Why You Should Stay at the Best Luxury Resorts in Costa Rica

Where Luxury Meets the Wild Soul of Costa Rica

If you’re dreaming of Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica, imagine waking to the sound of howler monkeys echoing through emerald rainforest, slipping into a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific, or relaxing in hot springs warmed by the Arenal Volcano itself. Costa Rica is one of the few destinations where high-end comfort blends seamlessly with raw, unfiltered nature — and this harmony is precisely why luxury travellers return year after year.

Across the country, you’ll find award-winning resorts tucked between cloud forests, perched above golden beaches, or hidden beside thermal rivers — each offering something completely unique. Whether you’re seeking romance, wellness, wildlife, or adventure wrapped in indulgence, Costa Rica’s luxury properties deliver with effortless warmth and sustainability at their core.

In this guide, we explore the best luxury resorts in Costa Rica, what makes each one special, and why choosing the right property elevates your entire journey.

Papagayo Peninsula – Romance, Exclusivity & Oceanfront Luxury

The Papagayo Peninsula is Costa Rica’s most exclusive coastal enclave — a sun-drenched stretch of golden beaches paired with world-class hospitality, privacy, and calm seas perfect for swimming. For travellers booking Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica, this region represents the pinnacle of Pacific-coast sophistication.

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

When it comes to luxury, the Four Seasons is the benchmark. Set between two pristine beaches and surrounded by tropical forest, the resort delivers an elegant blend of tranquillity, elevated service, and unforgettable scenery.

Highlights

• Beautiful cliff-top rooms and private residences with sweeping ocean views
• Outstanding dining showcasing fresh Costa Rican flavours
• Arnold Palmer-designed ocean-view golf course
• Multiple pools, a private beach club, and superb children’s programmes
• Spa rituals inspired by local healing traditions

It’s a resort that caters effortlessly to different kinds of luxury travellers — couples, families, honeymooners, and multi-generational groups — all without losing its signature Papagayo calm.

Why it’s worth it

The Four Seasons offers that rare combination of total comfort and a sense of place — you feel immersed in nature without giving up even a whisper of indulgence.

Want to explore similar five-star escapes? Awake & Wander Luxury Travel offers exclusive access to Costa Rica’s top coastal resorts and tailor-made stays “where every journey begins with you.”

Arenal Volcano – Hot Springs, Rainforest Wellness & Adventure

Arenal is Costa Rica’s most iconic inland destination: a land of mineral-rich springs, dramatic volcano views, and rainforest that feels alive with birds and butterflies. For travellers seeking rejuvenation and adventure in equal measure, this region is unmatched.

Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal

A multi-award-winning jungle retreat, Nayara Tented Camp blends the romance of African-style tented suites with lush Costa Rican surroundings. It’s one of the most celebrated eco-luxury properties in the country.

Highlights

• Lavish tents with private plunge pools fed by hot springs
• Exceptional spa and wellness treatments
• Suspended rainforest walkways rich in wildlife sightings
• Gastronomy that celebrates local ingredients with global finesse
• Dedicated naturalists available for private guiding

Nayara consistently ranks among the world’s best hotels — and for good reason. It’s intimate, serene, and deeply connected to its environment. Those drawn to Costa Rica’s wellness side may also appreciate the transformative programmes highlighted in our guide to luxury healing at The Retreat Costa Rica.

Why it’s worth it

If your ideal Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica include slow mornings in thermal waters, gourmet dining under the forest canopy, and easy access to Arenal’s adventures, Nayara is the perfect choice.

Awake & Wander Luxury Travel can also pair your stay with cloud-forest lodges, helicopter transfers, or private wildlife experiences to build something unforgettable.

Monteverde Cloud Forest – Serenity Above the Clouds

Monteverde is Costa Rica’s mystical, mist-touched cloud-forest haven — a landscape suspended in soft white vapour where orchids bloom on moss-covered branches and hummingbirds dance at arm’s reach. For travellers taking Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica, Monteverde offers a gentler, quieter kind of indulgence: one rooted in stillness, nature, and privacy.

Hotel Belmar, Monteverde

Hotel Belmar is a boutique eco-luxury retreat with panoramic views over rolling green hills and the distant Gulf of Nicoya. What makes it special is its balance of authenticity and elegance — it feels like an alpine lodge gently infused with Costa Rican character. Travellers seeking a deeper wellness angle may also enjoy the restorative experiences at The Retreat Costa Rica.

