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Hotels by Activity
Biking
Bird/Wildlife Observation
Boating
Canopy
Cultural
Diving / Snorkeling
Fishing
Golf Course
Golf Course, Spa/Yoga, Tennis Courts
Hiking
Hiking, Fishing
Horseback Riding
Kayaking
Rafting
Spa/Yoga
Surfing / Windsurfing
Tennis Courts

Hotels by Habitat
Beach
City
Mountain
Rural Farm
Suburb
Tropical Cloud Forest
Tropical Dry Forest
Tropical Rainforest
Volcano

Habitat: Beach
See definitions of star ratings.

Aguila de Osa Inn
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Boating, Diving / Snorkeling, Fishing, Kayaking
Description:
Located on a bluff overlooking Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. The restaurant, with excellent views overlooking the bay, serves simple fare that is tasty and filling, specializing in seafood and local catches. Hiking, diving and sport fishing in state-of-the-art boat available. The Inn's open and spacious rooms have spectacular views of the lush, tropical jungle that surrounds the hotel. Hot climate.

Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy, Fishing
estrellaestrella Boating, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrella Biking, Hiking, Rafting, Spa/Yoga
Description:
Arenas del Mar is a beach and nature resort with 38 upscale rooms and suites, offering a casual beach front café and an elegant dining facility with views of Manuel Antonio National Park. There are two swimming pools, a small spa, and a gift shop as well as nature trails leading to two beaches. All rooms equipped with cable TV, ceiling fans, air conditioning, Internet, mini-bar, safe deposit box, coffee maker, microwave and iron.

Buena Vista Villas
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Canopy, Fishing
estrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Boating, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrella Biking, Hiking, Rafting, Spa/Yoga
Description:
Surrounded by breath-taking panoramic views of the verdant jungle terrain and the majestic Pacific Ocean, Buena Vista's villas are tastefully decorated and comfortable. All have furnished terraces, with grill and hammock; a fully equipped kitchenette; A/C; telephone, fans, blow dryers and hot water showers. There is a pool surrounded by gardens and private beach below the property.

Capitán Suizo Hotel
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Fishing, Golf Course, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrellaestrella Biking, Boating, Diving / Snorkeling, Horseback Riding
estrella Spa/Yoga
Description:
A free and natural atmosphere with a touch of Swiss quality. Hotel Capitán Suizo is located on Playa Tamarindo, one of the most beautiful Pacific coast beaches in Costa Rica. Directly on the beach, the hotel is surrounded by large, native trees and lush, colorful gardens.

Cristal Ballena Hotel
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Boating, Hiking
estrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Horseback Riding
estrella Kayaking
Description:
Cristal Ballena is 30 minutes from Palmar Sur Airport, south of Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast. It is also near Ballena Marine National Park, an important Humpback breeding ground during the months of February and March. Turtle watching is best in September and October. Cristal Ballena features rooms with private balconies with stunning ocean views, A/C, private bathrooms and satellite TV. The hotel has large pool overlooking the ocean, a restaurant serving local and international fare, and a full-service bar.

Hotel Playa Espadilla
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy, Fishing
estrellaestrella Boating, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrella Biking, Hiking, Rafting
Description:
Hotel Playa Espadilla is located just 150 mts from Manuel Antonio Beach front, and 200 mts away from the main entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park. The hotel offers 16 rooms equipped with air conditioner, cable TV, hot water, safety deposit box and hair dryer. Services include swimming pool, bar, Restaurant, tennis court, parking lot and biological private trails. This hotel spreads across grounds bordered on two sides by the tall trees of Manuel Antonio National Park, and it has a trail through an area of the park that few people visit. The simple but spacious mint-green rooms with big windows are housed in two-story buildings surrounded by green lawns. A small blue-tile pool and patio have a pleasant adjacent bar area with a billiard table. Directly behind are a large, open-air restaurant and a tennis court. Hot Climate.

Florblanca Resort
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Biking, Spa/Yoga, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Horseback Riding
estrella Boating, Diving / Snorkeling, Fishing
Description:
Just 10 villas on an unspoiled beach. Distinguished cuisine and yoga overlooking the sea. Restaurant combines local ingredients with Pacific Rim techniques in what may well be the best cuisine in the Pacific. "Ten large, romantic, air-conditioned villas are on seven acres of white-sand beach. Each villa has an ocean view and outdoor bath with sunken tub." -Lonely Planet Costa Rica (2004)

Four Seasons Papagayo
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Golf Course, Spa/Yoga, Tennis Courts
estrellaestrella Diving / Snorkeling, Fishing
Description:
153 spacious guest rooms, including 25 suites, with ocean, bay, garden or forest views from furnished outdoor balconies or terraces; many suites feature private plunge pools. "Perched on a rugged peninsula on Costa Rica's northwestern coast, the resort epitomizes the romance of refined and remote luxury." -Luxury Latin America

Gaia Hotel & Reserve
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Boating, Canopy
estrellaestrella Hiking, Horseback Riding, Spa/Yoga
estrella Rafting
Description:
Member of the exclusive group, “Small Luxury Hotels of the World.” the hotel's 20 rooms are decorated in a minimalist, modern style, but there’s no skimping on luxuries. There is a three-tiered cascade pool - with a bar in the center - designed to resemble a large waterfall. Wifi throughout the property means you won’t be out of reach, even if all you see out your window is the dense forest of the hotel’s private reserve. Hot climate.

