The 17 Best Luxury Hotels in Costa Rica, Approved by a Costa Rican

Situated in the heart of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula, this boutique hotel provides a relaxing environment and offers a variety of wellness and outdoor activities. The Costa Rican–inspired menu of the top-rated beachfront restaurant Manzú is the perfect place for a morning coffee or sunset cocktail.

When this adults-only hotel opened, it was one of the first high-end establishments to bring ecotourism and conservation-driven luxury travel to Central America. Nayara Springs comprises 35 luxury villas hidden within the jungle, all equipped with a private plunge pool and a private garden.

Just a four-hour drive from San José, Hacienda AltaGracia, an Auberge Resort, offers an ideal weekend getaway amidst the Talamanca Mountains. This expansive 180-acre retreat features over 20,000 square feet of amenities, including a daily mindful movement class and a purifying ritual with herbal exfoliation and local clay treatment.

Famous for its distinct turquoise color, Rio Celeste is a river in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Hidden within the foothills of the Tenorio Volcano lies the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, an 80-acre rainforest natural reserve with private preserve trails, white-water rafting, hanging bridges, hot springs, and beautiful casitas—small home accommodations with spectacular rainforest views and private patios.

This minimalist surf boutique hotel is located in the stunning rainforest and beach setting of Nosara, one of Costa Rica’’s premier surfing destinations, also known for its yoga-core lifestyle and relaxing vibe. Sendero Hotel offers surfing lessons for all skill levels on Playa Guiones and features a state-of-the-art wellness studio up in the jungle treetops.

Located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo offers clear blue waters, lush flora and fauna, and a relaxed vibe. There are daily excursions to Cahuita National Park, the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, and the Veragua Rainforest, with opportunities for canopy tours, rock climbing, sloth-watching, and more. For those who prefer to stay by the ocean, snorkeling excursions and turtle- and dolphin-watching tours are also available.

Located in San José, the Marriott Hacienda Belen celebrates colonial architecture and offers a resortlike experience in the heart of the city. Enjoy stunning Central Valley mountain views while being close to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Museo del Jade, Irazú Volcano National Park, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

If you love relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand, Dreams Las Mareas is the ideal destination. Set along the tropical rainforest on Playa El Jobo, this luxurious all-inclusive resort features 447 suites, each with a hot tub and a balcony or terrace offering stunning jungle or ocean views. The resort offers a range of activities including wildlife-watching, scuba diving, fishing trips, and a fantastic spa, as well as themed events like movie nights, cooking classes, and live shows for both kids and adults.

This five-star oceanfront beach resort on Costa Rica’s south Caribbean coast is a unique creation by a mother-daughter duo who are also multimedia artists. Designed with minimal ecological impact, the hotel features charming themed suites and bungalows crafted from sustainable materials and local art. There are also snorkeling tours at Cahuita National Park, complimentary bikes and kayaks for exploring Punta Uva, and hikes through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.

Immersed in Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest, Lapa Rios Lodge offers a blend of wildlife and luxury at the southernmost point of the Osa Peninsula. This unique location features pristine beaches with world-class surfing and a setting where wilderness and visitors harmoniously coexist.

Just 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport, El Mangroove is the closest beach resort to an international airport in Costa Rica. There are three restaurants, ocean-view suites, and a variety of activities including private boat rentals, Jet Ski trips, full-day fishing tours, whale and dolphin expeditions, national park excursions, stand-up paddle-boarding classes, and a bioluminescence stargazing tour.

This adults-only boutique hotel located in a fully walkable beach town offers mountain biking and hiking excursions as well as private catamaran tours, canopy adventures, and coffee tasting. Made up of 21 villas, all with their own salt-water plunge pool, the hotel also has four different restaurants and a spa.

The tropical minimalist design of this adults-only, luxury boutique hotel offers everything a couple could want for a romantic vacation. Located between Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park, couples can explore activities like whale- and dolphin-watching or take a day trip to Caño Island.

This 1,500-acre private reserve offers a range of eco-adventure activities including swimming in the thermal river, canyon climbing routes, a Tarzan swing, zip lines, and white-water tubing.

This Hyatt luxury-eco resort offers an unforgettable experience for families, couples, and groups with four themed restaurants, rooms and suites overlooking stunning Culebra Bay, and an 18-hole golf course.