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9 hotel recommendations at the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

While planning a trip, it is normal that we are looking for recommendations. Recommendations about where our next trip should go to, which places we can visit, what´s the best time to travel, which activities we could do, which food we should try and of course, where we are going to stay!

For this reason, I would like to recommend a small list of 9 hotels that you will find at the Pacific of Costa Rica.

The Pacific Coast of my beautiful country is full of ecosystems from dry forests, over mangroves to the rainforest, a great variety of beautiful places that invite its visitors to feel like in paradise, wishing to stay.

To give you the information in an easy way, I divided it into three areas: the North Pacific, Central Pacific, and the South Pacific, so, let’s start:

North Pacific

Characteristic for its beautiful sunny days and paradise beaches, it is the perfect destination for those who want to relax and enjoy life near the ocean. And thanks to the irregularity of the coast in the north of Costa Rica, there are many beautiful beaches, which makes it a beloved place for visitors.

The Gilded Iguana***(*)

Located at the beautiful destination of Nosara, which is perfect for those who love to surf, because the waves of the beaches in the area are perfect for surfing. This hotel is a perfect option for surfers and those who love to practice yoga.

It is located just 200 meters from the beach. It has a modern, minimalistic style with tropical elements that show good taste. The rooms are very cosy. The Gilded Iguana offers a very professional service and exquisite food, as well as a pool that invites you to take a dip, relax and just enjoy the environment.

gilded iguana

Capitán Suizo****

A paradise amidst the popular destination of Tamarindo. When you arrive at the hotel Capitán Suizo, you will perceive an oasis of peace and harmony of the environment and thanks to their environmental commitment, they house a great diversity of trees and plants and are also home to animals such as monkeys, squirrels and birds, among others. Their rooms are comfortable and something that differs from others is the individual and unique customer service.

Another favourable aspect of Hotel Capitán Suizo is that it is located in front of the beach, which makes it possible to swim in the ocean or enjoy a beautiful sunset, just a few metres away from your room.

capitan suizo

Bosque del Mar***(*)

Without any doubt, this is one of the most recommended options in the area of the Gulf of Papagayo. A splendid place to enjoy the close beach, perfect for families! In just some seconds, you can walk from the pool to the ocean.

Located at the extreme of Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, it is a very calm place. The rooms are large and comfortable. Also, the food that the hotel offers is good and they treat their guest very nice and friendly.

bosque del mar

Central Pacific

The Central Pacific is very interesting since there are tropical dry forests in the north and tropical rain forests in the south, so this is the transition of both, which you see for example at the Carara National Park. Furthermore, there are beautiful places like the Manuel Antonio National Park, which because of its impressing nature is one of the main attractions of the area.

Macaw Lodge***

This lodge is located 20 km from the highway, la Costanera Sur. A distance that makes it to a magical destination surrounded by nature, actually it has become one of the best places in Costa Rica for birding.

Macaw Lodge is based on ecotourism, investigation, and conservation. They are an important spot in the conservation of the red Ara Macaw parrot, from which the lodge got its name from. What gives this place an even bigger value is that as a part of the commitment to nature, many organic products are produced on the property while taking care of nature.

macaw

Hotel Playa Espadilla***

Manuel Antonio has become one of the most visited places in Costa Rica, which is because of its paradisiac beaches and beautiful nature as I mentioned before.

For those who don´t know that place, most of the hotels are located at a distance from where it´s not possible to get to the beach without a car, which is because of the missing sidewalks. A factor you won´t have to worry about when you stay at the hotel Playa Espadilla, a beautiful hotel just some metres away from Playa Espadilla, the main beach at Manuel Antonio. And not just that, it is also very close to the Manuel Antonio National Park, the main attraction of the area, and restaurants. In addition to this, the facilities of this hotel are impeccable and offer a very welcoming atmosphere for its guests, as well as good customer service.

espadilla

Parador Resort & Spa****

One of the best hotels that you can find in Manuel Antonio, the hotel offers everything you need, like a gym, spa, playground for kids, as well as a free shuttle service, which brings you to Manuel Antonio downtown at scheduled times. Even though you´re not close to downtown, it’s possible to walk to Playa Biesanz, the closest and one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. Something that I truly loved in this hotel was the breakfast, which has offered many different options for the guests.

Additionally to the room, where you find everything to relax, the customer service is spectacular as well, they are always trying to make you feel home - perfect for the last days in the country!

parador

 

South Pacific

The south of Costa Rica is like a box of surprises of beautiful places! I recommend it to those who are looking for places with not too many tourists. Furthermore, here is the Osa Peninsula that houses uncountable resources of the world, like in the Corcovado National Park, which was announced the biologically most intense place on earth. This means, that in one square metre you find that much biodiversity like in no other place in the world.

