Hotel and Villas Nacazcol is a down-to-earth, three-pearl hotel located a 10-minute drive from Playa del Coco. The property's 185 guest rooms, suites, and villas are dated but adequately equipped, offering coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Its grounds feel more like a small neighborhood than a typical hotel property, featuring two sizable pools, a handful of aging sports facilities, and two low-key, poolside restaurants. Free a la carte breakfast is included in the room rate, and guests also have access to a beach club near Playa Panama with two additional pools. Travelers who would prefer to stay right on the beach might consider Bahia Pez Vela Resort, an all-villa property on nearby Playa Ocotal.

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is a four-pearl resort located on Playa Matapalo. The hotel’s 538 rooms and extensive facilities are more sophisticated than one might expect of a chain property, and the array of activities and restaurants is sure to satisfy fans of big, all-inclusive hotels. Aside from access to Playa Matapalo beach, there aren’t really any attractions or dining options within walking distance, but the all-inclusive package encourages most guests to dine on the property and take advantage of its on-site entertainment anyway. The nearby Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica offers a more intimate, all-inclusive experience but rates are typically higher than Riu Palace’s.