Sophia May
Best Location To Stay In Costa Rica – My love affair with Costa Rica began over 20 years ago, in the early days of ecotourism. This was my second trip outside of the US and the first time I learned about the importance of protecting the environment and wildlife.
We explored most of the central and western regions of the country, from Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde Cloud Forest to the Nicoya Peninsula and the Cano Negro Reserve (on the northern border of Nicaragua).
Best Location To Stay In Costa Rica
We saw countless animals, from cute, cuddly coatimundis and sloths to every type of tropical bird you can imagine, to butterflies and frogs. I fell madly in love with the country when an orphaned monkey climbed onto my shoulder in Cano Negro.
Best Places To Visit On Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast In 2023
If you haven’t read the story of how green global travel came about, Mary and I came up with the concept in 2010 when we visited Tortuguero National Park. When we returned in 2013 as part of a coordinated group press trip, our media agency Green Travel was born.
It’s clear that this Central American hotspot holds a special place in our hearts, as well as in the hearts of many of our travel blogger friends.
That’s why we enlisted their help to put together this epic guide to the best places to stay in Costa Rica, including our favorite Costa Rica resorts, ecolodges, and hotels.
Arenas del Mar is the only eco-luxury beach resort in Manuel Antonio. With beautiful beaches in front of you and tropical forests to support you, Mother Nature can share her best side as the two ecosystems are intertwined.
Where To Stay In San Jose, Costa Rica → 5 Best Areas
With the roar of the ocean, you’ll gently hit the shore and head out onto the balcony to soak in the private hot tub. Check the resort’s schedule to see if that day’s yoga class will be held on a secluded beach or on a terrace overlooking the forest.
Relax, because this high level of indulgence is only the surface of your experience. Behind the scenes, sustainability and supporting the local community are at the forefront of this incredible Costa Rican resort’s mission.
From the gift shop and mini bar (which is included) to the food in the restaurant, most of the products found at Arenas del Mar are natural, organic and sourced from local businesses.
Solar panels are used to heat the hot water, the pools are chlorine-free, instead ionization is used to purify the water. Twenty percent of the resort’s land is dedicated to rooms, amenities and the beach, while the remaining 80 percent is protected as part of the Cayuga Preserve.
Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts In Costa Rica
Always keep your eyes open as you will see the incredible wildlife that can be found on the property. From sloths to iguanas, white-faced capuchins and more, this is their first and foremost home and we are happy to be their guests. Read more reviews and check prices. – Yoli Ouia Yoli from Green Living
This remote eco-lodge is located on the border of Corcovado National Park, in an area with no airport or roads, just a two-hour boat ride from the nearest town. It is close enough to get to the park without camping and is one of Costa Rica’s resorts to receive an A5 rating for sustainable tourism.
American expatriate Steven Leal bought the land in 1974 (a year before the park was established) to try his hand at small farming. For 20 years it was a 170-acre nature reserve (which is still home to many monkeys, sloths and birds), and in 1994 he opened the Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge.
The resort features 14 charming bungalows, a Spanish hacienda-style restaurant, two swimming pools, landscaped gardens, an outdoor bar/lounge and a Margarita bar with panoramic sunset views. Rooms are spacious and secluded, with porches, hammocks and outdoor showers.
Costa Rica Vacation Rentals & House Rentals From $26
Their sustainability initiatives include solar electric systems, hybrid solar convection for water heating and electric generators. They also installed a hydro turbine, a sewage treatment system and funded a recycling center in Sierpe (all proceeds went to the local high school).
This home offers many activities, including hiking in Corcovado National Park, considered one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. They can also arrange snorkeling/diving trips to Kano Island, a 40-minute boat ride away. Read more reviews and check prices.
Located just south of Tamarindo, Drift Away Eco Lodge is one of our favorite places to stay in Costa Rica. This is a true eco-resort focused on environmental and social sustainability.
Whether you’re a family looking for a base for your adventures, a couple looking for a romantic getaway, or a solo traveler hoping to get off the beaten track, this resort has something for every type of traveler.
