250 Best Hotels in Costa Rica

Built on stilts over the Sarapiquí River on the edge of a 2-square-km (1-square-mile) private tropical rainforest reserve, the lodge caters primarily to those seeking natural-history tours. Activities include guided walks, boat trips, canoeing, rafting, and mountain biking. The wood-paneled lodge rooms have shared verandas strung with hammocks. Half a mile from the main hotel are seven bungalows that provide more space than the standard lodge rooms—with air-conditioning to boot. There is also a large two-bedroom house ideal for a family. Two trails can be explored on self-guided tours, or you can join the morning birdwatching tour for $30. Reserve a few weeks ahead, especially in high season; the place is very popular with tour groups.

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.

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.

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. 

This last-outpost ecolodge, near the border with Panama, is a draw for bird-watchers as well as nature lovers, yoga enthusiasts, and adventurers who want to really get away from it all in relative comfort and at an affordable, all-inclusive price. Built from fallen trees are comfortable wooden cabins on stilts with rustic furniture and tiled bathrooms. Cabin No. 7 has the most privacy, with an outdoor rainforest shower, screened windows on three sides, and a huge porch looking onto a beautiful ocean view. The property includes a vast orchard with more than 125 varieties of fruit trees that attract plenty of wildlife. Surrounding it are 800 acres of primary and secondary forest, a habitat for the more than 275 species of birds, including more than 65 scarlet macaws, the result of a 10-year release program. The best---and most relaxed---birding is from a deck chair beside the pool. A 90-strong troop of squirrel monkeys also roams the property, which includes a large yoga deck with an ocean view. Trails invite you to explore the jungle and a cascading waterfall with freshwater pools. Simple, healthy meals using local produce are served in an open-air dining room during set times. The beach, with swimmable waters, is a steep 10-minute downhill walk. Rates include two guided forest tours, all meals, plus coffee, tea and juices throughout the day. The owners sell their own cocoa butter and chocolate bars made in-house. 

New ownership and a post-pandemic overhaul have transformed the lodge’s thatch palm premises into colorful colonial-style buildings with bright white interiors, modern air-conditioned rooms, and a focus on personalized service and exclusivity. Tortuga sets itself apart with its smaller size, and markets itself to a higher-budget clientele, although during the off-season, rates are competitive. The lodge delivers a high-end experience by Tortuguero standards—offering an extensive wine menu, private family villas, a floating spa, and serene canal views from the refreshing waters of an unchlorinated, natural finish pool. The restaurant is à la carte rather than buffet style, and the menu has received an update as well, featuring elevated ingredients and creative preparations that are a departure from the heartier fare found around town, in addition to a menu of plant-based, vegetarian options. Tortuga's packages include meals, tours, and land/boat transfers with an option to upgrade to an air transfer via the hotel’s private charter flight (for an extra cost). The villa, with a king-size bed and an extra smaller bed, has ample room for a family. Tortuguero National Park is 10 minutes south by boat. Tortuga is the closest lodge to the area's tiny airstrip, although with only a couple of flights in an out daily, noise is not an issue.

Perched 1,200 feet above the sea on a promontory south of Punta Leona, the elegant rooms sequestered in the jungle have jaw-dropping views of the surrounding foliage and sea below. Spectacular sunsets should be enjoyed from the Amphitheater Bar. Freestanding suites and villas are gorgeous, and much better than rooms in the main building; if a villa's beyond your budget, try for a deluxe room with a shared pool. Victorian, French colonial, and Hellenistic motifs feature throughout, with Ionic columns, varied artwork, and cookie-cutter trims. The regular pool is rather small, but the Zephyr Palace complex — with its 10 themed rooms — has an impressive infinity pool with amazing views. Few suites in the world are as lavish as the Imperial suite at the Zephyr Palace, with its private gym, sauna, walk-in closet, and big-screen TV that ascends from the foot of the bed. The closest beach, Playa Caletas, is attractive but small and rocky; it's reached via a 15-minute shuttle ride or a 1½-hour hiking trail. You'll be rewarded with a beach bar, shaded palapas, lounge beds, and showers. Though great for romance or relaxation, there's little to offer kids or active travelers.

