Where to Stay in Costa Rica
A regional guide to accommodation across the country
Costa Rica arranges itself into four accommodation spheres. The Central Valley around San José packs international business hotels and colonial-era mansions converted to boutique stays. The Pacific coast from Guanacaste to the Osa Peninsula lines up surf lodges, eco-resorts, and cliff-perched villas where howler monkeys wake you at dawn. The Caribbean side keeps things small, weathered wooden guesthouses in Puerto Viejo and family-run ecolodges tucked into the jungle behind Playa Cocles. Then there's the mountain spine: coffee haciendas turned into country inns, cloud forest lodges where glass walls open onto hummingbird clouds, and thermal-spring resorts where steam rises from volcanic soil. Accommodation prices in Costa Rica sit mid-range compared to Europe but spike during Christmas-New Year and Easter weeks. A clean double in San José runs budget-friendly most of the year. Same room in Manuel Antonio doubles during whale-watching season. Budget travelers can find hostel bunks in Santa Teresa or homestays in Monteverde. Luxury seekers gravitate toward Peninsula Papagayo resorts or the Arenal Nayara collection, where private plunge pools overlook volcano cones. The sweet spot for booking sits shoulder seasons: May through mid-June and September-October bring green landscapes, empty beaches, and rates that drop overnight. Rainy season doesn't mean constant downpour, mornings stay golden, just pack a light jacket for afternoon cloudbursts that drum on tin roofs and release petrichor from the forest floor.
Where to Stay in Costa Rica
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for every visitor.
Our Top Picks
The highest-rated hotel in each price range, selected from across Costa Rica.
Top Pick: Central Valley
Budget
Hotel Casa Roland San Jose
"The room was big, clean, quiet, and the breakfast was great!"
Private parking
Bar
Currency exchange
Conference room
Central Valley
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Top Pick: Central Valley
Mid Range
Grano de Oro Hotel
"Nice with great history. Expected more from the room I booked"
Horse riding
Hiking
Massage room
Gym
Central Valley
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Top Pick: Central Valley
Luxury
Hilton San Jose la Sabana
"The city view was the best part, we got picked up from the hotel for a day tour.…"
Indoor swimming pool
Sauna
Gym
Public parking
Central Valley
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Find Hotels Across Costa Rica
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Regions of Costa Rica
Each region offers a distinct character and accommodation scene. Find the one that matches your travel plans.
Central Valley
Mid-range to luxury
San José anchors Costa Rica's urban heart with converted coffee mansions and rooftop infinity pools overlooking the Central Valley lights.
Accommodation: Mix of international chains, colonial boutique hotels, and central hostels within walking distance of museums and markets
Gateway Cities
San José
Alajuela
Heredia
Where to stay in this region
Budget
Hotel Casa Roland San Jose
"The room was big, clean, quiet, and the breakfast was great!"
Private parking
Bar
Currency exchange
Conference room
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Grano de Oro Hotel
"Nice with great history. Expected more from the room I booked"
Horse riding
Hiking
Massage room
Gym
✓ Verified
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Luxury
Hilton San Jose la Sabana
"The city view was the best part, we got picked up from the hotel for a day tour.…"
Indoor swimming pool
Sauna
Gym
Public parking
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Hotel Bougainvillea San José
"An excellent hotel with a great breakfast and a beautiful garden. Clean and with…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Spa
Massage room
Private parking
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Residence Inn San Jose Escazu
"Great front desk service! The apartment is comfy and we had a great stay"
Outdoor swimming pool
Gym
Private parking
Priority airport pick-up
✓ Verified
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Guanacaste
Luxury to splurge
The northwest Pacific coast delivers beachfront resorts and surf towns where guitars play under almond trees and the air smells of grilled dorado.
