Must-see hotels in Caribbean Coast

  • Punta Mona

    Southern Caribbean

    Accessible via a two-hour trek or a 15-minute boat ride, this 35-hectare organic farm and retreat 5km southeast of Manzanillo is a thriving experiment in…

  • Tree House Lodge

    Southern Caribbean

    Adventurers who like their lodgings whimsical will love these five open-air casitas, including a literal ‘tree house’ and the Casa Cristal two-storey…

  • Alby Lodge

    Cahuita

    This fine lodge on the edge of the park has spacious landscaped grounds that attract howler monkeys and birds. Four palm-thatched, raised bungalows (two…

  • Korrigan Lodge

    Southern Caribbean

    Korrigan is a Breton word for a fairy or gnome, and maybe that was the impetus for this otherworldly lodge, nestled into a patch of Talamanca jungle. Four…

  • Playa Negra Guesthouse

    Cahuita

    Owned by a delightful Quebecoise couple, this meticulously maintained place offers four charming rooms in a Caribbean-style plantation house, complemented…

  • La Danta Salvaje

    Caribbean Coast

    West of Guápiles, in a secret volcanic-mountain-range location, a 45-minute 4WD trip and a three-hour hike lead to this fabulous 410-hectare rainforest…

  • Hotel Miss Junie

    Tortuguero Village

    Tortuguero's longest-established lodging, Miss Junie’s is set on spacious palm-shaded grounds strewn with hammocks and wooden armchairs. Spotless wood…

  • Rana Roja

    Tortuguero Village

    On the opposite side of the canal from Tortuguero village, this jungle hideaway is good value. The immaculate rooms are connected by elevated walkways;…

  • Cabinas Punta Uva

    Southern Caribbean

    Steps from idyllic Punta Uva, this cluster of cabinas with tiled bathrooms, polished-wood verandas, hammocks and a shared open-air kitchen is hidden down…

  • Pacuare Lodge

    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…

  • Selva Bananito Lodge

    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…

  • Nature Observatorio

    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…

  • Green Gold Ecolodge

    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…

  • Kaya's Place

    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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Hotel La Diosa

    Cahuita

    This relaxing spot on Playa Negra offers six well-constructed bungalows. Some have Jacuzzi tubs and oceanfront terraces; all have air-con. The grounds…

  • La Kukula

    Southern Caribbean

    Six tastefully spaced 'tropical contemporary' bungalows bring guests close to nature with natural ventilation (super-high ceilings, screen walls) and open…

  • Casa Verde

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    This 17-room wonder features tiled walkways winding through gardens hosting tidy accommodation, each with high ceilings, stained-wood furniture, folk-art…

  • Almonds & Corals Lodge

    Southern Caribbean

    Buried in the jungle, this beachfront spot is popular with honeymooners (splurge on the master suite!). Its 24 green palm-roofed bungalows with netted…

  • Turtle Beach Lodge

    Tortuguero Village

    Reached by an Indiana Jones–style boating adventure, this isolated lodge – surrounded by 70 hectares of tropical gardens and rainforest – is flanked by…

  • Banana Azul

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Removed from town, this romantic hotel sits astride a blissfully tranquil black-sand beach. Jungle-chic decor (white linens, mosquito nets, bromeliads in…

  • Azánia Bungalows

    Southern Caribbean

    Eleven spacious but dark thatch-roofed bungalows are brightened up by colorful linens at this charming inn set on landscaped jungle grounds. Nice details…

  • Kelly Creek Hotel

    Cahuita

    Just outside the national-park entrance, sloths and caimans linger. Draw closer and find five graceful wood cabinas, some with new bathrooms, that have…

  • Casa Marcellino

    Cahuita

    In a peaceful garden setting, just inland down a side road between Cahuita and Playa Negra, you'll find this charming cluster of four spotless wood cabins…

  • Casa Marbella

    Tortuguero Village

    In the heart of the village, with a spacious and delightful canal-side deck, this B&B owned by naturalist Daryl Loth is a convenient in-town option…

  • Cabinas Tropical

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Ten spacious rooms – two with air-con – decorated with varnished wood and shiny tiles surround a primly landscaped garden at the eastern end of town. The…

  • Bungalows Aché

    Cahuita

    In Nigeria, Aché means ‘Amen,’ and you’ll likely say the same thing when you see these three spotless polished-wood bungalows nestled into a grassy yard…

  • Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

    Tortuguero Village

    This elegant lodge is set amid 20 serene hectares of private gardens, directly across the canal from Tortuguero's airstrip. The 27 demure rooms channel a…

  • Aracari Garden Hostel

    Tortuguero Village

    This tangerine-colored hostel on the south side of the soccer field has eight sparkling rooms and relaxing shared spaces surrounded by fruit trees. A new…

  • El Encanto B&B

    Cahuita

    This pleasant B&B, only about 200m northwest of downtown Cahuita, is set in landscaped grounds dotted with easy chairs and hammocks. Demure bungalows have…

  • Escape Caribeño

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Charming owners keep these bungalows spotless. Some bungalows sit on the beach side, others in the garden across the road, 500m east of town toward Playa…

  • Cabinas Riverside

    Cahuita

    This tidy budget place just around the corner from Kelly Creek ranger station offers nine simple rooms with mosquito nets and hot showers; five units that…

  • Río Indio Ecolodge

    Caribbean Coast

    In San Juan de Nicaragua, this ecolodge has 27 spacious polished-wood cabins, a restaurant and a bar. Fishing is the forte, but you can also go hiking or…

  • La Casona

    Tortuguero Village

    Cute rooms with rustic touches, fans and hot showers surround a lovely garden at this family-run spot. Sit back and relax in one of the hammocks and watch…

  • El Tucán Jungle Lodge

    Southern Caribbean

    Only 1km off the road, this jungle retreat feels miles from anywhere, making it ideal for birdwatchers. Four clean wooden cabinas on the banks of the Caño…

  • Cabinas Tito

    Cahuita

    Only 200m northwest of Cahuita, surrounded by extensive gardens, this quiet oasis offers six brightly painted, clean and simple casitas, plus a family…

  • Hotel y Cabinas de Tropico

    Caribbean Coast

    This motel-style abode isn't glamorous – it's on a side road off Guápiles' main highway (Rte 32) and is frequented by traveling vendors making deals in…

  • Casa Río Blanco B&B

    Caribbean Coast

    One of Costa Rica’s original ecolodges, Herbie and Annette offer four hillside cabins on two hectares above the murmuring Río Blanco. Devoid of cable TV…