40 Best Hotels in The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific, 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 thatch-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 thatch-roof, rustic cabins set in a tropical garden that is great for bird-watching. Per-person rates also cover the 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.

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 390 bird species have been spotted on the property, including 255 species from the lodge porch, placing this lodge in the top three hottest birding sites in the country.

Overlooking the harbor, these air-conditioned rooms set in a lush garden are the most comfortable in town, and have the best water views. Rooms vary in size and price, but they all have colorful murals of wildlife and foliage, along with bright, tiled bathrooms, making this affordable place a cut above the rest. Coffeemakers and small refrigerators are another nice touch. A two-story house on the property can accommodate up to six. For a waterfront room, request 1, 2, 10, 15, 17, 18, or 21. Bicycles and kayaks are available to guests, and there's Wi-Fi throughout the property. You can enjoy the sound of the surf from your private terrace or the hammock hut. Cool off by jumping right into the gulf at high tide or take a dip in the plunge pool.

This secluded cluster of self-catering cabins right on the beach, under palm trees swaying in the breeze, is designed for parties of two to four people who want to kick back and enjoy the beach. Artist Susan England is a Zancudo fixture, and she can organize any activity, including river safaris, kayaking tours, and visits to nature preserves. Two idyllic, castaway-island cabins have thatch roofs and hammocks and lots of clever decorating details. The other two are 40-year-old renovated banana-company wood houses moved here from Palmar Norte and painted pastel pink and yellow. It's a rare chance to experience a little bit of Costa Rican history. Many guests return the same time every year, drawn to the fully-equipped kitchens where they can cook with ingredients from the nearby market or veggie truck that passes every few days. There's a discount if you rent for a full week.

Just as the name implies, Cabinas Sol y Mar have plenty of sun and sea, as well as a beach fringed by coconut palms and apricot-color wooden cabinas with porches where you can take in the spectacular views of the Osa Peninsula year-round. In 2022, a new owner came in to bring new life to the property. Each breezy, roomy cabina (sleeps four) has high ceilings, lots of cooling fans, and has been recently refreshed. Two of the sunny bathrooms feature pebble-lined showers. The alfresco restaurant serves the town's heartiest meals and the tastiest brownies. The popular U-shape bar is an easy place to meet new friends.

Comfortable rooms with sweeping views of forest and mountains, birding trails, and bountiful buffet breakfasts are the highlights at this delightful, small hilltop B&B. Rooms are furnished with attractive furniture made by local artisans and have satellite TV. Two bungalows have queen beds and modern bathrooms. Two superior cabins, one with a queen and two single beds and the other a large studio with kitchen and king-size bed, share the spectacular valley view with a spacious two-bedroom, fully equipped house. Start the morning early with a guided birding walk ($15) along trails through the garden, or farther afield near Wilson Botanical Garden. Then enjoy breakfast on the spacious deck framed by entwined tree branches, and keep your binoculars close at hand. Pepe, a professional bird guide, will help you identify visiting birds, as well as organize birding and hiking excursions (tours starting from $20 per person). Kathleen, a tour guide who speaks five languages, prepares elaborate three-course, gourmet fish and plant-based dinners ($22) for guests by reservation.

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. Earth-tone fabrics, cane and bamboo accents, four-poster beds, and huge tile bathrooms---some with new open-air showers---set a serene mood amid the exuberant greenery outdoors. Laundry service is extra, but each room has a clothesline for drying your sure-to-get-damp clothing. 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, first-class four-course dinners focus on locally produced fish and meats. Desserts are especially creative and delicious. Servers are friendly and attentive. Breakfasts are excellent and huge, and the kitchen packs hearty picnic lunches. There is Wi-Fi throughout the property. The best deal is a three-night package that includes air transportation from San José, all meals, and guided trips to Caño Island and Corcovado National Park.

Copa de Arbol is ultraluxurious, ultracool (comes with air-conditioning), 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, thatch-roof houses scattered around the landscaped property have an open-air seating 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 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: 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 food is average, not very imaginative or tropical, with the notable exception of excellent salads. 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.

