18 Best Hotels in Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Named for the blue river that flows nearby, this property on the volcano's northern slope is worth the trek to experience the resort's hot springs, mud baths, butterfly gardens, adventure tours, and spacious rustic cabins with terrace-hammocks. Most guests stay four nights to maximize a variety of activities like hiking, yoga, horseback riding, ziplining, and tubing down the majestic Río Azul. Room rates are for up to four people per cabin, each 750 square feet, with walk-in closets, queen beds, and a front porch. Guests have access to a sauna, gym, natural mud baths, and spa. The remote location, 114 km (71 miles) from the main entrance to Rincón de la Vieja National Park, means meals are limited to the hotel’s single restaurant, so you may want to bring non-perishable groceries.

With an indulgent spa, restaurants, and retail boutiques, Four Seasons is one of the most luxurious hotels in Costa Rica, but it's the unparalleled service and secluded location between two golden-sand beaches that make this resort one of a kind. Located on a narrow isthmus and surrounded by jungle, the property provides an ocean view from just about everywhere. Service, provided by a cream-of-the-crop, bilingual staff, is faultless. Expect to find your bags unpacked by housekeeping and to be addressed by name by the valet welcoming you "home." Tropical-styled rooms have king-size beds, marble baths, and screened-in living-room terraces. With roofs designed after turtle shells, the villas have private plunge pools, two or three bedrooms, and full kitchens (personal chef available). From the rooms, a bridge arches over the main pool to three restaurants: Pesce (Italian kitchen and wine bar), Bahia (Latin cuisine), and Anejo (tapas). The 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course has breathtaking views; if you don't play golf the staff will drive you up for sunset. A schedule of activities, including guided hiking, tennis, kayaking, surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding will help you justify that Swedish massage.

Set on stunning, palm-fringed Playa Quizales and backed by 15 acres of exuberant gardens and a 9-hole executive golf course, this comfortable, contemporary resort has a wide range of luxurious lodging options that appeal to families and couples of every age, including honeymooners. Every room faces the ocean with a mile of sandy beach for sunset walks. A large rock reef just offshore provides some protection for swimmers, but if you don't want to brave the waves there are three exquisitely designed swimming pools, one with a waterfall. Just a short hike away, there's an impressive natural waterfall, during rainy season, that drops right into the sea. Hammocks are strung between coconut trees and plenty of comfortable lounges dot the beachfront. Almost every room—from tropical villas high on a ridge to spacious standard rooms in a three-story building a stone’s throw from the beach—has endless ocean views and terraces to catch ocean breezes. Romantic, wooden tiki huts have in-room whirlpool tubs; and six deluxe beachfront rooms are set apart for privacy. There are also chic villas with two to five bedrooms, all with ample private terraces overlooking the sand. Breakfast and dinner, a mix of sophisticated Costa Rican and continental cuisines, using organic vegetables grown in the hotel's own garden, are served at the elegant main restaurant; lunch is at the attractive open-air poolside restaurant. On-site activities include rides along the beach on horses from the hotel’s own stables ($45), golf ($23 greens fee), and tennis on two courts. There's a beachfront yoga deck, and a spa and hair salon provide serious pampering opportunities. The hotel has earned three leaves for its sustainability efforts.

As the first all-inclusive luxury resort in the Bahía Salinas area and the first hotel in Guanacaste to feature swim-up rooms, Dreams Las Mareas stands out from the all-inclusive pack with no hidden charges, no restaurant reservations, no towel cards, and no plastic wrist bands. Its location on the bay of Playa Jobo makes for quiet isolation, despite the property's size: 447 rooms, each with ocean, pool, or mountain views. Spacious rooms have satin curtains sectioning off modern bathrooms, with luxurious touches like hydrotubs, stocked minibars, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Included in the rate are top-shelf spirits, 24-hour room service, and meals at any of the eight restaurants. Selection, presentation, and quality of cuisine are remarkably impressive, especially at the fine-dining Italian restaurant, Portofino. The resort prides itself on offering "soft entertainment," with no drinking games, pool shouting, or DJs to awaken you during your poolside slumber. Still, there’s plenty to entertain, like yoga, snorkeling, a kids’ club, disco, cinema, and a 44,000-square-foot pool with a water slide. For pampering, you can indulge in treatments at the Spa by Pevonia or work your way through their eight-step hydrotherapy circuit.

