Costa Rica Jungle Resorts – 14 Luxury Stays

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Costa Rica is a paradise filled with tons of accommodation options and tons of things to do. For a luxurious stay, try out a Costa Rica jungle resort.

This post includes 14 amazing resorts in the jungle located throughout the country. These resorts range from all-inclusive places to family-friendly places, adult-only resorts, and more!

We also included info about the best time of year to visit, transportation, safety, and packing.

Rancho Pacifico

Location

Uvita

The Vibe

The vibe here is luxury relaxation with tons of adventure nearby. The staff here is amazing and will go above and beyond to make your stay amazing.

This is an adults-only resort that is perfect for honeymoons, romantic getaways, or remote working vacations.

Amenities

– A-la carte breakfast

– Acess to fitness center

– Free parking

– Wifi

On site activities

Relax in the pool, enjoy an amazing spa treatment, read a book and enjoy the stunning ocean views, grab a delicious cocktail at the bar

Off site activities

The staff at Rancho Pacifico will be happy to organize activities for you. 

There is so much to do in the area, but some of the popular activities include; whale watching tours, guided hikes, ATV tours, zip lining, hiking at Nauyaca waterfall, surfing, and deep sea fishing.

Rooms

The property has a few different accommodation options that include luxury villas, rainforest treehouses, and modern suites.

There is a one, two, and three-bedroom villa available and each one has a small private pool.

Dining

There is an excellent restaurant located on the property that serves five-star cuisine. Every evening there is a set four-course menu available.

A delicious a-la-carte breakfast is included in the room rate, but other meals and drinks are not included.  

Reservations

We think very highly of this resort. Everything here is perfect and you can’t beat the location. It is the perfect mix of jungle with incredible views of the Uvita whales tale.

We have partnered with Rancho Pacifico to bring you a 10% discount on your room rate. To use the discount, book directly through the Rancho Pacifico website and use the code VIBES10

The Springs Resort & Spa

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

Family-friendly large resort with a luxury jungle vibe

Amenities

On-site hot springs, spa, fitness center, adventure center on the property, kids club, complimentary breakfast, welcome drink upon arrival

On site activities

The most popular activity is enjoying the multiple hot spring pools located throughout the property. Some are designed for kids in mind with a waterslide and some are more intimate for relaxation.

The other draw to this property is the Club Rio Adventure Center. Here you can book white water rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling, and river fishing.

Off site activities

La Fortuna is the perfect adventure destination. We suggest visiting the La Fortuna waterfall, going zip lining, taking a chocolate tour, and checking out the hanging bridges with an impressive view of the Arenal Volcano.

Rooms

The resort boasts multiple room options from three-bedroom suites for families to Honeymoon rooms with private plunge pools.
All rooms have a private terrace or balcony as well as a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.
If you would like to bring a larger group to the resort there are a few on-site villas available as well.

Dining

There are nine restaurants & bars located on the property. The most popular thing we saw people eating when we were here was sushi from the Ginger Sushi Restaurant. For a nice date night, we suggest booking at the on-site Las Ventanas fusion restaurant. 

Tabacon

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

The vibe here is relaxed rainforest luxury. All the staff are so nice and helpful. Just note that this place can fill up during the day because they do allow day pass guests for hot spring usage.

Amenities

Daily breakfast is included, welcome fruit cocktail, fitness center, usage of all hot springs throughout the property including springs exclusively for resort guests.

On site activities

The hot springs are the most popular on-site activity here. The other popular activity is enjoying a treatment at the on-property spa. 

Off site activities

La Fortuna is the perfect adventure destination. 
We suggest visiting the La Fortuna waterfall, going zip lining, taking a chocolate tour, and checking out the hanging bridges with an impressive view of the Arenal Volcano.

Rooms

Rooms range from sleeping two to four guests. All rooms have a balcony or terrace.

Dining

There are two restaurants and four bars located on the property. For a romantic date, it is possible to book a private six-course dining experience.

Peace Lodge

The Peace Lodge is run by the same people who own The Springs Resort & Spa. It shares a property with the La Paz Waterfall Gardens (which all guests have free access to).

Location

Vara Blanca, AlajuelaThis is about one hour from the main international airport in the country (Juan Santamaria International Airport). 

The Vibe

I would call this place cozy natural luxury. The resort is only 18 rooms and has a very clean jungle cabin type of feel. 

