97 Best Hotels in 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.

Cahuita doesn't get more serene than these lodgings spread out in a garden with an extensive bromeliad collection. Choose between comfortable rooms, suites, apartments, or bungalows, all decorated with art from around the globe; some rooms have a double-vaulted ceiling with strategically placed screens that keep the place wonderfully ventilated. All rooms have a/c other than the suite and apartment — both of which are spacious and cool. Amenities include queen-size beds, hot water, Wi-Fi, and secure parking. Breakfast comes complete with homemade breads and cakes. The restaurant serves Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine and is open to the public. Two pools round out the offerings. The beach is across the road.

Famous for miles of bird-watching trails and expert guides, this lodge has comfortable, spacious rooms with two double beds and modern bathrooms, some with bathtubs, set in colorful, bird-attracting gardens. The main lodge has a huge firepit, a spacious bar, and a gift shop with lots of useful bird-watching items, including rain ponchos. A hearty breakfast is included in the rate. Breakfast and lunch can be served on a large sunny terrace frequented by hummingbirds. Homegrown trout is the restaurant's specialty. Don Efrain Chacón first bushwhacked his way through these mountains in the 1950s, and the property is still run by his children and grandchildren.

If you want to avoid the twisting drive down the San Gerardo road, take a bus to Km 80 on the Pan-American Highway and arrange a lift to the hotel ($25 for up to 5 people).

Grab a hammock and sway away your cares at this beachfront property that is spotless, modern, comfortable, and one of the best deals in Cahuita. Beyond the gated entrance is an authentic Italian restaurant where homemade pizza and pasta are served. Five beachfront rooms have two queen beds, air conditioning, smart TVs, purified water, and patios with ocean views. A small pool keeps life cool, as do hammocks swinging from towering trees. The Italian owners, Elisa and Giuseppe, go above and beyond to make sure every guest has an unforgettable stay. The hotel offers complimentary equipment for snorkeling in the reef next to the hotel.

Follow the giant tapir-footprint signs to this extraordinary, rustic lodge, reminiscent of an Adirondacks camp but with oversize, whimsical wood furniture, all within hiking distance of the western edge of Corcovado National Park. The lodge offers roomy cabins to suit all budgets, including one two-bedroom family cabin and a wheelchair-accessible room with a semi-open, large bathroom paved with smooth river stones. A completely round, freestanding room is comfortable and cool, with an outdoor shower shaped like a vulture's head with outspread wings forming the walls. Kids of all ages will delight in the cabin-in-the-woods atmosphere, enhanced by creatively designed, huge twig chairs and headboards, twisted-branch windows, and furniture made from tree stumps. Breakfast is included, and excellent traditional Costa Rican meals are served in an alfresco restaurant decorated with creative wooden sculptures and furnishings, including a giant spider over the open kitchen. It's an 8-km (5-mile) hike to Los Patos entrance to Corcovado National Park, but you can see much of the same wildlife by walking the 5 km (3 miles) of trails of this 86-acre property or by going for a tractor ride along the river.

High style at high altitude, this avant-garde lodge clinging to the side of a mountain has unbeatable valley views, great bird-watching, luxury accommodations, a sophisticated restaurant, and the top ecological sustainability rating. All rooms are uniquely designed to reflect the environment, including #14 built around a tree. All casitas and suites have living rooms with huge picture windows, private terraces, a/c, Jacuzzi tubs, minibars, ethanol-fueled fireplaces, as well as fluffy duvets for cold nights. The staff go out of their way to make sure all of your needs are met, offering everything from baby cribs to packed lunches. 

Framing a blue-tiled pool are freestanding cottages with thoughtful and creative touches like luxurious bedding atop artsy bed frames (made from repurposed pallets), colorful throws, polished cement floors, and lofts with twin beds. The oceanfront suite opens onto a private terrace with unobstructed views of the beach. There’s a two-bedroom, two-bath villa with a full kitchen that sleeps five, and an economical room with no view but plenty of character. There are surf lessons and beach toys for kids, and massages and margaritas for mom and dad. Yoga sessions take place at 9 am daily ($15). Horseback riding and other tours can be arranged on-site. Costa Rican specialties are cooked on an open flame and served in a palapa restaurant. Void of TVs and phones, this is the place to unplug, although there is a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.

