76 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.

This ultracool, holistic retreat gets top marks for both comfort and sustainability, thanks to American owners who are surfers that believe comfort, quiet, and thinking ecologically are more appealing than partying. The Cocos rooms surround a huge garden with a gorgeous sundeck and chlorine-free pool—an oasis of shaded tranquility. Enclosed back decks with hammocks, outdoor showers, and a cushioned chaise lounge expand what are otherwise standard-size rooms. The larger duplex bungalows, closer to the beach, feature spacious bathrooms and offer even more privacy with large decks enclosed with teak walls. Every room and one-bedroom bungalow is luxuriously outfitted, with soothing sage-and-cream walls, king-size beds dressed in white linen, and natural and polished-wood trim and furniture. The best surf breaks are just 180 meters away, down a shaded path. The property works with local farmers to supply the majority of produce, and a free sustainability tour is available for guests. The chic bar adds to the sophisticated ambience, along with a popular adjacent lounge, on a terrace facing the garden. The contemporary restaurant focuses on seafood, along with vegetarian and raw-food options—think kale, quinoa, and heirloom vegetables. For the health-conscious traveler there's also a tranquil "healing center" complete with spa, yoga classes, and a juice bar. 

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.

Swiss expats Guido and Agi spent their first years in Costa Rica living off the land without running water or electricity, but today their little paradise is a full-fledged farm with cows, horses, chickens, and rustic cabins for overnight guests. Handcrafted by the owners, cozy cabins are extremely tidy, with high beamed ceilings and patios overlooking the Sapoa River, where you can spend a lazy day in a hammock. Screened windows keep the bugs away, and ceramic-tile floors keep temperatures cool. Each room has a safe, a mini-refrigerator, and air-conditioning. Wildlife is abundant here so expect to see monkeys, birds, sloths, bats, and the occasional crocodile. Agi is an exceptional cook, whipping up Swiss-tico fusion favorites with homemade breads and organic produce from the farm. They have their own moringa plantation, a medicinal plant known to prevent some 300 diseases. There is a small library providing a book exchange and board games, making those rainy days a bit more inviting. Sunny days are perfect for rowing down the river, hiking the well-marked network of trails, or horseback riding on the 160-acre property. The owners can also arrange private tours across the border to Nicaragua.

Tucked into the hillside with jaw-dropping panoramic views of the beach and the forest, this luxury hotel with a modern Balinese feel offers private and secluded villas for couples who want to unwind and take it easy. At the right time of day, the infinity pool just outside the restaurant turns the exact right color and blends seamlessly with the ocean.

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.

Spread across a breezy hill with expansive views above the treetops of the surrounding forest and the sea, the Guacamaya is a real find, with affordable, spacious cabinas surrounding a generous-sized pool, lawn, and tropical plants. The large restaurant shaded by a conical thatched roof serves excellent continental cuisine, including such Swiss specialties as rösti (hash browns with bacon and cheese) and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (beef medallions and mushrooms in a creamy sauce), various pastas, fresh seafood dishes, and a good salad selection. Meals come with deliciously dense homemade bread. The spacious bungalows with plenty of windows and small terraces are a real deal and the most charming of rooms. Screened windows let in the cooling evening breezes, so you probably won't need the quiet air-conditioners in each room. Well-equipped studios in a two-story building have kitchenettes, big bathrooms, and covered porches; those on the second floor are more spacious and have better views. The modern villa, with a full kitchen and a large covered veranda, is perfect for rental by families. There's also a kids' pool and a playground, as well as tennis and volleyball courts. The place fills up fast with Swiss tour groups, so book early.

This beachfront hotel on the southern end of Playa Hermosa features luxurious rooms and suites on a beautiful, spacious property shaded by century-old vine-draped trees. The most popular activity here is lounging on the beach, but floating in the blue-tile pool surrounded by lush landscaping is a close second. You can also rent kayaks for paddling in the sea. Flashes of sunlit ocean, just a few barefoot steps away, periodically penetrate the cool greenery, and now and then an iguana, bird, or monkey rustles the foliage above. Garden-view suites in two-story buildings are mostly wood and glass, with sitting rooms and balconies or terraces. Ocean-view deluxe suites are the most sought after, with Jacuzzis, plasma TVs, and sofa beds. Teak and marble feature prominently in the upscale decor, and all the rooms have refrigerators. A huge penthouse suite above the restaurant is over-the-top luxurious. The vast, open-air Niromi Restaurant is practically on the beach, with an ambitious, modern menu (from $20) that focuses on fresh fish and seafood, and beef tenderloin raised on the owner's ranch. There's also a breezy upstairs bar lounge.

