We specialize in customizing bespoke itineraries, tailored to your personal preferences and interests, as self-drives, or as individualized packages composed of hotels, activities, and transfers. To this end, we work with many different hotels, but give preference to those that are certified under Costa Rica’s eco-label certification scheme, or another, similar scheme. The hotels listed below are of differing standards, some quite luxuries, others in the mid-range. Clicking on the photographs opens up a mini-gallery for each property. Please use the menu links in the top menu to navigate between the hotel listings for the different regions of Costa Rica.
Caribbean
The Carribean coast of Costa Rica has a touch of the laid back Islands, with its swaying palm trees, palm thatch resorts, and Garifuna lifestyle. There are a few hubs of tourist activity, but it is nothing like the resorts on the northern Pacific coast. The Caribbean region is for relaxing, taking it easy, grooving to a slower pace of life.
However, there is also another side to this region – In the north, the Tortuguero National Park lines the coast. This is one of the premier places for watching sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. The swampy, inundated forest of the coastal hinterland is crisscrossed by small channels which provide access to this wildlife habitat. There are no roads. All the hotels within the National Park can only be accessed by boat.
Almendros y Corales Hotel
Located in the heart of the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is a delightfully relaxing place with the magic touch of Nature; a unique idea for accommodation. Each tent is placed over a platform lifted up on stilts and orchids hang from the branches and like in a fairy tale, as you walk through the enchanted forest, by passages on stilts, suddenly you are in front of the magnificent Caribbean with your feet on golden sand, coconuts and the Bay of Manzanillo where you can almost hear the rhythm of Calypso.
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Selva Bananito Lodge
Selva Bananito Lodge is a special place. Even getting there is an adventure. If you arrive with a public (interbus) or private transfer, you will be picked up at the tiny village of Bananito and accomplish the last leg of the journey by4x4 jeep, a 35-minute ride on a gravel road, crossing several rivers along the way. (If you are thinking of taking a rental car you must opt for a 4×4 vehicle). But the effort of getting to this remote jungle lodge, which was built on a family farm, is well worth it, as the location is truly immersed in nature. In 1994, the family decided to turn 2000 acres of their property over to nature and the eco-lodge operations. Selva Bananito eco-lodge has been praised as one of the top eco-lodges in the country for their excellent environmentally friendly practices. There is no electricity at this lodge and dinner is by candle-light. However, guests can charge their electronic devices (ask the farm manager). This is an ecolodge that truly deserves the name! Besides paying attention to their own ecological impact, they also use 10% of their income to support conservation and educational programs.
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Guests may leave valuables for safekeeping at the main lodge building which apart from the dining area also houses a bar, and small library upstairs, and kitchen and personnel facilities downstairs. The lodge offers a range of soft ecotourism activities, such as hiking, horseback riding (for experienced riders only), birdwatching or tree planting, as well as some more adventurous activities, such as tree climbing, waterfall rappelling or a canopy zip line tour.
Azania Bungalows
Located just 100m from Cockles Beach, and only 2km South of Puerto Viejo on the road to Manzanillo, Azania Bungalows has a great location. The hotel consists of 10 lovely palm-thatched cabañas that are spread around a tropical garden and lovely pool. The cabañas are designed and crafted in a unique style that blends traditional materials, exotic woods, and are decorated with bamboo lamps and furniture. Ceiling fans, large windows with mosquito nets and high peaked roofs allow for good natural air circulation.
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Shawandha Lodge
A little piece of paradise, Shawandha Lodge is situated in its own little tropical forest reserve with primary forest. The beautiful white sand Chiquita Beach, only 200m away, can be reached via a walking trail through the reserve. The hotel features 13 spacious wooden bungalows with private bathrooms and palm-thatched roofs, are decorated to give each its own individual character and atmosphere. All rooms have a ceiling fan, hairdryer, safe deposit box, and hammocks. There is also an ‘internet-bungalow’ for those who need to stay connected.
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Cariblue
This, slightly larger hotel is located in Punta Cocles, just 2km south of Puerto Viejo de Limon. It is ideal for families and people who are not prepared to do without modern conveniences. The hotel has two pools jacuzzis and a spa. It offers a total of 44 rooms, in 7 categories: 13 Standard, 17 Superior, 5 Ocean Beach Rooms,1 Jungle Family House, 1 Beachfront Apartment, and a Junior Suite, which are spread around the property and exotic garden on both sides of the main road south. The beach is only a couple of minutes away. All rooms feature fan, TV, safe and terrace with hammocks. In addition, Superior rooms, Junior Suites, and Bungalows also have air conditioning.
