2 Best Hotels in Playa Junquillal, Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

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 hidden ecolodge with a kidney-shaped pool is made up of five bungalows themed after Africa, Persia, and Mexico. White-pebble pathways wind among the trees to the units that have concrete floors, stone-wall showers, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a coffeemaker, and a mini-refrigerator—though the good prices and tasty food at the palapa restaurant hardly make it worth stocking up on snacks. European cuisine is on the menu except on Tuesday, which is sushi night. Included in the rate is an impressive breakfast of fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, local honey, and your choice of tasty dishes like banana pancakes or eggs with rice and beans. Thick jungle terrain blocks the ocean view, but you can still hear the sound of the waves from the Persian rooms. Larger groups can opt for the apartment that sleeps up to six guests. The friendly owners speak German, Dutch, English, and Spanish.