Harmony Hotel
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Biking, Bird/Wildlife Observation, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Surfing / Windsurfing
Description:
Just off Guiones Beach, this hotel aims for a stylish, casual atmosphere as envisioned by its owners, surfing enthusiasts who settled in Guanacaste in 2003. There is a big emphasis on sustainable use of the land and conscious effort to reduce the hotel’s ecological footprint by conserving water, recycling, composting food waste and surrounding the hotel with native species that can thrive using organic farming practices. Restaurant serves organic fare whenever possible. Massage and body treatment rates from $75 to $90.

La Paloma Lodge
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Diving / Snorkeling, Kayaking
Description:
Located on the Osa Peninsula overlooking Drake Bay and Caño Island, this hotel offers five, two-story ranchos and five rooms with private baths, hammocks and views. The restaurant emphasizes fresh seafood (served family style) and every meal includes homemade bread. The swimming pool and deck are perched on the hillside, and offer a stunning view.

Lapa Ríos Ecoresort
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy, Fishing, Kayaking
estrellaestrella Boating, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Spa/Yoga
Description:
Located on the Osa Peninsula south of Puerto Jimenez, this eco-resort offers 14 luxuriously appointed bungalows with screened windows, hardwood floors, private balconies and both inside and outside private showers. There is a swimming pool with bar and sundeck, and a terraced restaurant hangs over the forest with a view of the sea.
1000 acres of private reserve include a sandy stretch of virgin beach. Hot climate.

Laguna Vista Villas
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Fishing
estrellaestrella Hiking
Description:
Located in Carate and set between the rainforest, a bay and the Pacific Ocean, this lodge has five double bungalows (one king bed and an optional sofa bed) and two family villas (two king beds). There are walking trails on the property, lookout decks and a dining and bar areas for guests. Near Corcovado National Park, “one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth,” according to National Geographic. Hot climate.

Le Cameleon Hotel
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
Description:
This 23-room, five-star hotel is located on Puerto Viejo Beach on Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast near the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and Cahuita National Park. Standard rooms have either one king or queen bed and deluxe rooms come with either one queen bed or two full beds and a private terrace. All rooms come with complimentary wireless Internet access, minibar and cable television. Hot climate.

La Leona Lodge
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
Description:
Tent camp lodge at the entrance to Corcovado National Park on the southern Pacific coast. Tents front the beach; each tastefully arranged and strategically positioned to provide privacy. There are 16 tents, most with one double bed. The lodge has a dining hall and outdoor bath house with solar heated showers. Five mins. from Corcovado National Park. Hot climate.

Mawamba Lodge
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Boating, Fishing
Description:
Mawamba Lodge is located on the beach in Tortuguero National Park, between the Tortuguero Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. The lodge has a pool, restaurants and ranchos with hammocks, and is an ideal starting point for day and night excursions, bird and turtle watching, and for exploring this nature-rich area.

Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge
Habitat: Beach / Rural Farm / Tropical Dry Forest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Hiking, Horseback Riding
estrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Fishing, Kayaking
Description:
Tucked into the forest just back from a private beach, this 15-villa, upscale ecolodge, close to the Costa Rican border on Nicaragua's Pacific coast, is part of a 4,450-acre sustainably-managed hacienda. Recently opened in September 2004, vanguard travelers should go now, before Morgan's Rock becomes one of the toughest reservations in all of Latin America.

Parador Resort & Spa
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy, Fishing
estrellaestrella Boating, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrella Biking, Hiking, Rafting, Spa/Yoga
Description:
Named a Costa Rica “Leading Resort Hotel" by World Travel Awards in 2006 and 07. Situated on a majestic bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by tropical rainforest, the 108-room Hotel Parador is located in a pristine area, close to Manuel Antonio National Park. Facilities include two restaurants, bars, conference room, gift shops, spa services and tennis court. It has Mediterranean-style architecture, modeled after the Traditional Spanish Paradores, with lush gardens, an infinity pool and spa services.

Punta Islita Hotel
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Biking, Fishing
estrellaestrella Boating, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Spa/Yoga, Tennis Courts
estrella Diving / Snorkeling
Description:
This resort complex is located south of Carillo and Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula near the Camaronal Wildlife Refuge. Rooms have private patios with hammocks, some with outdoor jacuzzi or private pool. The beach is below the lodge after a 10-min. walk or short shuttle ride. Good nouvelle French-style seafood in the lodge's Palapa Restaurant. There is a cascade swimming pool with Jacuzzi, swim-up bar, restaurant, boutique and conference room. Tennis courts, driving range, gym and spa are also featured. Hot climate.

