Costa Rica

Located in the northwest region of Guanacaste, the Four Seasons Hotel is nestled within the gated community of the Papagayo Peninsula. With its location between two distinct golden sand beaches, guests can enjoy the calm waters of one of the Pacific Coast’s most protected bays on one side and open views of Santa Rosa National Park on the other.

The contemporary crescent-shaped lobby has a tropical feel, setting a soft curve throughout the hotel. Most of the rooms are open-air, allowing the ocean breeze, the chirping of birds and the hum of howler monkeys to fill the resort with the spirit of the jungle. The spa has a clean, modern design in shades of eau de nil with stylish interior details, including an artistic wall of moss and many pendant lights.

The ambience is impressive, with new activities on offer every day, from snorkeling to Latin dance lessons. If you fancy something a little more laid-back, try the quieter ‘Trail of the Giants’, where a guide takes you on a golf buggy ride around the extensive grounds to introduce you to the fauna and wildlife.

In addition to two beaches, there are four swimming pools. The hotel also features a championship Arnold Palmer golf course overlooking the ocean, five tennis courts, a newly renovated state-of-the-art fitness center and an 18-room spa where treatments are performed at the highest level and in the most tranquil setting.

All rooms have ocean views, from the standard rooms located in the main building to the suites, which are perched on stilts floating among the trees. As you’d expect from a Four Seasons hotel, the style is classic and understated. Perhaps a little monotonous, but certainly with a sure sense of expensive.

There are 5 restaurants on the property, including Bahia, an all-day open wood-fired restaurant with a Latin flavor. There’s also Nemare, which specializes in steaks and is located on the golf course. However, the real jewel in the crown is Pesce, an Italian seafood restaurant.

It offers one of the most beautiful views on the planet. The Arenal Volcano towers above the verdant rainforest, with clouds thickening on its cone-shaped summit. The resort is less than three hours from downtown San Jose and just 10 minutes from Mistico Park, a private wildlife sanctuary where you can see sloths, pit vipers, howler monkeys and leaf-cutter ants. Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is just a three-hour drive to the west.

Set amidst the jungle, the 31 luxurious rooms have wooden balconies and floor-to-ceiling glass panels to take in the views. Wooden floors and natural materials emphasize the hotel’s unity with nature, while stone walls and thermally heated pools are a constant reminder of the proximity to the mighty Arenal Volcano. Large beds with high quality linens, huge bathrooms with rain showers and views of the greenery make these cabins the perfect place to relax in the jungle.

Amor Arenal Hotel’s main restaurant, El Rancho, focuses on a farm-to-table concept – using local organic produce that changes with the seasons to create delicious and varied dishes throughout the day. La Jaranita is the hotel’s tapas bar, offering light snacks, cocktails and live music after a long day of relaxing in a jungle setting.

The jungle spa center is a place worth visiting to truly immerse yourself in nature and connect with it. Here, in forest huts with thatched roofs, you will be offered a variety of pleasant treatments. The fitness center next door is fully equipped with exercise machines and strength equipment, and the mineral water and hot spring pools are the perfect place to relax surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest.

There are many hiking trails through the pristine forest canyon just waiting to be explored. There is everything you need: special trails, guides and maps to venture into the forest in search of thermal pools and waterfalls. You can horseback ride through the canyon and the foot of the volcano, stopping along the way for a picnic or a swim. In addition, a variety of jungle adventures await you. From canyoning to ziplining, all of these activities can be found in the picturesque town of La Fortuna, just a short drive from the resort.

Nestled in the rainforest and on a steep cliff by the sea, Hotel Makanda is just 10 minutes west of Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but extremely famous natural park teeming with wildlife.

This boutique hotel was once like any other around Manuel Antonio, but then in 2017 the new owners gave the place a major overhaul. The end result is a gorgeous mix of Balinese design, retro Hollywood glamor, and custom-made equestrian art surrounded by foliage. The overall space is stunning with a variety of colors, textures and unique embellishments, from woven cocoons to suspended sofas, from vertical gardens to patterned tiles imported from China. Guests have no choice but to feel like the real stars.

You should definitely go for a massage, because the Shanti SPA-center deserves attention just because of its design – the walls of the cave are decorated with spiral ocean pebbles, and the ceiling and floor are decorated with bamboo and shells. Free yoga classes are offered three times a week, and you can also soak in the saltwater pools and hot tubs (yes, there are two).

