It has beautiful beaches, a wild nightlife, and is actually a huge hub for surfers. They’re easy to use, professional and relatively affordable. Better yet, why not immerse yourself in nature and stay in one of these epic treehouses nearby! From flying down a zip-line course to trekking in a forest canopy to horseback riding, there are lots of different ways to explore the cloud forests. Because the establishments at Playa Flamingo are made to be high-end, don’t expect to pay a cheap price while staying in one of them. It contains a careful selection of poetry published since 1990, and includes Costa Rica’s finest poets and most representative current trends. This hostel has several common areas, from a billiards table to ping pong table, to plentiful couches and TVs! Hotel Nya is a stunning modern hotel that offers guests a truly comfortable stay. Not only you can visit Manuel Antonio National Park and have close encounters with monkeys, sloths and coatimundis, but you can also enjoy amazing adventures in land and sea! While Coco Beach itself may not be the most impressive, the sunsets are breathtaking, and this area is great for exploring the many surrounding picturesque beaches. If you’re running out of ideas on what to do in Costa Rica … Montezuma – One of the Most Unique Places to Stay in … It’s ok to be a little concerned; we’re to help. Also, you’ll be situated just 700meters from the Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Best Things to Do. It is also where … Thanks to the Pacific Coast, this area has experienced the greatest tourism development, and Guanacaste is the only region in which a traveler can find all-inclusive Costa Rica resorts with luxury accommodations. This is no ordinary hostel! It is a pretty and safe area, with easy and quick access to the city centre, as well as being just 15 minutes from the airport. Arenal Volcano sits at the heart of the Arenal Volcano National Park and you are free to wander around the park as you like! You’ll be just a quick 15-minute walk to La Fortuna, so you will be immersed in nature while not being in too remote of a location. Visiting the Montezuma Waterfall is a must too! With an incredible amount of privacy, you’ll be able to soak up the gorgeous views of Monteverde every single second of the day! Costa Rica is a massive tourist destination and overall pretty safe. This area alone hosts more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity so there is a lot to see. What is not quite as fun as hiking a volcano or hanging out with monkeys, is figuring out where to stay in Costa Rica. San José — San José is Costa Rica’s capital and its primary business, cultural, and social center—and it sits close to the country’s geographical center, in the heart of the Central Valley (see below). You’ll have everything you need in this Airbnb from hot water to air conditioning! You will have five beautiful acres (two hectares) to explore during your stay, which are covered with fruit trees, gardens, and numerous seating areas. Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful rainforests and beaches in the world. Whether you’re attracted to particular Monteverde Cloud Forest hotels, or simply enjoy the foggy and mysterious greenery on offer in the north-central highlands of Costa Rica, Monteverde is an alluring destination, particularly if you want to beat the heat. There are 61 different rooms, including private villas available. Cloud Forests. What’s more, is that Tamarindo is sandwiched right in between two national parks! Hostel Del Paseo is truly an incredible option for streaming your lodging in Costa Rica budget to the maximum! For the sake of transparency, some of the links in our content are affiliate links. 1. Plus, it’s not sitting right in the heart of town, so you have guaranteed peace and quiet! Plus, there are lots of different sized rooms to choose from, from more affordable standard rooms to private villas! The best area to stay in San José is Escazú. With three beds and a private bathroom, this personal cabin perched on a hill overlooking Drake Bay is a dream come true for you and your family. Fortuna is the best launching spot for the rest of your adventures! Guanacaste, in the North of Costa Rica, contains the country’s most exclusive resorts. This is hands down the best city in Costa Rica to visit when traveling with your family! Rent this darling studio apartment for a steal! Required fields are marked *. Relax in the jacuzzi pool, or curl up with a good book in a sun chair and you’ll feel right at home. You’ll be within easy walking distance of the beach, and all the shops and restaurants in Puerto Viejo! This beautiful hotel offers private villas and a beautiful pool! The Birds of Costa Rica: Love birds? 