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All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot
Costa Rica is filled with luxury resorts for all interests and travel styles.
This country is a paradise of jungle and beaches, adventure and relaxation, and so much more!
Costa Rica is not your typical resort destination. Here you will likely pay more than a Caribbean luxury stay, but your stay will be on another level of perfection.
Choose an all-inclusive resort to have all your meals and drinks included in your stay.
This is a great option if you plan to spend most of your time enjoying the on-site ammenities of the resort and don’t want to have to think about planning where to eat every day.
LOCATION – Samara
THE VIBE – Samara is a cool town and this is the only all inclusive option here. We love that it is directly on the beach and it is for adults-only.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Restaurant, pool, fitness center, beach access, and more!
LOCATION – North of Liberia airport, not far from Nicaragua border
THE VIBE – This is a new resort. It’s in a remote spot with top notch luxury. The service here goes above and beyond. The facilities are beautiful, and everyone will find something fun to do here.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Restaurants, fitness center, nightclub, multiple pools, beach access, and more!
LOCATION – Papagayo
THE VIBE – RIU has two resorts right next to each other. The RIU Palace and the RIU Guanacaste are both large resorts. However, the RIU Guanacaste is a bit more family-friendly, but also a bit crazier. For couples or families that want a calmer experience, I suggest RIU Palace.
Amenities – Multiple pools, multiple restaurants, beach access, kids programs, spa, volleyball courts, kayaks for guests to use, etc.
LOCATION – Pérez Zeledón
THE VIBE – Hacienda Altagracia is a world-class, five-star, luxury resort. Expect service to be on another level of perfection.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Horseback riding, hiking, birdwatching, wildlife tours, mountain biking, yoga classes, cultural experiences, and so so much more!
Would you like to check out more options in Costa Rica?
Visit our guide to our 15 favorite all-inclusive resorts.
Are you looking for a romantic peaceful getaway in Costa Rica? This list of resorts is perfect for you!
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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.
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
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
LOCATION – La Fortuna
THE VIBE – An adult- only resort that is focused on a mix of relaxation and adventure. Nayara Springs is connected to its sister property, Nayara Gardens.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Daily yoga, hiking trails, a tropical garden to explore, spa treatments, pool relaxation, fitness center
Would you like to check out more options in Costa Rica?
Check out our guide to planning your Costa Rica honeymoon for all the details.
Eco resorts are perfect for those of you who are interested in a luxury experience that may be a bit more rustic. Combine the resort experience with something environmentally friendly.
LOCATION – Bajos del Toro
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you looking for an experience away from kids? An adult only resort could be great for you. We like this option for groups with friends or a couples getaway.
LOCATION – This beach resort is located on the Papagayo Peninsula near the Liberia International Airport.
THE VIBE –
This resort is a lot larger than most of the other places on this list with over 200 guest suites. Everything here is top notch, clean, modern, and well organized.
If you want tons of activities, beach access, excellent restaurants, this is the perfect place for you. However, if you are looking for an intimate setting, this is not it.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Relax and pamper yourself at the spa, enjoy the evening entertainment, play some volleyball on the beach, work out in the fitness center, enjoy a coffee or rum tasting, take a cooking class.
LOCATION – Tamarindo
THE VIBE – This is an adult-only beach resort located directly in Tamarindo. It’s a good option if you are looking for a more affordable (but very nice) resort experience that is peaceful, but also located right next to a ton of action.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Relax in the tropical pool, enjoy the surrounding gardens, walk the short path to Pacific Ocean beach, relax with a spa treatment.
LOCATION – In the hills above Uvita
THE VIBE – Kura is a great honeymoon option. This resort has only eight suites, so they offer a very intimate and highly level of service to every guest.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Kura offers meditation classes, cooking classes, and cocktail making classes. Relaxing by the infinity pool is also a popular thing to enjoy here.
LOCATION – Las Catalinas
Note: Casa Chameleon also has a property located in Mal Pais which is just as amazing. We suggest the Mal Pais location for a more remote experience.
THE VIBE – Casa Chameleon has a bit of a boutique hotel vibe combined with the luxury of a resort. There are 21 villas available on the property, which makes it a bit larger than some of the other resorts on this list, but they also have more to offer on the property than some more intimate places.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES –Relax in your plunge pool, enjoy the large infinity pool with ocean views, take a yoga or fitness class, and enjoy a spa treatment.
Would you like to check out more options in Costa Rica?
Visit our guide to our favorite adult-only resorts.
If you are traveling with kids these places will be great for you! Some options have kids clubs to keep the kiddos entertained and some of tons of adventure activity options for them.
LOCATION – Papagayo Peninsula
THE VIBE – Andaz is great because it offers an upscale experience for couples or families. For example, there is a swimming pool reserved just for adults as well as one for families. Also, it is possible to stay here as an all-inclusive resort or to opt for a lower-cost option in which meals are not included.
Amenities – Spa, fitness center, multiple pools, three restaurants, tennis court, zip lining, beach access, and more!
LOCATION – Papagayo Peninsula
THE VIBE – If you are traveling with kids, this place will be so much fun for the entire family. We also love that it is a new resort with top-notch design and amenities. It’s just an all around fun vibe.
Amenities – Multiple restaurants, multiple bars, a kids club, pools, beach access, and more!
LOCATION – Playa Conchal (a nice beach between Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo)
THE VIBE – This is a great place for the whole family. There is plenty for the kids to do (especially with the kids club). Also, the on-property golf course is a great perk for all of your golfing enthusiasts.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Golf course, kids club, fitness center, spa, tennis courts, pool, multiple bars and restaurants, beach access, and more!
Would you like to check out more options in Costa Rica?
Check out our guide to our 12 favorite family friendly resorts.
Ready to get away from it all and experience the jungle vibe? We love jungle resorts for adventure activities such as zip lining and rafting as well as relaxing in hot springs.
LOCATION – La Fortuna
THE VIBE – Family-friendly large resort with a luxury jungle vibe
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.
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.
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.
LOCATION – Vara Blanca, Alajuela
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.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES –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.
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.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Explore the beautiful nature-filled property, relax in the pools, enjoy the spa
Would you like to check out more options in Costa Rica?
Visit our guide to our 14 favorite jungle resorts
Are you planning your wedding in Costa Rica? We got married here on the beach and it was seriously magical.
LOCATION – Peninsula Papagayo
THE VIBE – The grounds here are beautiful. You feel so secluded in luxury here. Plus, you can’t beat the location. It is only about 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport (so easy for your guests to get to).
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Two restaurants, spa, beach access, a beautiful pool, and more!
LOCATION – Playa Conchal (a nice beach between Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo)
THE VIBE – W Costa Rica is located on one of the nicest beaches in Costa Rica. If you are interested in an all-inclusive resort with a gold course, this is one of the few options in Costa Rica.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES – Two outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, three restaurants, beach access, spa, on-property golf course, and more!
Want to learn more about planning your destination wedding?
Check out our complete destination wedding guide with tips on all the best places, how to organize everything, and more!
