Perched on a remote cliff-top and reachable only by boat or seaplane, Aguila de Osa has sweeping views of Drake Bay—arguably Costa Rica’s m... Read More
The Spanish colonial buildings of the Alta Hotel cascade down a lush hillside above San José, coming to rest at the deck of a brilliant blue,... Read More
At the San Ramon Angel Valley Farm Bed & Breakfast, Beth Frischberg—of Washington, D.C.'s Tabard Inn—demonstrates healthful, modern fare... Read More
Close enough to Arenal Volcano for visitors to hear and feel the nearly constant rumbling, this observatory (on a hillside just over a mile from the... Read More
This neighborhood is replete with upscale hotels, but none is closer to the beach than Arenas del Mar, a five-star, 11-acre property within walking... Read More
Named after the Greek god of health, Asclepios Wellness & Healing Retreat more than lives up to its name: it’s a serene getaway that provides... Read More
On an isolated six miles of dark-sand Pacific beach, this Costa Rican property attracts outdoorsy travelers who don't necessarily want to rough it.... Read More
This beachfront resort has everything you’d expect from a Caribbean-style getaway: a huge swim-up bar, candlelit tables under palm trees, thatched... Read More
This glorious arc of Pacific beach has attracted surfers since the 60s, and when you see the ocean from this vantage point, you'll understand why.... Read More
Unless you have a live-in chef, views of dolphins from your bedroom, and 750 acres of rainforest at your doorstep, this five-bedroom Pacific coast villa... Read More
Located in a 3,000-acre biological corridor, this privately owned lodge is designed to promote ecological preservation and environmentally conscious... Read More
At the very tip of the Osa Peninsula in the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, are more than 750 acres of forest boasting hundreds of species of... Read More
The Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge is located on the Osa Peninsula, on the southern Pacific side of Costa Rica. The hotel is an eco lodge, providing... Read More
Overlooking the central Pacific coastline in the small town of Manual Antonio, this gated, 33-acre, well-manicured resort slopes down to a private sandy... Read More
Just 50 yards from the Pacific shoreline, this two-story residence is situated along a near-private, golden-sand beach, and though guests have access to... Read More
For more adventurous couples, there’s nothing hotter than a stay on the jungle beach of Drake Bay at the flashy new Copa de Arbol. The hotel is the... Read More
Set in what National Geographic calls one of the most biologically intense places on earth, the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, Corcovado Adventures... Read More
Guests are welcomed to this shiny seaside resort in Puntarenas with a massive chocolate chip cookie and a coconut drink, and from there it only gets... Read More
The eco-minded lodge, set on a 185-acre Osa Peninsula reserve, has 12 streamlined rooms and a private path that leads to a secluded beach with tide... Read More
Costa Rica has long been known as an eco-travel destination, but El Silencio—a serene retreat on 500 acres opened in 2008 by the owners of the... Read More
For travelers looking for a few more niceties of home like high-speed wireless, a business center, and multiple televisions showing professional hockey,... Read More
A German architect built this crazy farm at the foot of Corcovado National Park, and staying here feels a little like glamping in a tropical Eden. The... Read More
Set in the mountains of Alajuela, this romantic inn doubles as a coffee plantation and offers tours of its 30-acre organic farm, processing plant, and... Read More
Named for the frangipani flower, with rock waterfalls and tropical landscapes, Costa Rica’s Florblanca is an ideal Nicoya Peninsula getaway for... Read More
Steps away from some of the best waves in the country in Playa Santa Teresa, this collection of 11 posh villas is tucked away from the crowds and into... Read More
Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean to the west and Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica has a diverse ecosystem that is embraced by the proprietors of... Read More
Just a few minutes from Playa Uvita on the southern Pacific coast, this upscale hostel features tree houses and private cabinas alongside its open-air... Read More
The Four Seasons Spa could be its own boutique hotel. The gleaming, multi-level behemoth has 18 treatment rooms and it offers everything from couples... Read More
Take Four Seasons pampering (chilled towels delivered to your pool chaise), cross it with the charm of location (just north of the Nicoya Peninsula,... Read More
Avid environmentalists, this small, five-star luxury boutique hotel on the central Pacific coast won the award for Leading Green Hotel for Central... Read More
The Terra Spa at Gaia is set in the rainforest with views of the Pacific and a menu complete with Reiki energy treatments and Thai and Swedish massages.... Read More
Hacienda Cabo Velas sits on a private peninsula in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, and is only available to one family or party at a time.... Read More
