Must-see hotels in Central America

  • Hotel Trapp Family

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    Here’s some contemporary luxury in the midst of the cloud forest. The 20 spacious rooms have high wooden ceilings, big bathrooms and fabulous views from…

  • Chachagua Rainforest Ecolodge

    La Fortuna

    On a private reserve that abuts the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, this place includes an organic farm and fishing ponds (catch and cook!). Explore on hiking…

  • Hidden Valley Inn

    Cayo District

    Secluded Hidden Valley Inn is set on 11 sq miles of Mountain Pine Ridge, all for the exclusive use of its guests. The grounds straddle pine and tropical…

  • Anamaya Resort

    Montezuma

    Billed as a 'mind, body, and soul resort,' Anamaya's perch, high above Montezuma, is pretty damn special. With ocean panoramas and weeping jungle on all…

  • Hotel Sister Moon

    Isla Grande

    Your best choice for island lodging is this lovely clutch of 11 hillside cabins surrounded by swaying palms and crashing waves. With no beach, guests…

  • Finca Terra Viva

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    A 121-hectare working dairy finca surrounded by lush forest, this unique place offers guests an authentic rural experience, while raising environmental…

  • Paraíso Quetzal Lodge

    The Road to Chirripó

    Birders rave about this lodge, surrounded by 13km of walking trails and viewing platforms that provide an excellent chance of spotting the resplendent…

  • Hotel de Campo Caño Negro

    Arenal & Northern Lowlands

    Set in an orchard of mango and citrus trees next to the ‘Chapel’ lagoon, this friendly hotel is a fisher’s and birdwatcher’s paradise. After angling for…

  • Mystica Lodge

    Arenal & Around

    Here’s an invitation to relax and reconnect – with nature, your body and your breath. Comfortable, colorful rooms have Spanish-tile floors, woven…

  • Meliá Panamá Canal

    Colón Province

    Building 400 of the US army's notorious School of the Americas is now a giant resort hotel. The US$30 million property features 230 comfortable but…

  • Yoga Farm

    Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa

    This tranquil retreat has simple rooms and dorms with shared bathroom facilities, as well as more private cabins. Prices include three fantastic…

  • Hotel La Puerta del Sol

    Playas del Coco

    This unpretentiously luxurious Mediterranean-inspired hotel is a short walk from the town and the beach, but a world away from the traffic and the noise…

  • Posada de Santiago

    Santiago Atitlán

    Somewhere between rustic and luxurious, this North American–owned posada makes a great retreat. Seven cottages (some sleeping six) and five suites, all…

  • Uxlabil Eco Hotel

    San Juan La Laguna

    The Uxlabil stands on a small coffee plantation on the southern edge of San Juan's bay. Made by local artisans from natural materials, the four-level…

  • Congo Bongo

    Manzanillo

    Just 1km outside Manzanillo, Dan from Amsterdam has created a whimsical pop-art paradise of repurposed and recycled materials. Eight cabinas, surrounded…

  • Living Hotel & Spa

    Nosara Area

    Relax amid the simplicity and serenity of this tropical paradise. Pristine white rooms have tile floors, shiny wood ceilings and pretty stenciled walls…

  • Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge

    Hummingbird Highway

    The swanky Sleeping Giant has 20 rooms either garden-facing in the main lodge or in vast individual cottages, casitas (small cottages) or suites scattered…

  • Centro Ecoturístico Flor de Pochote

    Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos

    This beautiful ecolodge lies within the Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo, perched right on the crater rim. The cabins (which sleep two) scattered around…

  • Rancho Cerro Azul

    La Fortuna

    Nine cute, shingled cabins face the parking lot but back up to the forest, with private porches overlooking the trees. A 200m trail leads to the rushing…

  • Hotel Chantel

    Playas del Coco

    Perched on a cliff overlooking the coast, this intimate hotel is a step up from other local lodgings. Eleven rooms feature tasteful wood and wicker…

  • Canopy B&B

    Panamá Province

    In an old canal house dating from 1937, this lovely B&B with five rooms has a clean design of classic features mixed with bold patterns. Heated towel…

  • Posada Caribe

    El Petén

    Located on a lazy stretch of the river about halfway between Sayaxché and Laguna Petexbatún is this appealingly remote encampment managed by the ebullient…

  • Boho Tamarindo

    Playa Tamarindo

    This elegant boutique B&B opened in late 2018 and became an insta-favorite thanks to the intimate atmosphere, convenient (yet secluded) location and…

  • Heliconia Bed & Breakfast

    Veraguas Province

    The Sunset Coast's anchor tenant, Heliconia Bed & Breakfast in Palmilla, on the main road just north of Malena, is an excellent retreat thoughtfully…

  • La Costa de Papito

    Southern Caribbean

    Relax in rustic comfort in the sculpture-studded grounds of this popular Cocles outpost, which has timber-and-bamboo bungalows decked out with hand-carved…

  • Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens

    La Fortuna

    This intimate and indulgent hotel, 6km west of town, has amassed a slew of awards for its Asian-inspired architecture, minimalist decor and richly…

  • Arenal Oasis

    La Fortuna

    Located just 3.5km from the center of La Fortuna but surrounded by vegetation and wildlife, this place is truly an oasis. The accommodations are in dark…

  • La Fortuna Suites

    La Fortuna

    Here’s a chance to luxuriate in some high-end amenities (Apple TV and Netflix, for example) at budget prices. We’re talking high-thread-count sheets and…

  • Gilded Iguana

    Nosara Area

    Nosara's first bar opened in 1984 and was the go-to for expat wave chasers. Today a chic hotel of the same name stands around that original structure, and…

  • Sandbar

    Ambergris Caye

    A tight budget no longer means having to bed down in a stifling room on a backstreet. San Pedro's only waterfront hostel is easily its best. The bright…

  • Lost Iguana

    Arenal & Around

    This stylish and splashy resort, just 1.5km from the dam, is set among lush rainforest and rushing streams with glorious views at every turn. Luxurious…

  • Laguna Lodge

    Santa Cruz La Laguna

    This eco-lodge is in Paxanax, on the east end of the bay from Santa Cruz. Of adobe construction, the lodge comprises seven luxurious suites with lake-view…

  • Finca Vela

    Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro

    This stylish ecolodge run by a French family lets you leave the world behind. There's snorkeling right off the dock, where there's also a shady hammock…

  • Hotel Bahía Taitzá

    El Petén

    West of San José, this is an elaborate spread where you can truly unwind. Twenty-four well-designed rooms with tropical hardwood furnishings and lovely…

  • Bigfoot Hostel

    León

    With kitchen access, a miniature swimming pool, freshly made mojitos on offer, and spacious dorms and rooms with ample, secure luggage storage, this place…

  • Isla Verde Hotel

    Boquete

    Set in a large, lush garden with a small stream running through it, this delicious property offers different types of lodgings in 16 units – from casitas …

  • Kenaki Lodge

    Cahuita

    Opposite Playa Grande, this appealing place is the creation of expat Isabelle and Costa Rican tae kwon do master Roberto. Bright, high-ceilinged rooms and…

  • Riverside Inn

    Boquete

    A casual stunner, this exclusive inn with six suites has a relaxed and intimate setting and an upscale restaurant called the Rock. Living areas feature…

  • Hotel Bambú

    Santiago Atitlán

    The Bambú is an ecologically harmonious hotel on the outskirts of Santiago. Scattered around wild yet manicured grounds, the 10 spacious rooms are in…

  • Posada San Sebastián

    Antigua

    What do you show for a lifetime of collecting? San Sebastián's auteur-owner has the answer – a guesthouse packed to the gunwales with curios and museum…

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