We are very positive about the range of different accommodation we can offer in Costa Rica; good 3* properties are well run and comfortable and there is an increasing range of interesting lodges and high end retreats across the country. Most visitors are looking for a nature/wildlife experience so many properties have in-house activities and guides with the latter being of a very high standard. When we were in Costa Rica in May (2026) we stayed at a number of excellent properties and made a point of visiting others too. You can read our main Costa Rica blog here.
Given the flight times from the UK it is very hard not to spend at least your first night in San Jose. We stayed at the incredibly central Gran Hotel – it was on the main square with the National Theatre right outside. Located in a historic building the rooms were very modern and comfortable. The restaurant bar has excellent views and as a base to wander around the centre of San Jose it is unrivalled.
Tortuguero National Park is a real highlight in Costa Rica and as a general rule we suggest going there are the start of your trip, from San Jose. It is a longish journey of about 4 hours however the first stage crosses the volcanic mountains and the last hour is on a boat threading your way through the rivers and lagoons to the Lodge (you can only get into the National Park by boat or light aircraft – there are no roads) . There will be a break along the way and the whole journey is an adventure – great fun and a brilliant way to start your holiday.
Laguna Lodge is nestled on a spit of land between the river and the Caribbean Ocean. It is an idyllic resort – offering peace and tranquillity and easy access to the national park around. The Caribbean beach is wild and being a turtle nesting point from July to October, swimming is not allowed, It is great for a stroll. The lagoon side of the resort is very relaxed with bar. restaurant and pool with great sunset views.
There are two main pools and the whole site is packed with magnificent wildlife from the noisy Montezuma Oropendolas, who were nesting in large numbers throughout the resort (their nests are unusual in that they are suspended from the branches), toucans and the very rare Great Green Macaws to Red-Eyed Leaf Frogs and crocodiles. The comfortable rustic cabins all come with a veranda and are fan-cooled with no a/c. It was hot and we were OK – if A/C is a must then this might not be the place. Meals were all taken in the river-side restaurant and were excellent although all buffet, with a good and varied choice. This is a good mid-range option with plenty of space.
Selva Verde Lodge, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Moving away from the coast we stayed at the eco minded Selva Verde Lodge located on the edge of the Braulio Carillo National Park – the lodge itself has one of the best private reserves with over 420 bird species and 120 species of mammals. Our Sarapiqui room was built on stilts over the Sarapiqui River and was spacious with a/c and big windows. We spent a couple of hours swinging in hammocks on our balcony watching the humming birds darting in and out of the purple flowered bushes beneath us. It was a gorgeous spot and the wildlife was extensive with lots of activates on offer – we joined a night walk with one of the lodge guides and we crossed over the hanging bridge into the reserve for a fascinating explore of the jungle by night.
The lodge is very spread out with some rooms on the river and others in the forest, all linked by covered walkways. There is a small and attractive pool area and the main building has classrooms, shop, buffet restaurant, bar and pizzeria – all the buildings are open sided, as is normal in Costa Rica. The feeling was the guests were a mixture of individuals and groups with a huge emphasis on wildlife and nature – that is why people visit and stay.
Manoa Arenal, Arenal/La Fortuna
La Fortuna is the attractive town that is the main centre for those visiting the Arenal area. We were staying about 5km outside at the lovely Arenal Manoa resort and having a car this worked well for us. We could explore and head into La Fortuna, which had excellent restaurants, as we wished. Spacious with gorgeous gardens and grounds, most of the accommodation has Arenal volcano views and there was tons of wildlife in evidence. The main public area had a good sized pool and very attractive main restaurant – buffet for breakfast and a la carte dinner. Around the pool area was a pizzeria and excellent sushi restaurant. One of the really special parts was the 8 stunning natural hot spring baths hidden away in dense vegetation along a bamboo grove walkway. A truly magical place to spend a few hours.
We were in a Chato Suite which had a garden with pool with a view of Arenal Volcano. All rooms have good terraces and almost all have views of the volcano. Rooms were spacious and stylish. The whole resort, which feels larger than the 80 rooms it has, exudes a wonderful relaxing feel – the gardens, landscaping and wildlife make it special.
