66 Best Hotels in Costa Rica

Atop a cliff at the tip of Cabo Matapalo, this lodge has unparalleled views of the Golfo Dulce merging with the endless blue of the Pacific, as well as 750 acres of primary forest, home to plenty of monkeys and peccaries, as well as the occasional puma and ocelot. A network of nine trails meander past creeks and pools. Deluxe thatched-roof cabins have king-size beds, and some have a loft with a single and double bed for families, along with private garden showers with hot water. Two cabins with two bedrooms are ideal for families. Decks are perfect for sunning by day and stargazing at night. A suspension bridge through the forest links the main lodge with two more thatched-roof, rustic cabins set in a tropical garden that is great for bird-watching. Per-person rates also cover complimentary round trip transportation from Puerto Jimenez to the lodge, as well as excellent meals, including wood-fired pizzas, served in a restaurant overlooking a garden alive with hummingbirds by day and serenaded by a chorus of frogs at night. Solar- and hydro-powered generators provide light to read by, and with the ocean breezes you won't miss air-conditioning. Expert resident guides are on hand to lead you along forest trails on foot, or you can climb a towering tree, fly in the canopy along a zipline, rappel down a waterfall, and soak in natural warm tidal whirlpools down on the beach. There's a yoga deck with a serene ocean view, and you can opt for a relaxing massage in your bungalow or in a forest glade. A new adults-only pool separates grown-ups from the family-friendly pool. Eco-conscious owners manage to keep the property in ship-shape order while maintaining the highest standard of sustainability.

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 in a vast, private nature reserve, with a breathtaking view from the lodge's high jungle ridge, this is the first and most spectacular ecolodge in Costa Rica, garlanded with numerous awards for its mix of sustainability, conservation, service, and comfort. The cost includes all on-site tours, meals, and transportation to and from Puerto Jiménez. The service here is exceptional, including morning coffee or hot cocoa brought to your cabin at 6 am. After a day of activities and three filling meals, you'll sleep on a luxury mattress in a four-poster queen or king bed that is layered with fabrics made by local artisans. Spacious, airy cabins built of gleaming hardwoods blend indigenous motifs with bold, contemporary design elements. Bathrooms are fresh and modern, with blissful indoor showers and double-vessel sinks. Outdoor garden showers also have hot water, along with views onto the private teak terraces, where you can view passing monkeys, roosting toucans, and plenty of scarlet macaws—the lodge's namesakes—all from your lounge chair. The layout is creatively designed with luxury villas branching off a skyway trail perched above the forest canopy. There's a good-size pool, with ocean view, plus a massage hut and a yoga deck. Meals here are all à la carte, served in a dramatically lighted, round rancho under a soaring thatched roof. The menu includes lots of seafood, exotic fruits and vegetables, and mouthwatering desserts. Four resident naturalist guides lead tours through the lodge's pristine wilderness and to nearby beaches on foot or on horseback. Don't miss the free sustainability tour called Pigs, Twigs, and Garbage, which highlights the resort's eco-friendly commitment, including pigs' contribution to energy fuels.

If you don't like to climb stairs, request a cabin close to the main lodge.

Unparalleled bird-watching within a 160-acre private nature reserve with more than 450 recorded species, plus first-class food and comfortable lodging are the reasons nature lovers from all over the world stay here. During high season, two resident bird guides are on hand to help you find sought-after hummingbirds, such as the snowcap and black-crested coquette, and more. Even if you are not a birder, the trails are excellent for hiking, and there's horseback riding up into the surrounding mountains. The two-story lodge is upscale modern, with rustic touches, as are the comfortable, separate cabins. Gourmet-quality meals (included) are served family-style in the indoor and outdoor dining rooms, both of which have beautiful views of the Turrialba Valley and volcano. Birding guides cost extra.

