Lying along the Caribbean coast in the Limon province of southeast Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca promises some of the most stunning beaches in Costa Rica. Combine that with a vast expanse of tropical forests, wildlife, and coral reefs, and you have a paradise on earth! Reggae music and Creole cuisine give the town a Caribbean vibe!
There are a wide array of activities in and around Puerto Viejo, including chocolate tours, hiking, and water activities such as surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, white water rafting, and much more. This makes Puerto Viejo a popular choice for backpackers and surf enthusiasts from around the world.
Because of the growing popularity, a multitude of lodging options can be found here. From economical, family-friendly, and suites, to luxury boutique hotels, there is something for everyone. No matter if you are a backpacker, a couple, a family with kids, or a retiree, you get your pick. Our list of some of the best hotels in Puerto Viejo makes it easier for you to choose where to stay.
Puerto Viejo Best Hotels – Our Top Picks
Here is a snapshot of some of the best hotels in Puerto Viejo by category.
- Most Romantic Hotel With A Private Hot Tub: Almonds and Corals Lodge
- Best Hotel With Ocean View: Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only
- Best Luxury Boutique Hotel (Beachfront Suites): La Cameleon Boutique Hotel
- Best Hostel: Selina Puerto Viejo
For details of accommodation options in each area, please keep reading.
Do not forget to check out the highlights of each property.
Plan your trip to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca:
- Things to Do + Visit Guide – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Beautiful Beaches around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Bribri Chocolate Tour + Indigenous Community + Waterfalls
- Best Restaurants and Cafes in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Where to Stay: Factors for Choosing Hotels in Puerto Viejo
Deciding where to stay in Puerto Viejo can be challenging. So, to start with, it is important to know that there are five main areas to choose from, from Playa Negra in the north to Manzanillo in the south.
Depending on whether you are traveling by public transport or by own car (rented or private), you should choose your location, because each has its own pros and cons.
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Puerto Viejo Town
This is where the party scene is. So, if you are a party animal, you will love this place. It’s easy to walk around and you will be close to all amenities. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to try. And, you will find lots of beautiful accommodation options here.
The downside of staying in Puerto Viejo is that it gets very busy. If your accommodation is close to the main street, you will hear noises from the street. If you have a car, you will have trouble looking for parking. The beach is not suitable for surfing, unless you are a pro level surfer aspiring to surf the Salsa Brava.
Playa Negra
As the name suggests, Playa Negra is a black sand beach. The beach is beautiful and less crowded, and you will still be close to Puerto Viejo town. If you want to learn surfing or hone your surfing skills, this is the beach you should look for.
The downside of staying near Playa Negra is that it gets very dark at night. Walking to your hotel from town is not recommended. There are not many amenities here.
Playa Cocles
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is one of your choices. You will be close to Jaguar Rescue Center and the beach, which is popular for surfing. There are many stunning accommodation options to choose from and you get good value for money.
The downside of staying near Playa Cocles is that the restaurants and all amenities are far away. You will have trouble parking your car near the beach. The area gets busy during the busy season.
Playa Chiquita
This golden sand beach is wild, natural, and quiet. It is also good for snorkeling in the natural pools that are formed between the rocks there. You will be close to the Jaguar Rescue Center and Prancing Pony horseback riding center.
The downside of staying near Playa Chiquita is that you will not find many restaurants or supermarkets here. There isn’t direct road access to the beach and there is no dedicated parking lot.
Manzanillo
Manzanillo lies right next to Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. It has a beautiful beach area which is home to one of the finest mangroves in the country. You will get to see a lot of wildlife here, from sloths and monkeys to lizards. The area is really peaceful.
The downside of staying in Manzanillo is that there are very few accommodation options to choose from. It is quite far from Puerto Viejo and there are fewer restaurants and shops around.
Where to Stay in Puerto Viejo: Hotels in Playa Negra
Sonora Jungle and Yoga Retreat
- Stay here: If you want a tropical jungle experience away from the hustle and bustle of the town.
- Highlights: Wildlife sighting, Yoga room, Spa & massage center, Food prepared with organic ingredients
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Sonora Jungle and Yoga Retreat.