The best part about the Peace Lodge is definitely the full access to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. 

However, keep in mind that the property is open to the public during the day. Resort guests have the entire property to themselves before 8am and after 5pm each day. This is also when the wildlife in the area is the most active. 

Amenities

Wifi throughout the property, free parking, spa, outdoor pool, concierage

On site activities

The whole property is one massive on-site activity. Here you can learn about Costa Rican culture, walk the multiple trails, check out the views of the cascading waterfall, see all of the rescued wildlife throughout the property, go fishing at the trout pond, and relax at the resort pool.

Off site activities

The two best activities in the area are visiting Poas volcano and going on a coffee farm tour. The staff at the Peace Lodge will happily organize these activities for you, or if you have a rental car you can easily drive to Poas Volcano and to a coffee tour on your own. If you would like, you can pre book your Poas Volcano tickets here.

The best nearby coffee tours are:

Doka Estates – A local coffee farm that offers tours focusing on the germination, planting, and roasting of the beans. It’s a great tour that includes plenty of coffee to drink.

You can arrange your tour without transportation here. 

Hacienda Alsacia – This is the only Starbucks coffee farm in the world that you can actually visit. We prefer the Doka Estates tour (because it is always nice to support local businesses), but Alsacia has a really nice Starbucks with unique drinks and a waterfall view on the property.

We suggest stopping here for a drink, a piece of cake, and a nice view. If you would like to take a tour without transportation, you can book it here. 

Rooms

All rooms sleep two to four guests. Each room has a jacuzzi tub either in the bathroom or in a small garden area. All rooms have a balcony or small garden.

There are also two villas on the property for larger groups. Both villas can sleep guests.

Dining

There are six restaurants and bars located on the property. We suggest Vista Poas Restaurant for a nice dinner and the Big Trout Bar for lunch. Here you can catch your own Rainbow Trout from the pond and the chef will prepare it for you with delicious side dishes. 

One thing to note, no meals (not even breakfast) are included in the room rate

Nayara Springs

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

Adult- only resort that is focussed on a mix of relaxation and adventure. Nayara Springs is connected to its sister property, Nayara Gardens.

Amenities

Breakfast is included in the room rate, free wifi is connected throughout the property, free minibar

On site activities

Daily yoga, hiking trails, a tropical garden to explore, spa treatments, pool relaxation, fitness center

Off site activities

La Fortuna is the perfect adventure destination. 

We suggest visiting the La Fortuna waterfall, going zip-lining, taking a chocolate tour, and checking out the hanging bridges with an impressive view of the Arenal Volcano.

Rooms

All rooms here are designed for two guests. Each room has a private plunge pool fed by mineral hot spring water. This is a small resort with only 16 rooms. 

Dining

There are two restaurants on the property as well as the chance to enjoy private dining. The Amor Loco restaurant has a unique feel to it with all purple velour chairs and dark paneling. It’s really fun!

Breakfast is included in the room rate.

Rio Perdido

Location

Rio Perdido is located in a somewhat remote town called Bagaces. Although it is remote, it is only a one-hour drive from the Liberia International Airport. 

The Vibe

I would describe this place as pure comfort. It is a resort and you will enjoy all the amenities of a resort, but it doesn’t feel at all pretentious. Families are welcome. There are tons of things to do. And honestly, I’ve never heard a bad review of this place. 

Amenities

Concierge, on-site pools, hiking trails, the option to book transportation, complimentary breakfast, on-site hiking trails

On site activities

There is so much to do on the property that you really do not even need to leave to stay completely busy. Here are just some of the activities:

Explore the hiking trails, participate in daily yoga classes, go zipline, try white water rafting, enjoy a mountain biking adventure, search for wildlife, relax in the hot springs, enjoy a spa treatment. 

Off site activities

Take a day trip to Rio Celeste, visit Palo Verde national park, take a day trip to Arenal volcano.

Any activities you are interested in can be arranged by the on-property concierge.

Rooms

Rio Perdido offers three accommodation options.

East Bungalows – Can sleep two guests and a child (on a roll-out trundle bed). The rooms feature an elevated terrace with a hammock.

Center Bungalow King – A beautiful modern room with a king bed and large balcony. Two twins can be added for kids

Center Bungalow Queen – A large modern room with a balcony. This room features two queen beds. 