Highlights

• Stylish rooms with floor-to-ceiling vistas and oversized balconies
• A sustainable farm-to-table programme with its own microbrewery
• Private cloud-forest trails and expert-led birdwatching
• Yoga deck overlooking the canopy
• Warm, highly personal service

Hotel Belmar attracts couples, wellness-focused travellers, and nature lovers who want peace without sacrificing comfort. It’s a perfect mid-point when combining the coast with the inland rainforest.

Why it’s worth it

The Monteverde region offers experiences you simply cannot find along the beach — ethereal walks over canopy bridges, rare wildlife sightings, and an atmosphere that encourages slow, mindful luxury.

Awake & Wander Luxury Travel can tailor your stay with private naturalist guides, night safaris, and seamless transfers between regions to keep your journey beautifully stress-free.

Puerto Viejo & the Caribbean Coast – Laid-Back Luxury with Afro-Caribbean Flair

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline feels entirely different from the Pacific: rhythmic, soulful, and rich with Afro-Caribbean culture. It’s the perfect choice for travellers wanting a more relaxed, bohemian approach to luxury. Think turquoise water, palm-fringed coves, colourful beach towns, and a slower pace that encourages you to truly unwind.

Le Caméléon Boutique Hotel, Puerto Viejo

Le Caméléon is one of the region’s most refined boutique stays — a modern, white-on-white design contrasted with lush jungle greenery and the vivid colours of nearby surf culture.

Highlights

• Contemporary suites with minimalist luxury
• A private beach club with Bali-style cabanas
• Oceanfront dining showcasing Caribbean ingredients
• Excellent access to Cahuita National Park and Jaguar Rescue Centre
• Stylish but laid-back atmosphere perfect for couples and solo luxury travellers

Why it’s worth it

This is where Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica feel effortlessly cool — elegant yet unpretentious, polished yet playful. If you love combining culture, food, and beach time, the Caribbean is a refreshing alternative to the more resort-focused Pacific coast.

Let Awake & Wander Luxury Travel help you pair a Caribbean stay with a rainforest lodge or volcano escape for a multi-sensory itinerary bursting with contrast.

Osa Peninsula – Raw Luxury in the Wildest Corner of Costa Rica

If Costa Rica has a final frontier of natural beauty, the Osa Peninsula is it. Home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, this southern region is a paradise for travellers seeking high-end eco-adventure. It’s the perfect destination for luxury travellers who want to feel remote, immersed, and connected to nature in its purest form.

Lapa Rios Lodge, Osa Peninsula

Lapa Rios is an iconic eco-lodge set within a 1,000-acre private rainforest reserve, overlooking the sparkling Golfo Dulce. It’s one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World and a benchmark for how sustainable luxury can transform a destination.

Highlights

• Open-air bungalows with sweeping canopy and ocean views
• Guided wildlife walks with expert naturalists
• Exceptional birdwatching, including scarlet macaws and toucans
• Farm-to-table dining with locally sourced ingredients
• Deep commitment to conservation and community employment

Lapa Rios is the kind of place where you wake to the calls of howler monkeys, shower alfresco under the canopy, and spend your evenings stargazing with the sound of breaking waves below.

Why it’s worth it

This is luxury at its most meaningful — immersive, sustainable, and deeply connected to the rainforest. For many, it becomes the highlight of their Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica, offering an experience that feels both grounding and unforgettable.

To extend the magic, Awake & Wander Luxury Travel can design a route that includes private charters to remote regions, jungle-to-beach combinations, and curated wildlife experiences you won’t find in guidebooks.

Why Choosing the Right Luxury Resort Matters in Costa Rica

With rainforest, volcanoes, cloud forests, and two distinct coastlines, Costa Rica offers more diversity than many countries twice its size. This makes choosing the right luxury resort essential — not simply for comfort, but for shaping the entire feel of your holiday.

Where you stay defines the mood of your journey

A beachfront resort offers calm mornings, soft waves, and sunsets glowing gold over the Pacific. A volcano lodge offers hot springs, adventure, and rainforest encounters at your doorstep. Meanwhile, cloud-forest retreats invite quiet reflection and nature immersion among drifting mists.

Selecting the right combination can turn a good holiday into something transformative.

Each region offers different luxury “styles”

• Papagayo: polished, exclusive, ocean-view glamour
• Arenal: wellness-driven, adventurous, thermal luxury
• Monteverde: serene, mindful, boutique eco-elegance
• Caribbean Coast: vibrant, cultural, bohemian luxury
• Osa Peninsula: remote, conservation-centred, wilderness luxury

Understanding the differences allows you to craft Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica that feel cohesive rather than random. For guests who love boutique eco-luxury, our in-depth guide to The Retreat Costa Rica wellness sanctuary offers another inspiring look at mindful travel in this region.