Tucked in the tropical jungles of the Southern Caribbean, Sonora Jungle and Yoga Retreat is a boutique hotel that helps you reconnect with nature. You may even be able to spot wildlife like sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, and hummingbirds. The hotel features studios with a kitchen, bungalows, and standard rooms with a patio. The rooms are well appointed with a patio, air conditioning, and a private bathroom.
Outside, you will find a swimming pool, a yoga room, a massage room, a shared kitchen, and a garden. You can enjoy delicious American, Continental, or Italian breakfasts made with organic ingredients. The management can also help you book tours and activities like horseback riding, waterfall hikes, surf lessons, bee tours, cacao ceremonies, and kayaking.
Indranil and I chose the bungalow for our stay. We loved the soothing color tones of its interiors, thoughtfully appointed bathroom and the patio with a comfy bed. The warm lighting options felt inviting for relaxing in the room at the end of a day full of activities.
Book Your Stay at Sonora Jungle and Yoga Retreat
Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only
- Stay here: If you want to have a luxurious experience close to the beach.
- Highlights: Proximity to the beach, On-site restaurant & bar, Large terrace, On-site activities, Ocean views from some rooms
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Hotel Banana Azul – Adults Only.
Surrounded by tropical gardens and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Hotel Banana Azul is an adults-only hotel located 100 meters from Playa Negra. The rooms, built from local hardwood, feature a large terrace and a private bathroom. Some rooms have air conditioning while some rooms offer ocean views. There is an on-site restaurant that serves local and international cuisine.
Throughout the property, you will find plenty of outdoor relaxing areas, tropical baths, and open-air kitchens. Treat yourself to a beachside massage or experience a tropical juice buffet with snacks. Relax by the pool on the lounge chair or sit under a rancho on the beach. Definitely try some exotic sundowner cocktails at the on-site bar.
Book Your Stay at Hotel Banana Azul – Adults OnlyWhere to Stay in Puerto Viejo: Hotels in Puerto Viejo Town
Selina Puerto Viejo
- Stay here: If you want to stay in a vibrant place and connect with fellow travelers.
- Highlights: Beachfront, Eco-friendly, Pet-friendly, Co-working space, Social events, Yoga deck, Beachfront restaurant & bar
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Selina Puerto Viejo.
Whether you are a backpacker, a couple, or a family, Selina is one of your top choices for hotels in Puerto Viejo. Located right next to the beach in the heart of Puerto Viejo, this popular chain provides a variety of accommodation options, ranging from teepees, dorms, private rooms, and family rooms to suites. The teepees are made from local materials sourced from indigenous communities.
At Selina, you will find a yoga deck, an outdoor pool, a co-working space, a shared kitchen, a pizza garden, a spa center, and an on-site restaurant and bar next to the beach. There is a surf club where you can book your surf lessons. Make use of social events like live music, eat and meet, sunset yoga, etc., to connect with other travelers. You can bring your furry friends along.
Book Your Stay at Selina Puerto ViejoHotel Indalo Adults Only
- Stay here: If you want to be close to Puerto Viejo Town.
- Highlights: Proximity to the town, Air-conditioning, Spacious rooms, Rooms with terrace.
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Hotel Indalo Adults Only.
Located in a quiet lane, Hotel Indalo is an adults-only accommodation in the center of Puerto Viejo town. The hotel features an outdoor pool and an extensive garden. All rooms here have a terrace and are equipped with a wardrobe, an air conditioner, and a refrigerator. Free coffee and filtered water are offered at the reception.
If you are up for some adventure, book activities like surfing, diving, hiking, and much more with the hotel. Salsa Brava Beach is only a 3-minute walk from the property.
The location of the hotel is perfect if you wish to hit the town to experience its nightlife. We did not need to bother about finding a parking spot in the bustling town, could leave the car next to the hotel, explored on foot and then walked a couple of blocks to return to Indalo.
Book Your Stay at Hotel Indalo Adults OnlyWhere to Stay in Puerto Viejo: Hotels in Playa Cocles
Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel
- Stay here: If you want to be in a forest setting close to the beach.
- Highlights: Terrace with forest view, Proximity to beach, Jungle spa, Beach club, Forest setting, Pet friendly
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Le Camelion Boutique Hotel.
