Cabinas Maleku
Still the best option in town, the rooms wrap around a gravel parking area and have tasteful bedding, cable TV and hot water. Patios have mosaic tile, hand-painted Sarchí-style wooden chairs, and plenty of potted plants.
Bar & Cabinas El Río
About 1km from Pozo Azul at the southern edge of town, these seven A-frame bungalows have tiled floors, clean hot-water bathrooms and TV.
Posada Andrea Cristina B&B
About 1km west of the center, this recommended B&B has eight quaint cabins in its garden, each with a colorful paint job, stone tile, high beamed ceilings, hot water and outdoor table and chairs.
Hotel Wilson Tulipán
Three years later and still in the midst of remodeling, brand new rooms are set in a somewhat strange, ghost-town motel environs.
Rancho Leona
This shady, riverside spot is a gem – kayakers congregate here to swap tales of white-water adventure, bird-watchers linger over huge breakfasts (₡3500) as the local color of avian life flits by, and artistically minded travelers admire the lodge.
Hotel Gavilán
Sitting on a 100-hectare reserve about 4km northeast of Puerto Viejo, this former cattle hacienda is cozy, quaint and a bird-watching haven.
Mi Pedacito De Cielo
Tico-run lodges near Boca Tapada include Mi Pedacito de Cielo, whose name charmingly means ‘my little piece of heaven.’ The lodge has several rustic wooden bungalows built into the semiwild forest.
Laguna Del Lagarto Lodge
This environmentally sensitive, German-run lodge is surrounded by 13 sq km of rainforest and is a legend among bird-watchers.
Rara Avis
When they say remote, they mean remote: this private reserve, which comprises 13 sq km of high-altitude tropical rainforest, is accessible only to overnight guests willing to make the three-hour tractor ride (seriously!) up a steep, muddy hill to.
Cabinas Milagro
This quiet, family-run place on the edge of town is a tranquil budget option. From the center, go past the church toward the Río Frío bridge and turn right just past the soccer field. Rooms have cold showers and fan.
La Iguana Azul
This old hacienda has some moldering charm. Set among spider palms, the cottages offer plenty of light and doors open right onto the riverside. Sheets are crisp and the restaurant is tasty. The best deal in town, all things considered.
Albergue El Socorro
Albergue El Socorro is 9km from San Miguel, 1000m above sea level, on a plateau surrounded by a magnificent knife's edge of green mountains, tucked between the looming Cerro Congo and Volcan Poas.
Sueño Azul Resort
Adventure-oriented tour groups make up the majority of guests at Sueño Azul, a top-end adventure lodge upon a hill.
Cabinas Laura
A sparkling, new and quiet choice on the road to the pier. Rooms are simple with new tile, wood furnishings and cable TV.
Cabinas Cristal
This is a handful of clean pastel-brushed and tiled rooms in a tin-roof, atrium-style complex that includes an internet cafe (per hour US$1). Nothing fancy but they'll do for a night.
Cabinas El Bosque
Basic but sparkling new cabinas set off the main highway, 1km from town. Rooms are set in little square houses with fan, new tile and sweet window treatments.