Must-see hotels in Costa Rica

  • Hostel Casa del Parque

    San José

    A 1936 vintage art deco manse houses this cozy, welcoming spot on the northeastern edge of Parque Nacional. Five large, basic private rooms (two are…

  • Villas Jacquelina

    Quepos

    By far the best budget-to-mid-range option in Quepos, this large, rambling building just out of town offers various configurations of bright simple rooms…

  • 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…

  • Studio Hotel

    San José

    This boutique stay is comfy, close to good restaurants and the airport, reasonably priced and decked out in Costa Rican artwork. It doubles as a gallery,…

  • Casa Botania

    Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa

    The freshest B&B in the region is exquisitely run by a sweet Belgian-Tico couple. It hits every note with pitch-perfect elegance. Sharp, modern cabins all…

  • Selina Manuel Antonio

    Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around

    Part of the Selina empire of dozens of hostels across Central America, this place is already a legend. Check in at the VW campervan desk then find your…

  • Roca Negra del Arenal

    La Fortuna

    What makes this gem of a guesthouse so special? It’s the paradisiacal setting, 2km from town. The luscious tiled pool and Jacuzzi are surrounded with…

  • Ojo del Mar

    To Corcovado via Puerto Jiménez

    Tucked in amid a good surfing beach and lush jungle, the six beautifully handcrafted, thatch-roofed bamboo bungalows are open-air, allowing for all the…

  • 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…

  • Alma del Pacífico

    Central Pacific Coast

    Each individually designed villa at this remarkable resort encompasses intriguing bright and colorful design elements, including wooden-lattice ceilings,…

  • Bolita Rainforest Hostel

    To Corcovado via Puerto Jiménez

    For total immersion in rural life, stay at this rustic farmhouse in the midst of 25 hectares of rainforest. There's no electricity, so you'll be up with…

  • El Castillo

    Ojochal

    Even the most jaded of guests will give an involuntary gasp of surprise when faced with the tremendous view from the infinity pool at this bluff-top hotel…

  • Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

    Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa

    Nestled into a 65-hectare private reserve, Nicuesa is a wonderful retreat and ecolodge. The dreamy accommodations come with canopied beds, indigenous…

  • Casa de Lis Hostel

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Hands down Turrialba's best value sleep, this sweet, centrally located place is a traveler's dream. Spotless dorms and doubles with comfy mattresses and…

  • 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…

  • Finca Luna Nueva

    La Fortuna

    Bordering the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, this special place started as a spice farm then blossomed into an ecolodge. It’s a pretty impressive amalgam of…

  • Casa Chameleon

    Península de Nicoya

    This glamorous hilltop boutique is an adults-only dream stay, with just 21 posh villas (and private saltwater plunge pools) overlooking some of the…

  • Oxygen Jungle Villas

    Uvita

    Twelve smart mountaintop cabins constructed almost entirely of glass and overlooking the mountains and sea. The transparent and sumptuous digs allow…

  • Luz en el Cielo

    Montezuma

    In the heart of the jungle but two minutes from town, this homey hostel and B&B is an inviting retreat. Crowded dorm rooms are super-clean with sturdy…

  • Tacacori Ecolodge

    Central Valley & Highlands

    This peaceful retreat sitting on a verdant hillside high above Alajuela has four spacious bungalows with enchanting furnishings, floral motifs, modern…

  • Canaima Chill House

    Mal País & Santa Teresa

    A 'chill house' is an apt descriptor for this eight-room boutique eco-chic hotel, set in the jungle. Super-stylish suites have breezy indoor-outdoor…

  • Casa Batsu

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    Carlos and Paula remodeled their family farmhouse, filled it with art, jazz and delicious food, and then opened their doors to share the love. Five rooms…

  • Finca Mei Tai

    Northwestern Costa Rica

    Set on 40 hectares of forest and pastures 3km west of Bijagua, this family finca is crisscrossed by 3.5km of trails and dotted with farm animals. The two…

  • Mundo Milo Ecolodge

    Península de Nicoya

    The area's most creative nest is this unique ecolodge, where attention to detail is paramount. Choose from five skylit bungalows (four with air-con, one…

  • KiteHouse

    Northwestern Costa Rica

    This excellent operation has taken over the western end of Playa Copal, with a wide range of accommodations, kiteboarding lessons and rentals (the same…

  • Drake Bay Backpackers

    Bahía Drake

    This excellent nonprofit, off-the-beaten-track hostel is a boon for budget travelers wanting to connect with the local community. All rooms have sturdy…

  • Copa de Arbol

    Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa

    They might look rustic from the outside with their thatch roofs and stilts, but these 10 hillside cabinas are gorgeously outfitted inside. Built with…

  • 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;…

  • Tambor Tropical

    Península de Nicoya

    Romantically set on the beach amid a palm-fringed garden, Tambor Tropical is a lovely boutique hotel with stunning architecture. The 12 roomy, hexagonal…

  • Villa Mango B&B

    Nosara Area

    At this B&B in the trees set high on a hillside with views of both bays, you can’t help but relax. The seven spacious rooms have a Mediterranean flair,…

  • Finca Maresia

    Bahía Drake

    This absolute gem of a finca hotel stretches across the hills 2km south of Agujitas. Cost-conscious travelers are drawn by the excellent value-to-price…

  • 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…

  • Pensión Santa Elena

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    This full-service hostel right in central Santa Elena is a perennial favorite, offering budget travelers top-notch service and pura vida hospitality. Each…

  • Lapa Ríos

    To Corcovado via Puerto Jiménez

    One of Costa Rica's best all-inclusive wilderness lodges, Lapa Ríos combines luxury with a rustic, tropical ambience. It comprises 17 spacious, thatched…

  • Hotel Los Volcanes

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Tranquil and centrally located, this welcoming place in a refurbished 1920s mansion has 15 rooms, from vintage units with period-style furniture and clean…

  • Ocho Artisan Bungalows

    Playa Tamarindo

    A slice of paradise just a block off the main drag. Meander through the jungle-like grounds' inlaid wooden paths to any of seven bungalows (plus two…

  • Danyasa Yoga Retreat

    Quepos to Uvita

    To visualize Danyasa, imagine eight refurbished cargo containers set amid tranquil greenery, each turned into a snug room or grander suite, with shared…

  • Alouatta

    Península de Nicoya

    A dreamy campground offering three cozy, fan-cooled safari tents, an open-air rancho, a shared kitchen, and bathroom facilities with hot showers, all…

  • Hotel Cortez Azul

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Great-value, friendly guesthouse. Clean, well-finished, light and airy doubles, some with beds made out of wooden pallets, some with shared bathrooms…

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