Have you ever thought about staying on a houseboat? What about sleeping in a teepee? There are a ton of unique Airbnb’s in Costa Rica that you will absolutely love. We created this guide with budget travelers in mind (as usual) but most of these are so cool that you won’t even remember that they are actually a budget option.
I’m not going to lie, this post took FOREVER to write. I thought I would be struggling to find affordable Airbnb’s in Costa Rica that were completely unique, but instead, I struggled with narrowing down my list. There were just so many cool options guys!
Anyway, I eventually narrowed it down to 14 unique Airbnb’s in Costa Rica. I chose these places based on reviews, uniqueness, and price. I made sure that every place on this list is kept under $75 per night.
Hope you enjoy!
Hobbit Cottage – Liberia
Let’s start off the list with this cute Hobbit cottage! This cabin is not only uniquely designed, but this area is so peaceful!
Cost per night:
$49 per night plus service fee
The space:
The cottage sleeps two guests. There is not a kitchen in the cottage, but breakfast is included. The owners are also happy to prepare dinner upon request.
The property consists of 27 acres which guests are welcome to explore.
The Cusuca – Piedras (on Lake Arenal)
This house is built partially underground. It was designed by a Chillean architect that lives here for part of the year. When he is not in Costa Rica he rents out at as an Airbnb.
Cost per night:
$39 per night plus cleaning fee and service fee
The space:
If staying here you get the entire house for yourself. It can sleep four people, but two of those beds are twin beds in the living room. There is also a full kitchen for you to use. There is a nice terrace area you can enjoy which has some killer views of Lake Arenal.
You can read our complete guide to the La Fortuna area here.
Jungle Camper – Ostional
There were a lot of campervan listings on Airbnb in Costa Rica, but this one is the best I found for price point and niceness. I’m especially a huge fan of this little porch at this place.
Cost per night:
$55 per night plus service fee
The space:
The camper sleeps up to four guests. There is a fully equipped kitchen in the van as well as hot water.
The Bustel MA – Manuel Antonio
I have an obsession with school buses turned into places to live. This obsession started when Thomas and I were camping once in New Hampshire. We met a family from California that traveled across the country in a school bus and their bus was just so cool! Anyway, I had to include this on my list because the owners are living out my school bus dreams.
Cost per night:
The cost varies by date and guests. When I looked it was about $50 per night for two people.
The space:
The concept of the bustel is unique. The owners actually rent this out as a hostel, so you could be staying here with other guests. If you would like to rent out the whole bus it costs $75 per night (at least at the time I looked).
The bus has a full . kitchen, bathroom, outdoor shower, and electricity through solar power.
If you’d like to know more about the Manuel Antonio area we have a complete guide here.
Shrek House – La Fortuna
Ummm OK, how cute and creative is this place? Plus, it is located in the middle of a cacao farm. So cool!
Cost per night:
$49 per night plus cleaning fee and service fee
The space:
The cabin sleeps two people and has a small kitchen for you to use.
As I already mentioned, the cabin is located on a cacao farm. There are cacao tours during the day (which you should check out). There are also tons of fruit trees that you can enjoy on the property.
Playa Barco surfcamp – Sámara
Glamping never gets old, especially when it involves being near an amazing beach!
Cost per night:
$49 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each tent sleeps two guests but it is possible to add extra sleeping spots if needed. Each tent has electricity. There is a shared bathroom on site and meals are available for a fair price.
They also offer surf lessons, kayak tours, motorbike tours, and boat tours.
You can read our complete guide to the Samara area here.
Magic Carpet Houseboat – Golfito
We are already planning our visit here! This looks like the absolute perfect and unique place to stay. I mean, haven’t you always wanted to stay on a house boat? We stayed on one once before in Amsterdam and LOVED the experience.
Cost per night:
$64 per night plus service fee
The space:
This houseboat can sleep up to 4 guests and also has a full kitchen on board.
By staying here you also have access to the clubhouse where you can get free coffee in the mornings or just hang out.
