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Costa Rica Luxury Hotels and Resorts


Looking for the best of the best hotels throughout Costa Rica? We've got detailed reviews of the luxury resorts on the beaches, the best jungle lodges, and top luxury hotels in the capital. And everywhere in between near Arenal, Tamarindo, Papayago, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita.

Although Costa Rica is a small country—just a speck on the map of Central America—it is far ahead of its neighbors when it comes to luxury hotels and eco resorts with style. Costa Rica's tourism people have done a great job of marketing the destination over the past several decades as a safe, fun, and adventurous place to travel. More than a million people travel to Costa Rica from the U.S. and Canada each year, leading to high standards and a lot of foreign investment. The country has one of the best–developed array of upscale accommodations of any country in Central America and is ahead of most in South America, despite its small size.

5-star resorts in Costa Rica

This was the first country in Central America to go all out luring adventure vacation tourists and eco–travelers, so the main focus is usually interacting with nature rather than trying to hold nature back and seal it off. There are resorts on the best beaches, yes, but with a few exceptions, the coast here is not as spectacular as it it in some neighboring countries and there's no tropical white-sand brilliance. What you will find in Costa Rica is a strong supply of hotel architects, designers, and managers who know how to compete with the best lodging in the world, especially other green hotels.

Facilities and services in Costa Rica resorts are better–developed than in many other Central American countries and the staffers are generally well-trained and fluent in English. The travel tours—whether hard-core adventure rafting, multi–day biking, or soft pampered luxury tours—are well–run, with excellent guides and naturalists. Come for a heavy dose of adventure, wildlife, and bird-watching, but with a sumptuous 5-star Costa Rica hotel or upscale jungle lodge room to retire to as the sun goes down.

Here are our hand-selected picks for the best places to stay in Costa Rica on your luxury vacation or holiday. Click through listings under the destinations to read a detailed review of the best resorts and hotels on offer. You'll find booking links at each one to check rates for your dates.




Alajuela Region

ORIGINS Luxury Lodge

Peace Lodge — Varablanca

Villablanca Cloudforest Resort & Spa — Los Angeles


Arenal Volcano Region

El Silencio Lodge & Spa — Bajos del Toro

Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens

Nayara Springs

Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort

The Springs


Caribbean Coast Region

Le Caméléon Boutique Hotel — Puerto Viejo de Limón


Cartago Region

Casa Turire — Turrialba


Costa Ballena Region of Costa Rica

Kurá Boutique Hotel — Uvita

Rancho Pacifico — Uvita

Guanacaste and Nicoya Region Luxury Hotels

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort — Peninsula Papagayo

Cala Luna Luxury Beach Hotel & Villas — Tamarindo

Casa Chameleon — Las Catalinas

Florblanca Resort — Nicoya

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo — Peninsula Papagayo

El Jardín del Edén — Tamarindo

El Mangroove, Autograph Collection — Gulf of Papagayo

Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection — Punta Islita

W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal — Reserva Conchal


Heredia Region

Finca Rosa Blanca — Santa Barbara de Heredia


Jacó Area Luxury Resorts

Villa Caletas — Between Punta Leona and Playa Herradura


Manuel Antonio Park and Beach Region

Alma del Pacifico Beach Hotel & Spa

Arenas del Mar

Gaia Hotel & Reserve

Shana Hotel & Residences

Osa Peninsula Luxury Jungle Lodges

Bosque del Cabo — Cabo Matapalo

Lapa Rios — Cabo Matapalo

Playa Cativo Lodge — Golfo Dulce

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge — Golfo Dulce


Peréz Zeledón Region

Hacienda AltaGracia — Peréz Zeledón

Monte Azul Boutique Hotel — Peréz Zeledón


San Jose & Alujuela Airport Luxury Hotels

Hotel Grano de Oro — San José

Intercontinental Costa Rica — Escazú

Xandari Resort & Spa — Tacacori