Overlooking the ocean from a forested ridge, this secluded and sublime Marriott property is luxury incarnate, with villas, casitas, suites, and spacious rooms sprinkled around the bougainvillea-bedecked hillside. King-size beds have rough-hewn wooden bedposts, and bathrooms are tiled, with deep tubs and mosaic detailing. Casitas and suites have their own private plunge pools or outdoor whirlpools and private gardens with a hammock, one of the main attractions for the many honeymooners. A massive thatch palapa, supported by tree-trunk pillars, covers the main restaurant, which opens onto an adults-only infinity pool with an endless ocean view and a swim-up bar. Breakfasts are excellent, as are lunches down at the breezy Beach Club, with its own oceanfront swimming pool. The food at the flagship Alma Restaurant, though good, still doesn't reach the heights you would expect here. If you overdo it with the activities, stop by the tranquil garden spa for massage treatments using local herbs. The hotel encourages creativity through art classes, and the Punta Islita art village.

The theme of this secluded, ultracomfortable hotel with a shimmering infinity pool and thin, curving beach is harmony with nature, but it's the friendly staff and outstanding service that keep this property ahead of the pack. Its owners have gone to great lengths to protect the surrounding environment, as the abundant wildlife on its 25 acres of protected forest attests. Spacious one- and two-bedroom suites, with high ceilings, stylish contemporary furniture, and private terraces with idyllic sea views, are great for couples and families (kids under 12 stay free). For extra privacy, choose an upper suite, which has two terraces, rather than a ground-floor one. If you like serenity and want to spend a little less on lodging, opt for a standard room in one of the duplexes scattered through the hilly garden, but expect minimal amenities. Each room is decorated in earth tones, with elegant wicker furniture, a wooden door with a hand-carved local bird or animal, and a veranda with a garden or ocean view (some of the best ocean views are from Suites 19, 21, and 22). The open-air rotunda restaurant serves good seafood dishes, and there's happy hour Friday and Saturday from 5 to 7. The hotel's recycling, energy and water conservation, and community-service programs are exemplary, earning it four leaves in the national sustainability program.

Secluded and serene, this gorgeous tropical resort neighboring a reserve sits in an exuberant garden, nestled between the sea and a lush forest. The geodesic-dome bungalows are snug but charming, with bright Mexican textiles, colorful murals, and sunny terraces. Some have ocean views and cozy loft sleeping areas. Facing the beach, a three-story building has spacious two-story suites with balconies, and refreshed and brightened standard rooms below. Well-designed ocean-view cabinas with king-size or single beds and decks, offer a back-to-nature experience—but not all the way back, because they also have a/c, private bathrooms with hot-water showers. There's also a secluded tree-top canopy, complete with kitchenette, on a platform high up in the trees; it's perfect for honeymooners. Rates include breakfast and dinner for two. The grounds are covered with trees that hold iguanas, howler monkeys, tricolor squirrels, and an array of birds. Adding to the romance is a jungle-fringed pool with a waterfall. Daily yoga classes and spa services are offered, and a restaurant with tables under the stars serves some of the tastiest fusion dishes in Montezuma, along with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. Much of the electricity used here is solar generated. There's a nature trail that climbs the ridge above the hotel, and once a week, owner Patricia Slump leads a tour (upon request) of the hotel garden, 34 years in the making. Weekly yoga and sound healing classes are offered in the new fitness center. 