There's much to recommend at this hillside property, including the large picture windows and balconies overlooking Lake Arenal and the attentive service from the owners. Standard rooms have white tile floors and paintings by local artists. Higher up the hill, spacious bungalows with kitchens afford an even better view and are farther away from the road. With over 30 varieties of palm trees, this is a great place for bird-watching, and an on-site nature guide helps you delve into what you'll see here. A huge breakfast with homemade tortillas and breads is included.

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.

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.

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. 

The carefully groomed grounds of this top-notch, luxury beachfront resort are a riot of tropical foliage and flowers, shaded by massive mango trees. Guests, who are mostly well-heeled, avid anglers, sleep in spacious, air-conditioned, deluxe rooms with ultramodern bathrooms with thick towels and huge showers. Most rooms are in a two-story building shaded by tall trees, but there are also two separate bungalow suites that are larger and have private porches with pool and ocean views. More ocean views can be had in the two huge luxury suites with wraparound glass walls. The style is chic and contemporary: dark-wood furniture softened by earth-tone fabrics in natural textures and beds dressed in top-quality linens. On the property, water elements, from a koi pond and trickling fountains, to the inviting pool with ocean view, provide a cool note in the southern heat. Hammocks strung between trees and lounging areas, both indoors and on shaded beachfront platforms, provide relaxing places to contemplate the Golfo Dulce view. The outdoor lounge has handsome teak furniture with front-row seats for watching sunsets, where guests are treated to s'mores around the firepit. Weary fishers can also relax with a massage after a day of reeling in fish. The upscale restaurant serves bountiful, innovative breakfasts, and lunch and dinner buffets are included. An outdoor kitchen includes a brick pizza oven and a huge grill. Kayaks, bikes, and surfboards are available. The hotel boasts fiber-optic Wi-Fi throughout.

Hidden in a beachfront jungle within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Almonds & Corals features scattered bungalows raised on stilts and linked by boardwalks lighted by kerosene lamps. From the outside, it looks quite rustic, but each safari-style unit is protected by a peaked roof and enclosed in screens. On the inside are solid wood floors, a tiled bathroom, mosquito-netted bed, comfortable furniture, curtains, electric lamps, hot water, and a hammock. A three-meal restaurant is tucked into the greenery halfway down to the property's exquisite, secluded beach. The locale provides that close-to-nature experience with all the comforts, including Wi-Fi. Your wake-up call is delivered via howler monkeys and chatty parrots. If asking for directions, note that local people know the place by its Spanish name, Almendros y Corales.

On hillsides sloping down to two pristine, almost-deserted beaches, chic and elegant rooms are decorated with gorgeous natural fabrics and local art and have huge private terraces with comfortable outdoor seating. From the base of the hill, guests are transported by electric golf cart up winding pathways to the carbon-neutral property. Rooms have fully stocked "Tico minibars" with complimentary local snacks and beverages. Bathrooms are spacious, with round, glass-brick shower stalls, and suites have mosaic-tiled hot tubs on their terraces. Amenities include two pools and a spa, free yoga and exercise classes, and the surrounding forest is alive with wildlife. It's not uncommon to be visited by a monkey at your breakfast table. The main restaurant is practically in the trees, and the menu is innovative and ambitious, and includes some popular gluten-free dishes. There's also a more casual daytime restaurant at the lower pool nearest the beach. The hotel offers free activities including tortilla-making classes, nature hikes, Spanish lessons, coffee roasting class, cooking workshops, and sustainability tours.

This rain-forest B&B has old-fashioned charm with three chalet-style bedrooms looking out onto the mystic lake and volcano. The owners (and their resident Great Danes) have converted their hillside home into this lovely lodging that attracts seasoned travelers and nature enthusiasts. The cozy rooms have sloping ceilings, hand-carved furnishings, and tropical hardwoods. The two rosewood rooms downstairs have tile floors. Up a spiral staircase lies the L-shape, all-wood double loft with three beds and a back porch that overlooks the large garden. Running through the manicured grounds is a river and a network of hiking trails for exploring; rubber boots are provided. Birds abound: 100 species have been cataloged on the grounds. A favorite pastime is sitting in a rocking chair and watching the hummingbirds feed. The breakfasts are divine, with fresh-squeezed juice and macadamia-nut pancakes. The entire property is no-smoking.