Dining

There is one large open-air restaurant on the property. If you would like a more secluded experience it is possible to reserve a private dinner on a floating platform.

Breakfast is included in your stay. 

The Royal Corin

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

Yes, we know that with so many nice resorts in La Fortuna it can be difficult to choose the perfect one for you. However, this is one of the few adults-only resorts in the area. It is a beautiful property and the staff here really make this the standout place it is. 

So, for a honeymoon or romantic getaway, this is a really great option. 

Amenities

• Free parking
• Free WiFi access
• Free breakfast
• In room safe
• Room service
• Business services
• Conference facilities
• Laundry facilities
• Sauna with natural thermal water steam
• Luxusious Spa
• Fresh water pool
• 2 Hot spring pools
• 4 Hot spring jacuzzis
• 2 hot spring jacuzzis with waterfalls
• Emperador Restaurant
• Three on-site bars
• Lobby Bar
• 24-hour front desk

On site activities

The best thing to do on the property is straight up relaxing. With the number of nice pools and hot springs, it’s the perfect jungle resort setting. The spa here also provides excellent massages and treatments.

Off site activities

This area is filled with adventure. You can book activities on your own (or if you have a rental car you can drive to things yourself), and the resort is also always happy to arrange activities for you. 

We like visiting the La Fortuna waterfall, going white water rafting, and zip-lining. 

Rooms

There are four room design options available here. These sleep two to four guests and range in levels of luxury. 

Dining 

There are three on-site bars. One is a swim up bar at the pool, one is located in the lobby, and there is also a fifth floor tapas bar with great volcano views.

The on property restaurant serves excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner. The a-la-carte breakfast is included in the room rate.

Pacuera Lodge

Location

Near the small village of Bajo Tigre

The Vibe

The main focus of Pacuare Lodge is white water rafting. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t still thoroughly enjoy this place if white water rafting is not your thing. 

Keep in mind that they allow families to visit with children over the age of 7. They do not allow children under the age of 12 to participate in rafting. 

This is the place to go if you want a completely unique nature experience with the luxury of an eco resort. 

We suggest spending three to four nights here to fully embrace it.

Note: Keep in mind that there are a few other places nearby with similar names. Make sure you are booking Pacuare Lodge when you arrange your stay. 

Getting Here

Keep in mind that it is not possible to drive to the lodge. You will need to park your car or take a bus  to the town of Siquirres. From there you will be transferred to the lodge by either raft or ground transportation. Yes, even getting here is a fun adventure! 

Alternatively, they provide transportation from Hilton Garden Inn, Park Inn, and Grano de Oro Hotel in San Jose.

Amenities

So much is included in your stay here!

– Pick-up from San José hotels and transfer to the Pacuare Lodge (and back)

– Canopy Tour

– Canyoning Tour

– Bird-Watching

– Indigenous Hike

– Ancient Trail & Hidden Waterfall Hike

– Sustainability Tour

– Daily breakfast, lunch & dinner

– Afternoon coffee

There is also a pool on the property, a spa, and restaurant

On site activities

Relax in the pool, enjoy the spa, try out one of the many included activities, sit by the river and listen to the nature sounds.

Off site activities

The main off-site activity you will be doing is white water rafting. It is possible to arrange your tour through the helpful Pacuare Lodge staff

Rooms

There are five suite layout options. These range from sleeping two to four guests. 

Dining

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in your stay. Alcohol is not included but it is possible to purchase alcoholic drinks.

The food here is excellent and there are a wide variety of meal options for all dietary needs and taste preferences.

It is also possible to set up a romantic dinner along the river.

Hacienda AltaGracia

This resort opened in late 2021 and has quickly risen to be one of the top resorts in Costa Rica. Since its opening, numerous celebrities have stayed here including Zac Efron and Emma Roberts.

Location

Pérez Zeledón

The Vibe

Hacienda Altagracia is a world-class, five-star, luxury resort. Expect service to be on another level of perfection. 

Amenities

This resort is all-inclusive (not including alcoholic beverages). Every room comes with a personal experience designer, transportation from and to the Perez Zeledon Airport.

On site activities

Horseback riding, hiking, birdwatching, wildlife tours, mountain biking, yoga classes, cultural experiences, and so so much more!