Beautiful Costa Rica Beach Resorts For Surfing, Swimming, And Sunbathing
You can ride one of the free bikes, try your hand at surfing, dine at a local restaurant, take yoga classes, and more. you can go to Playa Negra or Playa Avellanas. The staff at Drift Away Eco Lodge can arrange diving, zip lining and other day trips for you.
After exploring the various activities in the surrounding area, you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the holiday home. You can grab a book, relax in the hammocks, take a refreshing dip in the pool, play pool or table tennis, or head to a secluded beach.
Drift Away’s rooms are decorated with reclaimed wood, Costa Rican handicrafts, organic cotton bedding, reusable water bottles for use during your stay, and locally sourced natural toiletries.
In addition to being comfortable and beautiful, Drift Away is the perfect destination for anyone looking to make a positive impact while traveling. To name just a few of the resort’s sustainable practices, they include no single-use plastics, hire no locals, reuse and recycle items, and source local ingredients for their food, beer, wine, and kombucha. Read more reviews and check prices.
Where To Stay In Uvita, Costa Rica
In the mountains above San José, just 15 minutes from Costa Rica’s international airport, the town of Heredia is home to the country’s original boutique hotel, Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort (FRB).
It is also the first in Costa Rica to score 100% on the Sustainable Tourism Certification. It is the advanced national standard in the country, a seal of approval that gives one to five green leaves to companies engaged in sustainable activities.
Ecotourism runs deep in FRB, as well as art and coffee. The resort feels like a private nature reserve, part plantation of some of Costa Rica’s best single-origin shade-grown coffee. It is also a flight of creative imagination, each room is uniquely designed with imaginative architectural touches, murals, original artwork and local handicrafts.
FRB is a day trip from many parks and activities (including river rafting, canopy tours, cultural tours, and volcano viewing), but there are many diversions on site, including areas with more than 50 native fruit species. Trees and other tropical plants and many native and migratory birds.
The Best Places To Visit In Costa Rica
For coffee lovers, the 2½-hour intensive and educational coffee plantation tour is a must, especially after the coffee tasting. The resort has a large swimming pool, El Buho bar and El Tigre Vesti restaurant.
What could be better for the avid traveler than a highly ethical hotel full of art, coffee and nature?
Once a backpacker’s paradise, the small, beautiful town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca has become one of the most popular tourist stops on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. An hour south of the port of Limon (and not far from Panama), Puerto Viejo has a West Indian feel and is well worth a visit.
Our favorite in the area is the adults-only Banana Azul Hotel, located on one of PV’s most beautiful beaches. The grounds are a veritable botanical garden – beautifully manicured and surrounding a pond with small waterfalls and a thatched terrace.
An Insider’s Guide To Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Constructed from natural hardwoods, the retreat has a warm and rustic feel with comfortable beds, tropical interiors and private baths. Second floor rooms have French doors opening to a covered balcony overlooking the pool. Each has its own table and chairs, and some have hammocks.
Open the door at night to enjoy the evening breeze off Playa Negra beach. The beach itself is calm with occasional waves big enough for light surfing.
During the day you can surf in the nearby Cahuita National Park, the beautiful beach town of Punta Uva, the Jaguar Rescue Center or Playa Cocles. The on-site restaurant serves delicious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the mini bar is open all day.
The resort staff can help you arrange a variety of spa services, day trips, and transportation to the airport or nearby Bocas del Toro, Panama. But one thing is for sure, you really are not ready to give up!
Bucket List Worthy Ways To Experience Ecotourism In Costa Rica
In Monteverde
Good places to stay in costa rica, best places to stay in tamarindo costa rica, places to stay in tamarindo costa rica, places to stay in samara costa rica, places to stay in montezuma costa rica, places to stay in arenal costa rica, stay in tamarindo costa rica, where to stay in arenal costa rica, best place to stay in costa rica for couples, places to stay in liberia costa rica, best places to stay in arenal costa rica, places to stay in monteverde costa rica