Montezuma
Nine bright houses (each painted and named for a color of the rainbow) are fully equipped with kitchens and big porches with hammocks. They're set amid…
Must-see hotels in Costa Rica
Cahuita
Set back from the beach on the road marked by the Reggae Bar, this family-run spot features rather worn but nicely shaded simple wood cabins with kitchens…
Central Pacific Coast
A central waterfront location with hammocks strung up so that guests can watch the surfing action in comfort, a little pool with a miniature waterfall,…
Bahía Drake
On the northeastern edge of town, along the road to the airport, Pirate Cove is a laidback resort with a friendly vibe and a quiet location. There are…
Uvita
A couple hundred meters from the national park, this rustic, brightly colored guesthouse contains just a few simple rooms, a little restaurant, a cozy,…
La Fortuna
A darling family-owned property, 9km west of town. Canary-yellow wooden bungalows have vaulted beamed ceilings, two queen beds, lovely drapes and…
Puerto Jiménez
Marcelina’s place is a long-standing favorite among budget travelers looking for a peaceful night's sleep. In a cheerful pink concrete building, the rooms…
Northwestern Costa Rica
Just 3.5km from the Santa María sector of the park, this affordable option has attractive, rustic cabins that are surrounded by some of the prettiest…
Uvita
If you just want a quiet place to rest your head, these extremely good-value, comfortable motel-like rooms will do the trick. Tiled, cream-colored rooms…
Quepos
This intimate boutique hotel is a welcome part of the Quepos scene, and is a good mid-range option in the center of town. The whitewashed walls, blue trim…
Península de Nicoya
This is a lovely, intimate inn nestled into the semi-gated Palm Beach Estates. Spacious and luxurious rooms each have a private terrace overlooking the…
Bahía Drake
Ascend the punishingly steep flight of steps from the coastal road and be rewarded with absolutely stellar views of Drake Bay. Enjoy them from your…
Península de Nicoya
Ensconced in the Tierra Pacifica 'eco' development, this little guesthouse has access to tennis courts, a gym and yoga studio, a swimming pool and a…
San José
From cigarette-shaped 'pods' to dorms and private rooms, this former luxury hotel has made an easy transition to luxe hostel. Wonderful airy common spaces…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Run by a hospitable local family, this small hotel offers a clutch of tidy, tiled rooms, complete with coffee makers and mini-fridges. The owners can…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Get back to basics at this ecofriendly surfer crash pad right near the beach. Dark rooms have rough wood walls, few windows and shared bathrooms, but…
Hotel Boutique Puerta Del Cielo
Quepos
This cozy, well-situated seven-room boutique hotel in the center of Quepos doesn't have the glam of places nearer to Manuel Antonio, but is one of the…
Playa Sámara
This fantastic little inn offers the charming personality and artistic atmosphere of a boutique hotel at the price of a roadside motel. Seven simple rooms…
Jacó
In a good location just steps from the beach, this well-maintained hotel has clean rooms with dark wooden furnishings. Apartments come with a kitchen, and…
San José
A small, peaceful guesthouse on a quiet side street run by the adjacent Friends’ Peace Center, a Quaker organization promoting social justice and human…
La Fortuna
Resembling a gated suburban community, this lodging has sidewalks winding through perfectly manicured lawns, connecting the red-tile-roof bungalows and…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
This graceful old mahogany gingerbread-style house in Santa Elena is surrounded by gorgeous gardens bursting with heliconias, orchids and other tropical…
Corcovado Adventures Tent Camp
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Less than an hour’s walk from Agujitas brings you to this rugged spot, with spacious safari tents with beds set up on covered platforms. Twenty hectares…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
A lovely tropical-garden setting, a swimming pool and convenient parking are among the appealing features at this cluster of six bungalows within easy…
San José
A sleepy stone inn high in the hills, Pico Blanco is perched on a ridge 3km southeast of central Escazú. It has seen better days, but its 15 rooms are…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Perched on a small but steep hill in Cerro Plano, this stone lodge is a solid choice. The rooms are standard, with good mattresses, pinewood interiors and…
Playas del Coco
About 1km north of the town center, this leafy, tranquil property attracts monkeys, iguanas and a good variety of birdlife, in addition to happy travelers…
Quepos
From the rainbow-hued facade to the interior murals, this place is nothing if not colorful. The rooms have tropical-colored walls, bright linens, tile…
Península de Nicoya
Near the southern end of the beach this funky, friendly faux-dobe villa property offers a room to suit every budget. All room categories are quite smart,…
Tropical Sands Dominical Eco Inn
Quepos to Uvita
A lovely, secure hotel option hidden amid lush foliage on the southern end of town, this place offers smart, comfortable rooms with tiled floors, wide…
Hostel Plinio and Bed & Breakfast
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
From afar Hostel Plinio feels like a giant treehouse surrounded by jungle. This backpacker haven is in a convenient location near Quepos and has a large…
Quepos to Uvita
There are only five rustic rooms at this charming, secure, tidy little place on the main drag maintained by the charming Latishia. Comforts include a…
Arenal & Around
Here you’ll find huge, bright, spotless and spacious rooms, with plain decor but fabulous vistas from the picture windows. The top-floor rooms catch a…
La Fortuna
You can admire Arenal from every single colorful cabina at this riverside property 11km from La Fortuna: take it in from a seat on your private patio, or…
Península de Nicoya
In the center of unassuming La Javilla (2km from the beach), this semi-swanky hotel is incongruous with the setting, but still lovely. Rooms are simple…
Playa Sámara
Surrounding a big mango tree and a tiny swimming pool are 17 rooms with whitewashed stucco walls and tiled floors. The rooms that share a bathroom are fan…
Playa Tamarindo
Across the street from the beach, this immaculate and intimate hostel is popular among the surfer set. Budget travelers appreciate the clean, cool dorms …
Jacó
A Mediterranean-style boutique hotel with spacious, clean, marble-tiled white rooms with chunky wooden headboards, and lots of amenities including a…
To Corcovado via Puerto Jiménez
Set on 72 hectares of rainforest, this bluff-top lodge is constructed from fallen tropical hardwoods, with secluded, sumptuous, modern cabins and an open…
Ojochal
This beautiful hilltop sanctuary is home to a dozen brightly painted bungalows awash in calming pastels. The grounds are traversed by a series of paths…