The spacious, teak-furnished rooms at "Twelve Moons" are a couple of miles from the sea and sand, and noise, set amid 5 acres of lawns shaded by tropical trees and luxuriant gardens with a mountainous green backdrop. Rooms have high ceilings, tile floors, local artwork, and private patios facing the lawn, and the large bathrooms have showers, bathtubs, and double sinks. The full-service spa uses the hotel's own homemade beauty products. An open-air restaurant serves creative seafood, meat, vegetarian, and vegan dishes. This property has one of the nicest swimming pools in Jacó, not to mention an amazing staff.

On 13 acres of private reserve, this boutique hotel is contemporary and very chic, with rooms rendered in slate, hardwood, and rattan with Italian fittings. Elegance abounds with soft hues of cream and white and pampering extras like 500-thread-count Egyptian-cotton bed linens and Turkish robes. Jacuzzi tubs and (shared) rooftop sundecks encourage relaxation, as does the Terra Spa complete with a Vichy shower, mud room, sauna, hair salon, and six treatment rooms. Higher room categories include a complimentary mini-spa treatment with direct booking. Three white buildings house the rooms, which are surprisingly spacious—the smallest is 350 square feet. Wildlife tours of the preserve take place daily at 4 pm, and beach transportation is offered hourly from 8 to 4. The hotel’s La Luna Restaurant has excellent food and sweeping sunset views, earning it a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Manuel Antonio.

This wildly family-friendly, comfortable ecolodge makes a great base for exploring vast tracts of surrounding forest (both primary and secondary), plus there are mangroves, a beach with nesting turtles, and 366 bird species. The dozen rooms in various cabins and the guest rooms all have hot water. The original cabins have sitting rooms with wood furniture, kitchenettes, screened-in porches, and lush flower borders. Four of them are superior cabins, with higher ceilings, bigger bathrooms, and sleep three or four people, in combinations of single and double and king-size beds. Two economy cabins have three bedrooms each. Six handsome guest rooms built with plantation teak have high ceilings, tiled showers, and small porches looking onto a swimming pool aflutter with birds and butterflies visiting the surrounding flowering shrubs. Knowledgeable bilingual guides interpret the miles of trails, or you can follow the self-guided trail. The open-air restaurant has excellent fruit smoothies and coffee, and flavorful local food, and you can also dine at a private wooden table set under the umbrella canopy of an almond tree. There's a great gift shop with lots of local crafts, Boruca textiles, and nature books, including books of wildlife stories written by the original owner Jack Ewing, a great storyteller and local historian. Linger for an hour or two atop a lofty bird-observation platform in the hotel's rainforest canopy, zip along the canopy tour, climb a 114-foot-high tree with ropes, or stay overnight at a shelter in the heart of the forest.

Reminiscent of a ski lodge, this longtime favorite has extremely comfortable and stylish rooms with vaulted ceilings and great views. The bar is positioned around a huge but cozy lobby fireplace, and the outdoor heated pool is a perfect place to unwind after a day of tromping through the reserves. The exceptional El Jardín Restaurant, with its menu of Garden, Ocean, and Land options, uses locally grown vegetables and dairy from the Monteverde milk factory. Rooms are situated along a long corridor, which tends to carry hallway noise; Nos. 201 and 207 have the most privacy. Guests are advised to keep their balcony doors closed, because monkeys have been known to ransack suites.