The Harmony sits a stone’s throw from Playa Guiones in the sleepy Pacific coast surf town of Nosara. Its 24 rooms are stylishly spare, with... Read More
For a large family, it’s a huge relief when all the food is taken care of. That’s the case at Hilton Papagayo, an all-inclusive on Costa Rica’s opulent... Read More
In downtown San José, this is the hostel everyone will tell you stay in. And for once, everyone is right. Attractive murals adorn the walls in this... Read More
Magnificent views of Arenal Volcano can be enjoyed from every room at this luxury resort (one of many that surround the famous peak). A cluster of... Read More
Manuel Antonio is replete with upscale hotels, but none are closer to the beach than Arenas del Mar, a five-star 11-acre property within walking... Read More
Hotel Banana Azul is perpetually improving and tweaking its intimate 14-room retreat on a dramatic—and private—stretch of black-sand beach. Most... Read More
Many of the 22 earth-toned rooms are equipped with private balconies that overlook a quiet part of the otherwise crowded Playa Tamarindo. Read More
At this mountainside retreat near Playa Mal País, upscale villas are tucked into a cliff overlooking the Pacific. Designed with couples in mind, rooms... Read More
Situated in the mountains of Alajuela, this romantic inn doubles as a coffee plantation and offers tours of its 30-acre organic farm, processing plant,... Read More
Hotel Fonda Vela in Monteverde, open since 1990, is just a 15-minute walk to the Cloud Forest Reserve. At 4,200 feet, the steady supply of moisture... Read More
Inside this converted Victorian mansion, guests will find 32 rooms with Italian tile work, wrought-iron beds, and whirlpool tubs. It's tucked away in a... Read More
As the only beachfront hotel in the Playa Negra area, surfers are especially attracted to this location right in front of the word famous surf break... Read More
At nearly 15 years old, Hotel Punta Islita is a granddaddy of Costa Rica’s eco-resorts. This attentively run mainstay shares its crescent... Read More
A collection of lavish villas and hotel rooms spread over 300 acres near Playa Sámara, Hotel Punta Islita is a one-stop, high-end beach escape. The... Read More
Despite what some guidebooks may tell you, Jacó is not a family destination. But Hotel Villa Caletas, which sits on a mountaintop above the seediness... Read More
At the Iguana Lodge on the Osa Peninsula, remoteness is considered a key element in achieving joy, health, and well-being, but the resort plenty of... Read More
It’s not the most opulent hotel in Manuel Antonio, but for couples Issimo is a real treasure. The lacy white bedspreads are sprinkled with rose pedals... Read More
This sprawling 310-room property—open since February 2009—distinguishes itself by straddling the line between major resort and remote wilderness lodge.... Read More
Marriott hotels have never been my style—maybe there are just too many of them—but this laid-back and well-placed resort won me over. Located within the... Read More
Perched at the top of a mountain overlooking the whale-tail-shaped coastline of Bahia Balena, Kura Design Villas has plenty of sex appeal. Highlights... Read More
The perfect 4x4 road trip destination, this secluded and romantic getaway specializes in cozy accommodations, wood-fired hot tubs and fresh, organic... Read More
Drake Bay’s swankiest accommodations don’t come cheap, but they do come in a package deal. Guests stay in spacious bungalows that overlook Costa Rica’s... Read More
If the idea of open-sided, thatched-roof bungalows with netted teak beds, private decks with hammocks, and secluded outdoor showers stirs you, you&rsquo... Read More
The most upscale of the Osa Peninsula eco-lodges, Lapa Ríos is set in a 988-acre rain-forest reserve with a virtually private beach and first-rate... Read More
For a more remote and intimate option, Latitude 10’s five open-air casitas land guests just few steps from the crashing waves of Playa Santa Teresa. The... Read More
In a part of the country once known mainly by intrepid surfers for its waves, the splashy new boutique hotel Le Caméléon is changing the... Read More
Up in the hills above Tamarindo, this spa is legendary, namely for it’s famous “Spa Day,” which lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes... Read More
Golfers, sportfishers, and families looking for American-style services favor this sprawling, Spanish colonial–style resort perched midway between... Read More
When Lana Wedmore came to Costa Rica 30 years ago, she knew she wanted to move there. Purchasing 150 acres of tropical wilderness on the Peninsula de... Read More
Built into a hillside on 12 acres of tropical jungle, this adults-only resort is situated approximately halfway between Quepos and Manuel Antonio... Read More
With just four bungalows on the premises, a night at Milarepa Hotel, on the southern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, offers all focused attention to all... Read More
This rustic eco-lodge in the lush, misty Tilarán Mountains set the standard for environmentally sustainable properties here when it opened in... Read More