Nature, tranquility, luxury, and an unbeatably beautiful beach setting make this environmentally conscious boutique hotel the most elegant choice in town. Nestled in a tiny forest between Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta, the hotel offers a variety of room types. Balcony rooms surround a large, curvaceous pool shaded by native trees and greenery. If there's ever been a place to splurge, it's on Room 75, with stunning hardwood floors, a private balcony, and a linen-draped canopy bed that looks onto the sea. Enclosed by walls of glass, the airy bungalows have Jacuzzi tubs, outdoor showers, and sunken lounge areas. Second-floor rooms in the main building have high, angled ceilings and lots of screens, offering an ocean breeze as an alternative to air-conditioning (which the rooms do have). Lower rooms are smaller and a little darker, with terraces edging the lush garden, which is visited by iguanas, raccoons, howler monkeys, and birds. A beautifully decorated and romantically illuminated terrace restaurant, overlooking the pool and beach, serves upscale, contemporary cuisine and hosts beach barbecues (December 21–May) with live marimba music every Wednesday and Friday night.

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.

This intimate adults-only inn is the place to be for honeymooning couples to get away from it all, or for stressed-out high achievers in need of some serious relaxation therapy. Rooms, with queen- or king-size beds, are elegant and comfortable, opening out onto a large pool with expansive views to the faraway ocean. The Eros honeymoon suite has a private terrace and Roman tub. But the main draw here is the spa, built into the side of a mountain and staffed by a team of professional therapists, offering such treatments as volcanic mud wraps, honey-cucumber-lime facials, papaya body polishes, and relaxing massages. Day spa packages are available for nonguests with gourmet lunch included. Guests staying in suites can take a free shuttle into Tamarindo, a bumpy 14-km (8½-mile) ride away, to hang out on the beach and experience the local dining scene. Other perks include cooking classes, an outdoor gym, international calls, transportation to Tamarindo, and laundry service. Early-morning yoga classes and hikes around the steep 70-acre property keep you active.

Let your toes sink into the sandy sendero (trail) that takes you from one of the world’s most consistent waves to this chic boutique hotel nestled in a nature preserve. Unlike traditional lobby greetings, you’ll meander past a quiver of surfboards and rainfall showers to an open-air restaurant where Nosara’s elite gather for après-surf cuisine. Designed for those who mix business and pleasure, the hotel also runs Outpost, a nearby co-working space where hotel guests have access to a cafe, rooftop, and library. Both wellness and comfort are top priorities, evident in the state-of-the-art fitness studio, courtyard pool, surf school, and hospitality station (with everything from sunscreen to snacks). Despite the endless lure outside your door, it’s hard to leave the nature-inspired rooms fashioned in muted palettes and earthy tones, with outdoor showers, jungle lounges, blackout curtains, buttery linens, Bluetooth speakers, and mini-bars stocked with local treats. Founded by two besties who dreamed big during Covid, the hotel encompasses the heart of Nosara by not only giving back to the community, but by giving back to nature through sustainability practices that are helping this surf town grow in the right direction.

This boutique hotel built from recycled materials is inspired by the owners’ travels to Southeast Asia and has nine contemporary rooms overlooking a pool-centered courtyard. Gourmet breakfasts are served on a breezy upstairs patio bordered by papaya trees frequented by monkeys. Spacious rooms have concrete floors, organic bath products, flat-screen TVs, walk-in closets, and foam-insulated walls for noise and temperature control. Tinted-glass doors keep outsiders from looking in, allowing for ultimate privacy even if the curtains aren’t drawn. There are complimentary beach cruisers and longboards for a day on the coast (a 10-minute walk), or guests can lounge by the UV-filtered pool, completely protected within the confines of the gated property. It’s definitely worth splurging on the 800-square-foot suite with a private patio, Nespresso machine, massage treatment, bottle of champagne, enormous bathroom, and California king bed made from guanacaste trees.