It may seem like a contradiction, but Pachira manages to create a feeling of rainforest immersion while also being one of the larger lodges in Tortuguero, as the expansive grounds, modern facilities, and range of tour options are designed to accommodate large groups with access to two restaurants, a spacious outdoor canal-side patio, a turtle-shaped pool, and the most buffets in town. Each almond-wood cabina in the lush, well-manicured gardens contains four guest rooms with high ceilings, king-size beds, and bamboo furniture. Renovated rooms are #89–94. The stunning pool is shaped like a giant sea turtle: the head is a whirlpool tub, the left foot is a wading pool, and the right foot is equipped for swimmers with disabilities. The all-inclusive package includes transport from San José, all meals, three guided tours, and access to 1½ km of private trails through the jungle surrounding the hotel. Spa treatments, a rarity up here, are extra. 

Combining Costa Rica’s vibrant architecture with modern design, this tranquil property reminiscent of tropical-deco decor, offers spacious rooms and colorful beach bungalows with indoor-outdoor rainfall showers and private gardens. Tucked behind 8-foot walls, each room was designed with privacy and luxury in mind and includes a collection of books, huge flat-screen TVs, and a minibar. The two mosaic swimming pools are sparkling clean and surrounded by waterfalls and mini-palapas for shade. The open-air restaurant specializes in organic cuisine, serving such dishes as grilled fish, tuna tartare, fish tacos, pasta, and salads. Many ingredients (for the food and the natural spa products) are grown on-site.

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.

Though nothing special, these small beachfront rooms and apartments, many with kitchenettes, are a good deal. You have a pick of accommodations: rooms with air-conditioning and kitchenettes, rooms without kitchenettes, and rooms without air-conditioning. Cement-block beds will certainly keep you from rearranging the furniture, but the rooms are clean and tidy. All units have large terraces overlooking a garden and pool area where there's a grill for your use; second-floor rooms have balconies with partial sea views. Larger apartments can fit five to six people. Breakfast is served in the neighboring Koko Gastro Bar. It's just a few steps from the surf, and Jacó's busy main strip is a block away.

This is one of the closest properties to the volcano, with rooms boasting hydromassage Jacuzzis, sitting areas, jaw-dropping views, Juliet balconies, and nearly 700 square feet of space. High ceilings, almost too much space, and queen beds that face walls of glass are what set this property apart from competitors; but at night when the curtains are drawn, rooms can be rather dark and stuffy (electricity operates by key card). The beautifully manicured grounds make up for this minor pitfall, with streams, gardens, and thermal springs that cascade from the swimming pool down to the spa. Guests receive complimentary admission to the Titokú Hot Springs, located 6 km (4 miles) south of the hotel and 5 km (3 miles) north of La Fortuna.

This tropical-industrial-inspired hotel offers guests (adults-only) a beachfront location as well as light-filled spacious rooms with private terraces, air conditioning, and comfortable, stylish furnishings. The facilities are modern, clean, and contemporary, while the property's well-maintained landscape allows for close observation of wildlife that often wander by from the nearby reserve. Although there's no pool, the beach is safe for swimming and the beach club has a bar and lounge chairs in the sand. Service is attentive and friendly, and the restaurant serves all three meals, including the free breakfast. Lunch can be served on the beach if desired, and dinner is a set menu with an option of dining on the beach under twinkle lights. Guests also have access to Exôtico Beach Hotel where they can use the pool and receive discounts at the bar and restaurant. Take note that there's no sign on the road for the hotel; this is by design to reinforce the exclusivity of the property. Punta Uva is only a short walk and Arrecife can be reached in 15 minutes.

Surfers are the main clientele in these beachfront rooms with high ceilings, clay-tile floors, and sliding-glass doors that open onto semiprivate balconies and terraces, most of which have good views of Playa Hermosa. Second-floor rooms have better views, as do the two spacious corner suites that sleep six with large balconies and two bedrooms. Request Room 207 or 208, with high ceilings, plenty of space, and unobstructed views. Room 104 opens onto the pool and sand. Creature comforts include minibars, Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, and air-conditioning. You can watch the surfers from a nice little pool surrounded by tropical foliage in back. The consistent waves are great for intermediate-to-advanced surfers, but if you're looking for a beach where you can swim or splash on the shore, this is not the place for you. 

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.