The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
A fantastic choice offering two big, breezy wooden rooms right on the river and a couple of cheaper options upstairs. The attached restaurant serves…
Must-see hotels in Central America
Alta & Baja Verapaz
Carved out of the jungle on a hillside 200m away from the Biotopo del Quetzal entrance, this place has good-sized simple rooms with hot showers…
Caribbean Coast
There are two ways into this dream of an ecolodge, both equally adventurous. Most arrive at its remote location on the Río Pacuare by raft, via a…
Highlands
Located in town, this large resort complex run by tourism pioneer Carlos Alfaro is a favorite among birdwatchers and hikers. Among the 21 rooms are dorms…
Antigua
Innovatively created from the remains of the sprawling Santo Domingo monastery, this is Antigua's premier lodging. The 128 rooms and suites are of an…
San Marcos La Laguna
Truly chic Lush seems to sprout organically from the living rock of the hillside, with recycled glass, plastic and other flotsam ingeniously incorporated…
San Marcos La Laguna
Cobbled paths weave through gardens bursting with flowers, coffee, palms and a profusion of hummingbirds at this tropical lakeside location 300m west of…
Nicaragua
Close to the northern end of the peninsula, this Londoner-owned boutique hotel takes its eco-credentials very seriously, with its use of solar power,…
Comarca de Guna Yala
One way to fulfill your castaway fantasy is to camp on this tiny isle run by a single family. Only 30 guests at a time are allowed to camp under the palms…
Belize
Billed as ‘a private island,’ this ultimate romantic retreat boasts seven delightful villas, each designed for maximum privacy and panoramic views. Each…
Darién Province
Overlooking Bahía Piña, near the southern tip of the Darién, this legendary fishing lodge boasts the most International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world…
Península de Azuero
On the north side of the main road, North American–owned Eco Venao offers a cool mountain ambience. Perfect for surfers and adventurers, its excellent…
Darién Province
Catering to serious birdwatchers, this ecocamp sits in the Reserva Hidrológica Filo del Tallo, a verdant secondary rainforest. Eight spacious, multiroom…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
This flawlessly designed 10-acre hotel is an example of how to build an ecofriendly resort. The 58 rooms are built into the jungle hillside and accented…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
A 2017 face-lift elevated this already spectacular property to a veritable Shangri-La, featuring uniquely glamorous design elements, beautifully textured…
Southern Caribbean
At the foot of Cerro Muchito, this 12-sq-km family-run farm has dedicated three decades to developing sustainable ecotourism. While there's no beach…
Western Highlands
In the extreme northwest of Huehuetenango province is this community tourism project started by returnees from five different ethnic groups who took…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
This collection of rooms and studios occupies a verdant setting frequented by troops of monkeys. Efficiency units incorporating teak trim and furnishings…
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Perched above Río San Carlos, ‘My Little Piece of Heaven’ is a rustic retreat, and don Marco is keeping apace with the times, paving the parking area,…
Sarapiquí Valley
Willing to forgo some creature comforts for the chance to commune with the rainforest? At Yatama, you’ll amble along wooden walkways above the forest…
Uvita
If you're looking for a jungle retreat that's a bit like a treehouse adventure, this awesome hostel run by a young expat couple is for you. About 2km…
La Enseñada Lodge & Wildlife Refuge
Northwestern Costa Rica
This wonderfully remote 400-hectare working cattle ranch and salt farm is an incredible setting for birding, horseback riding and good old-fashioned R&R…
Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro
Run by two Calgary friends focused on fun and service, this destination hostel is set up in lush rainforest with fruit trees and trails, overlooking a…
Península de Nicoya
This hilltop hotel has 54 fully equipped rooms with staggering ocean views. (If you spring for a suite, you'll enjoy this view from a private outdoor…
Bocas del Toro Province
The welcome of this women's co-op could not be warmer. They have built a handsome wooden hostel in the village of Bonyic on the Río Teribe. Accommodations…
Southern Belize
Luxury, environmentalism and intense beauty meet on the banks of the Moho River a few miles north of the village of San Felipe. All of Cotton Tree's 11…
Península de Azuero
This beachside branch of a hostel chain consists of 16 colorful thatched bungalows in rows running down to a pool and the beach. The total 41 rooms come…
Northwestern Costa Rica
In the mood to have your mind blown? Splurge on this absurdly cool resort in the middle of nowhere. Accommodations are the most stylish hobbit huts…
Santa Cruz La Laguna
As luxurious as it is wild and remote, this ecologically outfitted retreat is at Patzisotz, a secluded bay just east of Santa Cruz around a rocky cliff…
The Pacific Slope
Set on lush, tropical grounds that feature swimming pools, a spa bath, various sports fields and probably the most impressive minigolf course in the…
Southern Caribbean
Located 25m up a tree within the Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife refuge, this observation deck and tree house allows guests to experience life in the canopy…
El Petén
In a fabulous setting on the Laguna Yaxhá, El Sombrero features solar-powered, mosquito-netted bungalows with wraparound screened windows, most with lake…
Central Valley & Highlands
High above Turrialba, this 10-bungalow ecolodge sits on 30 hectares of forest land. The quaint and well-constructed cabins have hot water and rechargeable…
El Petén
Just west of the junction, this full-service outfit has spotless, modern rooms decorated with Maya textiles. All feature verandas and hammocks facing the…
El Valle
Attentive and relaxing, this deluxe Canadian-Panamanian–owned lodge with 11 very different rooms and suites is the perfect place to laze after a long day…
Bocas del Toro Town
This ever-expanding hostel chain, which has properties in Panama City's Casco Viejo and on Playa Venao in Península de Azuero, has a mammoth turquoise 196…
Sarapiquí Valley
This former finca in Chilamate is now an elegant lodge protecting 200 hectares of rainforest. Choose to stay at the river lodge, elevated above the forest…
Nosara Area
Set on a lush hillside, this yoga resort is traversed by a gurgling river, complete with waterfall. The setting is gorgeous and serene – perfect for…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Fifteen freestanding cabinas are scattered around the forested gardens of this 8-hectare property, which once formed part of the family finca. Each cabaña…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Every room at the Belmar boasts views of forest or gulf – or both! The gorgeous light-filled rooms are decked out with handcrafted furniture and high…
