Costa Rica is a place that lures travelers with it’s raw beauty and wild beaches. The misty cloud forests and palm-fringed sands make for an enjoyable experience in the country. With more than 300 beaches to choose from, it’s easy to understand why it’s such a popular travel destination. There are many great places to stay in Costa Rica, from rustic bungalows by the sea to natural-luxe hotels. If you’re looking for a beach hotel in Costa Rica, here are seven of the best.

Hotel Banana Azul

On the Caribbean Coast, in the low-key beach town of Puerto Viejo, you’ll find Hotel Banana Azul. This hotel is made from timber wood, features lush, tropical gardens and has a beachfront location on Playa Negra. Accommodations include a private garden villa with a plunge pool and a tree-house apartment with hardwood furniture.

There’s a swimming pool on a stone island with a small waterfall and a beach club on the sand with a restaurant, bar and lounge. There are plenty of tours to do from the hotel. Go on a rainforest hike, visit a jaguar rescue centre, or go white-water rafting. 

Hotel Playa Negra

Located in a laid-back beach town, Hotel Playa Negra is a relaxing place to stay in Costa Rica. With palm-roof bungalows, this hotel offers travelers the ample natural beauty of the Pacific Coast. Sip on a fruit smoothie at the bar, or tuck into a casado at the restaurant with a palm-leaf roof, located right on the beach. 

The hotel has a pool, surf shop and colorful bungalows. It is located on Playa Negra, a beach with a powerful reef break that was featured in the surfing movie Endless Summer II. The right-hand barrels attract surfers from all over the world, making it one of the top surf destinations in Costa Rica.    

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort

Unwind at a boutique resort in Montezuma on the Pacific Coast. The Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is a great place to stay because of its comfortable rooms and its location between the jungle and the ocean. The resort is a serene hideaway in the greenery of the rainforest replete with wildlife, like monkeys, sloths and tropical birds.

The hotel has a range of accommodations, including wood-paneled cabins with large glass windows and a tree-top canopy suite with an open-air living room. There are plenty of activities on offer. Take a tantra yoga class at the beachfront studio with a stunning view of the sea. Go horsebacking riding on the beach or explore the forest canopy on a zip-line adventure. 

Florblanca Resort

Located in the town of Santa Teresa, the Florblanca Resort offers relaxation and luxury along the Pacific Coast. The private villas are decorated with earth tones. You can slip into a hammock for two or soak in a stone tub in the garden of the secluded outdoor bathroom. For those who want more privacy, there is the Surf House, a casual villa right on the beach, which sleeps up to six people. It’s ideal for surfers who want to wake up in the morning and be within steps to the ocean.

The place has a jungle-like feel as it is surrounded by tropical vegetation. Unwind at the hotel spa made of natural bamboo and get a hot stone massage or a coffee body scrub. Take a yoga class, or go on a fishing trip with a local fisherman.

Hotel Capitán Suizo 

A top-ten hotel in Central America and the Caribbean, Hotel Capitán Suizo is located in Tamarindo. It is one of the best swimming and surf beaches on the Pacific Coast, making this boutique hotel a great choice for travelers.

Laze on the beach, relax in an open-air spa or sit in the tropical garden and watch howler monkeys swing from tree to tree in this environmentally conscious hotel. The hotel’s natural corridors and paths connect to the forest outside allowing the wildlife to move freely about their habitat. Settle into a bungalow with a double jacuzzi in the bathroom and a hammock on the terrace, or stay right on the beach in an oceanfront suite. 

Ocho Artisan Bungalows

Located on the Pacific Coast, Ocho Artisan Bungalows combine comfort, style, and the rugged outdoors to make this one of the best beach hotels in Costa Rica. The tented bungalows, located on the white sand beach, feature natural wood and stone accents. You’ll be surrounded by tropical leafy plants, giving you the feel of being in a lush rainforest.

Enjoy swinging hammocks, an open-air beach bar and a pool with cushioned daybeds when you stay at Ocho Artisan Bungalows. The hotel has seven stylish bungalows and two beach-front villas right on Playa Tamarindo. The town offers many shops, bars and restaurants, making this a great place to stay in Costa Rica.  

Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel

Nestled into the rainforest on the Caribbean Coast, Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel is one of the best beach hotels in Costa Rica. It’s a beautifully designed hotel and is a prime location for exploring Puerto Viejo. It’s just a short walk to a jaguar rescue centre and a few minutes drive to a wildlife reserve. Like the lizard it is named after, Le Cameleon Hotel changes accent colors daily—curtains, cushions, accessories and staff uniforms change tropical hues every day.   

On the patio there is white wicker furniture. The suites feature white-washed rooms, many with great views of the sea and the surrounding natural beauty. The minimalist rooms are sleek and include bathrooms with rainfall showers. The hotel offers many activities. Enjoy a yoga class on the beach, or a healthy cooking class. Take a workshop in Ayurvedic medicine, or play a game of beach volleyball.