High on a hillside with spectacular ocean views framed by giant traveler's palm trees, this Austrian-owned hotel is a luxurious base for exploring the area. The elegant Mediterranean-style buildings, painted blue and white, have spacious rooms, and there's plenty of open space for kids to play in, plus fitness trails for grown-ups and a spa to relax in. There's also a 4,300-square-foot swimming pool that commands both mountain and sea views. The birding here is excellent. If you tire of the view (not likely), there are large flat-screen televisions on swivel bases. Breakfast buffets are hearty at the pleasant poolside restaurant, which also serves lunch and candlelit dinners, featuring excellent fish along with some tasty Austrian specialties, including Wiener schnitzel. Service is friendly and polished. There's always a breeze and a feast for the eyes from the restaurant terrace. For budget-minded guests, there are two "adventure cabins" at the edge of the jungle, with ceiling fans but no air-conditioning.

With an excellent restaurant, a lush garden, a pretty infinity pool, and exceptional service, this elegant hotel is a heavenly spot for those who like to indulge themselves. The original 16 rooms have elegant, dark-wood furniture, comfortable beds topped with plush linens, and subtle angelic touches. Other luxuries include coffeemakers, soaking tubs, and spectacular stained-glass windows. Six Jungle Rooms are smaller and darker, but cheaper and very comfortable, with pickled-wood walls, antiqued armoires, and balconies facing the forest or garden. The romantic, high-ceilinged terrace restaurant, aglow in shades of royal blue and gold, has a very sophisticated menu; the tender osso buco is cooked to perfection, and the menu is completely gluten-free. The breakfast is also excellent.

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 more of owner Merlyn Oviedo's creative wood 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 casitas and suites have living rooms with huge picture windows, private terraces, and ethanol-fueled fireplaces, as well as fluffy duvets for cold nights.

Perfect for multigenerational families, this beautifully maintained resort is the best deal in Drake Bay and has the most kid-friendly grounds, with lots of flat, open space for romping, plus a refreshing saltwater swimming pool and rocky tidal pools to explore. The neat wooden cabins, which have modern tile bathrooms and hot showers, are lined up camp-style, spread out over landscaped grounds with mature trees, an ornamental fish pond, and fruit trees that attract birds and monkeys. Each building has three attractive rooms that come with firm queen-size beds, supported by wooden bedposts carved in animal shapes. Walls come to life with colorful, painted murals of birds and tropical foliage. Every room has air-conditioning and screen windows letting in cool ocean breezes. All but one of the cabins are easily accessible on foot or by wheelchair. The "honeymoon" cottage is perched on a ridge overlooking the ocean. Meals are satisfying and delicious, featuring poultry, eggs, and pork from the owners' nearby mountain farm, fresh fish and seafood, creative salads and pastas, and homemade breads and cakes. The bar serves free snacks at sunset, and there is always coffee, tea, and snacks available in the dining room. Laundry service is included—a real plus in this humid climate. Kayaks are at your disposal for exploring the river. Most guests come to see the rain forest, but you can also opt for mangrove, scuba diving, sportfishing, and dolphin- and whale-watching tours. There are several packages, with the most basic including meals, laundry, tours, and transportation from Drake.

With one of the most spectacular ocean views on the Costa Ballena, this modern "castle" is a luxury boutique hotel with nine ultrachic guest quarters with private terraces. Along with a million-dollar view of a shimmering infinity pool melding into the ocean from the lounge terrace, there are exquisite design touches everywhere in this modern, honey-color castle. Three palatial suites have huge contemporary bathrooms, king-size poster beds, and a tasteful smattering of one-of-a-kind side tables, chairs, bibelots, and art. Smaller double rooms sport the same design touches, three with ocean views and one tucked away in the hotel garden. "Spa Suites" 8 and 9 have ocean views, Jacuzzi tubs, and more privacy than the other suites. The restaurant is breezy by day and romantic at night. Keep binoculars handy since the birding in and around the hotel is excellent. Early in the morning and at sunset, pairs of scarlet macaws perform a fly-past.

