the intensely vibrant Osa Peninsula, embodies the ethos of SCP,” said Soul Community Planet Founder and CEO Ken Cruse. “We seek to honor the communities and respect the environments in which we operate. Casa Corcovado has maintained similar principles to our own over its 40 years of operation. Existing at the intersection of Corcovado National Park and the Isla del Cano Biologic Reserve—two globally significant, thriving ecosystems—the soon-to-be-renamed SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is an exotic destination for adventure-minded, eco-focused travelers who seek immersive, unique, regenerative experiences not found in main-stream resorts.”
The four-star, off-the-grid, beach-front property is only accessible by boat, and is set among acres of manicured botanical gardens, waterfalls, streams, beaches and jungle. The property comprises a main lodge, along with 14 garden villas, a three-bedroom beach house, a full-service restaurant, two bars, a beach club, a large communal lounge, three swimming pools and myriad eco-adventure facilities.
The entire facility will undergo a multi-phase renovation and repositioning program to establish SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge as a must-visit exotic, remote jungle destination offering one-of-a-kind authentic canopy, terrestrial and marine eco-experiences, top-notch service and exceptional wellness and food and beverage programming. The comprehensive renovation will include adding in SCP’s brand wide standards, including Peaceful Rooms and state-of-the-art wellness facilities. Planned upgrades also include a full spa with dedicated yoga shala and meditation space. Other renovations will include upgrades to the property’s solar, water and broadband systems, along with renovations to the existing restaurant, guestrooms, and beach house, which will be used for events and small groups.
Additional planned recreational amenities to be phased in with the renovation over the next two years will capitalize on the spectacular setting and will include hanging bridges; additional forest trails; a dive center; canopy tour (arboreal experience) and a beach club. Other upgrades will support SCP’s commitment to sustainability and conservation, including, on-site sourced spring water, organic gardening, and regenerative composting facilities.
Ideal Location for SCP
The Osa Peninsula is an unrivaled ecological paradise. The lodge is connected to Corcovado National Park—widely considered to be the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national park system—and is surrounded by the largest primary forest on the American Pacific coastline and one of the few remaining sizable areas of lowland tropical forests in the world.
National Geographic deemed Corcovado National Park as “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” The park is home to 2.5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity with over 400 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, and 116 species of amphibians and reptiles. The park is also home to a variety of endangered species, including the jaguar, harpy eagle, and Baird’s tapir.
SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge’s half-mile long beach borders the Isla del Cano Biologic Reserve—a thriving marine ecosystem which extends from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands and is part of a 200,000 square mile interconnected marine reserve known as the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR).
Every Stay Does Good
The SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge will be an active participant in SCP’s Every Stay Does Good (ESDG) program. ESDG underscores SCP’s core values while making positive connections between SCP’s guests and the places they visit. ESDG works through hand-selected partnerships with world class organizations who advance the values of healthy, kind, and green. SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is planning several ESDG partnerships, including one with the Corcovado Foundation—which was founded by the lodge’s developer Steven Lill—and whose mission is to promote prosperous communities living in harmony with nature on the Osa Peninsula. The lodge also has plans to partner with Innoceana, a global marine conservation organization that works to preserve the ocean for future generations by empowering coastal communities through access to education and innovative tools.
Beyond ESDG partnerships, the SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge will support truly regenerative travel by adhering to SCP’s strict “net zero waste” program, which, when combined with the company’s other sustainability initiatives, will help ensure that each guest visit will leave the ecologically significant Osa Peninsula a little better.
The announcement continues Soul Community Planet’s proactive growth, which included the recent opening of four new SCP hotels, including the June 2022 acquisition of SCP Mendocino & Farm; three hotels acquired in 2021 (SCP Hilo, along with Laguna Riviera Beach Resort, to be renamed SCP Laguna Beach upon completion of renovation and SCP Seven4One in Laguna Beach). SCP also operates the SCP Colorado Springs, SCP Redmond (Ore.), SCP Depoe Bay (Ore.) and Salishan Coastal Lodge by SCP (Ore.).