This hilltop jungle lodge has it all: exquisite bungalows in the closest location to Corcovado National Park, extensive gardens, two swimming pools, a beach, excellent tours, naturalist guides, and first-class service. Situated on189 acres, it's at the corridor to the Reserve, meaning wildlife is abundant, as are trails for exploring. Take your pick from rainforest or cliffside lodging—that latter attached by wooden pathways and boasting ocean views with a contemporary twist on glamping. There's no roughing it however, with every detail in place like plush bedding, soaking tubs, a/c, turndown service, bathrobes, hiking equipment, and even rain boots for muddy days. Self-guided nature trails around the property include a well-signed garden tour of the immaculate grounds. You can take a guided boat tour to Corcovado's nearby San Pedrillo station, or you can hike there with a guide. Another highlight is the Caño Island snorkeling tour, with stops to watch dolphins and whales en route. A daily sunset ritual takes place at the hilltop bar, where guests snack on bocas as the sun disappears into the sea behind Caño Island. In the elegant restaurant, decorated with stained-glass panels, meals focus on locally produced fish and meats. There is Wi-Fi throughout the property. 

Perched canyonside with views of the forest and the volcano beyond, these spacious, modern cabins of stone and wood below soaring ceilings and massive windows are cozy, private, and comfortable. Your villa includes free minibars featuring local beer and kombucha, a private deck with a plunge pool, indoor/outdoor showers, a huge high-end gym, complimentary yoga classes, a swim-up bar for socializing, and unparalleled service. The breakfast with a personal French press of coffee is mostly grown on-site and will fill you up until dinner.

You can't get any closer to nature than this off-the-grid lodge, famous for its excellent birding and hiking trails, wedged between forest and the banks of the Río Tigre. Stay in a private cabin along a garden trail or in one of the four second-story rooms with shared baths that have chest-high walls, and above that, are open to nature (no screens, just mosquito nets over the beds). In these almost-alfresco rooms you're at eye level with the trees, the better to spot visiting birds. Tuck into the linens and pillows that always feel fresh, and enjoy natural air-conditioning provided by the rushing river. Electricity is solar generated, but there's enough power to recharge batteries and power a Wi-Fi connection. On-demand gas heaters provide plenty of hot water in the garden showers. The gourmet fare here rivals that of the best luxury-lodge kitchens. At dinner, guests gather around a communal table with owners Liz Jones and Abraham Gallo to plan the next day's birding. Abraham, a lifelong local, can show you hidden mountain trails leading to Corcovado National Park, less than a mile away. More than 400 bird species have been spotted on the property, placing this lodge in the top three hottest birding sites in the country.

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.

Copa de Arbol is ultraluxurious, ultracool, ultra-expensive, and is idyllically situated between crashing ocean surf and dense jungle, right on the coastal path walking trail that connects Drake Bay to Corcovado. Two-story, thatched-roof houses scattered around the landscaped property have an open-air kitchen area or porch with hammocks at ground level. Stairs lead up to high-ceilinged, spacious rooms, decorated in muted earth tones with vaguely Asian touches: Buddha statues, cotton-print bedspreads from India, Balinese carved mirror frames. Luckily, you can turn off the a/c and throw open the screened windows to let in the sounds, scents, and breezes that let you know you really are in Costa Rica. Bathrooms are exquisite, with good lighting, overhead fans, and square showerheads that deliver truly tropical deluges. A deluxe 2-bedroom suite is aimed at families and groups of friends. Paths winding through a maze of hibiscus hedges in the landscaped garden lead to a dramatic four-tier pool where you can watch whales breaching in season. You'll find a hot tub on top, descending by steep stairs to two plunge pools with ocean views, and a kiddie-deep pool at the bottom. At mealtime you leave your shoes at the bottom of a staircase that climbs to the barefoot-only, second-story restaurant with an excellent view of garden, beach, and ocean. Service is attentive and friendly here, with a homey touch provided by self-serve coffee and stacks of specialty teas, along with home-baked cookies and cinnamon rolls. The overall feeling here is more hotel than nature lodge. All the usual snorkeling, nature, and wildlife tours are available, along with kayaks and paddleboards. Or you can just head off along the coastal path and create your own adventure. There is a three-night minimum stay here; rates do not include boat transport to the lodge or any tours, making the price high relative to other area lodges. Rooms 5 and 9 have the best views.