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La Costa de Papito
A colourful and funky little place close to Cockles, one of the best surfing beaches. Thirteen wooden bungalows are spread around the 5-acre tropical garden. The interior design is bright and cheerful, with many wooden and bamboo elements, a cool tiled floor and a ceiling fan. The large open window allows for maximum air circulation and cooling. Each bungalow has a spacious private wrap-around porch with a hammock and lounge chairs. Free Wifi and phone service are also available at the lodge. Other services include bicycle, surfboard, snorkel and canoe rental.
Friday night is Calypso night!
Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park can only be accessed by boat, via a network of little canals. There are a few little lodges inside the park that specialize in wildlife excursions and turtle watching. These can only be booked as packages, which normally start and finish in San José, although it is possible to customize them slightly. However, there is no access by car and only hotels that are within the city limits of San José serve as pick-up points for the Tortuguero packages outlined below. The standard package comprises 3 days and 2 nights. Extra nights can be added. Itineraries vary slightly between lodges.
pick up from these San Jose Hotels...
- Adventure Inn
- Aloft Inn
- Aurola Holiday Inn
- Balmoral
- Best Western Irazú
- Britannia
- Crowne Plaza Corobicí
- Country Inn & Suites
- Courtyard Marriott Escazú
- Costa Rica Marriott
- DoubleTree Cariari
- Dunn Inn
- Fleur de Lys
- Gran Hotel Costa Rica
- Grano de Oro
- Hampton Inn (only hotel guests)
- Holiday Inn Express (only hotel guests)
- Indigo
- Palm House Inn
- Palma Real Hotel & Casino
- Park Inn
- Presidente
- Quality Inn
- Radisson Europa
- Real Intercontinental
- Rostipollos Alajuela
- Residence Inn Marriott
- Rincón del Valle
- El Rodeo
- San José Palacio
- Sleep Inn
- Studio
- Tryp Sabana
- Wyndham Herradura
Tortuguero Manatus Lodge
Manatus Lodge is the most upscale lodge you can possibly find in this region. Twelve comfortable bungalow-style accommodations in the middle of the rainforest – even with A/C and cable TV. Not to forget the wonderful Caribbean cuisine at its restaurant.
Wildlife is all around and you are just as likely to spot birds and animals (especially iguanas and howler monkeys) in the well-landscaped gardens as on the river tours.
Tortuguero Laguna Lodge
Located on a narrow stretch of land only 650 ft wide between the ocean and main lagoon of Tortuguero, this eco-conscious lodge has a funky design, lovely gardens, and both a great view of the lagoon and direct access to the beach. Its 106 simple, but tastefully designed rooms are spread across its 6 acres of gardens. The restaurant has an open design over the water and meals are buffet style, rather than à la carte.
Mawamba Lodge
This lodge enjoys a privileged location about 5 minutes by boat from Tortuguero Village, on panhandle where the jungle meets the ocean. The 56 cabañas are available in two categories, standard and superior, and all are spread around the property. Standard rooms are built of wood and have their own bathrooms, as well as a private outside porch. They are fitted with a queen-sized and a single bed, two queen- or one king-sized bed. Superior rooms are a bit more spacious and are fitted with a king-sized bed.
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Tortuguero Turtle Beach Lodge
The relative distance of a 20-minute boat ride between the lodge and Tortuguero Village means that this lodge feels much more secluded and remote than the others. The property is also much larger, comprising jungle trails and little canals within the private reserve and an isolated, private stretch of beach. This is by far and away the best place for nature lovers and serious wildlife watchers.
Accommodations are in wooden bungalows, which are fitted with comfortable beds, a ceiling fan, cool tiled floors, private bathrooms with hot showers and wide, screened windows that allow for the gentle ocean breeze and the jungle sounds to drift in. Standard rooms are available with one double bed, two twins, or one double and one twin. Larger rooms are available for family groups. Dinner is served buffet style. A turtle shaped pool is located near the restaurant/bar.