Monteverde & Santa Elena
Small and friendly, Monteverde Backpackers is part of the Costa Rica Hostel Network. The dorms are clean and comfy enough, the showers are hot, the…
Must-see hotels in Costa Rica
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
If you're watching your budget, this cozy little red-roofed house is the best option. The rooms aren't too fancy – they have fans and tile floors, firm…
Quepos to Uvita
About 2km up the Escaleras road, Villa Escaleras has a spacious four-bedroom villa accented by cathedral ceilings, tiled floors, colonial furnishings and…
Northwestern Costa Rica
This is the town’s spiffiest spot. Family owned and lovingly cared for, rooms are spacious and clean, with high, beamed ceilings and loft sleeping spaces…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Sitting pretty on Playa San Josecito, this ecolodge and yoga retreat center offers nine light-filled rooms with polished wood floors, colorful tapestries…
Puerto Jiménez
Six tidy rooms at Cabinas Tropicales range from simple standards to roomy lofts and a deluxe suite, some of which have lovely outdoor showers. Each is…
Playa Sámara
Welcome to paradise. A handful of brand-new thatch-roof bungalows are scattered about the tree-filled grounds, promising plenty of privacy. From your…
Península de Nicoya
This gracious stucco mansion houses a friendly B&B. The property is charming in an artistic Old World way, with plenty of eclectic art, a two-tiered…
Uvita
Located 100m inland from the main highway, this cheapie is popular with international travelers of all ages. The rustic rooms are arranged around a semi…
Bahía Drake
High on a hill at the northern end of Agujitas, El Mirador (Lookout Point) offers spectacular views of the bay from its eight cozy cabins – catch the…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Run by kind and attentive staff, this hotel has rooms of various styles and configurations. The nicest are newer with graphite designs; older, more dated…
Bahía Drake
With a few simple fan-cooled dorms, this budget spot is a friendly and economical place to lay your head in the middle of Agujitas. It's also an excellent…
Cabinas & Hotel Vista al Golfo
Monteverde & Santa Elena
This bright, kitschy lodge is well kept, the showers are hot and the owners will make you feel right at home. On a clear day the upstairs balconies have…
To Corcovado via Puerto Jiménez
This is a characterful place to stay, with a historical bar frequented by miners during the gold rush. Most of the cabinas were part of the village…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
These three brightly painted, lovingly maintained cabins have fans, fridges and kitchenettes, along with hammock-strung porches and tons of homey charm…
Península de Nicoya
Perched on the hillside just above the beach, these studios and apartments are a great option for divers, beach bums and self-caterers. Studios (no beach…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
If the sign reading 'Welcome all sexes, races, colors, religions, languages, shapes and sizes' doesn't lure you in, the friendly greeting from owners…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
An easy-to-like, economical family operation 100m south of the Santa Teresa/Mal País divide, this Italian-Tico property offers a quiet, comfy spot a bit…
Península de Nicoya
A major price shift has made this charming hotel in the center of Tambor more of a bargain. Nine classy rooms surround a gorgeous garden that is bursting…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Steps from the beach, this family-owned place offers the intimacy of a B&B and the luxury of a boutique hotel. With a balcony or terrace overlooking lush…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Vying for the title of 'closest to the break,' this is one of the friendliest places in town, thanks to owners Amir and Idan. The rooms are plain but…
Central Valley & Highlands
For a bit of tranquility in downtown Turrialba (a rare commodity!), this B&B has a lovely garden patio with pool table and hammocks. Rooms are spacious…
Central Pacific Coast
Right on Playa Hermosa, this comfortable beach house has simple rooms with dated decor but lots of amenities. Rooms have air-con, a refrigerator, TV, hot…
Puerto Limón
This seaside hotel has simple whitewashed rooms and a breezy ocean-view restaurant that serves everything from burgers to jumbo shrimp. It’s about 5km…
Nosara Area
A short stroll from the sand, this rustic lodge is decked out with ceramic tiled floors, beamed ceilings, wood furnishings, candles and lanterns, and…
Playas del Coco
Mary Cox and parrot Simon offer a warm welcome, with a wide range of rooms, a friendly bar and the best American breakfast in town (think biscuits and…
OTS Hacienda Palo Verde Research Station
Northwestern Costa Rica
Run by the OTS (Organization for Tropical Studies), this station conducts tropical research and teaches university graduate-level classes. But it also has…
Península de Nicoya
Named for two canine amigos, this comfy, convivial inn has a handful of rooms that are clean, modern and artfully painted, each featuring a small patio…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
This clutch of upmarket cabinas and homes in Pavones proper offers fully equipped kitchens, cool tile floors and attractive hardwood ceilings. Big shady…
La Fortuna
Set at the base of Cerro Chato and surrounded by forest, this place is ideal if you want to get away from it all (but not too far away; you’re still just…
Península de Nicoya
We know a bargain when we see one, and we see one here. Four spacious cabinas feature spotless tile floors and bathrooms, well-stocked kitchens and shiny…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
The darkish wood cabins are plain, with no decoration to brighten the mood. But they are clean and the tile showers with stone drains are funky cool. Even…
Playa Tamarindo
This is a lovely, low-key collection of bungalows, set on the quiet eastern edge of town. Outstanding and personable service is the hallmark of this…
Quepos
A decent budget choice in central Quepos, with private rooms that are a better bargain than at some nearby hostels. The decor won't make your social-media…
Península de Nicoya
Oddly situated on the main drag north of Potrero, this little place (named for the popular dragon fruit) is set up like a roadside motel – a strip of…
Central Pacific Coast
The intimate and quiet Hotel La Dolce Vita is just meters away from the beach. The pool may be small, but you can fall asleep lulled by the sound of the…
The Road to Chirripó
This Best Western benefits from a central location, yet it is far enough from the main highway to avoid the traffic noise. The rooms are of a standard,…
San José
This Spanish Revival–style house (1949) perched on a Los Yoses hill was completely re-done by Jose Maria and family in 2019, complete with new four-poster…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
This crash pad launched by surfer Kurt Van Dyke has been around for 30 years, and consists of a warren of wooden rooms in the middle of town. Units are…
San José
This recommended agency is run by the bilingual Marcela Bell, who has operated the business for more than 30 years. She can arrange stays in more than a…
