Best hotels in Costa Rica

As Costa Rica's coastline turns to lush slopes and reaches higher and higher towards the sky, you'll enter the mystical Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Described by National Geographic as the 'jewel in the crown of cloud forests', the trees are home to a menagerie of rare and elusive creatures... And in the middle of it all is Senda. Built as an unpretentious mountain home, the lodge takes every chance to showcase its spectacular vistas, whether it's from your private terrace or on a walkabout through the grounds as howler monkeys call overhead and butterflies pass in a flurry of colour. And how about going zip-lining in the very forest it was invented?

In a country with two coasts and dozens of protected reserves, Arenas del Mar enjoys the best of both. A half-hour walk down Espadillas Beach leads you right to the Manuel Antonio National Park, where you'll zipline over lush valleys, take a dip in waterfall pools and snorkel in sky-blue lagoons. Back at the hotel, the 11-acre nature reserve is alive with vivid birdlife and sloths and the naturalist guides will point out even the littlest detail. Rooms are tucked amongst the trees, providing a comfortable cocoon when you need it, and after a day of doing as much or little as you like, how about a sunset cruise in the 100-foot sailboat?

On Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Aguas Claras is a work of art. In fact, we wouldn't expect anything less from the team of well-known mother-daughter artists who restored this collection of Victorian bungalows (the swishy lobby even has a turreted tower), adding a distinctive flair to every space. Aguas Claras is also a few sandy steps away from two of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean - snorkelling is a must! The dining options are fabulous and include the cool-as-a-cucumber DaLime, right on the beach and overflowing with Puerto Viejo's Calypso charm - and if you're craving more of it, the vibrant town is a bicycle ride away.

Explore the pristine isolation of Golfo Dulce, kayaking through the hushed mangroves of Los Mogos where wildlife reigns supreme, and plunging into the crystalline depths surrounding Punta Adela and Isla del Caño—a marine sanctuary rarely experienced by outsiders. Venture deep into the verdant, wild embrace of Corcovado National Park, where the untamed rainforest pulsates with life, or conquer the exhilarating rapids of the Savegre River, a true wilderness challenge.

This is your chance to disconnect from the ordinary and immerse yourself in the raw, unparalleled beauty of a Costa Rica few ever witness.