This tranquil, sophisticated retreat in a forest brimming with birds and wildlife, 400 feet above a mostly deserted beach studded with tide pools, 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 zipline, so guests can get a dose of canopy-level views of birds and wildlife, along with high-adrenaline adventure. The friendly and professional young owners are on-site and ensure service is smooth and guests' every request are met.

This well-managed ecolodge in a 35-acre nature preserve bordering Piedras Blancas National Park is run by Austrians who have successfully instilled some sense of Teutonic order in the jungle. Tidy rooms have tile floors, reading lamps, and airy bathrooms with plenty of hot water. The rooms are a little dark, but are brightened by colorful, appliqué curtains and woven cotton bedspreads made by Guaymí and Boruca artisans. A saltwater swimming pool is cool and refreshing, and fragrant white ginger and ylang-ylang encircle a pond. Another nearby pond has a lookout for bird-watchers and is home to contented, well-fed caimans. Local guides lead visitors along thrilling trails to the waterfalls and deep into primary forest. The dining room, lighted by romantically flickering candles, serves huge portions of wholesome and delicious local food. For families or foursomes, there is a fully equipped Jungle Villa with two bedrooms with forest views.

A garden paradise that lives up to its name, this combination organic farm and sophisticated ecolodge is an otherworldly experience, meant to be slowly and thoughtfully absorbed over a three-night minimum stay. Beautifully designed, thatch-roof tiki cabins have private bathrooms and outdoor showers in cane-and-bamboo enclosures. There's a gorgeous, contemporary house with a spectacular ocean view for families or couples. Adventurous, budget-minded travelers can play castaways in seven airy, comfortable platform tents with garden showers and communal restrooms. Meals (included in the rate) are truly exotic, using organic produce from the garden and local fish and meat, prepared with spicy Asian accents and served in a stunning restaurant overlooking the sea. There are fresh juices and coffee and tea available all day. Two daily yoga classes are held on a serene yoga deck, and a masseuse is on call. One of the best activities is a tour of the garden. Carate Beach is steps away, and La Leona entrance to Corcovado National Park is a 40-minute walk along the beach.

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. There are a dozen rooms in various cabins and guest rooms, and 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 rain-forest 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.

On a precipitous ridge, this modest wooden lodge is an affordable and comfortable launching pad for a hike up Chirripó, or a pleasant spot to relax and breathe in fresh mountain air and scenery and watch birds. Along with budget rooms with private bath above the restaurant, there are private, comfortable cabins scattered around a pool, all with gorgeous views of the valley. The lodge's spartan but fresh rooms above the restaurant can accommodate up to five. One poolside apartment is spacious and fully equipped. The lodge is named for a twisted-wood pelican—one of dozens of idiosyncratic sculptures carved out of tree roots that now reside in a rustic museum on the property. The owners are eco-conscious, and they are part of the consortium that can arrange everything for a climb up Chirripó, from park reservations to transportation to porters to lodging. The driveway up to the hotel itself is quite steep; a 4WD vehicle is advised.

If a long stretch of deserted beach is your idea of heaven, check out this idyllic lodge with two-story cabins set in an exquisite botanical garden. Cabins are elegantly furnished in bamboo, with thoughtful touches like Egyptian-cotton sheets and a raft of candles for romantic evenings. The upper-level cabins have the nicest views and catch the best breezes. Pebble-lined showers have plenty of hot water and excellent water pressure. Eight modern but smallish rooms above the lodge's separate restaurant have upscale detailing and are considerably cheaper than the luxury casitas. The gentle Golfo Dulce waters are perfect for swimming, sea-kayaking, and boogie boarding, and there's a 65-foot lap pool surrounded by gardens and forest. Tennis courts round out the amenities. Two yoga platforms, a hot tub, and a spa with massages can help take away your residual stress. Extravagant dinners, with exotic foods reflecting the owners' worldwide travels, are served in a thatch-roof dining room with a huge table that can accommodate up to 32 diners. The lavish breakfasts may include mango scones and homemade granola chock-full of walnuts and cranberries. Birds are plentiful in the Playa Preciosa Platanares Mixed Refuge, which borders the lodge, and scarlet macaws are daily visitors. Every morning there is a guided morning walk for guests along the new Native Species Jungle Trail. Children under 12 pay half price.

