# Where to stay in Costa Rica: the best bases, region by region > Choose your base towns first and your hotels second: La Fortuna for Arenal, Santa Elena for Monteverde, Manuel Antonio for the central coast, Tamarindo or a quieter Guanacaste beach for the northwest, and Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez for the Osa. Stay at least 2 nights in each. Remote eco lodges are worth it, but check how you'll get there before you book. Source: https://www.travelincostarica.net/where-to-stay-in-costa-rica/ Last checked: 2026-10-20 Arenal: stay in or near La Fortuna, or in El Castillo for lake views Monteverde: stay in Santa Elena town, or at a lodge with its own forest Central Pacific: Manuel Antonio, between Quepos and the park Osa Peninsula: Drake Bay on the north side, Puerto Jiménez and Cabo Matapalo on the south Caribbean: Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Cahuita, or a lodge in Tortuguero In Costa Rica, where you stay shapes your trip more than in most countries. Roads are slow, so a hotel 30 minutes up a dirt track feels very different from one in town. The best approach is to pick a base in each region, stay at least 2 nights, and choose a hotel that fits how you want to spend your days. Below, we go region by region, then point to hotels and lodges we've checked on their official websites. We don't publish prices, and nobody pays to be listed. Read [how we choose](/editorial-policy/). ## The kinds of places you'll find - **Eco lodges:** often in or next to private forest reserves, with guided walks included or offered. Many hold Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). Some are remote, so check the access road. - **Beach hotels and resorts:** from small surf-town hotels to large all-inclusive resorts in Guanacaste and the southern Nicoya Peninsula. - **Boutique hotels:** small, design-led places, often on hillsides with ocean views rather than on the sand. - **Yoga and wellness retreats:** many take nightly guests as well as retreat groups. - **Bed and breakfasts and vacation homes:** good for families and longer stays. ## Region by region ### Arenal and La Fortuna Stay in or near La Fortuna for the easiest access to restaurants, tours and hot springs. For quieter nights and views over the lake, look at El Castillo, a small village by Lake Arenal, home to the [Butterfly Conservatory](/butterfly-conservatory/). See our [Arenal and La Fortuna guide](/arenal-la-fortuna-area/). ### Monteverde Santa Elena is the main town, with most restaurants and tour pickups. [Hotel Montaña Monteverde](/hotel-montana-monteverde/) is a practical in-town base with its own patch of forest. If you want to wake up in the forest, [Cloud Forest Lodge](/monteverde-cloud-forest-lodge/) sits on a 23-hectare private reserve between the Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves, about 2 km from town. It's part of the Böëna group of lodges. See our [Monteverde guide](/monteverde/). ### Sarapiquí A good overnight stop between the Caribbean side and Arenal. [La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge](/la-quinta-country-inn/) has run since 1993 on a 20-acre property with gardens and riverside forest, and holds the top 5-leaf CST level. The lodge says it's about 2 hours from San José. ### Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Most hotels line the hilly road between Quepos and the national park. Stay near the park end if you want to walk to the entrance. [Parador Nature Resort](/hotel-parador-resort-and-spa/) is a full-service resort on 12 acres of rainforest on the Punta Quepos headland, with 5 pools and CST Elite certification; it's not on the beach, but its sister property on Playa Espadilla is linked by shuttle. [The Falls by Lalibela](/the-falls-resort/) is a smaller hotel with an infinity pool and gardens, about a 10-minute walk from shops and restaurants. On the way from San José, [Rancho Capulín](/rancho-capulin-bed-breakfast/) is a bed and breakfast near Tárcoles, about an hour from the airport and about 10 minutes from Carara National Park, which makes it a good first or last night for birders. Closer to Jacó, [Clarita's Beach Bar and Resort](/claritas-beach-hotel-bar/) is a beachfront hotel in town, [Surf Inn Hermosa](/surf-inn-hermosa/) sits right on the surf break at Playa Hermosa, and [Hotel Playa Bejuco](/hotel-playa-bejuco/) is a quiet family stop on a long beach between Jacó and Quepos. In Manuel Antonio itself, [Hotel Divisamar](/hotel-and-casino-divisamar-jungle-resort/) is a simple option on the main road with a bus stop outside. See our [Manuel Antonio guide](/manuel-antonio/). ### Guanacaste Tamarindo is the busiest base, with surf schools and restaurants. Playas del Coco, Flamingo and Conchal are alternatives. For a quieter, wellness-focused stay just outside Tamarindo, [El Sabanero](/el-sabanero-eco-lodge/) has