Arenal & Around
About 15.5km east of Nuevo Arenal, the cottages, pool and restaurant at La Mansion enjoy amazing lake views. The large split-level rooms feature king-size…
Must-see hotels in Central America
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
This is a beachfront, jungle-shrouded hostel and turtle-conversation project, beloved by travelers for the relaxed atmosphere, home-cooked meals and…
Santa Catalina
This Italian-owned surf camp is a classic, and its beachfront setting is one of the best. Bright, colorful cabins overlooking the black-sand beach have…
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Fulfil your childhood fantasy with a couple of nights in an awesome treetop hideout. With solid wood construction and big windows facing the rainforest,…
Western Highlands
Located 1km south of Zunil, Las Cumbres seems like a colonial village amid a volcanic landscape where great plumes of steam emanate from the earth. The…
Santa Cruz La Laguna
This stylish, environmentally friendly lodging makes the most of its spectacular setting. A mosaic stone path winds through exuberant vegetation to the…
Cayo District
A touch of understated luxury, this unique boutique resort and spa (Ka'ana means 'heavenly place' in Kekchí Maya) offers luxurious rooms and casitas fully…
Central Valley & Highlands
Midway between San Ramón and La Fortuna, this well-signposted lodge is run by animal lovers (they care for hundreds of them here). The 33 eclectic rooms…
Caribbean Coast
About 3km south of the dock, this simple solar- and generator-powered retreat, steps from the beach and surrounded by 36 hectares of jungle, is an…
Arenal & Around
This country inn 2km east of Nuevo Arenal is an all-round winner, offering epic views and unparalleled hospitality. Rooms feature bright serape bedspreads…
Quiché
On the edge of the village with forested views, this posada is a former stable, built in the local style with carved wood columns along an arcade. Most of…
Montezuma
Set on jungle-shrouded former horse ranch, this Moroccan-inspired stay is defined by arching doorways and Arabesque windows, moon-shaped door handles and…
Panama City
Opened in 2018, this 203-room downtown high rise takes inspiration from the Panama Canal and the country's diverse cultures. Not your parents' luxury…
Arenal & Around
Perched on a 22-hectare hilltop with incredible volcano and lake views, this boutique hostel is the best cheap sleep in the region. Bed down in a basic…
San José
Constructed in 1930, the city’s first prominent hotel is recognized as a national landmark (John F Kennedy and soccer legend Pelé both stayed here)…
Boquete
This historic 21-room hotel dating from 1914 wins you over with its sprawling flower gardens, serene spaces, and handsome rooms and public areas. Choose…
Central Valley & Highlands
This elegant three-story plantation inn with manicured lawns and an inner courtyard has 16 well-appointed rooms with high ceilings, wood floors and…
Bocas del Toro Town
A poster child for Caribbean luxury, Punta Caracol has nine exquisite cabins perched on a long pier over crystal waters. Two-story thatched cabins feature…
Caye Caulker
Set on sandy grounds fringed with palms, the Iguana Reef is both upscale and informal. It's the kind of place you can roam around barefoot by day, but you…
Chiriquí Province
A lovely destination on the beach, with 14 impeccable, ample and cheery rooms and great service. We love the indigenous designs on the bedspreads and…
Northwestern Costa Rica
Innovative and sustainable, this contemporary, open-air, hilltop lodge in the shadow of Tenorio is stunning. The 18 rooms are small but stylish, with…
San José
Built around an early-20th-century house that once belonged to President Tomás Guardia, this quiet, welcoming Barrio Amón inn exudes a slightly campy…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Across from the beach at Puerto Viejo's western edge, this cool guesthouse has colorful basic rooms, including spacious garden rooms with air-con and hot…
Nosara Area
This member of the mighty Selina hostel chain has really outdone itself. The expansive, jungle-shrouded property is defined by dreamy thatched-roof villas…
Central Valley & Highlands
The local animal-rescue center also provides the best lodgings in town, with two adorable and well-constructed guesthouses just a short walk from the…
Guatemala
The steep ascent to Hobbitenango might make you think you're climbing Mt Doom, but this Middle Earth–styled lodge is a great place to get away from it all…
Northwestern Costa Rica
This former hacienda is now an attractive lodge with a delightful restaurant. Located 4.5km north of Cañas on the Interamericana, it's set on nine…
San José
This Spanish-style hillside posada (guesthouse) rates as one of the area's top B&Bs. Homey standard rooms have wooden floors, throw rugs, cable TV and hot…
Sarapiquí Valley
On the edge of town and at the edge of the forest, this charming B&B is a rough-around-the-edges gem. Breakfast with the birds can't be beat, and night…
San Marcos La Laguna
This lakefront spread created by a North American artist could be the wackiest of San Marcos lodgings. Signs of artistic exuberance pop up everywhere,…
Comarca de Guna Yala
This eccentric place at the 11Km marker is where to head if you want to chill in the clouds. Set on 32 hectares of forest with a dozen waterfalls and a…
Cayo District
Stylish Gaïa River Lodge is beautifully perched on a ridge above Privassion Creek. Luxurious cabañas and villas are well spaced out in the lodge grounds,…
Arenal & Around
Set on a rainforest lagoon 3km west of Nuevo Arenal, the five blissfully isolated bungalows at the Lucky Bug feature works and decorative details by local…
Northwestern Costa Rica
This friendly B&B caters to travelers who prefer their adventure with two wheels on the ground. Accommodations are simple and sweet, with a shady common…
Chiriquí Province
Cala Mia on Isla Boca Brava offers luxurious ocean-front tranquility. Some 11 thatched bungalows have ample living spaces, handcrafted local furniture and…
Ambergris Caye
Who knew a thatched-roof cabin could be so chic? With high ceilings and elegant wood floors, huge picture windows, Mexican tiles and Guatemalan rugs,…
Isla Colón
Exuding a very homespun charm, this colorful seafront lodge with eight rooms, three thatched cottages and a suite works its magic. Mosaic tables and…
Ambergris Caye
One of the best deals on the island, this attractive colonial-style hotel is set back from the ocean, leaving a wide, sandy swath shaded by coconut palms…
Península de Azuero
This delightful 10-room hotel surrounded by lush garden and fronting the ocean offers the most comfortable lodgings in the area. Choose one of the half…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
This sweet property offers tremendous value, especially in its quaint faux-adobe bungalows, each with a kitchenette and shady front porch. There's also a…
