Looking for the best of the best hotels throughout Costa Rica? We've got detailed reviews of the luxury resorts on the beaches, the best jungle lodges, and top luxury hotels in the capital. And everywhere in between near Arenal, Tamarindo, Papayago, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita.
Although Costa Rica is a small country—just a speck on the map of Central America—it is far ahead of its neighbors when it comes to luxury hotels and eco resorts with style. Costa Rica's tourism people have done a great job of marketing the destination over the past several decades as a safe, fun, and adventurous place to travel. More than a million people travel to Costa Rica from the U.S. and Canada each year, leading to high standards and a lot of foreign investment. The country has one of the best–developed array of upscale accommodations of any country in Central America and is ahead of most in South America, despite its small size.
This was the first country in Central America to go all out luring adventure vacation tourists and eco–travelers, so the main focus is usually interacting with nature rather than trying to hold nature back and seal it off. There are resorts on the best beaches, yes, but with a few exceptions, the coast here is not as spectacular as it it in some neighboring countries and there's no tropical white-sand brilliance. What you will find in Costa Rica is a strong supply of hotel architects, designers, and managers who know how to compete with the best lodging in the world, especially other green hotels.
Facilities and services in Costa Rica resorts are better–developed than in many other Central American countries and the staffers are generally well-trained and fluent in English. The travel tours—whether hard-core adventure rafting, multi–day biking, or soft pampered luxury tours—are well–run, with excellent guides and naturalists. Come for a heavy dose of adventure, wildlife, and bird-watching, but with a sumptuous 5-star Costa Rica hotel or upscale jungle lodge room to retire to as the sun goes down.
Here are our hand-selected picks for the best places to stay in Costa Rica on your luxury vacation or holiday. Click through listings under the destinations to read a detailed review of the best resorts and hotels on offer. You'll find booking links at each one to check rates for your dates.
Alajuela Region
Peace Lodge — Varablanca
Villablanca Cloudforest Resort & Spa — Los Angeles
Arenal Volcano Region
El Silencio Lodge & Spa — Bajos del Toro
Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort
Caribbean Coast Region
Le Caméléon Boutique Hotel — Puerto Viejo de Limón
Cartago Region
Casa Turire — Turrialba
Costa Ballena Region of Costa Rica
Kurá Boutique Hotel — Uvita
Rancho Pacifico — Uvita
Guanacaste and Nicoya Region Luxury Hotels
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort — Peninsula Papagayo
Cala Luna Luxury Beach Hotel & Villas — Tamarindo
Casa Chameleon — Las Catalinas
Florblanca Resort — Nicoya
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo — Peninsula Papagayo
El Jardín del Edén — Tamarindo
El Mangroove, Autograph Collection — Gulf of Papagayo
Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection — Punta Islita
W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal — Reserva Conchal
Heredia Region
Finca Rosa Blanca — Santa Barbara de Heredia
Jacó Area Luxury Resorts
Villa Caletas — Between Punta Leona and Playa Herradura
Manuel Antonio Park and Beach Region
Alma del Pacifico Beach Hotel & Spa
Osa Peninsula Luxury Jungle Lodges
Bosque del Cabo — Cabo Matapalo
Lapa Rios — Cabo Matapalo
Playa Cativo Lodge — Golfo Dulce
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge — Golfo Dulce
Peréz Zeledón Region
Hacienda AltaGracia — Peréz Zeledón
Monte Azul Boutique Hotel — Peréz Zeledón
San Jose & Alujuela Airport Luxury Hotels
Hotel Grano de Oro — San José
Intercontinental Costa Rica — Escazú
Xandari Resort & Spa — Tacacori