5 Best Hotels in Costa Rica

Arenas del Mar, one of the best hotels in Costa Rica, offers a private beach
and immediate access to Manuel Antonio National Park.

Best hotels in Costa Rica? This beautiful, eco-friendly country offers some wonderful choices – often surrounded by beautiful gardens. Here are a few of my favorites:

Finca means “farm” and Finca Rosa Blanca  is a charming 13-room country inn overlooking an organic coffee plantation just outside of San Jose. The artistic décor includes hand-crafted tiles, colorful murals, and imaginative stained-glass windows. The very lush grounds are covered with tropical plants and include a pool and a spa. We loved the birdsong at breakfast on an outdoor wooden deck. At 4,000 feet, the air is very fresh, and fireplaces take the chill off cool nights. This hideaway is the perfect spot for travelers seeking authentic Costa Rican experiences.

Finca Rosa Blanca is one of the best hotels in Costa Rica.

Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort offers 114 rooms surrounded by stunning tropical gardens. Our “Deluxe” quarters included a huge bathroom and a balcony overlooking the rainforest. The water throughout the hotel is heated by the Arenal Volcano, and guests soak day and night in the adjacent hot springs. The natural waterfalls and river pools here are rich in beneficial minerals and surrounded by a magical tropical rainforest. It’s no wonder that this is one of the best hotels in Costa Rica.

If you go to Costa Rica, a soak in the hot springs adjacent to Tabacon Thermal Resort is a must!

Monteverde Lodge isn’t as posh as some places we stayed, but the meals were wonderful – as were the gardens – and it’s very close to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest. Getting from Tabacon to Monteverde is somewhat complicated, but click here to learn how Costa Rica Expeditions made it possible.

Arenas del Mar is located on the edge of Manuel Antonio National Park and offers 38 spacious rooms, including 20 Ocean Breeze suites. The tops floors of buildings 6 and 7 offer the best views. Because we stayed here, we were able to explore the area with the resort’s terrific naturalist guide (think insects the size of birds, various types of monkeys, orange crabs, three-toed sloths, raccoons, and black iguanas).

Back at Arenas del Mar, we relaxed on the private beach and enjoyed our Ocean Breeze suite, complete with a Jacuzzi on a large balcony, king bedroom, separate sitting area, and two bathrooms. Monkeys and iguanas often appear in the thriving green environment of the resort. (Don’t forget to practice safe sun on the beach.)

More best hotels in Costa Rica

Xandari is one of the best hotels in Costa Rica.

Xandari Resort, designed by a California architect and his artist wife, almost feels more like a gallery than a hotel. However, even more remarkable than the wall hangings and frescos, are the botanic gardens.

Here, you will find beds bursting with red torch ginger, bromeliads, haleconia, clivia, brunfelsia, flowering ginger, banana palms and much more. An orchid house, orchards, and a 4-kilometer walking trail leading to five waterfalls are other reasons why Costa Rica’s gardens are a must-have experience and why this is one of the best hotels in Costa Rica.

Proximity to the San Jose Airport makes Xandari a great place to end a trip to Costa Rica. The only problem is that you won’t want to leave.

Have fun!

www.ElizabethHansen.net

Photo credit: ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS.

What to do in Costa Rica? This eco-friendly country offers many adventure options. Click here to read Costa Rica’s 5 Must-Have Experiences.

Click here to see more photos of Costa Rica.

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