Perched on the mountainside with breathtaking ocean views, Tierra Magnifica has all the attentiveness and personalization of a boutique hotel and all the amenities of a resort. A concierge welcomes you "home," while you refresh with a welcome drink and appetizer, and take in the vista. Rooms are comfortable and spacious, especially the six "Vista Premium" that are on the top level with vaulted ceilings, spacious balconies, and draped king beds. The charming hosts are friendly and eager to share their love of Costa Rica with you, and invite to you experience "pura vida" in their former house-turned-hotel. Enjoy yoga classes in the chalet with 360-degree views, or lounge by the infinity pool with one of the best views in Nosara. Drawing a hip and trendy crowd, the Huacas restaurant specializes in tropical-modern meets Costa-Asian cuisine with a Blue Zone menu created by chef Paulo Valerios. Included in the room rate are laundry service, yoga-and-cooking classes, access to the Iguana Surf Club, and a daily cooked-to-order breakfast. 

You may never want to leave this tranquil oasis of luxury villas hidden behind scrolled white-and-orange walls, where the architecture is Mexican but the style is all Italian. Ocher-washed villas with hammocks and dining tables on their front porches circle an exuberant garden and pool with a cool waterfall. A pool bar, spa, and sauna make it easy to drink, rest, detox, and repeat. Rooms have state-of-the-art kitchens, and you can dine alfresco at a long wooden table on your own tiled terrazza. All the comforts of a luxury home (king-size bed, cable TV, Wi-Fi) are here, just across the street from the beach. A Mediterranean restaurant (closed Tues.) serves meals beneath a Spanish-tile roof by the pool. There is also a five-bedroom, five-bath house for rent next door with its own garden and pool, plus two other large houses to rent in Sámara Rocks, a private complex 1½ km (1 mile) east of Sámara.

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.

Catering predominantly to kitesurfers, this breezy property on a steep hillside is one of the more affordable lodging options in Bahía Salinas, with suites, bungalows, rooms, and dorms just minutes from the water. It's worth bypassing other room categories and opting for the boat-shaped suite with a private balcony, stone walls, air-conditioning, and garden shower. If you're on a budget, the wooden bungalows are chalet-style and sleep four, with an added bunk bed for the little ones. Standard rooms are boxy and rustic, but suitable if kitesurfing is your main priority. All rooms have ocean views, Wi-Fi, and hot-water showers, and there’s an on-site pizzeria serving wood-oven pizza and Mediterranean food. The all-inclusive packages with meals, lessons, and lodging are a real bargain. Most people come to combine the adrenaline sport with a bit of relaxation, but if you’re not into kitesurfing (or even wind), you may want to stay elsewhere.

Perched along a forested mountainside, these wooden cabins feel like tree houses; you'll hear howler monkeys and an array of birdsong from your bed. Steep steps lead to the rustic aeries built on stilts, with screens for walls on three sides, comfortable beds, and balconies hung with hammocks. Once you drag your luggage up the hill, you will be rewarded with great views from the upper cabins. Blankets buffer you against the sometimes cool, breezy nights. Blue Jay's three lower cabins are larger, but lack the arboreal charm of the rest. Four new, larger cabins come equipped with kitchens and air-conditioning. Breakfast is in the open-air restaurant, next to an attractive blue-tile pool. Head to the nearby beach and surf break or climb the mountain trail behind the cabins to look for birds.

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.

This chic and charming breezy boutique hotel is a welcome hideaway from the dusty bustle of Tamarindo, but still walking distance to everything. There are eight clean and comfortable rooms with king beds surrounding a refreshing pool. A carefree aesthetic abounds, encouraging you to leave your worries behind. The French owners treat you to a different delicious breakfast every morning and will take care of anything else you may need while you're visiting. 

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.

Beautiful views abound at this truly Costa Rican ecolodge, with rustic hacienda-style rooms and plenty of cultural activities. Be sure to visit the hot springs, which are among the best in the area and seem to go on forever, and take advantage of the mountain waterslide, along with the rest of the adventure tours.

Frequented mainly by surfers, this is a good option for anyone seeking easy beach access, relative solitude, and comfortable, if not fancy, lodging. The hotel's spacious glass-and-stone bungalows are scattered across a leafy property behind Playa Avellanas, which guests reach via an elevated boardwalk through a protected mangrove estuary. Each cabin has a queen bed and a single bed, high wooden ceiling, and covered terrace with a hammock. Eight cabins now have air-conditioning, and although four do not, their high ceilings, shady location, ceiling fans, and good cross-ventilation keep the rooms cool at night. Solar panels provide hot water. Monkeys, iguanas, and other critters mill about the extensive, forested grounds. The restaurant, under the shade of a giant guanacaste tree, serves a selection of Costa Rican and Continental cuisine at reasonable prices ($$) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There's also a playground and game room with a Ping-Pong table and other games.