Are you looking for an active vacation? Head down the steep hill past the giant bamboo to the resort’s virtually private beach. If that seems difficult, ask one of the staff to take you in a golf cart.

Room interiors are eccentric, with mid-century modern furniture, horsehair rugs, and opulent chandeliers. Large marble and glass bathrooms have double sinks and impressive rain showers. Renovated villas with original designs have private pools and one even has its own sauna.

The luxurious Arbol Restaurant is set in an elegant, original dining room with massive windows offering nearly 360° views of the jungle and sea. Dishes of local vegetables, seafood and meat are prepared using international techniques. There is also a raw bar where you can order delicious sushi rolls and savor them in the pool or hot tub. Multi-course breakfasts including fruit, pastries and a choice of six main courses are served on private balconies or on the terrace of the Sunspot Restaurant by the main pool.

Arenal is the center of adventure tourism in all of Costa Rica, known for the legendary conical Arenal Volcano that towers over the area. Each of the 74 rooms here has a dazzling view of the volcano, whether it’s on the second or third floor.

The resort’s design is a multi-story golden building, blue conical roofs, exquisite interiors, and palm trees and hot springs. It can be called the “Taj Mahal” of Costa Rica.

Service here is really at the height, and the list of entertainment can go on endlessly. In addition to a huge SPA-center, gym, souvenir store, 5 restaurants, 5 bars and 28 hot springs, there is a reserve where representatives of wildlife – pumas and ocelots – live. And there is a large adventure center on site with river tubing, kayaking, horseback riding and rock climbing. The resort has five unique restaurants, including the award-winning Las Ventanas, a fine dining destination, and Ginger Sushi. Guests can also plan a private romantic dinner by ordering specially designed Romance Packages to their room.

This eco-friendly lodge is one of the best places in Costa Rica for glamping vacations. The thatched thatched hardwood structures are elegant and well-made, with screens instead of walls and candles burning instead of lamps in the evenings. There are luxurious chandeliers, lampshades and striking artwork handmade by the local Cabecar tribe, and in addition, huge trees, an abundance of greenery and river views complete the picture.

The service staff is friendly and professional. In addition to rafting, the accommodation includes ziplining, canyoning, guided hikes, bird watching, ecological excursions and visits to the community of Cabecar. In between jungle adventures, guests can take a dip in the pool, play board games in the lounge or relax with a massage at the Jawa Juü Spa.

Set along the undulating river, standard bungalows have hardwood floors, a king-size four-poster bed with mosquito netting, and a veranda with a hammock. Some larger and more expensive rooms have infinity pools with spring water, a suspension bridge entrance, and a riverside dining area. Some rooms are quite far from the restaurant and other facilities, but a golf cart is available.

Nairi Awari, a two-storey restaurant overlooking the river, offers three nutritious meals a day. Fresh juices are available, as well as specialty beers, wine and cocktails. In the evenings, candles are lit in the restaurant and private dining is held on the elevated terrace under a canopy, accessible by zipline.

All villas have modern and open floor plans, teak wood paneling, bamboo ceilings, giant floating beds and wide balconies that can accommodate a hammock for two. The top-floor suites are the brightest and offer the most spectacular views of the rainforest.

Kurà means “jaguar” in the language of the local Borucan tribe, and it’s a fitting name for a hotel with a wild and indigenous spirit. Devil masks, important cultural symbols of the Borucan people, can be seen here and decorate both the common areas and private suites. Most of the buildings are constructed of gleaming teak wood and translucent glass, allowing you to admire the surrounding nature. The plush pool deck is decorated with modern Balinese furniture and huge purple hammocks.

Throughout the day, guests can lounge on the terrace or cool off in the saltwater pool while sipping a jaguar colada, the hotel’s signature drink made with passion fruit, coconut cream, mint and Costa Rican sugar cane liqueur Cacique.

The Vortex telescope offers a close-up view of the shoreline, which looks like a whale’s tail at low tide, and you may be lucky enough to see real migrating humpback whales. At the edge of the property is the wonderful Spa Shà, which offers a variety of treatments, including an hour-long couples massage. The service staff are friendly and well-trained, and all guests are greeted by name on arrival.

There’s no better place to enjoy cocktails than the sky lounge, a private terrace atop Kurà Restaurant, where couples celebrating a special occasion can also opt for a candlelit dinner under the stars.

