BySarah Etinas Hours

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Are you looking for the best places to stay in Costa Rica? Costa Rica is filled with beautiful accommodation options in beautiful cities. After all, this incredible country attracts all types of travelers, including nature lovers, beach bums, yogis, and animal aficionados. 

sunset on the beach in Costa Rica

Depending on your interests, you can find a place to stay in Costa Rica that’s perfect for you and your group. You can experience a taste of Costa Rican culture in San Jose, keep an eye out for gorgeous wildlife in the Osa Peninsula, and soak up the sun on the sandy shores of Tamarindo.

Whether you’re looking for a budget hotel in the city or a luxurious resort on the beach, here are 10 of the best places to stay in Costa Rica.

ochristine latina female traveler walking along dirt road in beach town

Where To Stay In Costa Rica

Here are regions and areas to stay in Costa Rica, and recommended accommodations there.

1. Gulf Of Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo is just north of Samara and Tamarindo, yet most visitors never venture up there. With smaller crowds and calmer waters, the Gulf of Papagayo is fantastic for families.

Best Hotels in Gulf of Papagayo

2. San Jose

While you might be tempted to find a hotel near the beach, the landlocked city of San Jose is one of the best places to stay in Costa Rica. As the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose is the perfect city to get a taste of Costa Rican cuisine and culture. You can stroll down Avenida Central, grab a bite of local food from Mercado Central, and even catch a captivating show at Teatro Nacional.

Best Hotels in San Jose, Costa Rica

valley view of greenery nature and distant city
Source: Unsplash

3. Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is one of the best places to stay if you’re looking for affordable hotels on the beach in Costa Rica. This little town is home to many of the most picture-perfect shorelines in the country, including Playa Negra, Playa Cocles, and Playa Chiquita, and you can do more than just suntan at these beautiful beaches. Puerto Viejo also boasts a few world-renowned surf breaks, including the Salsa Brava surf break.

Best Hotels in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

4. Jacó

If you’re looking for excitement and entertainment at all hours of the day, Jacó may be the Costa Rican town for you. During the day, you can spend all of your time at the beach, swimming and surfing to your heart’s content. And, after the sun sets, you can party all night long!

Best Hotels in Jacó, Costa Rica

sunset view of surfers on the water
Source: Unsplash

5. Osa Peninsula

The highlight of the Osa Peninsula is Corcovado National Park, and this one attraction is so cool that you may want to plan your entire Costa Rica itinerary around it. While visiting this natural gem, you can hike through thriving greenery and keep an eye out for wildlife. You’ll be able to see everything from jumping red-eyed tree frogs to cascading waterfalls to massive jaguar paw prints.

Best Hotels in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

6. Arenal

The main draw to Arenal is the Arenal Volcano. This majestic natural wonder is located in Arenal Volcano National Park. While there, you can admire the views of the towering volcano, hike to the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall, and soak in the natural hot springs.

Best Hotels in Arenal

view of a large volcano above a forest
Source: Unsplash

7. Nosara

Nosara is where all of the visiting yoga lovers stay in Costa Rica. There are many resorts in town that offer a wide variety of yoga classes for you to enjoy. And while yoga is the highlight of Nosara, it’s certainly not the only thing to do there. You can also surf the beautiful beaches, keep an eye out for howler monkeys at Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary, and catch a glimpse of turtles at Playa del Ostional.

Best Hotels in Nosara, Costa Rica

8. Tamarindo

If you’re looking for hotels on the beach in Costa Rica, you’ll definitely want to check out Tamarindo. Tamarindo is known for being one of the best beach towns in the country – and for good reason. The beaches there are home to prime surfing waves, amazing swimming conditions, and even gorgeous leatherback turtles!

Best Hotels in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

black female traveler laying on the beach with DIY tent in Santa Teresa

9. Samara

The one downside to Tamarindo is the crowds. After all, who doesn’t want to experience the stunning Costa Rican beaches? But Samara is an easy solution to this problem. This lovely little town is less popular than Tamarindo but still offers access to some of the country’s most amazing shorelines.

Best Hotels in Samara, Costa Rica

10. Monteverde

Filled with rolling mountains and thriving rainforests, Monteverde is a dream for nature lovers. While staying in the little town, you can see all of the flora and fauna that Costa Rica is known for, including the rare quetzal bird. Experience the cloud forest, a protected and unique natural wonder that lends to Monteverde’s ecotourism popularity.  

Best Hotels in Monteverde, Costa Rica

tourists adventure tour, swinging bridge, hike, cloud forest
Source: Unsplash

Which Places to Stay in Costa Rica are the Best?

All of these towns and accommodations are just the start of the best places to stay in Costa Rica. There’s also Hotel Nya in Montezuma, Poas Volcano Lodge in Poas, and Hotel Plaza Yara in Manuel Antonio. In other words, there are many hotels in Costa Rica that are worth your time.

monkey in tree
Source: Unsplash

If you have some flexibility during your Costa Rican getaway, you can consider staying at multiple accommodations in different parts of the country. That way, you’ll be able to experience more parts of Costa Rica during your trip.

Have you been to Costa Rica? Where did you stay?

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