Perched in the tropical forest of Puerto Viejo, Le Cameleon is a boutique hotel just steps away from the beach. It boasts 2 outdoor pools, a beach club and restaurant, and a jungle spa. Each room is well-appointed with a terrace overlooking the forest, a private bathroom, air-conditioning, a minibar, an iPod docking station, and a TV.
Choose from a range of treatments at the jungle spa or join the daily yoga practice at the yoga studio. The hotel can also arrange for various tours, activities, and excursions to nearby national parks and reserves.
Book Your Stay at Le Camelion Boutique HotelRelax Natural Village Adults Only
- Stay here: If you want to be close to nature and enjoy watching wildlife.
- Highlights: Wildlife sightings, Birdwatching, Large terrace, Jungle setting
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Relax Natural Village Adults Only.
Nestled among tropical trees, Relax Natural Village is an adults-only accommodation offering 6 wooden, cottage-style rooms. Each room is beautifully decorated and comes with a spacious private bathroom and a large terrace offering garden views, a seating area, and a hammock.
The garden outside is stunning and is full of diverse plants. Sitting here, you will get ample opportunities to watch wild animals and birds. If you are lucky enough, you may even be able to see nests of hummingbirds.
Book Your Stay at Relax Natural Village Adults OnlyHotel La Costa de Papito
- Stay here: If you want to experience famous Caribbean hospitality in a jungle setting a hop across the beach.
- Highlights: Proximity to beach, Wildlife sightings, Jungle setting, Mosquito nets, Spa center, On-site Indian restaurant.
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Hotel La Costa de Papito.
Lying on the edge of the jungle and sea, Hotel La Costa de Papito spreads across 5 acres of tropical gardens. A few steps away from Cocles Beach, the hotel features tropical-style bungalows ranging from 2 bed-bungalows to 5-bed bungalows and even 2-bedroom bungalows.
Each bungalow boasts handmade wooden furniture and offers garden views. The rooms come with a large terrace with seating and a hammock, mosquito nets, and a private bathroom. The 2-bedroom bungalow has 1 bathroom to share between the two rooms.
The hotel have a spa center at the hotel and for on-site dining, an Indian restaurant!
Playa Cocles is just across the main road. You can get beach chairs and beach umbrellas from the hotel for use on the beach. This worked great for our family vacation in Puerto Viejo, for chilling on the beach. Also, the 2-bedroom bungalow was perfect for our big family, as all of us could stay at the same place, yet had the privacy of our own rooms.
Book Your Stay at Hotel La Costa de Papito
El Tucan Jungle Lodge
- Stay here: If you want to experience living in the jungle and immerse yourself in nature.
- Highlights: Rustic cabins, Wildlife sightings, Jungle setting.
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at El Tucan Jungle Lodge.
A few hundred meters off the main road, El Tucan Jungle Lodge is tucked comfortably in the dense tropical rainforests of Caribbean Costa Rica. Upon check in, when the owner Irene showed us to our room, she pointed to a tree next to our terrace. A sloth was chilling up there!
Over the next few days, we had many such wildlife encounters while staying here. One fine morning, Indranil and I were hanging out at the terrace, him on a chair, and me on a hammock. Our conversation was interrupted due to a buzzing sound. Indranil uttered, “That’s nothing. A hummingbird is humming around your head!”
We liked how the lodge has been built in harmony with the surrounding jungle, instead of disrupting it much. The wooden cabins with private bathrooms wear a rustic look that blends well with surroundings, and the terraces provide the perfect opportunity to spot animals and birds around, while reading a book or sipping on a cuppa.
El Tucan Jungle Lodge needs a minimum of 2 nights for reservation. They do not offer complimentary breakfast, but you can pay and pre-order if you want one. They do not have any on-site restaurant, neither a swimming pool. Yet, because of the jungle setting and the possibilities of casual encounters with wildlife, we list this as one of the best places to stay in Puerto Viejo.
Book Your Stay at El Tucan Jungle LodgeWhere to Stay in Puerto Viejo: Hotels in Playa Chiquita
Shawandha Lodge
- Stay here: If you want to stay in an eco-friendly lodge with a huge diversity of flora and fauna.
