Equal parts budget hotel and guest house, Hotel Las Orquideas offers modest lodging minutes from Monteverde’s most popular attractions. The 12 rooms are divided among an original wing with a charming, homey decor and an expanded wing with a crisp, bright design. All rooms include air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, plus optional modern essentials like flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Aside from free breakfast and parking, there are few common amenities, and the lack of a pool and social scene may further dissuade some guests. However, prices are low and the property is only an eight-minute walk to the restaurants, shops, and services in Santa Elena. Monteverde Inn offers similar amenities in an eco-conscious package for less money.
Equal parts budget hotel and guest house, Hotel Las Orquideas offers modest lodging minutes from Monteverde’s most popular attractions. The 12 rooms are divided among an original wing with a charming, homey decor and an expanded wing with a crisp, bright design. All rooms include air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, plus optional modern essentials like flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Aside from free breakfast and parking, there are few common amenities, and the lack of a pool and social scene may further dissuade some guests. However, prices are low and the property is only an eight-minute walk to the restaurants, shops, and services in Santa Elena. Monteverde Inn offers similar amenities in an eco-conscious package for less money.
The Conchal Hotel is a nine-room, budget-oriented boutique hotel with lush gardens, colorful decor, and an attractive courtyard pool. Guests love the personal service provided by the on-site hosts, the free continental breakfasts featuring freshly baked breads, the tidy rooms, and the low rates. However, getting to the beach is more of a a chore than a stroll, requiring a 5-minute walk along a busy road without sidewalks and a quick jaunt over a precarious bridge before finally reaching the soft sand of Playa Brasilito.
The Conchal Hotel is a nine-room, budget-oriented boutique hotel with lush gardens, colorful decor, and an attractive courtyard pool. Guests love the personal service provided by the on-site hosts, the free continental breakfasts featuring freshly baked breads, the tidy rooms, and the low rates. However, getting to the beach is more of a a chore than a stroll, requiring a 5-minute walk along a busy road without sidewalks and a quick jaunt over a precarious bridge before finally reaching the soft sand of Playa Brasilito.
Quinta Esencia B&B is a quaint two-and-a-half-pearl hotel located a short walk from Playa Brasilito beach. The bed-and-breakfast’s four guest rooms are delightful and down-to-earth, decorated with eye-catching colors and charming curios. The tiny property’s amenities include a small hot tub and a comfy, thatched-roof common area where guests can help themselves to free coffee or use the communal microwave. Ample dining options can be found in the town of Brasilito, and there are two decent beaches located within walking distance. Travelers who prefer to stay right on the beach might also consider Sueno del Mar Beachfront Bed & Breakfast in Tamarindo, although rates tend to be pricier.
Quinta Esencia B&B is a quaint two-and-a-half-pearl hotel located a short walk from Playa Brasilito beach. The bed-and-breakfast’s four guest rooms are delightful and down-to-earth, decorated with eye-catching colors and charming curios. The tiny property’s amenities include a small hot tub and a comfy, thatched-roof common area where guests can help themselves to free coffee or use the communal microwave. Ample dining options can be found in the town of Brasilito, and there are two decent beaches located within walking distance. Travelers who prefer to stay right on the beach might also consider Sueno del Mar Beachfront Bed & Breakfast in Tamarindo, although rates tend to be pricier.
Hotel Sugar Beach is a three-pearl property located on Playa Pan de Azúcar, a 15-minute drive north of Playa Flamingo. The hotel’s 27 guest rooms are tasteful and simple, with some including kitchenettes and separate living areas. There’s a decent restaurant on-site as well as a yoga pavilion, both of which are set in distinctive wooden rotundas. With a peaceful stretch of beachfront and a large forested property that attracts diverse wildlife, the hotel is a good choice for guests who want to relax and connect with nature. There’s nothing within walking distance, however, making the location too remote for some. Costa Rica Yoga Spa in Nosara gives an excellent alternative for yoga-focused travelers, although it doesn’t offer beach access.
Hotel Sugar Beach is a three-pearl property located on Playa Pan de Azúcar, a 15-minute drive north of Playa Flamingo. The hotel’s 27 guest rooms are tasteful and simple, with some including kitchenettes and separate living areas. There’s a decent restaurant on-site as well as a yoga pavilion, both of which are set in distinctive wooden rotundas. With a peaceful stretch of beachfront and a large forested property that attracts diverse wildlife, the hotel is a good choice for guests who want to relax and connect with nature. There’s nothing within walking distance, however, making the location too remote for some. Costa Rica Yoga Spa in Nosara gives an excellent alternative for yoga-focused travelers, although it doesn’t offer beach access.
