97 Best Hotels in Costa Rica

The basic rooms here have stunning views of the Gulf of Nicoya as well as hardwood floors, firm beds, and powerful, hot showers. Rooms are spartan but cozy, and there's a two-bedroom cabin with a full kitchen that sleeps five. The inn is quite far from the Monteverde Reserve entrance, but is within Valle Escondido, a 28-acre private preserve to which guests have full access. A taxi into town costs about $5 one way. There is direct access to 5 km (3 miles) of trails from the hotel in its own reserve, where night tours are offered at 5:30. For wildlife, isolation, and great rates, this property is a good bet.

Although most travelers visit this out-of-the-way spot for its famed French restaurant by the same name, Deevena is equally gaining renown for its hospitable staff and elegant rooms that surround a pool. Under exposed-beam ceilings, king-size beds rest on polished cement floors with L-shape lounges large enough for two extra beds on request. Double glass doors open onto front patios with Adirondack chairs overlooking a saltwater pool. Outdoor showers add a touch of luxury, as do the welcome cocktails, in-room massages (by reservation), and gourmet meals prepared by chef Patrick Jamon. Rates are reasonable, and service is outstanding at this family-run hotel named for the child the owners have sponsored for years. Rooms are void of TVs, so bring a book and prepare to unplug.

Although the handsome garden restaurant is the main attraction at this elegant hotel, the spacious rooms and well-equipped villas are quite comfortable, too, and the hotel is about a block from the beach. Rooms have beamed ceilings, terra-cotta floors, comfortable mattresses, and tropical color schemes. The smaller Standard rooms around the small pool are a good deal, and they open onto small terraces with chairs. The larger Superiors above the restaurant sleep more people, but if you need more room, you're better off springing for a one- or two-bedroom suite in the buildings across the street. They have kitchenettes, large balconies or terraces, and are steps from a larger pool. The restaurant has excellent food, including filet mignon with a brandy-and-peppercorn sauce, perfectly cooked mahimahi, and garlicky butterfly shrimp. Service is polished but the atmosphere is not stuffy, especially when there's live music in high season.

The friendly Villa San Ignacio, with its classy Spanish-style architecture, proves that affordable does not have to equal generic. Deluxe rooms have terra-cotta tile floors and Guatemalan fabrics; those on the garden side are quieter, and worth the extra $20. A sumptuous breakfast buffet is served on the patio. The restaurant's eclectic selection ranges from straightforward Costa Rican cuisine to fun presentations like ceviche served in a half coconut, which have to be seen (and tasted) to be fully appreciated.  San Ignacio offers frequent web-only discounts.

On a hillside about 3 km (2 miles) from the beach, these terraced, privately owned Mediterranean-style villas have impressive views and offer one and two bedrooms, kitchens, and (in most) large balconies with hammocks. Villas on the upper levels have ocean views, and those on the lower level overlook the jungle, where you may spot monkeys, iguanas, and an array of birds. Avoid Units 1 and 2, which face a walll, and request No. 6 or 8 for the best views. Narrow walkways wind through this tranquil property's lush grounds to the villas and blue-tile pool. A restaurant by the pool offers breakfast.

This three-star affordable resort hotel, with two pools and tennis courts is upriver from Dominical Beach on exquisitely landscaped grounds filled with orchids, bougainvillea, and hibiscus. It's especially popular with families, with mini golf and four family rooms with kitchens and two double bedrooms. The bigger junior suites have king-size beds and cable TV. Every room has a/c, a private porch, a mini-refrigerator, and a sink. Plants and elegant table settings fill the thatched-roof Crocodile Grill restaurant, notable for its excellent seafood at reasonable prices. A huge, luxurious pool has a swim-up bar and handsome teak pool furniture. Day passes, including lunch, are available to non-hotel guests for $27 per day.

You'll be charmed by this boutique ecolodge at jungle's edge, a modern representation of indigenous dwellings. The cabinas have comfortable king beds, mini refrigerators, and terraces where you can watch the birds, butterflies, monkeys, and sometimes sloths in the jungle. Three of the rooms have both indoor and garden showers, while the fourth room is slightly larger at the foot of the stream. Tile floors and plenty of shade keep rooms cool, or you can swim in the lovely saltwater pool (there's no air conditioning). Enjoy a delicious breakfast that changes daily; it's included along with the Costa Rican owners' personal concierge service and overall attentiveness.