- Highlights: Proximity to beach, Wildlife sightings, Eco-friendly, Forest setting, Private beach area, Huge variety of flora & fauna
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Shawandha Lodge.
Spread across five acres of tropical forest, Shawandha Lodge is an eco-friendly lodge sporting sustainable architecture that combines hardwoods, bamboo, and palm. There are 14 chalets and 6 teepees nestled among trees, and each unit features a large patio with seating and a hammock and offers garden views. Inside the room, you will find a spacious wardrobe and a private bathroom.
Shawandha Lodge preserves its own wildlife and ecosystems, and is home to 100 species of birds, more than 200 types of flora, and a huge ceiba (kapok) tree. Many trails inside the property are good for spotting different animals and birds.
There is an on-site bar and restaurant, a tour desk, and a dry cleaning facility at the property. The two swimming pools (one with waterfalls) with sun lounges make for excellent relaxation spots. Playa Chiquita is 150 meters away, and the property offers a private beach area to the guests.
Book Your Stay at Shawandha LodgeLa Kukula Lodge
- Stay here: If you want a tropical vibe close to the beach.
- Highlights: Proximity to beach, Proximity to all amenities, Wildlife Sightings, Forest setting, Tropical vibe
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at La Kukula Lodge.
A hidden gem in the jungle, La Kukula Lodge has wooden cabins boasting forest views. Each unit here features a private bathroom, a safe, and a bed with a mosquito net. You will find a hammock and seating area on the terrace outside. While you are relaxing here, look out into the vast expanse of the jungle where many animals and birds have made their home. During your stay, animals like sloths, monkeys, and agoutis and birds like toucans and macaws will be your guests.
Relax in the outdoor swimming pool, garden, and bar, or head to the Chiquita beach which is 250 meters away. If relaxing is not your cup of tea, the hotel will be happy to arrange a tour for you.
Book Your Stay at La Kukula LodgeWhere to Stay in Puerto Viejo: Hotels in Manzanillo
Almonds and Corals Lodge
- Stay here: If you want to have a glamping experience in the middle of the jungle.
- Highlights: Proximity to beach, Proximity to Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife sightings, On-site restaurant & bar, Glamping experience
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Almonds and Corals Lodge.
Enveloped in the lush tropical forest of Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Almonds and Corals Lodge provides easy access to the Manzanillo beach. The lodge features suites and bungalows with garden views. The units are furnished with a refrigerator, a spacious living area, and a safety box. Some units come with a hot tub and hammock. The walls are made of mosquito nets giving you a glamping experience in the wilderness. These are also great for watching wildlife from the comfort of your bed.
You will find a garden, a bar, a restaurant, a games room, and a terrace at the lodge, perfect to relax and unwind. There is also a meeting facility and a tour desk. You can enjoy activities like hiking, fishing, and snorkeling near or around the property.
Book Your Stay at Almonds and Corals LodgeCongo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica
- Stay here: If you want to stay in a home away from home.
- Highlights: Wildlife sightings, Private beach area, Proximity to Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Garden views from homes, Private kitchen
- Google Maps Location
Click here to check prices and availability at Congo Bongo Eco Village.
Congo Bongo EcoVillage is a family-run property located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Spread across 15 acres of lush greenery and an abundance of wildlife, the lodge features eight vacation homes that are straight out of a dream.
Each home is equipped with a full kitchen consisting of a stovetop, a refrigerator, and kitchenware. There is a washing machine, a dining table, a BBQ facility, and a bed with mosquito nets. The terrace offers stunning garden views and comes with outdoor furniture and a hammock.
A pathway, 200 meters from the houses, leads you to a stretch of fairly private beach. You can rent a bicycle from the lodge and go exploring in the surroundings. What’s more? You get a bottle of red wine as a welcome gift!
Book Your Stay at Congo Bongo Eco VillageWhere to Stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica: Map Search Box
To look for more hotels in Puerto Viejo, use this map search box.
This article has been written by Astha Garg and edited by Paradise Catchers, based on their own experiences of traveling and staying in and around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Astha is a freelance writer who lives in Costa Rica and loves traveling.
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