Accommodation: Large resorts along Peninsula Papagayo, boutique surf lodges in Tamarindo, and cliffside villas with infinity pools
Gateway Cities
Liberia
Tamarindo
Playa Flamingo
Where to stay in this region
Budget
Jungla Urbana, Bnb
"Good spot for a quick overnight stay. Rooms have basic necessities. Currently re…"
Parking
Luggage storage
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Sheraton San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica
"The location is good, breakfast is average, the surrounding transportation is co…"
Sunbathing area
Outdoor swimming pool
Casino
Sauna
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Bee Suites San Jose - Escalante
"It was a satisfactory stay. The room and rooftop view are great. We were traveli…"
Gym
Parking
Business center
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Aloft San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica
"Nice hotel and rooms very comfortable. The only issue is the huge traffic jam ev…"
Golf course
Outdoor swimming pool
Massage room
Gym
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Hilton Garden Inn San Jose la Sabana
"Very good hotel, high cost performance, convenient transportation, supermarkets…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Sauna
Gym
Private parking
✓ Verified
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Monteverde Cloud Forest
Mid-range
Mountain lodges perch in the clouds where moss drapes from trees and hummingbirds dart through orchid gardens at 1,400 meters elevation.
Accommodation: Eco-lodges built around cloud forest preservation, coffee farm stays, and family-run hotels with hummingbird feeders outside every window
Gateway Cities
Santa Elena
Monteverde
Where to stay in this region
Budget
Capital Hostel de Ciudad
"Excellent service over WhatsApp, I contacted them with some questions and they a…"
Parking
Luggage storage
Airport pick-up
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Hotel Presidente
"The hotel is located in the center of San Jose. Downstairs is a main pedestrian…"
Casino
Private parking
Airport pick-up
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Radisson San Jose Costa Rica
"Great location, the pool and jacuzzi are standout. Older hotel but the maintena…"
Indoor swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
Sauna
Gym
✓ Verified
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"The location is great, the main attractions and Chinatown are all within the wal…"
Gym
Private parking
Priority airport pick-up
Bar
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Hotel Residence Inn Suites Cristina
"It may be that the locals are like this, the hotel service attitude is average,…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Massage room
Gym
Private parking
✓ Verified
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Manuel Antonio
Mid-range to luxury
National park jungle meets white-sand beaches where capuchin monkeys steal mangoes from hotel balconies and scarlet macaws circle overhead.
Accommodation: Hillside hotels with Pacific views, intimate eco-lodges on jungle edges, and beachfront properties where monkeys visit breakfast buffets
Gateway Cities
Quepos
Manuel Antonio
Where to stay in this region
Budget
Viajero San José Hostel
"Curtains on the bed which is a killer feature to get some intimacy and sleep bet…"
Spa
Massage room
Public parking
Airport pick-up
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel
Gym
Private parking
EV charging station
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Crowne Plaza SAN JOSE LA SABANA by IHG
"The hotel is half an hour away from the airport. The rooms are large and clean.…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Casino
Gym
Private parking
✓ Verified
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Budget
Costa Rica Guesthouse
"It's cheap and convenient. I stayed in a dormitory for two nights, and while it…"
Private parking
Airport pick-up
Luggage storage
Bar
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Holiday Inn SAN JOSE LA SABANA by IHG
"During the three nights I stayed, I changed rooms in the next two nights, but fo…"
Gym
Parking
Airport pick-up
Airport drop-off
✓ Verified
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Arenal & La Fortuna
Mid-range to luxury
Volcano lodges face the perfect cone of Arenal while thermal rivers steam through tropical gardens and the air carries hints of sulfur and orchids.
Accommodation: Thermal-spring resorts, volcano-view lodges, and adventure hotels with zip lines starting from the lobby
Gateway Cities
La Fortuna
El Castillo
Where to stay in this region
"Undiscovered gem of a hotel near San Pedro. Pros: We were looking for a place…"
Sunbathing area
Outdoor swimming pool
Hiking
Gym
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
D Sabana Hotel San Jose
"The hotel is located in the city center, very easy to find, and it takes less th…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Massage room
Gym
Private parking
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
"Excellent location 10-15 minutes walk the the Zoo/Botanic Garden, city parks, mu…"
Hiking
Casino
Massage room
Gym
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Taormina Hotel and Casino-Adults Only
"Hiiii"
Hiking
Casino
Spa
Gym
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Isla Verde Hotel
"Full facilities, gym printing room, restaurant is convenient. This is the second…"
Massage room
Gym
Private parking
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
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Caribbean Coast
Budget to mid-range
Reggae rhythms drift from wooden guesthouses while coconut palms sway over golden beaches and the air carries curry spice from nearby kitchens.