5 years ago. Home » Central America » Costa Rica » Where to Stay. Where to stay: La Costa . With tons of beach activities, not to mention the national park and nearby mangroves and estuaries, there is a lot to explore while you’re having fun. You’ll be just three blocks from the beach and one block from the nightlife! It definitely has some of the cheapest accommodation options in the country. With so many incredible places to stay in Costa Rica, it’s hard to narrow it down to just three top places to stay! This area is packed with adventure activities! The majority of the country’s all-inclusive resorts are located around Papagayo, making it a top luxury beach destination. Is this green oasis calling your name? However, the types of accommodations you'll find and the scenery you'll have in the background largely depends on which part of … Can you see why it’s the coolest place to stay in Costa Rica? If you want to spend time lying in the sun, walking the beach or swimming aquamarine-colored waters, the northern province of Guanacaste on the Pacific coast makes a … Also, The continental breakfast sure makes mornings easy as pie. It’s no ordinary breakfast either! You’ll be just a 200 meter walk down to the ocean and will love sitting out on the balcony watching the views below. Any suggestion? If you’re looking for free things to do in San José, make sure to enjoy the parks. That’s right! “Find out how YOU can support the site. This hotel is a shining star of Costa Rica accommodation for budget travelers out there. Some always-popular options are zip lining, rappelling, and white water rafting, but there are other adventures you may not have heard of like Gravity Falls and Sky Limit. But the country’s shoreline also has plenty to boast about, as any surf enthusiasts can tell you. Close, Where to Stay in Costa Rica: The COOLEST Spots in 2021, Chris Lininger is a writer, photographer, and guide from California. Then you can reflect on your adventure-filled day with a cocktail as you watch the sun go down. Famous for great waves, it’s a funky surf town with plenty of expats, eateries, and happening nightlife. You might even spot a macaw or two! You can also go spelunking in the Venando Caves or walk across the Arenal Hanging Bridges. You can see Poas or Irazu on a day trip. Single-use plastic bottles are a huge threat to Marine Life – Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Show more Show less. When you’re staying at arguably the best beach town in Costa Rica, you’re going to obviously want to stay close to those amazing beaches. There is free parking and complimentary breakfast served daily. The locally sourced eco-breakfast is positively divine, too! When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica? Because it is not as well visited as other areas of Costa Rica, finding the right area to stay in can be a nightmare. Costa Rica has made a name for itself as the adventure capital of Central America thanks primarily to its diversity of land-bound diversions, from rainforest hikes and volcanic sightseeing to zip-lining above the jungle canopy and ATV-ing through the wilderness. Arenal may be one of the best areas to stay in Costa Rica for active families, but it’s also the most popular and expensive area in Costa Rica. Curiously enough, it sits nearly smack-dab in the middle of the country and is also the largest city in the country. With so many incredible places and so many choices of lodging in Costa Rica, it can be a headache trying to decide where to stay and where to go! This is not a Bay area city, but it is a great place to live. It doesn’t end there, though. If you're planning on bringing the kids along for your vacation to Costa Rica, picking a good place to stay is among the first decisions you'll make when booking your trip. Your email address will not be published. If you’re interested in everything from kayaking to hiking to fishing to horseback riding to surfing, then Jacó is for you! You need to book this Airbnb! Families will love visiting the Frog Pond, Butterfly Garden and Serpentarium, and, of course, there are other fun activities like visiting a dairy farm, coffee tours, horseback riding, and hanging brides that everyone will love. For luxury accommodations, no one can compare to the all-inclusive, beachfront Westin at Playa Conchal. I only link to stuff I’ve actually used and never endorse products or services that are not up to scratch. Commonly known as the adventure capital of the country, the Arenal area has some of the most adrenaline-inducing activities you can try. Contact us to help you narrow down which places are best for you and build your ideal Costa Rica vacation package. The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in Costa Rica: Written with the perspective of more than half a century of first-hand observation, this unparalleled social and cultural history describes how Costa Rica’s economy, government, education and health-care systems, family structures, religion, and other institutions have evolved. Deciding where to stay during your visit to Costa Rica is one of the hardest issues when planning your trip. Best Towns to Stay in Costa Rica? Get to know the best jungle lodges, beach towns and city stays before deciding. And free parking is an added bonus! Culture can be found everywhere you look, albeit in different capacities. FINCA ROSA BLANCA RESORT (Heredia) Quality: 5 Stars / Budget: $$$ In the hills above San José, … You’ll be just a seven minutes walk from the National Theater of Costa Rica! Which is why it makes the list for best beach towns Costa