Yabá Chiguí***

A small lodge with 4 bungalows, located close to the town of Ojochal. The lodge is special for its design, the main building was inspired by the palenques of the Boruncas, natives of the area.

The lodge is surrounded by blooming vegetation, which is the perfect place to relax. The guests also love the warm atmosphere that they receive from the owners. They are a retired Costa Rican married couple that used their pension to create a lodge offering a unique experience to their clients to feel at home.

yabachigui

SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge****

With no doubt, the best lodge you will find close to the Corcovado National Park. The location is perfect since it adjoins the incredible park. Many animals are walking through the gardens of the lodge, I was surprised to see a tapir walking the same way that I took to my room, I just couldn’t believe it! The lodge has impeccable rooms where not all the infrastructure is concrete, but with windows with sieve or grid, so you feel like you’re sleeping in the middle of nature! I should also mention the food and service, it was very impressive. I recommend, if the weather allows it, to walk to the viewpoint to see the sunset, a memory that you will keep in mind, with great colours and the Isla del Caño at the horizon. This is an experience you can´t miss out on, worth every cent!

casa corcovado

Cristal Ballena***

This hotel is located 7 km from the town of Uvita, on the top of a mountain that makes it possible to enjoy impressive views of the Pacific Ocean. The rooms are large and comfortable, with private terraces. Also, the attention of the staff is very good, very helpful and friendly.

Possibly you will meet the owners of the hotel, who are, like their clients, enjoying the hotel. The big pool invites the guests to relax after a day full of activities, which makes it an excellent option to stay.

cristal ballena

If you have any doubt about the mentioned options or if you need information about other places in the country, I will be happy to help you, I love to share experiences about my country! Just This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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  • Janaina & Dieter, Brazil

    The trip was wonderful! Your help was invaluable and without your choices it would not have been so good! I am very very satisfied and very happy with the choices you made!

    Thank you very much for everything!

    Janaina & Dieter, Brazil
  • Kathrin, Ines, Matthias & Ingo, Germany

    Hello dear Aline, many thanks to you for the great compilation and organization of the trip. We were able to spend eventful, interesting and wonderful days in Costa Rica and will keep them in good memory. A thank you also goes to the ARA Tours team, which was available 24/7 for problems and questions, which were solved and answered quickly and reliably. The punctuality of the transfers offered should also be emphasized. In summary, it was a wonderful holiday.

    Kind regards

    Kathrin, Ines, Matthias & Ingo, Germany
  • Carina & Thomas, Germany

    Hello dear Aline,
    Now we have arrived back at San Jose Airport after a great trip. Everything worked out great and the tour was just perfectly planned and organized. Thank you very much. We take a lot of positive memories with us.
    Best regards.

    Carina & Thomas, Germany
  • Yvonne, Switzerland

    The Costa Rica trip together with my family is already behind us - it was wonderful!!! Everything went smoothly from A to Z, we had a wonderful time, no incidents and wonderful experiences.
    We all enjoyed it very much; the nature is enormous, but also the warm-hearted people, the cleanliness, the food - we are very enthusiastic!
    At this point I would like to thank you very much for your support in the preparation, for all the bookings, clarifications and enquiries!!!
    We visited the waterfall in La Fortuna and had a great view of the Arenal. In Monteverde we did a Hanging Bridges and Zipline tour and in Nosara a surf course. In Finca Rosa Bianca we did the coffee tour, it was all great, fun and interesting 😊. All in all, we saw lots of animals, always ate well, enjoyed the beaches....even in rainy weather 😊. Often we were even glad that it was overcast, otherwise it would have been almost toouuu hot for us.
    So THANK YOU again so much for everything!!!!

    Yvonne, Switzerland
  • Christina, Switzerland

    Many thanks for the extensive support (before, during and after the trip) and the professional handling of our concerns. With your support we had a smooth and unforgettable vacation in Costa Rica! Our favorite hotels: Hotel Plaza Yara and the Poas Volcano Lodge - a dream!
    All the best
    Christina

    Christina, Switzerland
  • Jeanne, Bernd & Bill, USA

    Yay! I´m glad we are back on track. Thank you again for helping us with all these changes.
    I´m glad we choose ARA-you are amazing! Thanks for all your help! It made it a very memorable visit!

