FEATURED COSTA RICA HOTELS
Some of Our Favorites
Tours Costa Rica offers only the best hotels in Costa Rica. For the well being and enjoyment of our clients we carefully choose the best hotels in each location during your stay in Costa Rica. These qualifications are often quite subjective, so the more we know about your tastes the better choices we can make for your stay, since in some locales there is more than one optimum option, so much depends on client preference and what fits best your itinerary. Unlike many tour outfitters in Costa Rica and the region, Tours Costa Rica would prefer to not offer a tour, rather than put one of our customers in a hotel that is not up to standards. For Tours Costa Rica the key is not lavish luxury, but quality of the structure and services, the hotel locale and character. Sustainability practices by hotels, intimacy and uniqueness are also criteria. Below are some examples of the hotels we use. This list is by no means exhaustive, but will help as a reference for properties we use for many of our guests. Though Costa Rica’s hotels are not the reason you will visit Costa Rica, having unique and high quality lodging in your trip really help heighten the travel experience.
SAN JOSE AND CENTRAL VALLEY
Hotel Grano de Oro located in a residential section of the capital of San José, the Hotel Grano de Oro is a charming European flavored restored mansion with of its 37 rooms and 3 suites is a fine option for overnights in the heart of the city that allow for dining out and/or having a look at some of the cultural attractions in San José. Each of the Hotel Grano de Oro’s rooms are unique with distinct furnishings and the hotel’s restaurant is considered to be one of the finest in San José.
Finca Rosa Blanca Inn located in an organic shade grown coffee plantation 20 minutes from the international airport. This unique inn sports 13 whimsical and artistic rooms located in the middle of lush colorful gardens that enjoy great views of the Central Valley. The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, this is a great option for visitors who overnight entering and leaving the country for people who prefer to stay outside the city.
Intercontinental Hotel located in the upscale area of Escazú, this well-known traditional style hotel is a good option for those who want 5 star quality to recharge their batteries after a long series of flights to arrive to Costa Rica or for families that would prefer to have the infrastructure of a bigger hotel. The 317 room hotel has all the amenities one would expect from the Intercontinental including 3 swimming pools, fitness center and two restaurants.
VOLCANO AND MOUNTAIN LODGES
Arenal Observatory Lodge located on a hillside adjacent to the active Arenal Volcano, this once scientific research station for the Smithsonian Institute has the best views to watch to the volcanoes near-constant activity. Many of the understated rooms have volcano and lake views from their balconies and there is viewing deck, as well as great vistas from the lodge restaurant and patio. Though there are more luxurious (and famous) options, this lodge wrapped in rain forest trades Arenal kitsch for pure nature.
El Silencio Lodge located in 500 acres of private nature reserve in the much less-traveled Bajos del Toro region, these 16 finely appointed bungalows and spa bring new comfort to mountain lodging. The opportunity to hike in the cloud forest to a hidden waterfall and receive a massage along a babbling brook in the same day is complemented by healthy fresh prepared food. Not for hard core nature lovers, but rather those looking to enjoy nature in comfort and recharge life batteries.
Bosque de Paz Lodge located in 3,000 acres of private rain and cloud forest reserve, this un-assuming 12 room lodge set in the Bajos del Toro forest is for real nature lovers. Though homey and unpretentious, the lodge does not cut corners on quality and its classic rooms sport views to the private reserve, which is an important biological corridor that connects the Poás Volcano and Juan Castro Blanco National Parks. For getting close to nature the Bosque de Paz Lodge is the real deal.
Trapp Family Lodge located in Monteverde, just a 15 minute walk from the cloud forest reserve, this cozy 20 room mountain lodge made of precious woods and set in the forest. Each room has a beautiful view of the area and the intimate, low-key setting fits well with the rustic surroundings of this famous destination. Monteverde might be in danger of losing the charm that made it famous, but you would never know that staying at the Trapp Family Lodge.
Savegre Mountain Lodge located in a private 1,000 acre nature reserve that is nestled in the imposing Talamanca Mountains, this is one of the best bird watching sites in Central America and the nature of the reserve goes way beyond birds. We prefer the lodge’s Jr. Suites which feature lots of wood details and fire places. This is the best bet in Costa Rica to spot the legendary Resplendent Quetzal and forest hiking and horseback riding is great with more than 21 miles of trails.