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.

Nature lovers, surfers, couples, and families alike love this tranquil, sophisticated retreat that includes everything from meals and transportation to guided hikes and turndown service. Nestled in a forest brimming with birds and wildlife—400 feet above a mostly deserted beach studded with tide pools—the lodge has luxurious two- to five-person cabinas with screened windows, king-size beds, contemporary bathrooms with spacious showers, and private decks with forest and ocean views. A secluded, spacious deluxe cabin, on the path to the beach, has stunning ocean views and lots of privacy, perfect for honeymoons. The teak-and-stone villas with ceiling fans each have a plunge pool and outdoor shower. Four spacious rooms and two suites in a two-story building close to the restaurant have verandas overlooking a swimming pool edged with teak lounge chairs. International meals with a tropical touch are served on a spacious terrace restaurant with forest and ocean view. A smaller, romantic side deck under palm trees is the perfect spot for candlelight dinners à deux. Waterfall rappelling and biologist-guided nature walks are the highlights, apart from soaking in the serenity. New trails lead through the forest to two suspension bridges spanning ravines. There's also a five-platform zip line, so guests can get a dose of canopy-level views of birds and wildlife, along with high-adrenaline adventure. 

Set amid fields of green coffee, this exclusive, hilltop B&B hideaway has a much-deserved reputation as one of the country's sumptuous splurges. The Gaudí-esque main building has a soaring two-story atrium and white-stucco arches, set among tropical flowers and shaded by massive fig trees. Rooms are filled with interesting artistic flourishes, as well as such luxuries as Jacuzzi bathtubs and 100% bamboo sheets. The spacious two-story suite, popular with honeymooners, is out of a fairy tale: a spiral staircase with a carved-serpent handrail leads up to a romantic, window-lined tower bedroom. The sumptuous, secluded Cielo suite has its own entrance through the gardens. The owners work hard to make the hotel as eco-friendly as possible. Prix-fixe gourmet dinners are available at the chic restaurant El Tigre Vestido, but lunch on the terrace—with its spectacular view of San José down in the valley and the Escazú mountains beyond—is a better value. After a day of touring, unwind in a full-service spa. Finca Rosa Blanca offers occasional Web-only promotions.

Nestled among 13½ acres of rolling hills nearly 3 km (2 miles) from town, luxury tree houses have wraparound decks, driftwood headboards, tree-stump nightstands, waterfall showers, and skylight ceilings, ultimately fading the line between nature and decor. Each unit is unique in design, but all are built of wood, stone, and glass and have minibars, lounge areas, and private entrances. The spacious two-bedroom Rivendell tree house looks more like a two-story chalet cupped in the branches. Eden has an indoor Jacuzzi, and Neverland—built over a koi pond—has floor-to-ceiling windows with views over the hills to the Gulf of Nicoya. Breakfast and tea are served in a lovely solarium in the main house, which also has two standard guest rooms. The rules here are simple: no shoes in the house, no working during your stay, and dessert is served before dinner promptly at 5 (the coconut flan is to die for). The property's views are among Monteverde’s best, and there are plenty of quiet spots for reflection and a network of hiking trails.

This upscale, five-star boutique hotel has carefully curated an unparalleled property with a Caribbean vibe splashed with design, art, and comfort. It's a tropical hideaway with direct beach access and a variety of accommodations including luxury bungalows, themed suites, and a two-story Caribbean house. This masterpiece is the brainchild of mother-daughter duo, Elizabeth (an artist from San Jose) and Elena Steinvorth who fell in love with Puerto Viejo in 1992 and never looked back. From paintings and murals to furniture and mosaics, nearly every splash of color and décor is a work of art by the talented owners. They share their creativity in the form of style and cuisine including the two restaurants, DaLime Beach Club and Papaya. Additional perks include complimentary snorkeling gear, bike rental, and yoga sessions. All rooms are furnished with a/c.