air-conditioned bungalows, an infinity pool and yoga. See our [Guanacaste guide](/guanacaste/). ### Nicoya Peninsula Santa Teresa and Mal País suit surfers; Montezuma is smaller and quieter. [Horizon Yoga Hotel](/horizons-yoga-hotel/) has wooden cabins and villas on a hillside above Santa Teresa, with a yoga deck, a pool and a vegetarian restaurant. Families wanting everything in one place should look at [Barceló Tambor](/barcelo-tambor-beach-hotel/), a beachfront all-inclusive resort with 402 rooms, pools and a kids' club near Tambor's domestic airport. See our [Nicoya Peninsula guide](/nicoya-peninsula/). ### Osa and the South Pacific On the Costa Ballena, Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal each have a different feel. [El Castillo](/hotel-el-castillo/) in Ojochal is a 9-room boutique hotel with a cliffside infinity pool. [Danyasa](/danyasa-eco-resort-retreats/) in Dominical has 12 adults-only rooms in upcycled shipping containers, a bamboo yoga studio and the beach about 2 minutes away. On the Osa Peninsula itself, choose your side. Near Drake Bay, [Copa de Arbol](/copa-de-arbol/) is a boat-access beach resort with 3 meals a day included and tours from its own beach. Near Cabo Matapalo, [Lapa Rios](/lapa-rios/) sits on a private 1,000-acre rainforest reserve close to Corcovado. Near Puerto Jiménez, [Blue Osa](/blue-osa-yoga-sanctuary-and-spa/) has 13 rooms, a yoga studio and a private beach about 50 m away. See our [Osa Peninsula guide](/osa-peninsula/). ### The Caribbean coast Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is lively; Cocles, just south, is quieter; Cahuita is smaller still. [Geckoes Lodge](/geckoes-lodge/) in Cocles has 4 self-catering houses, each with a private garden and plunge pool. [Samasati](/samasati-nature-retreat/) is a hilltop yoga retreat near Puerto Viejo with Caribbean views, reached by 4x4 shuttle. Farther north, [Selva Bananito](/selva-bananito-lodge-and-preserve/) has 11 cabins on a primary-forest reserve bordering La Amistad International Park, and holds CST certification. People who want to learn permaculture can stay at [Finca Tierra](/finca-tierra-organic-permaculture-farm-eco-lodge/), a farm near Cocles whose cabins are now for course and retreat guests. See our [Caribbean coast guide](/caribbean-coast/). ### San José and the Central Valley Most trips start or end near the capital. In the hills of Escazú, [Posada El Quijote](/posada-el-quijote/) is a small bed and breakfast with views over the valley, handy for a first or last night. East of San José, [Hotel Casa de Lis](/hostel-casa-de-lis/) is a friendly small hotel in Turrialba, a base for rafting and coffee farms; Costa Rica Journeys has a good overview of [Turrialba town](https://costaricajourneys.com/turrialba-town/). Costa Rica Journeys also has older write-ups of [Out of Bounds Hotel](https://costaricajourneys.com/out-of-bounds-hotel/) in Escazú and of hotels around the [Central Valley](https://costaricajourneys.com/category/accomodation/hotels/central-valley-hotels/); check any of these are still taking guests before you book. ## Booking tips - **Book early for December to April,** especially the end-of-year holidays and Easter week. - **Check the last few kilometres.** Ask whether the road is paved and whether you need a 4x4, especially in the rainy season. - **Ask about transfers.** Remote lodges often include boat or 4x4 transfers, which saves renting a car. - **Look for CST.** Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism is a useful sign that a hotel takes its environmental and community impact seriously. - **Stay near the airport on your first night,** in Alajuela for SJO. See our [airport guide](/costa-rica-airports-sjo-or-liberia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the best area to stay in Costa Rica for a first trip? Combine 3 bases: La Fortuna for Arenal, Monteverde for the cloud forest, and either Manuel Antonio or a Guanacaste beach. Our [7-day](/costa-rica-itinerary-7-days/) and [10-day](/costa-rica-itinerary-10-days/) itineraries show how. ### How many nights should I stay in each place? At least 2. Transfers between regions take most of a day, so 1-night stays leave you little time to explore. ### Are eco lodges comfortable? Many are. They range from simple cabins to high-end lodges with spas and pools. Read the room description carefully: some have no air conditioning, and remote lodges can have slower Wi-Fi. ### Do I need a car to stay at remote lodges? Not always. Many remote lodges, such as Copa de Arbol and Lapa Rios, arrange transfers by boat or from the nearest airstrip. ### What is CST certification? It's Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism, which rates hotels on their environmental and social practices. Some lodges we list, such as La Quinta Sarapiquí and Parador, display their level.