11 Best Hotels in Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica

Grab a hammock and sway away your cares at this beachfront property that is spotless, modern, comfortable, and possibly the best deal in Cahuita. Beyond the gated entrance is an authentic Italian restaurant where homemade pizza and pasta are served. Five beachfront rooms have two queen beds, A/C, smart TVs, purified water, and patios with ocean views. A small pool keeps life cool, as do hammocks swinging from towering trees. The Italian owners, Elisa and Giuseppe, go above and beyond to make sure every guest has an unforgettable stay.

The youthful Italian owners came here to surf years ago, stayed on, and built a lodging that combines refinement with that hip Puerto Viejo vibe in exactly the right proportions. Cariblue's finely crafted all-wooden bungalows are spaciously arrayed on the edge of the jungle, across the road from the splendid white-sand beaches of Punta Cocles. Cabinas are linked to the main ranch-style building by paths that meander across a gently sloping lawn shaded by enormous trees. Expansive verandas and beautiful tile mosaics in the bathrooms add an air of refinement; hammocks add relaxation. Several of the units have air-conditioning. Breakfasts are huge. Italian cuisine dominates for lunch, and dinner is served at the lively Sole Luna restaurant on-site, featuring live jazz or reggae on weekends. Cariblue offers occasional online-only promotions, and can organize tours.

Luxury has arrived to Puerto Viejo with this five-star boutique hotel that has carefully curated an unparalleled property with a Caribbean vibe splashed with design, art, and comfort. This tropical hideaway has direct beach access and a variety of accommodations including luxury bungalows, themed suites, and a 2-story Caribbean house. This masterpiece is the brainchild of mother-daughter duo, Elizabeth (an artist from San Jose) and Elena Steinvorth who fell in love with Puerto Viejo in 1992 and never looked back. From the paintings and murals to furniture and mosaics, nearly every splash of color and décor is a work of art by the talented owners. They are share their creativity in the form of style and cuisine including the two restaurants, DaLime Beach Club and Papaya. Additional perks include complimentary snorkeling gear, bike rental, and yoga sessions.

In 2020, a Spanish couple purchased this little paradise where beautiful gardens run down to the river; they added a pool, free tai chi classes, and a menu blending Spanish and Costa Rican dishes. Colorful tanagers and three types of toucan feast in the citrus trees on the grounds of this two-story lodge, where comfortable, terra-cotta-floor rooms are nicely accented with decorative crafts. Prime activities are horseback jungle treks, boat trips up the Sarapiquí River, and bird-watching—more than 100 species have been spotted here.

Brightly painted stone or wood cabins—most have air-conditioning, a rarity here—are scattered around the grounds at this place on the far north end of Playa Grande. The owners' interest in Eastern religions is evidenced in the hotel's name (la diosa means "goddess") and by the sign depicting a Hindu goddess, but all are welcome here. They have also opted for little touches such as the rounding of corners and cachá-wood rails to "enhance feminine energy." The place hosts occasional yoga workshops, too, but that's as New Age as it gets. All cabins have bright furnishings and art posters decorating the walls, and rooms #1 and #4 even come with whirlpool tubs. A bridge leads from the pool to the beach. Be sure to account for additional fees including bike rental for $10 and breakfast for $6. 

Papito's raised cabins extend back into the property's wooded grounds and are furnished with whimsical, bright, tropical-blue-and-zebra-stripe prints. Breakfast, with an extra cost of $8, is served at the table on your own porch, which also has a hammock or swing chair. Pamper yourself at the small on-site spa. You'll get a small discount on the room rate if you pay in cash, and you can find a lot of online-only specials, too.

This boutique hotel fronting Playa Cocles is decidedly un–Puerto Viejo in its luxury, but if you're in the mood for a splurge here on the coast, this is the spot. Cement makes up the structural foundation of the two-story lodging, but ample use of hardwoods gives it a modern yet rustic feel. Rooms and suites are blindingly white with red, green, and orange accents in the pillows and wall hangings. (Like a chameleon, the building's exterior changes color periodically—hence the French name.) There's a lovely Caribbean restaurant and bar with a pricy menu, as well as a spa on-site. Thoughtful extras—like plasma TVs, cooking lessons, cocktail workshops, a large swimming pool, and beach club — are what set this hotel apart from the pack. The hotel offers occasional online specials.

This gracious, Québécois-owned lodging set in lush, hibiscus-strewn gardens has become a Cahuita favorite. The bright, tile-floored standard rooms sparkle and contain refrigerators, coffeemakers, and huge bathrooms. For not much more, though, try to snag one of the three cottages, designated yellow, green, and blue, with lattice-fenced porches. Two of the cottages have two bedrooms and can sleep up to four people; all three have fully equipped kitchens. Monkeys and iguanas scamper around the grounds. Barbecues around the pool round out the social offerings.

Within the Centro Neotrópico Sarapiquís, an environmental educational center and garden, you can stay the night inside indigenous-inspired circular palenque (huts) with palm-thatch roofs. The eco-friendly buildings reflect the center's commitment to sustainability, and for a fee guests have access to a botanical garden, forest preserve, and other facilities and nature-themed activities. Rooms are well sized and decorated with pre-Columbian-style art and wrought-iron furniture. Air-conditioning is an option here for an extra cost.

Built on stilts over the Sarapiquí River on the edge of a 2-square-km (1-square-mile) private tropical rain forest reserve, the lodge caters primarily to those seeking natural-history tours. Activities include guided walks, boat trips, canoeing, rafting, and mountain biking. The wood-paneled lodge rooms have shared verandas strung with hammocks. Half a mile from the main hotel are seven bungalows that provide more space than the standard lodge rooms—with air-conditioning to boot. There is also a large two-bedroom house ideal for a family. Two trails can be explored on self-guided tours, or you can join the morning birdwatching tour for $30. Reserve a few weeks ahead, especially in high season; the place is very popular with tour groups.

This lodging complex among forested ground contains six large, stylish houses, all at ground level, one of which is built around a tree (that's the Tree House). The largest is the spectacular Beach Suite, with three bedrooms and domed, sky-lighted bathrooms. The Beach, Crystal, and Garden Houses round out the five; they are slightly more modest, but, here, that term is relative. The newest is a vintage recycled U.S. school bus, but with a snazzy interior. Prices skew higher here than other Puerto Viejo lodgings, but the ample size of the houses allows you to split the space among a group, making the per-person price not so alarming.