Inspired by the owners' years in Austria, two spacious chalets built into a hillside command expansive views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the hilly peninsula, and contain elegant, airy, and downright regal rooms—all with balconies, minibars, polished woods, and plush white duvets. Decor is clean and tailored, and service is impeccable, lending a sense of old-world charm reminiscent of a mountaineer's version of the Ritz. Rooms in the Main Building, where you'll find the lobby and restaurant, are on the small side but are more affordable; those in the Chalet Building are larger and have outdoor showers or Jacuzzi tubs. Splurge on one of the spacious suites with panoramic sunset views, spa-like bathrooms, and expansive private terraces featuring soaking tubs and swinging daybeds.  On the ground floor of the Chalet Building you'll find a boutique, juice bar, and yoga studio. Food served in their restaurant Celajes is prepared with ingredients from the greenhouse. A trail from the main building leads to a microbrewery, Jacuzzi, and natural spring for swimming on warmer days. For a fee, you can opt for such pampering perks as picnic lunches, spa treatments, breakfast in bed, and private in-room dinners.

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.

Stunning contemporary design, high-tech comforts, and a lofty location overlooking the Pacific combine to set a whole new standard of luxury at this adults-only property. Garden walkways lead to spacious villas, where architect and owner Martin Wells has pulled out all the stops: glass-walled showers for two, innovative stone double sinks, sliding teak doors leading to an exquisite walk-in closet, and glass flooring. Boxy white sofas and chairs and a floating king-size bed, piled high with pillows and a puffy duvet, invite relaxation. Creature comforts include exotic teas, a stocked mini-bar, and a Nespresso machine. Other requests, including room service and tours, are a tap away, accessible via personal iPads—even laundry service and beach transport are included. An exquisite saltwater infinity pool surrounded by an elegant terrace restaurant and chic bar and lounge establishes the sophisticated tone in the main lodge. Meanwhile, at the restaurant, from breakfast to dinner, every dish is delectable as well as beautifully plated. Returning from dinner, you'll find your villa romantically staged, with drapes drawn, candles flickering, and a red glow emanating from under the bed. The spa is an experience not to be missed.  You'll feel worlds away from civilization, but a brief shuttle trip can transport you to the "whale's tail" upon request.

The best view in town—a sweeping panorama of verdant hills, the aquamarine ocean, and offshore islands—is the claim to fame for this array of spacious rooms tucked between the jungle and gardens ablaze with colorful flowers. The four-story main building holds the lobby and restaurant, above which are three floors of ocean-view rooms reached by external spiraling stairways or an elevator. Other ocean-view rooms are in buildings clinging to the hillside. The sundeck and infinity pool are lovely, and you can cling to the edge and watch wildlife from the water. Transportation is provided to and from the beach, four times a day. From the ultimate in romance, request honeymoon suite #4 with a private Jacuzzi. Regardless of where you stay, every room has an ocean view other than the four economy rooms near the parking area.

Sweeping ocean views, impeccably appointed accommodations, and lots of tropical-foliage privacy make this lodge the area's most romantic option. Planted in an exquisite jungle garden on a ridge jutting into the Pacific, the elegant, spacious wooden ranchos (small houses), placed strategically for total privacy, have bedroom lofts, spiffy bathrooms, and large, breezy porches with wicker furniture. Interiors are enlivened with local artisan touches. All accommodations here have air-conditioning, purified water, and a balcony with a hammock to sway away your cares. Nos. 1 and 3, aptly called "sunset ranchos," have the best sea views. Four superior rooms in a shared building are spacious and luxurious, with king-size beds, jungle, garden, and ocean views. Room D has a wraparound deck overlooking an expanse of jungle, delighting bird-watchers. Service here is personal, enthusiastic, and polished. Take a dip in the small pool, or head down the hill to Playa Cocolito, a gem of a beach. Diving trips and certification courses, river kayaking, and nature tours with private guides are among the activities. The fan-cooled restaurant serves excellent tropical fare, and there's always afternoon tea and home-baked treats—the carrot cake is a standout. Sophisticated, four-course dinners—with vegetarian options—are served at a long communal table, giving guests a chance to meet and share experiences. Red or white wine (or beer) is poured at dinner. Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge and in cabin "A" closest to the Club House. There's a three-night minimum stay, a package that includes all meals and two tours. 