Earth tones and natural details prevail in this Hyatt property created by architect Ronald Zürcher, who utilized indigenous woods, sugarcane, and bamboo in the design of the rooms, each contemporary and bright with ocean views. Golf carts and ride-share bikes transport guests through the 1,400-acre preserve, with a network of paths leading to infinity pools and pod-shape restaurants modeled after local seeds and cocoons. Standard rooms are housed in three-story buildings, and have rain showers, enclosed balconies, and complimentary bonuses such as minibars, Wi-Fi, sun hats, and sandals. The three restaurants infuse Latin flavors, but the tapas bar is your best option for exceptional cocktails. Just past the adult pool is a jungle trail that spills onto Playa Sombrero Oscuro, where you can hop aboard Nimbu Boat for a sail to Casa de Playa for an elevated beach club experience. The new Residence Villas—opened in 2024— have plunge pools, kitchens, and over 1,500 square feet of living space. This hillside property is spread out, so expect to do a fair amount of walking unless you request a golf cart ride.

Snagging the best spot on the beach, Bahía del Sol has a gorgeous beachfront pool and comfortable rooms built around a garden of tropical shrubs and towering trees. Spacious rooms with contemporary furnishings and fabrics open onto a portico with chairs, hammocks, and views of the garden, which has botanical labels to help you identify plants. Deluxe suites also have a back patio with a Jacuzzi hemmed by greenery; the King Sun suite is the only one with a bay view. Spacious one- and two-bedroom suites also have large kitchens and comfortable living rooms, great for families. At the restaurant, smartly uniformed waiters serve jumbo shrimp, lobster, fresh fish, and various meat dishes prepared in an eclectic mix of culinary styles. Seating is under a massive thatch roof or at several shaded tables on the immaculate lawn overlooking the ocean. There's also a full spa, free yoga, and theme nights with live music on the beach. The service and commitment to the environment match the unbeatable surroundings, earning the hotel five leaves in the national sustainability program. Staff are also active in the local community, promoting recycling and beach clean-ups, and teaching English to local children.

With three pools, a spa, and luxurious rooms, there's more to this resort than just yoga. Sitting on eight acres replete with gentle streams, waterfalls, and ambrosial gardens, the rooms don't disappoint, with special details like private outdoor showers and Balinese stone sinks. Room rates include a healthy and generous breakfast buffet, one yoga class per day, a complimentary shuttle around town, and use of the gym. The rooms range from jungle rooms to deluxe two-bedroom villas with private pool and outdoor kitchen. Although the property is not beachfront, they offer a surf club with lessons and board rental for an additional fee.

The spacious villas and bungalows on this 570-acre ranch are lovely, and the room rate includes access to their hot springs, mud baths, and a Costa Rican breakfast. The villas, overlooking lawns shaded by tropical trees on the volcano's windy west slope, have high wooden ceilings, large porches, and plenty of amenities. Elegant deluxe bungalows have king-size canopy beds, and the suites have Jacuzzi tubs. Though 60 minutes from the park entrance, the property holds most of the same natural attractions, including three waterfalls and patches of forest with monkeys, parrots, deer, and other wildlife. Along with volcanic mud baths and hot springs, the spa has a wooden sauna heated by steam from a fumarole (there's a slight sulfur odor near the mineral baths). Sunset views from the large pool are usually spectacular. Activities include hiking, horseback riding, ATV trips, a canopy tour, and a trip to the park in a Land Rover followed by a hike. The rooms are separated from the restaurant and spa by steep climbs, but the staff can transport you in a golf cart. It's worth staying at least three days to experience the activities and natural attractions, but be sure to factor in the cost of meals (roughly $20 per entrée) since there are no other dining options nearby.

In the gated community of Hacienda Pinilla, this luxury resort is centered around a 25,000-square-foot infinity pool that merges with a short stretch of beach in the west, making every sunset a major event. Quiet elegance is the theme at this hacienda-style hotel, with charming traditional touches such as painted oxcarts piled high with towels around the pool and macramé-fringed hammocks draped off the lobby. Rooms are all super-luxurious, with oversize bathtubs, sumptuous sage-and-cream linens, and private terraces with ceiling fans and removable screens. There's free daily yoga, complimentary sunset cocktails,  a 24-hour fitness center; the 18-hole, 72-par Hacienda Pinilla golf course; and an exquisite full-service spa with 19 massage huts. There's also a kids' club for families. The on-site restaurants, including a handsome, ranch-style Costa Rican steak house and a more intimate Asian restaurant, are gorgeous, but the prices are sky-high and the food quality inconsistent. Although the beach in front of the hotel is small and rocky, you can take a short walk over to Playa Avellanas. There's a daily shuttle van to Tamarindo's shops and restaurants ($25), and if you have your own car, you can drive the short distance to Playa Negra and Playa Avellanas for less pricey meals.