    Jeanne, Bernd & Bill, USA
  • Janka, The Netherlands

    Hi Eli & ARA Team,
    We have spoken to the guest and they are super enthusiastic about their Costa Rica roundtrip! Everything was well organized, nice hotels, nice mix of activities & beach and they have big compliments for you guys!!
    Many thanks for all the good work!! The guest highly appreciate it!!
    They had lunch nearby in Ara Ambigua Lodge, and they loved this place. Friendly staff and good food!
    Do you work with this accommodation? If so, we would love hear 😊
    Once again, heads off for this amazing trip!
    With warm regards

    Janka, The Netherlands
  • Thomas, Deborah, Eva & Paula, Switzerland

    Dear Priska
    Happily I write some words to you in English, so you can easily forward them also to Ara Tours, please. Thank you all, we spent a magic time in Costa Rica! Baumeler's and Ara Tours organisation and logistics were perfect, everything worked out even better than we expected. The tours were brilliant, we really enjoyed everything very very much!
    All the accomodation was absolutely wonderful... the setting, the quality, the food, with happy helpful friendly staff everywhere. It was a wonderful way to experience this beautiful country the way we did, on a private tour with personal guide and drivers. We saw and learnt sooo much - it would have been impossible to do so on our own.
    Especially we praise our brilliant guide Fernando Perez, we benefited so much from his truly wide knowledge and deep love for his Country which he passed on in lovely encouraging way. We even became friends and we will meet in Switzerland coming September! Also our driver Carlos Sandi was great, not only as a driver but also as a compagnion, animal spotter and photographer. Thank you!
    So.... now we just enjoy our last day...
    Sunny greetings, pura vida

    Thomas, Deborah, Eva & Paula, Switzerland
  • Yvonne & Andrea, Switzerland

    Hello all
    Unfortunately, our wonderful trip is already over and everyday life has caught up with us again. We would like to thank you very much for everything. The trip was planned exactly according to our wishes and we have seen so many beautiful places.
    Thank you Stefanie!
    We have felt completely comfortable and top cared for by you. Via Whats App we got immediate answers to our questions, with the car everything worked out great. In all locations we were treated very warmly and nicely. It was just so indescribably beautiful, we will dream of the beautiful experiences for a long time. In any case, we will warmly recommend you and hope for a next time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    Best regards.

    Yvonne & Andrea, Switzerland
  • Anita, Switzerland

    We have arrived safely in Switzerland and have already returned to work.
    It was a wonderful trip you put together for us.
    Your excellent service, as well as the 24 hour support service from ARA Tours, was truly outstanding.
    I have already recommended you several times and would book with you again and again. Thank you very much and keep me informed if there are any interesting offers.
    Best wishes.

    Anita, Switzerland
  • Lukas & Isabelle, Switzerland

    Hello Pedro, our time in CR is coming to an end and we wanted to say "thank you very much for organizing a phenomenal week". Everything has been well organized and we have seen many beauties of nature. Thanks!

    Lukas & Isabelle, Switzerland
  • Reinout & Yvonne, The Netherlands

    Thanks Jenny for the clear answer. We will make an appointment via the link you gave us.
    Today we visited National Parc Cabo Blanco. What an amazing park, so quiet for tourists, so full of animals, really lovely and therefore together with Monte Verde, Cahuita and Corcovado the park today, Cabo Blanco, scores high in our ranking of most beautiful parks of CR.These parks give us reason, together with the Pura Vida in CR, to come back soon. We'll keep in contact.

    Reinout & Yvonne, The Netherlands
  • Dominik, Germany

    Good day Jennifer
    As we have already told Simone, the stay at Lapa Rios is extremely enriching, thanks to the well planned planting and the untouched environment we see a lot of animals. Contrary to the plans before the stay, we do not want to visit more animals in captivity at the end. We will have a look at the few hours before we leave.
    We thank you and your team very much for the excellent advice and the permanent support! We can only recommend Ara Tours.
    Best regards.

    Dominik, Germany
  • Daniel, Jana & Theo, Germany

    A big thank to you, you saved our vacation!
    Communication already worked very well in Germany. The help from you, especially through Aline, should be mentioned here. This was fantastic from the first WhatsApp message to the last. We already know Costa Rica, so we knew what we wanted and what not. Ara Tours was an important point of contact for us. We are very grateful to Aline precisely because our actual travel agent cancelled our trip 36 hours before departure. She immediately organized everything for us. Whether the hotel in beautiful Punta Leona, the tours to the national parks, even the shuttle service with the great driver Guillerno Ortega has to be mentioned here. We are very grateful to you, dear Aline, but also to the entire Ara Tours team. You too made our almost 3-week trip to Costa Rica unforgettable again. We would love to come back and of course we will book through Ara Tours again.

    Daniel, Jana & Theo, Germany
  • Alexander & family, Switzerland

    Thank you, everything really worked out great. Super organization and at any time quick info / help / support from you!
    We liked it very much. The conclusion in Quepos was crowning. We liked the beach in the National Park Manuel Antonio very much. We would have liked to stay longer, but we take home many wonderful, unforgettable impressions. PURA VIDA!
    Many thanks to you Aline! We will gladly recommend you to others.

