10 Rustic-Chic Retreats in Costa Rica That Aren't Your Typical Getaways

Plenty of visitors beeline it from San Jose straight to Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, and hotels like Tulemar are a big part of the reason. Set on 33 acres of untouched jungle, these luxury bungalows offer mod-influenced contemporary style alongside a plethora of organic decor. Polished hardwood floors glisten, while bold hues on the walls make all manner of rustic-chic furniture pop -- the tree-trunk headboards, travertine walls, and stone-tile living room floors are especially nice touches in the Casa las Nubes that we visited. Design varies from bungalow to bungalow and villa to villa, but with multiple pools and a pretty little beach, it doesn’t get much better than this.

It’s a feat when a hotel can make its guests feel pampered and swallowed by the jungle at the same time, and Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens manages to pull off exactly that. Tucked inside of Arenal Volcano National Park -- and with views of the iconic peak throughout -- this hotel is equal parts luxury resort and back-to-nature retreat. 


Want to be spoiled? There’s an open-air spa lined with stone and hardwood, hot tubs set amid decks looking out into dense forest, pools, and a wine bar. Want to take a deep breath and be one with the jungle? Simply look in any direction or meet up with the resident bird watcher. The villas, suites, and casitas here are a stylish blend of all things natural and modern -- bamboo ceilings, hardwood floors, jute throw rugs, outdoor showers, and walls that open to the jungle sit alongside modern luxuries like private hot tubs, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks.

We love the sheer volume of boutique resorts on offer in Costa Rica, and properties like Florblanca draw visitors back to the country year after year. The 11 standalone villas at this beachfront resort in Santa Teresa incorporate hand-crafted details and design-conscious furniture to create an intimate and laid-back escape. Expect to see stone and brick floors set with chairs and tables hewn from reclaimed tree branches; exposed ceiling beams; and wall-hangings inspired by natural forms, like beehives. Locally made items like hand-woven hammocks are strung on lovely patios, upping the sustainability quotient, and the free surfboards and yoga classes next to the ocean keep civilization feeling far, far away.

No phones, no Internet, no TVs -- Lapa Rios Ecolodge takes rustic to the extreme. To be honest, it actually takes rustic to an upscale, eco-conscious extreme, and those willing to make the trek to Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula will reap the chic rewards. 


Set on a 1,000-acre wildlife reserve, the bungalows are a treat. Romantic, if entirely utilitarian, mosquito netting cascades around the beds underneath towering thatched ceilings while gorgeous polished hardwood floors are underfoot -- this is rustic done right. Small details, like clothing hangers crafted from tree branches, are part of what boost this hotel’s rustic-chic credentials. But don’t expect the experience to be truly roughing it. Bathrooms have contemporary fixtures like vessel sinks and walk-in showers, and the hotel’s sparkling pool offers views of the coast in the distance. Tranquility like this doesn’t come cheap, though -- Lapa Rios is one of the most expensive hotels on this list.

No, Makanda By The Sea isn’t right on the beach -- in fact, it’s a 10-minute walk to the nearest stretch of sand in Manuel Antonio -- but the trade-off comes in the form of some seriously swish digs that utilize natural materials in sharp, modern ways. Design elements vary from room to room, but can include volcanic stone walls, country-style wooden dining tables with artsy carvings, and outdoor infinity pools that look right into the dense jungle. The abundance of neutral tones throughout the hotel help it blend unobtrusively into its surroundings, while contemporary accents like geometric pendant lighting and Pollock-inspired murals keep the look fresh.

It would be unfair to mention this hotel’s older sister -- Nayara Hotel, Garden & Spa -- without giving its adult-only, boutique sibling a nod as well. In fact, Nayara Springs manages to out-luxe Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, with its massive 1,500-square-foot rooms that include features like Bluetooth music players and espresso machines. This 16-unit hotel balances intimacy and romance with a slightly more colorful palette than its neighbor and sister hotel (though it does lack the Nayara Hotel’s Arenal Volcano views).


Each of the bungalows feels secluded from the next, and rooms can include strikingly patterned hardwood floors, canopy beds, massive marble bathrooms, paddle fans spinning from bamboo ceilings, and colorful hammocks swinging over sleek wooden decks with private pools. With live Costa Rican musicians playing in the bar during the week, a resident bird-watcher (that’s shared with the Nayara Hotel), and Middle Eastern cuisine on-site, there’s little reason to ever make the 15-minute drive into La Fortuna, the nearest town.

The dirt road leading to Pranamar is rustic. The undeveloped nearby beach is rustic. It’s a bonanza of rustic at this Santa Teresa area retreat with a special emphasis on health and wellness. The property’s 10 villas are made from local wood and bamboo and their decor draws heavily on Balinese design -- from the bed frames to the artful wall carvings. Units like the Oceanfront Villa that we visited have slatted walls that offer peeks of the surrounding greenery alongside wooden floors, a blend of rough-hewn and sleek furniture, and light neutral fabrics. With one of the best yoga studios in the area and features like a swish outdoor pool, this hotel is a fine way to unplug or get back in touch with a part of yourself you just might have forgotten.

Let’s make one thing clear: The region around Manuel Antonio National Park is in no way a secret escape, but the abundant wildlife, gorgeous beaches, and undisturbed jungle draw tourists in droves for a reason -- it’s a small slice of paradise. Gaia Hotel And Reserve is one of the most high-end choices in the region. There are vistas across the green hills and excellent jungle views at almost every turn -- plus, a multi-level pool that cascades down along the hillside into which the hotel’s built.


Rooms are on the polished end of the rustic-chic spectrum, and the look is smart and minimalist. Fine wood floors are set with stylish wicker furniture, while leaning standalone mirrors add a bit of boho sophistication. White linens on everything from the beds to the chairs add a breezy quality, and framed landscape art provides a final elegant touch. Don’t expect to be cut off from modern life at this hotel, though, as each room has a premium sound system, modern electronics, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.

A five-minute drive from the busy little coastal town of Tamarindo, Cala Luna offers one of this list's more contemporary twists on rustic chic. Styled after Sardinian guesthouses on the Mediterranean coast, there’s a beachy vibe throughout this hotel. The lobby is a breezy exercise in the use of natural materials and it’s impossible to ignore the sculptural masses of driftwood that serve as handsome coffee tables, or the comfy armchairs with tree-branch backs, or the towering pillars fashioned from tree trunks. Handsome woven art pieces and bright textiles give the interiors their modern edge.

One of the more distinctive properties on this list, the name of the Tree House Lodge says it all. The fact is that not every unit here is a tree house, but there’s an ecological consciousness that defines the sharp architecture throughout the grounds. The most striking of the individual units available is actually the Beach House, which sits just over 250 feet from the ocean and was constructed using fallen Nispero trees from the surrounding forests. The Beach House’s bathroom is crafted from adobe and stone, with accents like carved-block sinks and rainfall showers. The living spaces are almost entirely clad in hardwood, from tables and chairs to the spiral staircase that leads to the master bedroom


Related Links:

• Best Boutique Hotels in Costa Rica
• The Most Beautiful Views in Costa Rica 
• 8 Gorgeous Rustic-Luxe Beach Escapes