11 Best Hotels in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

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. Each safari-style unit is protected by a peaked roof and enclosed in mosquito netting, and has beds, electric lamps, hammocks, and hot water. A fine three-meal restaurant is tucked into the greenery halfway down to the property's exquisite, secluded beach. The concept is quite luxurious for the Caribbean coast—even Wi-Fi is included—but the locale still provides that close-to-nature experience. Your wake-up call is provided by howler monkeys and chatty parrots. These folks also offer multiday packages that include round-trip transportation from San José. If asking for directions, note that local people know the place by its Spanish name, Almendros y Corales.

When Canadian owner, Colin Brownlee bought a grazing pasture on the beach, little did he know that 12 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 youthful Italian owners came here to surf years ago, stayed on, and built a lodging that combines refinement with that hip Puerto Viejo vibe in exactly the right proportions. Cariblue's finely crafted all-wooden bungalows are spaciously arrayed on the edge of the jungle, across the road from the splendid white-sand beaches of Punta Cocles. Cabinas are linked to the main ranch-style building by paths that meander across a gently sloping lawn shaded by enormous trees. Expansive verandas and beautiful tile mosaics in the bathrooms add an air of refinement; hammocks add relaxation. Several of the units have air-conditioning. Breakfasts are huge. Italian cuisine dominates for lunch, and dinner is served at the lively Sole Luna restaurant on-site, featuring live jazz or reggae on weekends. Cariblue offers occasional online-only promotions, and can organize tours.

Impeccable service gives 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 three 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 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.

Luxury has arrived to Puerto Viejo with this five-star boutique hotel that has carefully curated an unparalleled property with a Caribbean vibe splashed with design, art, and comfort. This tropical hideaway has direct beach access and a variety of accommodations including luxury bungalows, themed suites, and a 2-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 the paintings and murals to furniture and mosaics, nearly every splash of color and décor is a work of art by the talented owners. They are 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.

Four octagonal wood bungalows are scattered around the secluded wooded property, with its wonderfully cool surroundings (no air-conditioning is needed). Half of each structure is given over to the room itself with screen door, large windows, ceiling fan, and bright bathrooms with basin sinks. A comfy porch with a hammock for relaxing takes up the other half. In the center of it all sits a pleasant thatch-roof lounge area, and the sounds of monkeys, toucans, and iguanas can be heard throughout the property.

Papito's raised cabins extend back into the property's wooded grounds and are furnished with whimsical, bright, tropical-blue-and-zebra-stripe prints. Breakfast, with an extra cost of $8, is served at the table on your own porch, which also has a hammock or swing chair. Pamper yourself at the small on-site spa. You'll get a small discount on the room rate if you pay in cash, and you can find a lot of online-only specials, too.

This boutique hotel fronting Playa Cocles is decidedly un–Puerto Viejo in its luxury, but if you're in the mood for a splurge here on the coast, this is the spot. Cement makes up the structural foundation of the two-story lodging, but ample use of hardwoods gives it a modern yet rustic feel. Rooms and suites are blindingly white with red, green, and orange accents in the pillows and wall hangings. (Like a chameleon, the building's exterior changes color periodically—hence the French name.) There's a lovely Caribbean restaurant and bar with a pricy menu, as well as a spa on-site. Thoughtful extras—like plasma TVs, cooking lessons, cocktail workshops, a large swimming pool, and beach club — are what set this hotel apart from the pack. The hotel offers occasional online specials.

If you’re looking for some “Guess where we stayed!” bragging rights following your return from Costa Rica, this lodging option 82 feet high in a tree provides them. There’s some choreography required to get to such a place. A 30-minute hike into the forest—you’ll be met and accompanied—takes you to the site of a níspero (medlar) tree. Strap on a secure harness, helmet, and cables and hoist yourself to a platform 70 feet above the ground. (The construction has nailed nothing to the tree.) With bed, chairs, shower, sink, and toilet, this is your surprisingly comfy wall-less “room.” Room service hoists up three meals a day. Carefully consider if you're up for the adventure; if you are, it can be great fun.

Though still within sight of the Puerto Viejo–Manzanillo road, this French-owned place delivers a get-away-from-it-all nature experience within the confines of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge at a fraction of the cost of other Costa Rican eco-lodges. It's so cool and shady here that the ceiling fans were never installed, as no one ever needed them. Cozy wood cabins are simply furnished with two beds and mosquito netting and have colorful spreads and drapes. The houses here can be rented by the week or month too. Personal touches, such as breakfast brought to the porch of your cabin, are standard. The bungalows are joined by a kitchen and are ideal for renting by a group or family. The folks here frequently offer last-minute online-only packages. Rates include free use of bikes, subject to availability.

This lodging complex among forested ground contains six large, stylish houses, all at ground level, one of which is built around a tree (that's the Tree House). The largest is the spectacular Beach Suite, with three bedrooms and domed, sky-lighted bathrooms. The Beach, Crystal, and Garden Houses round out the five; they are slightly more modest, but, here, that term is relative. The newest is a vintage recycled U.S. school bus, but with a snazzy interior. Prices skew higher here than other Puerto Viejo lodgings, but the ample size of the houses allows you to split the space among a group, making the per-person price not so alarming.