At the entrance to Peninsula Papagayo, you’ll find lush landscaping and towering statues by renowned sculptor Jorge Jimenez Deredia. The dwarf forest of Santa Rosa National Park and the bustling beach town of Tamarindo are conveniently accessible by car. On the peninsula you will find a marina for fishing, snorkeling and sunset cruises, as well as the world-class 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.

The Andaz buildings, designed by renowned architect Ronald Zürcher, are reminiscent of local shells and cocoons, and the rest of the hotel’s grounds are equally as pleasing. The grand entrance to the hotel, surrounded by infinity pools and Jicaro trees, leads to a magnificent archway that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and the stone and earth tones allow it to blend in with its surroundings. Artwork and driftwood crafts made by Costa Rican artisans adorn the walls.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff provide golf buggies for transportation to the spa center, gym, nature walkway and four pools (one of which is for adults only). The nine-room ONDA Spa is amazing with its views, unique local products and relaxing steam bath. Guests also have access to three beaches, including a secluded stretch of Playa Nacascolo, home to a stunning beach house. It is quickly accessible by shuttle or boat. There are places to drink and dine, sunbathe, and do water sports (non-motorized equipment rentals are free).

There are 4 restaurants, each with its own style. Chao Pescao is a small establishment serving specialty beers and cocktails, while Río Bongo offers Latin cuisine and a large breakfast buffet. The most luxurious restaurant, Ostra, offers a live ceviche station and fresh seafood dishes, while the beach house specializes in salads, tacos, burgers and grilled fish. Ask about private dining options: the Andaz Hotel provides all options for guests who are hosting celebrations.

The hotel is located on the edge of the Arenal Volcanoes National Park, 8 km from the town of La Fortuna and close to numerous hot springs.

The luxurious grounds of the hotel are meticulously maintained but still retain a sense of wild and organic nature – geckos, frogs and hummingbirds can be found here. Each interior has its own elegant aesthetic, from brightly colored furniture and tropical bird prints in the spa to polished marble and monochromatic tile in the Mis Amores restaurant.

Sharing the grounds with neighboring and sister hotel Nayara Springs means guests at this 50-room property can take advantage of a wide range of dining and recreational options, including 4 restaurants, 3 pools, 2 award-winning spas and a yoga pavilion (daily classes are complimentary). Among the hidden pleasures scattered throughout the rainforest are three private outdoor hot tubs. Curious guests will also find a fish pond and a terrace for couples to relax. You can explore the 2 nature trails on your own or during one of the twice-weekly excursions.

At least 90% of the products at the resort are organic and locally produced. The Altamira Restaurant serves fresh fruit and juices, pastries and classic Costa Rican dishes, as well as omelettes and pancakes for breakfast. For day-trippers, sandwiches and granola bars are available as a bonus. Mis Amores serves wood-fired pizzas and flavorful European-inspired dishes throughout the day, and guests can enjoy live music every evening in the luxurious adults-only Amor Loco restaurant. The Nostalgia Restaurant offers wines from around the world by the choice of half or full glass with convenient self-service.

Located in the hot and dry northwest of the country, the Westin Hotel can be found most quickly by taking a short flight from San Jose to Tamarindo, though a shuttle from Liberia (one hour) or San Jose airport (four and a half hours) is also available. Golf carts, security guards, and manicured tropical foliage create the atmosphere of a secluded country club, yet the hotel is close to the bustling beach towns of Tamarindo and Brasilito. Attractions such as Santa Rosa National Park and the Rincon de La Vieja volcano are a few hours’ drive away.

Because of its unassuming Spanish-style buildings and extravagant pools, the Westin seems very much like a chain hotel – and it really is. Marriott International acquired the hotel in 2016 and has changed very little about its unobtrusive but undeniably luxurious lujo style.

The Westin has a wealth of amenities at its guests’ disposal: kayaking and snorkeling on the beach, winning a ping-pong tournament, working out and relaxing with a massage in the spa, all before breakfast.

There’s also a tennis court and golf course, as well as cruise-style evening entertainment, from traditional dancing to fire jugglin

The hotel has 9 restaurants, but not all are the same and they’re not always open – so book dinner in advance. The most popular establishments are Cauri (French) and Faisanella (Italian), although the latter tends to be a quick gathering place for Royal Beach Club guests. The international open-air buffet at Mitra Restaurant offers a delightful breakfast and plenty of other dishes throughout the day. Room service allows you to get whatever you want at any time and at no extra cost.