Ocotea Boutique Hotel, Monteverde/Sant Elena
After being at 3 lodges it was a change to stay at a boutique ‘hotel’ in Monteverde. It is small and stylish with lovely, well designed rooms. We had a good sized terrace to go with. The staff were excellent and the highlight of the hotel is the top floor bar/lounge. Here the glass sided room looked out south-west to the Pacific Ocean with distant views of the hills descending to the water and perfect for sunset with a generous happy-hour.
The other highlight was the food which was superb and probably the best we had across any of the hotels – the dining room was stylish and there was an attractive outdoor terrace which was not used as much as you would think. Santa Elena is quite a spread out town, a bit like a hill station in India, and while there are lots of good restaurant choices you may have to drive/get a taxi if you want to go out in the evening – depending on your location.
Overall it was a very well run and comfortable hotel although on balance I would probably opt for more of a lodge style and I couple of other alternatives
Senda – gorgeous cabin/bungalow style property running down a hillside. It has a new pool/waterfall/hot tub area which was very beautiful and some of the suites have ocean views. It backs onto an Agouti reserve and we saw them in the gardens as well as a huge troop of coatis, totally relaxed by us. My favourite spot
Monteverde Lodge – one of the older options the views out from the room (wood panelled) were lovely and the gardens/pool area were attractive. I really liked the bar/restaurant with a big outdoor raised deck.
Hotel El Parador Resort and Spa, Manuel Antonio
With a wonderful setting on the end of a peninsular the large Parador has a brilliant location with views up the coast to the National Park and spacious grounds. There was non-stop wildlife here with excellent birds, sloths, howler monkeys, racoons, and a porcupine. There are naturalists on site and there are regular walks along the varied trails through the grounds. It is quite a jumble of buildings with the main area, in a quasi-historical setting (think armour), which also housed the bar & restaurants. There were three pools and other bar/cafe outlets. Food was excellent if expensive.
We were in a Vista Suite which had a huge balcony and simply magical views across the area. All rooms had good balconies and were well deigned and modern. It was a fabulous place to stay for a few days and is usually a top choice for the area. The only downside would be it is at the end of the road so if you want to go out anywhere (e.g. a restaurant) then is is drive or taxi. The nearby beach of Biesanz is picture perfect and about 10-15 mins downhill from the hotel.
I looked at a few others too:
Arenas del Mar – even more tucked away than the Parador this is a perfect honeymoon setting. With rooms up on the cliff, with amazing views, and others on the gorgeous semi-private beach there is something for everyone. It is in a lush jungle setting. The only comment would be that some of the rooms were not that spacious or didn’t live up to the views.
La Mariposa – slightly old school the wide-ranging views were superb and some of the rooms were very spacious. It had a huge pool and it was in a good location where you could go out if you wished.
Si Como No – a bit quirky this hotel was set above a protected reserve with good views. With a lively feel there were both family and adult pools and given the hillside setting the rooms were surprisingly private. I liked the room, spacious and fun and the hotel was in a brilliant location if you did not have your own transport – cafes/restaurants in walking distance and buses to/from the beach and nearby town
Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, Carara
Set on the edge of the Carara National Park alongside the Tarcolites River this is a gorgeous location. Taking over from a previous lodge the site has been extended and has very attractive rooms, pool area, bar and restaurant. Over a small footbridge is the church/village area with a great local rustic ‘cantina’. Birdlife was excellent and there are easy trails up the river with swimming spots. This is a Marriot property so elements of it felt a bit corporate however the staff and setting give it a really good feel. It is also early days and only opened in late 2025 so it is still bedding in.
We were in standard room and it was very comfortable and well designed. The only drawback was no proper outdoor seating and no mozzie nets so the windows were basically kept shut which is a shame as its great to hear the jungle sounds. The River Bliss rooms we saw were superb and well worth the upgrade if possible. Only 1 hour 30 from San Jose airport (fantastic road through the mountains) this is in a great location for a first night or two to stop and decompress on you way to the Pacific Coast or Monteverde.
This is just a small selection of the accommodation we can offer in Costa Rica and we can tailor it to your exact requirements in terms of budget and style. Overall the standard is good and gets pretty positive feedback from our travellers.
by TMS