An oasis just minutes from Costa Rica’s most famous volcano, this property's freestanding bungalows boast saffron curtains, resplendent hardwoods, and... Read More
At Nayara Springs, each of the 16 villas comes with its own plunge pool, drawing on mineral-rich spring waters from Arenal Volcano next door. Venetian... Read More
All across Costa Rica, other hotels have copied the genius concept of this mountainside hotel in Uvita: cabins whose walls are made completely glass.... Read More
Just outside Tortuguero National Park on the northeast coast of Costa Rica, the Pachira Lodge sits on a thin strip of land surrounded by a network of... Read More
It takes half a day to reach this eco-lodge, which is only accessible by raft. The high-end, screened bungalows feature hardwood floors, four-poster... Read More
One of the country’s most whimsical stays, Peace Lodge is an unrestrained tribute to the natural world, with on-site waterfall hikes and a historic... Read More
Deep in the forest nearby the Gulf of Dulce on the southwest Pacific Coast of Costa Rica lies the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. Constructed from... Read More
Hidden in a low-key neighborhood a ways off the beach, this B&B is run by Rick Vogel, an expat from Detroit who might be the nicest person in the... Read More
At the very end of civilization on the remote Burica peninsula, 27 Dutch people own and operate this charming oceanfront lodge. Although it’s been years... Read More
This “self-sufficient organic ranch ” is a totally off-the-grid resort with 18 beautifully appointed, terraced bungalows. It sits right on... Read More
For a crunchier all-inclusive seeker, Rancho Margot is a rustic collection of cabinas tucked away from the world but still featuring prime views of... Read More
Seeking a mountain to call your own? Set on a 250-acre preserve, this hilltop eco-lodge draws an A-list clientele (Anderson Cooper, Sheryl Crow, and Al... Read More
The intimate Spa Tranquila is reached via jungle stairway and offers an array of treatments and perks. Guests await massages sipping specialty teas in... Read More
Recreo is a well-kept and opulent secret just a short golf-cart ride from two secluded and picturesque beaches, Playa Rajada and Playa Jobo. The unique... Read More
In the country’s best backpacker town (Puerto Viejo), this is the best backpacker crash pad. People call it “the vortex,” because thanks to the chill... Read More
The Sea Turtle Conservancy in northeast Costa Rica is the oldest turtle research facility in the world. Founded in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr in an effort... Read More
Sueño del Mar translates to "dream of the sea," and this charming bed-and-breakfast takes great pride in its proximity to the San Francisco Estuary.... Read More
On Playa Langosta just south of Tamarindo, this adorable getaway is a colonial mansion by the sea. The best of the six distinctive rooms—an open-air... Read More
An intimate, adults-only hotel with 12 teak-and-mahogany villas. Wraparound windows provide tantalizing views of the Pacific, but the hotel's biggest... Read More
There’s almost no better place see Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife (monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and more than 350 species of birds) than from... Read More
On a 2,400-acre Guanacaste compound by a beach covered in seashells, this over-the-top resort feels like a scene from Dirty Dancing—only set in this... Read More
Extravagant ocean views are de rigueur at this 800-acre hillside establishment near the less- traveled Panamanian border. Owner and environmental... Read More
Just north of Tortuguero and right on the canal, this upscale lodge stands on nearly 50 acres of tropical forest and gardens. All of the 27 wooden rooms... Read More
The 10-acre beachfront property, located in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, features a... Read More
A Dutchman with wild hair and an even wilder vision built the four homes that compose this Caribbean retreat near Playa Chiquita. The unique homes are... Read More
Manuel Antonio’s Tulemar has topped the Trip Advisor lists of family-friendly hotels in Costa Rica and the world, and for good reason. The beachside,... Read More
Originally owned by former President Rodrigo Carazo Odio, the Villa Blanca is shrouded by the dense cloud forest of the Los Angeles Private Biological... Read More
Perched on a rainforest-covered hilltop on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, just a one-hour drive west of San Jose, the 43-room Villa Caletas... Read More
North of Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park, the sleek oceanside villa has three bedrooms, two kitchens, and a freshwater infinity pool. From ... Read More
Spread over 2,400 verdant, landscaped acres, this resort is practically its own seaside village. The grounds include an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II... Read More
A working coffee plantation 3,900 feet above sea level is the setting for this relaxing resort and spa. Panoramic views of the Central Valley, the... Read More
Overlooking the Central Valley, this spa village features five private jalapa treatment quarters where guests enjoy mud wraps, facials, and exotic Costa... Read More