Impeccable service and proximity to wildlife give this place an edge among the area’s handful of set-back-in-the-woods lodgings, and the Wi-Fi, private plunge pool, and barbecue that come with each house are unexpected touches in a setting such as this. The engaging British-Dutch couple who own the property took care to limit the impact of constructing four secluded hardwood guesthouses on this onetime cacao plantation. Two houses have one bedroom, the third has two bedrooms and accommodates up to four people; all have a full living room and kitchen. The fourth, Casa Heliconia, is a recently constructed glamping villa for up to 3 guests offering 360 degree views of the splendid rainforest garden. The units do not have air conditioning but have been designed for maximum cross-ventilation, the dense jungle surroundings keeping the rooms fresh and cool at night, the open windows an opportunity to enjoy the musical sounds of the jungle. There is a breakfast restaurant and yoga space. The owners are on-site if you need them, yet far enough away (as is the other house) that your closest neighbors are the agoutis, monkeys, and toucans that populate the property. The property has three large dogs who are friendly to welcomed guests but are meant to deter unwanted ones. Breakfast is available at an extra cost.

This U.S. chain manages to provide all the modern amenities of its well-known brand while incorporating local touches. The lobby sits on the 13th floor of a west-side office building. (The doorman at the entrance will show you the way up.) The sleek modern lobby with polished floors, dark woods, chrome, and modern Costa Rican art, gives way to homey rooms with subdued colors, plush mattresses, and mini-refrigerators. The floor-to-ceiling windows in each room afford great views to the mountains south or north of the city. You can relax in a pool here, too, a rarity among city hotels.

The European owners of this small east-side lodging have instilled a standard for attentive service in their staff and the result is a devoted return clientele, mostly from Europe. The pleasant public areas contain lots of greenery and a swimming pool. Good-size rooms are bright and airy. Some of the front-facing rooms get a bit of street noise, but overall this is a quiet neighborhood. The highly acclaimed Jürgen's restaurant next door is under the same ownership. When asking for directions, remember that jade is pronounced HAH-day in Spanish.

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.

The world-famous Playa Pavones surf break is a 15-minute walk from La Ponderosa, the area's only beach resort and several cuts above the usual surfer hangout, with accommodations verging on luxurious. Fresh, bright rooms have high-end mattresses dressed in crisp white linens and gleaming tiled bathrooms, air-conditioning, small refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi. Two of the seven spacious suites also have screened-in porches overlooking the sea. A large, two-bedroom villa with kitchen is also available for about double the price of a standard suite. If you're not into surfing, there are magnificent gardens loaded with birds and plants. On-site massages can be arranged. A swimmable beach is within walking distance. For rainy days, there's a large game room with Ping-Pong, darts, and a book exchange. In addition to surfboard and bike rental, there's a tranquil swimming pool set in an enchanting garden with an ocean view. Breakfast is not included in the price, but optional meal plans cover two or three meals.

This chain lodging incorporates local flair—bright, fresh primary colors and a rotating selection of Costa Rican art throughout—while providing business amenities in a clean, modern hotel. The hotel pays close attention to environmental concerns: solar panels, light sensors, and an active recycling program reduce its carbon footprint. Rooms are spacious, with modern design elements, and have 42-inch TVs and rain showers rather than tubs. Take a dip in the pool here, too; that's a real rarity among San José lodgings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

When Canadian owner Colin Brownlee bought a grazing pasture on the beach, little did he know that many years later, it would become one of the most popular boutique hotels on the Caribbean, complete with its own supermarket, tour company, beauty salon, and villas. Hardwood furnishings are abundant at this gay-friendly (but by no means exclusive) hotel at the secluded far end of Playa Negra. Even though all beaches in Costa Rica are public, here you'll feel like it's your own private strand of sand. Rooms on the second floor of the main building are breezy and comfortable with minimal furnishings. The larger garden bath suites, with open-air bathtubs set in a private garden, are a bit more of a splurge. Across the street are four two-story luxury accommodations with full kitchens and private plunge pools. The owners offer frequent online-only packages. 

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.

Perched high above Alajuela, this hotel's superb staff make up for the somewhat dated, uninspired interior, and it does have the "good view" it is named for, although most rooms overlook the lawns or pool area. Three balcony rooms on the second floor in back have decent views of the Central Valley, but even better are the views of Poás Volcano from the three rooms above the lobby. Mostly, the view is best appreciated from the back lawn. Rooms are fairly standard—carpeted and sparsely decorated, with small baths and TVs. The restaurant behind the lobby serves international dishes and grilled items. The hotel offers numerous Web-only packages.

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.