Perched on a sublime mountaintop overlooking rainforest and ocean, this is the quintessential yoga retreat, though it's universally enjoyed for its remoteness and proximity to wildlife. Accommodations range from private bungalows with showers and decks to platform tents. Romantic, round bungalows in the garden, have thatched roofs, garden showers, and decks for relaxing in wood-and-leather rocking chairs, while three deluxe rooms near the main lodge have private baths and share a spacious deck. For real adventure, bed down in one of the lodge's comfortable (and cheaper, at $165 per person, double occupancy) platform tents, each with a private bathroom. The large decks are perfect for practicing yoga, scanning the horizon for hawks or scarlet macaws, or contemplating Pacific sunsets. There's an elegant spa and massage hut with ethereal views. The bird life here is unbeatable; a tour with an expert guide should not be missed, even if you have never given birding a thought before. Guided hikes to waterfalls and swimming holes are precipitous and thrilling, and lounging around the pebble-deck pool is pure nirvana. You can also visit nearby Corcovado National Park on a day tour. Healthful, delicious meals have an imaginative vegetarian focus, along with servings of fish, flavored with herbs from a hilltop organic garden. Complimentary savory bocas are served at cocktail time, creating a friendly atmosphere. The lodge's decks are made from recycled plastic, and the lodge's electricity is provided by a hydro project on the property, in line with the owner's commitment to sustainability, which has earned the lodge the highest five-leaf rating.

Scattered over expansive grounds are freestanding casitas, villas, and "tents," all tastefully decorated with dark-wood furnishings and equipped with luxurious touches like indoor-outdoor showers, four-post canopy beds, plasma TVs, and whirlpool tubs. Rooms fall into three categories (suites, casitas, and villas) but are similar in design with an eclectic mix of imported decor ranging from Italian crystal chandeliers to Balinese hand-carved furniture. The wood-plank floors and ceilings made from sugarcane reeds add a natural touch. The adults-only villas are at Naraya Springs, an exclusive section of the resort connected by way of a 230-foot jungle bridge. Double the rate of the casitas, villas have private plunge pools and complimentary extras like minibars, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and yoga. Although lacking volcano views, villas are extremely private and have their own reception area, spa, and pool. Only half of the casitas and suites have volcano views. The highest-end is the tented camp, large luxury "tents" have soaring ceilings, soaking tubs, breathtaking vistas of the volcano from the suites and private plunge pools, walk-in closets, your choice of breakfast served on the patio, and every amenity (daily laundry service is included). There are cascading termales, thermal pools heated by the natural springs, and the spa has open treatment rooms so you can hear the wildlife and rain during your massage. The resort's five restaurants offer tapas, international, Asian, Mediterranean cuisine, and even a wine bar, so you never have to leave the comforts of the grounds. Special packages are available for those who want meals included in the rate.

Planted between the tranquil Golfo Dulce and tropical forest, this luxury ecolodge brilliantly fuses high design, luxe comfort, and gastronomic flights of fancy in two restaurants with an eco-consciousness dictated by its castaway location accessible only by boat. The original three-story lodge has five spacious suites with panoramic views, even from the chic, beautifully tiled bathrooms. A four-plex building nearby can accommodate family groups, and eight new rooms have private plunge pools and face a swimming pool. A charming cottage for two sits even closer to the shore, screened by tropical foliage. With a palm-fringed beach, a second large freshwater pool, a spa, and trails leading through forest to an organic garden, this is a true tropical paradise. Room rates include the round-trip boat transfer, kayaks and snorkeling in the bay, a two-hour guided tour, and yoga and meditation classes.

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.

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.