15 Best Hotels in Central Valley, Costa Rica

You might miss one of the Central Valley’s snazziest hotels amid all the development that Santa Ana has to offer, but inside is that proverbial oasis, which doubles as one of the country’s largest private art collections. Modern and contemporary Costa Rican art adorn the hotel’s public areas, including its elegant Katöwa restaurant and third-floor bar with adjoining rooftop pool. The starkly modern rooms gleam with lots of white and tan furnishings. All that and the attentive staff come at very reasonable rates.

The tranquil and colorful Xandari is a strikingly original inn and spa, tailor-made for honeymooners and romantic getaways. Its bold design is the brainchild of a talented couple—he's an architect, she's an artist. Contemporary pueblo-esque villas along a ridge overlooking Alajuela and San José are spacious, with plenty of windows, colorful paintings, large terraces, and secluded lanais (sunbathing patios). It's the kind of place that makes you want to take pictures of your hotel room. Some villas stand alone and some share a building, but nearly all of them have spectacular views. So does the restaurant, which serves tasty, often organic, low-fat food. A 4-km (3-mile) trail through the hotel's forest reserve winds past five waterfalls. The place is a favorite for that first or last night in Costa Rica, albeit a pricey one.

Perched high above Alajuela, this hotel's superb staff make up for the somewhat dated, uninspired interior, and it does have the "good view" it is named for, although most rooms overlook the lawns or pool area. Three balcony rooms on the second floor in back have decent views of the Central Valley, but even better are the views of Poás Volcano from the three rooms above the lobby. Mostly, the view is best appreciated from the back lawn. Rooms are fairly standard—carpeted and sparsely decorated, with small baths and TVs. The restaurant behind the lobby serves international dishes and grilled items. The hotel offers numerous Web-only packages.

This comfy Mexican chain with minimalist decor, now a division of Marriott, has an outlet in Costa Rica and a stay here puts you just a few miles from Juan Santamaría airport. Think of it as a Latin American counterpart to Holiday Inn Express. The predominant clientele are business travelers on a moderate budget, but all are welcome, of course. Rooms consist of uniformly tan woods and tiles with splashes of color in the spreads and wall hangings, and floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light. All rooms contain a desk and work area. Rates include an ample breakfast buffet.

The stately Marriott offers comprehensive luxury close to the airport, and, despite being a U.S. chain, has many distinctively Costa Rican touches. Towering over a coffee plantation west of San José, the thick columns, wide arches, and central courtyard are re-creations straight out of the 16th century, and hand-painted tiles and abundant antiques complete the historic appearance. Guest rooms are more contemporary, but they're elegant enough, with hardwood furniture. Some have sliding glass doors that open onto tiny balconies; new rooms have flat-screen TVs. The place is always abuzz with upscale tourists, business travelers, and participants in the many events that take place here.

This low-rise hotel was the metro area's original luxury hotel, and it remains popular for its excellent service and close-to-airport location. Just off the busy General Cañas Highway, about halfway between San José and the international airport, the Cariari is surrounded by thick, tropical vegetation that buffers it from traffic noise. Spacious, carpeted guest rooms in back overlook the pool area. The relaxed poolside bar, with cane chairs and colorful tablecloths, and nearby casino, are popular spots. Overall, it feels slightly more low-key and less grandiose than the nearby Marriott.

This quiet hotel bills itself as a "country hotel," but El Rodeo's proximity to the airport and major business parks draws guests, too. Spacious rooms, most with polished hardwood floors, high ceilings, and narrow balconies, overlook small gardens and rooms in the adjacent building. An open-air lounge on the second floor has a pool table and wicker furniture. The café serves breakfast each morning. Large, wooden El Rodeo Steakhouse Restaurant in front of the hotel is quite popular with Ticos, who pack it on weekends. Decorated with saddles, steer skulls, and other ranching paraphernalia, the restaurant serves an array of grilled meats, from the Argentine churrasco to T-bones, as well as several fish and shrimp dishes.

A longtime favorite for first- and last-night stays, this chain hotel lets you ease into and out of Costa Rica in familiar surroundings. You can't get any closer to the airport: it's just across the highway. (Crossing the busy highway on foot would be impossible, though.) All the U.S.-style amenities for which the chain is known are yours here, including its sumptuous hot breakfasts. Rooms are bright and airy, with the same furnishings you'd find at any outlet of a Hampton Inn back home.

The view from this hotel perched on a hillside above Santa Ana is impressive, but so is the building itself with its blend of colonial and modern style—think archways, hardwoods, and leather. Guest rooms are spacious, with handcrafted furniture and bathrooms with hand-painted tiles; ask for one on the fourth or fifth floor to take advantage of the view. The restaurant, La Luz, has plenty of windows for admiring the distant hills and the pool and gardens below. The eclectic and unusual menu includes rack of lamb with organic coffee sauce and Caribbean-style sea bass with coconut-milk sauce.

The entrance here resembles any other storefront downtown, and you could pass right by without noticing this quiet, family-run gem. Although smack-dab in the middle of Heredia’s central business district, the property extends back 70 meters and provides peace and quiet you’d never expect to find here. Rooms have blindingly white walls and tile floors, which keep things bright—windows face the long, skylighted hallways rather than outdoors. All contain armoires and colorful spreads. A substantial breakfast, served in the upstairs dining room, fortifies you for a day of sightseeing.

This small hotel tucked off the road to La Garita is a simple and relaxed place to unwind, with its owners adding welcoming energy and personalized touches to the place. There are six buildings, most divided into two units, arranged around the pool and gardens. The white-wall rooms are simple, but it's a quiet place to sleep. Calling ahead for directions is a good idea, but once you're here, you'll have easy access to nearby restaurants and the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center. The hotel offers occasional online-only specials.

This country inn a few miles outside of Turrialba offers peace and quiet, a rural feel, and friendly owners and staff. The gardens and pool are terrific places to kick back and relax after a day of sightseeing. Each room comes with private terrace, mini-refrigerator, hardwood floors, and two queen-size beds. The two superior rooms are brighter than the standard ones and a better bet when available. One room is fully wheelchair accessible.

You'd never expect to find such a quiet, homey oasis smack-dab in the middle of a suburban business neighborhood, but here it is. The hotel's buildings date from 2008, but they are constructed in the style of typical 19th-century Costa Rican coffee-plantation houses. The structures surround a garden courtyard where breakfast is served. Standard rooms and suites are bright and cheery, with tiled floors and king- or queen-size beds, and the suites have kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwaves for not much more money. Breakfast is not included in the suite price however. Santa Ana is warm enough that you'll appreciate the pool and air-conditioning here, too. Special rates are available for long-term stays.

These rooms overlooking the misty forests of La Paz Waterfall Gardens seem like something out of The Lord of the Rings, with their curved, clay-stucco walls, hardwood floors, stone fireplaces, four-poster beds made of varnished logs, and grottolike bathrooms with private waterfalls. As if the bathrooms, with two showers, a whirlpool tub, and private tropical garden weren't enough, you can soak in your second whirlpool tub on a porch with a cloud-forest view. Rates are admittedly high here, but being able to explore the Waterfall Gardens before they open and after they close is a perk, and admission is included. The cuisine here is a couple of notches below the accommodations.