The Top Beach Hotels in Costa Rica

RipJack Inn is mere steps from Playa Grande, one of Costa Rica’s best surf spots, so bring your surfboards, yoga mats and sunscreen. The family-owned hotel is one of the best in Costa Rica and has five types of accommodation – from wood-clad bungalows to sprawling family suites and deluxe pool rooms – plus a palapa-roofed yoga shala and two pools. After a morning out on the waves, brush the sand off your feet and crash in your air-conditioned space with a fresh fruit smoothie from the inn’s unique treetop restaurant, and watch the monkeys swing from the branches.

Playa Cativo Lodge blends right into its rainforest and beach environment on the Osa Peninsula on the coast of Gulfo Dulce. If you want to stay at an eco lodge that goes above and beyond for their guests, this is it. The lodge offers several types of luxurious rooms, a gourmet restaurant that features traditional Costa Rica cuisine, a library and a pool. They also offer several different types of packages to fit different needs and interests, including a wellness package, a bird and nature lovers package and a romance package. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, and what better way to experience it than by staying at an extraordinary lodge?

Hotel Capitan Suizo is a charming boutique hotel that’s perfect for a honeymoon but also family-friendly. You can’t beat the location, as it sits on the far south end of Playa Tamarindo, which is typically way less crowded than other parts of the beach. You can easily walk into town, but you’re just far enough away from the center of town that you avoid all the noise. The rooms and bungalows are cozy, and there’s a restaurant, bar, pool, and spa on the premises too.

Peacefully positioned on the alluring and nature-rich Osa Peninsula, this luxurious 12-room resort provides guests with the perfect environment to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and rejuvenate through yoga, nature, spa treatments, healthy, organic and farm-fresh meals, luxurious accommodations, and fresh ocean and rainforest air. Just steps away from the ocean, this place has a Zen-inducing atmosphere. You can spend your days doing yoga, soaking up the sun, exploring the biologically-rich Osa Peninsula and letting this peaceful environment seep into your soul.

Hotel Banana Azul is an adult-only luxury beachfront boutique on Costa Rica’s picturesque Caribbean coast. There are a variety of accommodation choices at Hotel Banana Azul, including 14 guests room attached to the main hotel, a treehouse apartment and four two-story guest houses with full kitchens and private plunge pools. There’s even a restaurant, a pool, a beach club and a number of outdoor spaces to explore. If you are looking for a tropical beach escape, this is your haven.

Tango Mar is harmoniously settled on a 150-acre (61ha) private beachfront reserve in Tambor on the Nicoya Peninsula. This luxurious and intimate resort has it all, including five-star accommodations, an on-site restaurant, a bar that serves up tasty cocktails, a spa and a fantastic birdwatching tour. The tour takes you through the Pochote Mangroves at sunset, when you will have the opportunity to observe hundreds of species of birds alongside a knowledgeable guide. This is truly a dream place to spend your beach vacation in Costa Rica.

Arenas Del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort is a luxury carbon-neutral hotel within walking distance of the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. Their ocean-view premium rooms have a 330sqft (31sqm) private deck that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the park, a private hot tub and day bed on the deck, a huge king-sized bed, and a living area complete with a kitchenette and dining table. The beauty of your surroundings here is truly awe-inspiring. Arenas Del Mar is the absolute perfect blend of luxury, sustainable tourism, and a beach and rainforest setting that is unmatched by any other place.

Florblanca is a luxurious boutique resort in the picturesque surf town of Santa Teresa. If you want to surf, go zip lining, ride horseback, hike to a waterfall, do yoga, bask in the sun, dine on locally sourced gourmet meals, pamper yourself with spa treatments, and start and end your day in a divinely comfortable private villa, Florblanca is definitely your kind of place. The Nicoya Peninsula is one of the five Blue Zones, and when you spend time here, you will understand why.

Azul Ocean Club Hotel is an oceanfront hotel right on the stunning and peaceful Playa Azul in Guanacaste. Azul Ocean Club is a socially responsible place that uses all biodegradable products and materials. Everything you need to have the most spectacular beach getaway is here, including two exquisite restaurants, luxury villas and rooms, a variety of activities and tours, an inviting pool, and the space and atmosphere to just breathe in the Pacific Ocean air and let go of all of your worries.

Squirreled away in untamed rainforest with a golden beach on its doorstep, Nantipa Hotel feels plucked from a wanderlust daydream. Tangled branches create natural canopies over the grounds, with dappled sunlight kissing pool and surrounding loungers. Wake to the sound of crashing waves in a beachfront bungalow – each one decked out with a private terrace, plunge pool and marshmallow-like king bed – and clamber into the woven hammock with a good book. For a sparkling end to your day, head to nearby Manzu for passionfruit bellinis under the stars.