Tipi Calathea Ecolodge – near Savegre
It would be such a unique experience to stay in a teepee in the middle of the jungle! This place looks incredibly peaceful.
Cost per night:
$30 per night plus service fee
The space:
The teepee sleeps two guests. There is a shared bathroom for guests to use.
Just note that this space is very remote. You will not get cell service here, but there is wifi for guests to use. Also there is no electricity in the teepee and you will need a 4×4 to get here.
You can read our complete guide to this area here.
Finca los Domos – Orotina
How unique are these domes? I can’t get over how creative these structures are.
Cost per night:
$51 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each dome can sleep four guests, but is more ideally suited for two guests. The second two guests would be on an air mattress. However, there are three domes so if you plan to visit with family or friends you could rent all three domes.
There is an outdoor kitchen and pool for guests to use. There are also several animals on the property (cows, turkeys, goats etc) that you are welcome to visit.
Teepee camping house – La Fortuna
I like this simple accommodation option. It is basically like camping, but with a bit more protection from the roof.
Cost per night:
$28 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each teepee sleeps two guests. There is a bathroom, but be aware that it is shared. There is also a swimming pool, fireplace, trails, and a restaurant on site.
The owners run the property as a farm so you can expect to see pigs, cows, chickens, and plenty of tropical fruits as well.
Luxury camping in Uvita – Uvita
I’m obsessed with this place. This is the most luxurious looking glamping I’ve ever seen and I’m dying to experience it. In fact, I’m pretty sure we are going to go here in two weeks because I just can’t wait. Fun fact about me, I lived in a yurt on an island for three months a few years ago while working as a park ranger. Man oh man I wish my yurt was half as nice as this.
Cost per night:
$75 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each tent has a king size bed and a bathroom. I’ve never seen a full bathroom in a tent before! Breakfast is included in the price. There is also a pool and deck for guests to practice yoga.
You can read our complete guide to the Uvita area here.
Coco Lindo – Ojochal
This is definitely the most simple accommodation option on this list. I think it would be really cool to stay in one of those hanging tents though. It’s definitely unique!
Cost per night:
$10 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each tent holds two people. There is also a pool, shared bathroom, and kitchen on site for guests to use.
Glamping Surf & Pura Vida – Tamarindo
Another cool glamping spot that I’m sure you will love. Plus, this place includes some great perks!
Cost per night:
$62 per night plus service fee
The space:
Each tent has one double bed or two single beds. Your booking also includes daily breakfast, free access to surf boards and bikes, and daily beach shuttles.
There are shared bathrooms for guests to use.
You can read our complete guide to the Tamarindo area here.
Open-air A-frame Cabina – Uvita
This is actually the only place on this list that we have actually stayed at. It’s a really basic place, don’t expect luxury, but it is perfect for simple travelers. We especially loved it because it is only a two-minute walk to the beach. Plus, the couple who manages this place is amazing. They were so nice and helpful.
Cost per night:
$40 per night plus service fee
The space:
Every A-frame house sleeps four people. Just be warned that two of those people will be sleeping on a futon. There is a private bathroom in every house and an outdoor kitchen.
There is also a pool which guests can use.
Our Tips
– If you would like to search for more unique places to stay in Costa Rica on Airbnb, it’s really easy to do. Just check off all the unique features you would like to check out under the “More Filters” tab on Airbnb.
– If it is your first time using Airbnb, make sure to sign up using our link here. It will save you $30 to $40 off of your first stay.
– We didn’t include any treehouses on this list because we actually made a whole separate post on cool treehouses you can stay in. You can read that here.
– We also have an article on what you should know before using Airbnb in Costa Rica here.
And there you have it! What do you think? Which was the coolest Airbnb listing in Costa Rica? Let us know which place you want to stay at in the comment section below.
Also, we hope this helped you find a unique Airbnb’s in Costa Rica! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out! If you’ve stayed in a really unique Airbnb in Costa Rica we’d love to hear about it!
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