Tenorio Lodge located just 10 miles from the Tenorio Volcano National Park and walking distance to the sky blue waters of the Rio Celeste and one of its most beautiful waterfalls, the lodge’s 8 bungalows sport views to the Tenorio Volcano and enjoy quality furnishings and solar heated showers. With this lodge’s location between the off the beaten path Tenorio and Miravalles Volcanoes, it provides an excellent base to explore Costa Rica’s often ignored spectacular northern volcanic range.
RAIN FOREST LODGES
Pacuare Lodge located right above the gorgeous Pacaure River, one of the world’s finest for white water rafting, will surprise many for its uniquely rustic luxury. Thatched cabins feature river views and candlelight only, though showers are solar heated. This is truly the wilderness with first class food and service. Guest can raft in and out of the Pacuare lodge or arrive overland and raft out, or have land transfers in and out. Hiking is great in the rain forest and cultural excursions are also available.
Lapa Rios located in 1,000 acres of private nature reserve that wraps a point right on the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to the Golfo Dulce, this is one of Latin America’s finest coastal jungle lodges.
The Lapa Rios lodge sports 16 very airy thatch bungalows that allow nature to penetrate from all sides and afford great views of forest and sea. A winner of numerous Conde Naste and Travel and Leisure awards, this remote slice of paradise is hardly a secret, but still worth booking early to experience its nature.
Esquinas Rain Forest Lodge located in the wild and seldom visited Piedras Blancas National Park, this is for true lovers of nature who want to get into the thick of it. The Esquinas Rain Forest lodge has 14 basic rooms with hotel showers, screened windows and fans. The luxury here is outside the lodge with the spectacular nature that includes 362 species of birds, 124 species of mammals, 40 species of freshwater fish, approximately 8,000 species of insects, and 117 species of reptiles and amphibians.
La Paloma Lodge located in Costa Rica’s magnificent Drake Bay, this is one of the country’s finest coastal lodges and provides superb access to the rich marine life of Drake Bay, Caño Island and the rain forest of Corcovado National Park. The Paloma Lodge rooms and ranchos feature precious wood details, private balconies with hammocks and lots of open air to let in the nature breath in. Activities include kayaking, snorkeling, diving and horseback riding, as well as visits to Corcovado.
Rifiki Safari Lodge located in more than 800 acres of pristine rain forest along the banks of the Savegre River, is a luxury wilderness tent camp that is equally exciting for adventure sports enthusiasts as it is for nature lovers. Activities include world-class white water rafting, horseback riding, nature hiking and bird watching. The South African luxury tents are set on hardwood platforms with rocking chairs and a modern bathroom. Food also has a distinctly South African flavor with some of the best barbeques in Costa Rica.
BEACH VILLAS AND HOTELS
Arenas del Mar located right next to the Manuel Antonio National Park, this is one of Costa Rica’s most intelligent Pacific Ocean beach hotels, no flash or bravado, just quality at every turn. It is also the only hotel in Manuel Antonio nestled right up to two beaches and wrapped in lush rain forest. This 38 room hotel set in 11 acres of forest on the intimate Playa Espadilla is one of the best quality lodging opportunities in Costa Rica and it also receives high marks for sustainability and great food.
Punta Islita located on the rugged Nicoya Peninsula in southern Guanacaste; this luxury hotel is set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by tiny villages and towns. Hotel Punta Islita offers a variety of lodging options from rooms, to villas to small homes, all done with fine style and the complex is at the cutting edge of responsible tourism. Named one of the 100 best hotels in the world by the readers of Conde Naste Traveler, this is a great place to enjoy ocean sports or just unwind.
Florblanca located at the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific Ocean, this is one of Costa Rica’s most exclusive beach lodging options. Designed for low impact and privacy, Florblanca’s 11 well appointed villas are set on 7 acres of white sand beach. This is a great beach escape from the built up beach towns to the north of Guanacaste and with gourmet dining and yoga classes it is a place to repair the wear and tear done to one’s body and soul in the overdeveloped world.
The Harmony Hotel located on Guiones Beach in Nosara, Costa Rica, this hotel is an ideal combination of low-key luxury, nature and wellness and sustainability. The Harmony Hotel has 25 rooms that take advantage of this very natural coastal community with open air decks and hammocks in the bungalows and other features that the owners call the “old school concept of total escape”. The restaurant focuses on organic food and mostly vegetarian dishes with a great juice bar and a Healing Center.