Rica. You will love your stay here and any other hotel you visit after just won’t match what we have put together. This one bedroom one bathroom apartment is a fantastic find! And since you won’t be staying in the city center, you can expect a more tranquil beach experience. There is a bus stop super close if you don’t want to walk. However, there are some areas that are sketchier than others. Backpacking Costa Rica can be a real blast. That being said, the beach is just a 300 meter walk away! Both the town and the beach are just 650 meters from your doorstep! As you wind through the canals, you will likely start to see some of the many animals that call the area home. You’ll be staying just a three minute walk from one of the absolute best surfing beaches in all of Costa Rica! Wonderful stay here, beautiful scenery, good rooms, peaceful, really helpful staff answered all our questions and did everything to make our stay enjoyable, the best food we had in Costa Rica, lovely walks through the coffee farm, and organized a personal quetzal tour! Save some energy for the nightlife. And don’t forget to take out Travel Insurance for your trip! Plus, at the Saturday morning farmer’s markets, you can pick up great handmade art and will likely hear some great local music. Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose is a 4.5 star hotel located at 700 meters West from Bridgestone/Firest in Costa Rica. This Airbnb is run more like a bed and breakfast, so enjoy a cozy, private room with lots of common areas to enjoy— from a backyard to a dining area. The Best Places to Stay in Costa Rica. Over the years, numerous high-end condos, villas, and accommodations have appeared in this place. If you’re able to splurge a little bit, then Villas La Paz is for you! Head on over to Playa Grande beach for leatherback turtle sightings, or enjoy a day taking surf lessons at Playa Avellana or Playa Tamarindo, or head on over to Playa Ventanas to see the iconic “rock windows!” There are many great hostels in Tamarindo as well, making it possible to see the area on a budget. Hotel Terraza del Pacifico is a stellar beachfront hotel situated right on Playa Hermosa Beach. Moreover, this hostel has been newly renovated with plenty of exciting bells and whistles— from lockers to personal fans to USB charger ports! Conchal Beach is one of the most unique and special beaches in the country. With sea turtle nesting, early morning canal tours, and walks through the national park, the opportunities for enjoying nature go on and on. That right, all the best restaurants, clubs, and casinos are within easy walking distance of this Airbnb. Surfing during a lesson or on your own is at the top of most people’s agendas, but the list goes on from there. They really have earned the right to put the word “resort” in their name! From taking a tour of the National Theatre of Costa Rica to visiting the Museo del Jade, there are so many things to do and see that are unique to just the capital city! And make sure to note that if you stay a little further away from the center of town, that doesn’t always mean you’re far away from the beach! Cartago. Witness incredible biodiversity and spot the Resplendent Quetzal, or explore the cloud forest by night and seek out armadillos and sloths! Just getting there is an adventure in itself. Tamarindo is a beach hot spot and the surrounding area has much to offer. This area is quite small though with not a ton to do, so most people stay 1-3 nights in Tortuguero. Costa Rica is packed with more species than many places on earth combined. Select the Costa Rica vacation package that suits you best. Contemporary Costa Rican Poetry: This is the first Spanish/English bilingual anthology of contemporary Costa Rican poetry ever published. Probably the most popular area in Costa Rica is the town of La Fortuna, home to the Arenal Volcano and it’s famous hot springs. A lovely Costa Rica Airbnb with a chef, this huge estate sits among the lush grounds of the Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste Province. Consider Jaco Beach for a quieter area. And best of all, you’ll be sitting right opposite from Grande Beach! Arenal Volcano is the backdrop of the town of Fortuna. Monteverde is a little bit of a tourist hotspot, so be aware that this small misty town is filled with lots of foreign visitors too! It’s well known for its nightlife with bars and restaurants open late. Get in touch at [email protected]. Puerto Viejo – Most Romantic Place to Stay in Costa Rica for Couples. Flying into Drake Bay is the easiest way to get here. Stay in a  glass loft that is perched over the Monteverde reserve. Tension will melt away and leave you completely relaxed. Keeping in mind that Drake Bay is a remote coastal city, lodging is sparse. Rincon de la Vieja is about as far as you can get from San Jose in distance and experience. There’s also a tranquil garden to enjoy. I’m back in Pakistan! Save. Top 8 Best Beach Towns Costa Rica 1. Learn how to ditch your desk and travel the world on just $10 a day whilst building a life of long-term travel with an online income. However, Puerto Viejo stole my heart and I’m sure you can see why!