Off site activities

This is not a place where you leave the property. I suggest embracing all that they have to offer on-site and saving other exploration for another part of your visit to Costa Rica.

Rooms

The property features one and two-bedroom casitas. Some casitas have private plunge pools.

Dining

AltaGracia is all-inclusive (alcoholic beverages are not included). There are five restaurants and bars located on the property. The resort prides itself in using fresh, local, in-season ingredients whenever possible.

El Silencio

Location

Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica

The Vibe

El Silencio is one of the nicest resorts in the country. This place is perfect for all of you that are interested in nature and want to enjoy activities like bird watching or hiking, but would like a luxurious experience. 

Amenities

Access to all on-property trails, wifi throughout the property, daily free yoga class, use of mountain bikes, breakfast.

On site activities

Birdwatching, horseback riding, hiking to a waterfall, planting a tree, rum tasting, cooking classes, mountain biking, river fishing, wine tasting, yoga, spa treatments, archery

Off site activities

White water rafting, cultural tours, chocolate production tours, and day trips to Arenal Volcano. 

All off-site activities can be arranged through reception. 

Rooms

The rooms range from two-person deluxe suites to three-bedroom villas which can host up to six guests.

The rooms all have a modern rustic feel to them. 

Dining

There are two on-site restaurants and a private dining area. The menus are always designed around what is in season and growing in their on-site greenhouse at that time.

Keep in mind that breakfast is included in the room rate, but lunch and dinner are not included. 

Lapa Rios

Location

Puerto Jimenez

The Vibe

Lapa Rios is located on a 1,000-acre nature preserve. If you are looking for a luxurious eco-lodge filled with wildlife, near a beach, and near Corcovado National Park, this is a great option.

Children over the age of six are welcome here. 

Amenities

– Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included daily. 

– Guided property tours

– Access to the pool and property

On site activities

Relax in the pool, get an in-room spa treatment, explore the property on your own or with a guided tour, go birdwatching, take a night tour, learn about medicinal plants in the area. So much to do!

The beach is located just below the property. You can easily walk there (but the hike back up is a bit much) or they will happily drive you down and set up beach chairs for you. 

Off site activities

There are tons of things to do nearby from exploring the Corcovado National Park to sport fishing. The wonderful staff at Lapa Rios will be happy to set up any tours for you. 

Rooms

This is a small lodge with only 17 rooms.

There are three types of bungalows available at Lapa Rios:

Deluxe Bungalows- Sleep up to 4 guests. The bungalow has a nice outdoor deck with great views. Not that these bungalows do not have AC.

Premier Villas – Large space with bed, living room area, indoor/outdoor bathroom, and large deck. This option can accommodate five people.

Lapa Villas – The most luxurious option, this villa has a bedroom, living room, large deck with small infinity pool, and indoor/outdoor bathroom. This option can accommodate five people.

Just note that the internet is accessible in all rooms by fiber optic cable, but wifi is available in the main building of the resort.

Dining

There is one restaurant located on the property where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily. This is included in the room rate. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased.

The restaurant is happy to accommodate any allergies or health requests.

It is also possible to attend food demonstrations or organize a private romantic poolside dinner.

Amor Arenal

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

If you are visiting La Fortuna and want a 5 star experience with more peace and quiet than the large resorts in this area, we suggest this place.

They don’t have the large hot spring facilities like some of the other resorts nearby, but it is much more cozy and peaceful here. Plus, the staff is great.

Amenities

Access to the three mineral water-fed spring pools, free guided walking trails, access to the on-site fitness center and spa, on-site concierge to plan activities.

On site activities

Relax in the mineral pools, take a walk on the walking trails, relax in your own private plunge pool. In the evening, definitely check out the evening entertainment.

Usually, there is dancing or karaoke.

Off site activities

La Fortuna is a great place to enjoy tons of adventure activities. We suggest taking some time off of the Amor Arenal property to enjoy all the things to do nearby.

Rooms

This property features casitas for two or four guests. Each casita has its own private plunge pool, complimentary mini bar, and a full deck with Adirondack chairs looking to Arenal Volcano.  

Dining

There are two restaurants located on the property. Breakfast is included in the room rate.

In all honesty, the food here is so so so amazing! You will never be disappointed.