With a prime spot on the beach and a mammoth pool with a swim-up bar to lounge around, this Jimmy Buffet–themed hotel is eager to please. Plus, there are large family and honeymoon suites with kitchenettes. Beds, decor, and televisions were last updated in 2018.

Meaning “Blue” in the native Chorotegan language, Nantipa is the epitome of the Blue Zone magic with both luxury and wellness manifesting health, happiness, and longevity. Since its opening in 2019, the string of beachfront-and-garden bungalows have lured those seeking rest and relaxation, along with all the creature comforts; smart TVs, hammocks, Wi-Fi, a/c, minibars, and plunge pools that open onto private terraces are just a few of the perks. Follow the white pebble-strewn pathways past the pool and yoga pavilion to Manzú, the beachfront restaurant specializing in traditional Tico recipes passed down from generations. You can take it up a notch with the two-story villa equipped with an infinity pool, personal chef, fitness instructor, babysitting service, three bedrooms, and kitchen and living space. For the ultimate in tranquility, book a treatment at the NUMU Wellness Center specializing in Blue Wellness experiences that will take you from nature to pampering via surfing, cuisine, massages, and beyond.

Centered on the scenic sweep of placid Bahía Tambor with its warm, shallow water, intimate Tambor Tropical offers "beds with a view" in spacious suites, along with sportfishing, a turtle hatchery, horseback riding, bird-watching, and just lolling in a hammock by the pretty, blue-tile pool. Attractive two-story houses, with up-and-down suites equipped with kitchens, are entirely built and furnished with varnished, tropical hardwoods: floors, ceilings, walls, and even toilet seats. Large front windows provide panoramas of the sea and surrounding gardens—slightly pricier second-floor rooms have the best views—and platform beds really do enable sunrise views. All rooms have air-conditioning. Carefully prepared meals are served poolside or in the thatch-covered dining room during the rainy months. Paddleboards and kayaks get you out onto the water, and bird-watchers can comb nearby trails with a guide, in search of about 250 species. The spacious reception area also serves as an art gallery for local artisans.

Incorporating Costa Rican culture at every turn, this convivial, unique member of the W chain leaves no detail overlooked, from the "forest" of guanacaste trees at the pool and restaurant, to the "pineapple" elevator tower. The circular parking area is shaped like a bull ring, a traditional Guanacasteco pastime. The bright and splashy decor, including at the three dining options, takes its cue from the oxcart, another customary Costa Rican emblem. There are two massive pools; one in the main dining area with a pool deck and one at the beach club, which leads to turquoise waters lapping onto a sugar sand beach, plus a more private pool in the cushy spa. The rooms are inviting, with sumptuous bedding, bars made of real surfboards, and colossal bathrooms; most units have ocean views. The immense suites will blow you away with private pools, one-and-a-half baths, foosball tables, and mini kegs of Heineken in the minibar. Parents will love the (free) kids' club—the only one in the W Hotel chain.

This vast all-inclusive property is set on 2,400 acres with nearly every vacation wish granted, from lagoon-style pools and a picture-perfect beach to eight restaurants and a championship golf course. In the labyrinthine guest village, the ocean tends to disappear and the only views are of lush gardens and other buildings exactly like yours. The split-level Spanish colonial–style villas have huge marble bathrooms and sophisticated sitting rooms equipped with plasma TVs. The Royal Beach rooms are even posher, closer to the beach, and have their own shared pool and a private concierge. There's a kids' club, babysitting service, and a section of suites dedicated to families. The resort also has the largest—and perhaps warmest—pool in Central America. Grown-ups can amuse themselves sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, playing tennis, or rejuvenating at the spa. Restaurants range from Asian fusion to Italian (dinner reservations required). If you're into the beach, try to get booked into Bungalow 1, 2, or 3.