This small bay-side hotel overlooking the beach and almost hidden behind flowering hedges is the most comfortable and reasonably priced place to stay in the village of Drake. There are seven simply furnished rooms—all featuring private baths with hot showers—that open onto an elevated, shared terrace with bay views and breezes. Larger superior rooms and suites have air-conditioning and three have expansive views over Drake Bay---but there's a price for those views: 185 steps to climb. All the rooms have tiled floors. Guests get to leave their artistic signatures on painted driftwood mobiles that decorate the open-air restaurant where breakfast (included) and day-long meals are served. The on-site diving operation is well run, so the lodge is often filled with groups of divers swapping diving tales around the bar.

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 and a Nespresso machine. 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. Smooth service is supplied by soft-spoken, attractive young men and women. The spa is an experience not to be missed. All this high-tech comfort also comes within the context of a sustainable philosophy. You'll feel worlds away from civilization, but a brief shuttle trip can transport you to the beach upon request.

Along with one of the best sunset views along the coast, this comfortable ecolodge on a high cliff bordering Ballena Marine National Park has spacious, airy cabins and a forest trail to a pristine beach. Wood-and-stone cabins, spaced out along a garden path that descends from the open-air main lodge, have huge bathrooms with spacious showers and exceptionally soft and luxurious linens. Trails wend through dense primary forest down to the wide sweep of almost-deserted Playa Arco and to a private, natural swimming pond. Electric car owners can charge up for the night at the hotel's electric charging stations. Breakfasts are hearty and delicious, served in the hotel's contemporary restaurant Aracari, which is also open to nonguests. At dinner, there are dishes to accommodate all tastes—vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free—and light choices for small appetites. Along with contemplating nature, you can nurture your inner self at the huge, otherworldly yoga platform or pamper your outer self with a massage. For more space with a view, request a suite or deluxe room.

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, from ceramic sink basins painted with flowers and birds to glass-topped side tables showcasing local shells. All accommodations here have air-conditioning. 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 flower-filled, 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. The lodge has the added luxury of electricity (and hair dryers). Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge and in cabin "A" closest to the Club House. There's a three-night minimum stay ($1,170 to $1,385 per person), a package that includes all meals and two tours.

The world-famous Playa Pavones surf break is a 10-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 three spacious suites also have screened-in porches overlooking the pool. A large, two-bedroom villa with kitchen is also available for about double the price of a standard. If you're not into surfing, there are nature trails winding through 10 acres of magnificent gardens and forest, loaded with birds and specimen plants. On-site massages can be arranged. Everything is within walking distance, including a swimmable beach, so you don't need a car. For rainy days, there's a large game room with Ping-Pong, darts, and a collection of DVDs and a book exchange. In addition to board 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.

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 thatch 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.

Perched on a sublime mountaintop overlooking rain forest 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 thatch 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.

A paradise for resplendent quetzals, this rustic but comfortable lodge is amid cloud-enshrouded mountains and valleys with 16 km (10 miles) of hiking and birding trails through ancient oak forests dripping with moss and epiphytes. Cozy bungalows, each set in splendid isolation, have picture windows and modern bathrooms and some have hot tubs and king-size beds, dehumidifiers, and TVs. Nighttime temperatures drop into the 40s at this high altitude (about 8,700 feet) and you'll be happy for the electric heaters and hot-water showers. The main lodge has a large fireplace and an observation gallery abuzz with brilliant hummingbirds that aren't the least bit fazed by onlookers. Meals are simple but hearty, and an espresso machine guarantees excellent coffee. A bird-photography shelter is equipped with battery-charging stations and natural backdrops and feeders to attract photogenic birds ($10).

Nestled into the mountainside overlooking the Pacific, these private, chic, one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas and suites are the ultimate getaway. With panoramic ocean views including some of the "whale tail," Ranco Pacifico's restaurant and pool area are updated and chic, the rooms well appointed and luxurious, and the service outstanding.