Nayara Garden

Location

La Fortuna

The Vibe

This is the sister resort to Nayara Springs. Children are welcome here, but it still has an intimate feeling to it. This is a semi-large resort with 50 bungalows. 

Amenities

Free parking, free breakfast, on-site fitness center, wifi, hiking, pool access

On site activities

Explore the beautiful nature filled property, relax in the pools, enjoy the spa

Off site activities

As I have mentioned earlier in this post, there are tons of things to do in the area. Just ask at the front desk and the Nayara staff will be happy to arrange activities for you.

Rooms

There are three room types available here. All room options have a hot tub or outdoor pool.

Dining

There are three restaurants/ bars located on the property and all of them are beautifully decorated and amazing. One restaurant serves mostly traditional Costa Rican food, one is an Asian fusion restaurant, and one is a tapas bar. 

Breakfast is included in the room rate.

Kinkara Luxury Retreat

Location

San Isidro de El General

The Vibe

Kinkara is more than just a resort. This place also offers a wellness retreat component that encourages connecting to nature and refocusing through relaxation.

Children are welcome.

Amenities

Breakfast is included, all signature education walks, there is a concierge, all guests have access to nature trails, yoga mats, and strength training tools. 

On site activities

Mountain biking, river hiking, permaculture tours, sweat ceremonies, swimming under a waterfall, horseback riding, culinary experiences, yoga, meditation, cacao & sound healing ceremonies, spa services, farm & food forest tours.

Off site activities

This is the kind of place in which you probably won’t go off-site much. However, the resort does offer day tours to the Uvita and Dominical areas.

Rooms

There aren’t actually “rooms” here. The resort is a collection of luxury tents arranged in a large circle.

Every tent has luxury organic cotton bedding, closet space, wifi, and USB charging ports. In other words, this is a glamping accommodation style.

There are shared bathroom facilities separated for men and women. 

Dining

There is a cafe on the property but lunch and dinner can be enjoyed in their large tent facility. 

Transportation

Usually, we suggest renting a car in Costa Rica, but if you are staying at a resort it is most likely not very necessary because you probably won’t be doing a ton of exploring.

All the jungle resorts listed above will be happy to arrange transportation for you. However, sometimes it can be pricey. We personally suggest a local private transfer company called Adobe Transfers. You can get a transfer price quote here.

Alternatively, if you would like to rent a car, you can find out more about that and get a 10% discount plus other great perks here.

Our Advice for Jungle Resorts

Packing

Rain jacket, bug spray, nice clothes for dinner, swimsuit, sunscreen, small backpack for day trips, sandals, hiking shoes, everyday shoes, fast-drying clothing.

Best Season

The dry season in Costa Rica runs from late December until late April. Keep in mind that this is also the busiest and most expensive time of year to visit.

From May until the end of July, resort prices tend to go down a bit. You will likely experience afternoon rainstorms for an hour or two, but besides that, the weather should be decent. 

If you are planning to visit La Fortuna, you should have a chance to view the Arenal volcano in the morning and sometimes in the late afternoon after the rain passes.  

From August to early December the weather is more difficult to predict. You might have some days that are complete washouts. However, you will have your choice of any resort you want.

Keep in mind that these are all jungle resorts. The weather will usually be cooler than on the coast. 

Safety

You should feel very safe in resorts in Costa Rica. However, keep a close eye on your belongings while out and about. We have never had any issues, but petty theft sometimes happens.

Other Things to Note

– We strongly suggest staying at a jungle resort for a few nights and then checking out a beach destination. Costa Rica is beautiful and has so much to offer. It is always nice to get a taste of the country besides being in a resort.

– Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Costa Rican colones is the main currency in the country, but US dollars are also widely accepted (especially in resorts).

– The main motto for life in Costa Rica is “Pura Vida”. This directly translates to “pure life” and in Costa Rica it is used to mean “everything is good. Life is great.” 

I’m telling you this because I hope everything at your resort stay goes perfectly, but keep in mind that sometimes you just need to relax and enjoy this different culture. People here live in a more relaxed time frame than you may be used to. 

Map of Jungle Resorts

We created this map for you of all the jungle resorts. I know, it’s impossible to see all the places in La Fortuna. But, if you would like to view it on Google Maps, just click it!

And that is that for Costa Rica jungle resorts!

If you have any questions or would like to share your experience staying at a resort in Costa Rica, please reach out to us in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out!

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