Accommodation: Weathered wooden guesthouses, beachfront cabinas, and eco-lodges accessible only by boat through jungle canals
Gateway Cities
Puerto Viejo
Cahuita
Tortuguero
Where to stay in this region
Budget
Fleur de Lys
"Unexpectedly liked the furnishings of this hotel. Although there is no air condi…"
Golf course
Public parking
Luggage storage
Bar
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Courtyard San Jose Escazu
"The hotel is famous in the local area, the facilities are relatively new, the se…"
Gym
Private parking
Luggage storage
Bar
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Hotel Dunn Inn
"Older hotel, relatively small. But very like, very relaxed, the key is also the…"
Massage room
Private parking
Luggage storage
Bar
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Delta Hotels by Marriott San Jose Aurola
"I stayed at Delta Hotel by Marriott during my trip to Costa Rica, and it was suc…"
Indoor swimming pool
Casino
Executive lounge
Gym
✓ Verified
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Mid Range
Auténtico Hotel
"almost no service no business centre no printer no minibar nothing but people ar…"
Outdoor swimming pool
Private parking
Airport pick-up
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
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Accommodation Landscape
What to expect from accommodation options across Costa Rica
International Chains
Marriott operates the Costa Rica Marriott San José and Los Sueños Resort. Hilton has properties in Papagayo Peninsula and near San José airport. Local chains like Adventure Hotels and Hotel Presidente run sustainable properties nationwide.
Local Options
Tico family guesthouses, called cabinas, dominate beach towns and mountain villages. Most include traditional gallo pinto breakfasts and owners who share insider knowledge on hidden waterfalls and local sodas.
Unique Stays
Coffee haciendas like Finca Rosa Blanca offer plantation tours and barista classes. Rainforest ecolodges like Lapa Rios sit 350 feet above the Pacific with wildlife corridors running through the property. Treehouse hotels in the south let you sleep 60 feet up with monkeys as neighbors.
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Search Hotels in Costa RicaBooking Tips for Costa Rica
Country-specific advice for finding the best accommodation
Reserve early for dry season and turtles
Christmas-New Year, Easter week, and July-October turtle nesting season require 3-4 months advance booking. Same applies to Arenal volcano-view rooms.
Search hotels →Green season equals empty hotels and deals
May-June and September-October bring afternoon showers but prices drop 40% and beaches empty out. Most hotels offer stay-4-pay-3 deals.
Search hotels →When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability across Costa Rica
High Season
Book beach and volcano hotels by September for December-April stays. Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo fill up first.
Shoulder Season
May-June and late November offer perfect weather with half the crowds and rates. Caribbean side is best September-October.
Low Season
September-November brings daily rain but lush landscapes, empty national parks, and hotel rates that drop weekly. Good for cloud forest visits.
Two weeks ahead works for city hotels and mid-range lodges. Beach resorts need 2-3 months during holidays and turtle season.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information for Costa Rica
Check-in / Check-out
Standard 15:00 check-in, 12:00 check-out. Many mountain lodges offer flexible timing if you arrive on the morning transport.
Tipping
$1-2 per bag for porters, $1-2 daily for housekeeping. Restaurants add 10% service charge automatically.
Payment
US dollars accepted everywhere. Colones preferred at small guesthouses. Cards accepted at most hotels but rural lodges may add 5-7% card fee.
Safety
Costa Rica is among Latin America's safest destinations. Use standard precautions in San José at night, lock valuables in hotel safes, and don't leave items on rental car seats.
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