This 28-room upper-middle-range resort is set on the shores of Playa Potrero, an uncrowded, black-sand, crescent-shaped beach that’s ideal for swimming, not surfing. The resort caters to active travelers with free fitness and yoga classes as well as to those who crave a more sedentary vacation. Rows of lounge chairs are arranged by the pool, on the lawn, and along the beach, allowing guests to enjoy the ocean views. Rooms, ranging from cozy Standard Rooms sleeping four to Suites with kitchens, appeal to both couples and families, and have colorful fabrics and plenty of Costa Rican flair.
This 28-room upper-middle-range resort is set on the shores of Playa Potrero, an uncrowded, black-sand, crescent-shaped beach that’s ideal for swimming, not surfing. The resort caters to active travelers with free fitness and yoga classes as well as to those who crave a more sedentary vacation. Rows of lounge chairs are arranged by the pool, on the lawn, and along the beach, allowing guests to enjoy the ocean views. Rooms, ranging from cozy Standard Rooms sleeping four to Suites with kitchens, appeal to both couples and families, and have colorful fabrics and plenty of Costa Rican flair.
Villaggio Flor de Pacifico is a three-pearl rental property located on the eastern edge of Potrero. The property’s one- and two-bedroom villas are tidy and low-key, with inviting balconies or patios as well as kitchens with stovetops. There’s a delightful Italian restaurant on-site and several appealing pools, while the nearest beach is a 12-minute walk away. The out-of-the-way location is ideal for guests who prefer to avoid the hustle-and-bustle without being completely isolated. Travelers who want to be right on the sand should check out the nearby Bahia del Sol Beach Front Hotel & Suites, though rates tend to be slightly higher.
Villaggio Flor de Pacifico is a three-pearl rental property located on the eastern edge of Potrero. The property’s one- and two-bedroom villas are tidy and low-key, with inviting balconies or patios as well as kitchens with stovetops. There’s a delightful Italian restaurant on-site and several appealing pools, while the nearest beach is a 12-minute walk away. The out-of-the-way location is ideal for guests who prefer to avoid the hustle-and-bustle without being completely isolated. Travelers who want to be right on the sand should check out the nearby Bahia del Sol Beach Front Hotel & Suites, though rates tend to be slightly higher.
The upper-middle-range Asclepios bills itself as a wellness center rather than a hotel, though it successfully incorporates elements of both. Located in the hills near the Central Valley town of Alajuela, it’s conveniently close to the airport but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. A full spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and organic restaurant all lie on spacious grounds amidst a lush landscape. Every one of its 12 comfortable and stylish rooms has a different theme, and all overlook hillsides planted with coffee and sugarcane. Guests looking for a spa retreat on comfortable grounds will find it here -- but there's not much else around the property.
The upper-middle-range Asclepios bills itself as a wellness center rather than a hotel, though it successfully incorporates elements of both. Located in the hills near the Central Valley town of Alajuela, it’s conveniently close to the airport but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. A full spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and organic restaurant all lie on spacious grounds amidst a lush landscape. Every one of its 12 comfortable and stylish rooms has a different theme, and all overlook hillsides planted with coffee and sugarcane. Guests looking for a spa retreat on comfortable grounds will find it here -- but there's not much else around the property.
The three-and-a-half-pearl Xandari Resort & Spa is a solid choice in the countryside, a 10-minute drive from Alajuela and 20 minutes from Juan Santamaria Airport. The decor is colorful and bold, with lots of typical tropical and hand-crafted details throughout. With its hilltop location, the resort offers great views of the surrounding mountains and volcanos from almost every room and common area. The terrace restaurant is a highlight, and there's also an open-air spa with hot tubs in every treatment room, and three outdoor pools including a hillside infinity pool. The 24 spacious rooms are bright, with local accents, and have minibars, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. Check rates at Pura Vida Spa & Yoga Retreat for a similarly priced, three-and-a-half-pearl alternative with additional spa- and yoga-centric amenities.
The three-and-a-half-pearl Xandari Resort & Spa is a solid choice in the countryside, a 10-minute drive from Alajuela and 20 minutes from Juan Santamaria Airport. The decor is colorful and bold, with lots of typical tropical and hand-crafted details throughout. With its hilltop location, the resort offers great views of the surrounding mountains and volcanos from almost every room and common area. The terrace restaurant is a highlight, and there's also an open-air spa with hot tubs in every treatment room, and three outdoor pools including a hillside infinity pool. The 24 spacious rooms are bright, with local accents, and have minibars, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. Check rates at Pura Vida Spa & Yoga Retreat for a similarly priced, three-and-a-half-pearl alternative with additional spa- and yoga-centric amenities.