    Alexander & family, Switzerland
  • Neumann Family, Germany

    - The route was super planned, first on the beach time to arrive and then only from Monteverde with excursions inland etc. and at the end again beach - perfect!
    - Support from Ara Tours was VERY good!!! Through Whatsapp reachability the service was great, very quick answers / very flexible, good suggestions etc. Also with the doctor Ara Tours helped with translations by phone - that was really very, very good!
    - The home stay day was an absolute highlight - very authentic - so we got to know the locals REAL, the family was super friendly and very open and have talked about everything. Not at all touristy perceived.

    Neumann Family, Germany
  • Marine & Bruno, France

    Hello
    We would like to thank you personally for this beautiful trip that you organised for us and for the follow-up that you did throughout the stay. A big thank you also to Jennifer d'Ara tours! Thank you again and have a great week!

    Marine & Bruno, France
  • Walter, Switzerland

    We really appreciated your (almost) daily updates from Costa Rica on Covid and related issues. That was a highlight compared to other incoming agents worldwide! We thank you for your effort and wish you that you manage the coming time well and stay healthy.

    Walter, Switzerland
  • Ronald, Germany

    Our great compliments for keeping us informed every day on the developments. We wish you all the best and keep yourself and families in good health and mood during this unprecedented period!

    Ronald, Germany
  • Kathrin, Germany

    You are really super! It is impressive how you manage the crisis with your super flow of information and the great reversal. Hats off!

    Kathrin, Germany
  • Michael, Germany

    Hello, we were on a round trip in Costa Rica from 27.11., which was booked through BigXtra and organised by them. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much. The tour was simply amazing! The support by Carlos was just great. We have done many trips before, but this one was an unforgettable experience thanks to Carlos. Carlos speaks very good German and was able to sensitively introduce us to Costa Rica, its incomparable nature and its great, friendly inhabitants. Pura Vida became for us a term for the attitude towards life in Costa Rica. Please say hello to Carlos from us and once again a huge thank you to him in the name of the whole group of 8. We wish him only the best for his future.

    Michael, Germany
  • Evelyne, Switzerland

    Wie just did a 4 week trip in Costa Rica which was organised from ARA tours and we really liked it - well done Ara Tours! We also had a guide - his name is Enrique. His German is really good and he knows a lot about Costa Rica and he showed us a lot of animals. We had a wonderful time with hime - thank you so much Enrique!

    Evelyne, Switzerland
  • Tanja, Germany

    perfect tour perfect tour guide pablo, everything very well organised 👍👍👍👍🇨🇷🇨🇨🇷 were thrilled

    Tanja, Germany
  • Ines, Germany

    Many thanks and great praise to our tour guide Mauricio and our bus driver Adrian! We felt very comfortable during the 2 weeks in Costa Rica. The wide-ranging knowledge of Mauricio and the super driving skills of Adrian were particularly admirable. Thanks to the eagle eyes of both of them, we had the opportunity to observe a variety of animals in Costa Rica. Thank you for everything!

    Ines, Germany
  • Sabine, Germany

    I can only recommend ARA Tours. Thanks again to Nicole for the great planning of the tour and the support. Our tour guide Peter Käser was simply incredible (a walking encyclopaedia) and always had an answer to all my questions about the flora and fauna and the history of CR. Our driver Julio carried my father on his hands, for which I am very grateful. CR is also worth a trip for wheelchair users at any time (with ARA Tours, of course).

    Sabine, Germany
  • Thieme Family, Germany

    We would like to thank you once again for organizing our trip [...] through the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Our special thanks go to our tour guide Enrique, who with his extensive knowledge of flora and fauna about his country brought it very close to us and made us want to come even a second time. We were very glad and happy to travel with him, as he was also very committed to our problems on site, in addition to his competent function as a tour guide.

    Thieme Family, Germany
  • Antonia-Maria & Boris, Austria

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sensational effort! I do not know such a competent tour guide as with you really from nowhere else... and we have already traveled a lot... 🙏🏻🍀

    Antonia-Maria & Boris, Austria
  • Katja, Germany

    I wanted to thank you again for the great Costa Rica trip. We flew back home very happy and with many great impressions. A compliment for the super organisation. Everything worked out perfectly (except for the handover of the rental car, which was force majeure...). So thank you again and I have already recommended you to friends:-)!

    Katja, Germany
  • Denise & Alain, Switzerland

    Thank you very much for your email and the tickets. We really appreciate how quickly and efficiently you deal with our requests each time!

    Denise & Alain, Switzerland
  • Philippe, Switzerland

    Hello Christine Thank you very much for this information. The support is super👍 many thanks Gruss

    Philippe, Switzerland
  • Marianne & Stefan Gräub, Switzerland

    Otherwise, the planned trip was a complete success. Everything went well and the visits you organised were all very interesting. The visits you organised were all very interesting and gave us a great insight into the respective topics. The fact that the Ticos are very friendly and always ready to help was fully confirmed.

    Marianne & Stefan Gräub, Switzerland

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