Punta Leona Resort
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation
estrellaestrella Biking
Description:
About 90 mins. from San Jose, on the coast, the 108-room Punta Leona Resort includes three restaurants, pools, tennis court and three beaches. Rooms have two double beds, private bath, a/c, cable tv, mini-fridge and safety box. The hotel is located away from the beach so a short walk is required (about 10 mins.) or you may take the resort’s shuttle bus to the beach hopping on at the complex’s central building. Surrounding the Resort is the Punta Leona Rainforest Reserve. Hot climate.

Reserva Conchal Villas
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Golf Course, Spa/Yoga, Tennis Courts
estrellaestrella Hiking, Fishing
Description:
Reserva Conchal Villas are set around an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II in a residential development that includes beach and golf clubs, hotel, bars, restaurants, a 60-meter-long pool, spa and children’s area with pool and playground. The villas range from 1 to 5 bedrooms, all of which have at least one king bed, a fully furnished kitchen, balcony with ocean or golf-course views, air conditioning, cable TV, washer/dryer, iron and safety box. Hot climate.

Si Como No Hotel & Resort
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy, Fishing, Spa/Yoga
estrellaestrella Boating, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrella Biking, Hiking, Rafting
Description:
Located in Manuel Antonio, the Hotel's 58 rooms are distributed within ten separate terraces located on ten acres of tropical gardens. The eco-friendly approach has low energy air conditioning, a Disney-like atmosphere, pool with water slide and swim-up bar, a movie theater, solar-heated Jacuzzi, and a fine seafood restaurant. Next to a small shopping center with a deli and a Internet café. Hot climate.

Los Sueños Marriott
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Canopy
estrellaestrella Hiking, Horseback Riding
estrella Biking
Description:
Luxury Marriott hotel set on a 1,100-acre rainforest overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Colonial design, deluxe amenities - including a large swimming pool winding through the hotel grounds - spacious rooms with private balconies featuring ocean or garden views. Hot climate.

Tamarindo Diria Resort
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Fishing, Golf Course, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrellaestrella Biking, Bird/Wildlife Observation, Boating, Diving / Snorkeling, Horseback Riding
Description:
Located on the white sand beach of Tamarindo, most rooms at the four-star Tamarindo Diria Beach & Golf Resort have ocean and sunset views and direct access to the beach. Grounds are beautifully maintained, with lush tropical green gardens. The scenic pool and lobby pool for children, are great places to relax and enjoy the warm weather and tropical surroundings. Rooms are open and inviting and the hotel's restaurants serve local and international cuisine with a special focus on seafood. Golf course, tennis courts, restaurants and pool. Hot climate.

Tiskita Jungle Lodge
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Hiking
estrellaestrella Biking, Fishing, Surfing / Windsurfing
Description:
Tiskita Lodge is a collection of 16 individual cabins and private rooms set amid rich forests and fruiting trees. Located on the Osa Peninsula near the Panama border, rooms are rustic cabins of various sizes with screened walls, verandas and showers (some outdoors). An old farmhouse serves as lounge and dining room with family-style meals that are fresh, tasty and filling. Hot climate.

Tortuga Lodge
Habitat: Beach / Tropical Rainforest
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Boating, Fishing
estrellaestrella Kayaking
Description:
Named "favorite family resort" in April 2005 by Travel & Leisure Family magazine. Owned and operated by Costa Rica Expeditions. "Situated on 50 acres of private land on Costa Rica's northeast Caribbean coast, Tortuga was our first hotel. It is now our newest hotel. Everything we have learned about designing nature lodges over the last 11 years has gone into the remodelling of Tortuga Lodge. What we learned can be summarized in three words, 'Reflect the place.'" -Michael Kaye

Villas Caletas Hotel
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Bird/Wildlife Observation, Fishing
estrellaestrella Biking
Description:
Located 4 kilometers from Herradura beach, and 11 km from Carara Biological Reserve, this hotel offers 5 standard deluxe rooms (with queen-sized bed), as well as 13 villas, 7 junior suites, and 3 master suites, all with cable TV and air conditioning. Some of the suites have private jacuzzis or pools. Guests will enjoy a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the Nicoya Peninsula, gulf islands, the beaches of Jaco, as well as distant mountains.

Xandari by the Pacific
Habitat: Beach
Activities:
estrellaestrellaestrella Horseback Riding, Surfing / Windsurfing
estrellaestrella Canopy, Hiking
Description:
The hotel fronts Playa Esterillos Este on the Pacific Coast, north of Manuel Antonio. Villas have their own gardens and terraces with views of the ocean. Restaurant specializes in seafood. Hot climate.

COSTA RICA HOTEL INDEX


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The activity is excellent: Worth a special trip just to do this.
The activity is good: Worth making the time to do it.
The activity is acceptable: Once you are there if you have the time you may well enjoy it.