The best resorts enhance, rather than shield you from, nature

Costa Rica is a place where the environment leads — and the finest luxury resorts honour that. Private hot-spring pools, open-air rainforest showers, beachside yoga pavilions, and canopy-level terraces are all examples of how luxury blends into the landscape.

Choosing the right property ensures you’re part of the scenery, not separated from it.

Awake & Wander Luxury Travel specialises in pairing the right resort with the right traveller, ensuring your stay reflects your pace, personality, and sense of adventure. For travellers curious about Costa Rica’s protected rainforests and national parks, the official Costa Rica Tourism Board offers excellent background information to help you understand the country’s natural diversity.

How Awake & Wander Creates Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica That Feel Personal

At Awake & Wander, we design Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica that go far beyond simply booking a hotel. Every itinerary is crafted around who you are, what you love, and how you want to feel while travelling.

Tailored around your travel style

Some guests want high-end relaxation. Others want private wildlife encounters, helicopter journeys, or bespoke wellness retreats. Many want a little of everything. We ask the right questions — and listen closely — so your itinerary feels truly yours.

Seamless multi-region experiences

Costa Rica shines brightest when you combine regions. We’ll create a journey that flows effortlessly from volcano to beach, or cloud forest to Caribbean coast, with private transfers, vetted guides, and exclusive experiences woven throughout.

Hand-picked luxury properties

We only recommend resorts and lodges we trust — places with exceptional service, sustainability credentials, and a genuine sense of place. Whether you want a stylish boutique hotel or an ultra-luxury villa, we match you with the right fit.

Dedicated care from the first enquiry



From your initial idea to your journey home, you’re supported by a team that knows Costa Rica intimately. And because we’re an independent UK luxury travel agency, we have the freedom to design holidays that are as unique as you are — without limitations.

That’s why travellers trust Awake & Wander to curate holidays “where every journey begins with you.”

Our Take:

"Costa Rica’s finest resorts don’t just offer luxury — they connect you to nature in a way that stays with you long after you return home.”

Your Booking Protections with Awake & Wander

Safety and security are essential when planning a luxury holiday — especially one as adventurous and diverse as Costa Rica.

When you book with Awake & Wander Luxury Travel, you’re protected by:

ATOL Protection

Your holiday is financially protected under the ATOL scheme, giving you peace of mind if flights or travel arrangements are unexpectedly affected.

Supplier Failure Insurance

We include Supplier Failure Insurance on all packages, ensuring you’re covered if one of the travel suppliers collapses — a vital layer of reassurance in today’s travel landscape.

Trusted global partners

We work only with fully vetted, reputable hotels, lodges, ground teams, and transfer providers throughout Costa Rica. You receive the benefits of luxury travel without any of the uncertainty.

24/7 support when you're away

Whether you want to rearrange a tour or simply confirm details, we’re here — day or night. Your journey feels effortless from start to finish.

With Awake & Wander, protection is built in, not added on. It’s one more reason luxury travellers feel confident choosing us for their Costa Rica adventures.. If holistic healing is part of your journey, we also recommend exploring our full review of The Retreat Costa Rica for more inspiration.

Closing: Why Awake & Wander Is Your Trusted Partner for Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a place of colour, warmth, wild beauty, and deep tranquillity — a destination where luxury is not about excess, but about connection: to nature, to culture, and to yourself. The right resort can transform your journey, offering comfort and elegance while placing you in the heart of landscapes that feel alive.

When you choose Awake & Wander Luxury Travel, you choose:

• Personalised itineraries crafted around your interests
• Luxury properties carefully selected for quality and authenticity
• Seamless travel planning and UK-based protection
• A team who understands Costa Rica’s most inspiring experiences
• Tailor-made journeys designed with care, creativity, and expertise

Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a wellness retreat, a family adventure, or a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, we’re here to bring your vision to life — beautifully and confidently.

If you’re ready to start planning your own Luxury Holidays to Costa Rica, call us on 01495 400011 or send an enquiry through our simple online form. And if you prefer to explore on your own first, try our website’s bespoke holiday search tool — a wonderful way to begin shaping a journey “as unique as you are.”

After all, at Awake & Wander, every journey begins with you.

Frequently Asked Questions