Top 10 Resorts in Costa Rica
Direct Answer
Costa Rica's resort scene in 2027 spans two distinct worlds: the sun-baked Pacific coast of the Guanacaste and Papagayo Peninsula, and the misty rainforest interior around Arenal Volcano and the Osa Peninsula. The ten resorts below are all real, currently operating properties drawn from Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Tripadvisor rankings.
The clear top pick is Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the most ambitious luxury debut on the Papagayo coast, while Nayara Tented Camp delivers the best value-for-experience ratio with volcano-view glamping at a fraction of the all-inclusive jungle lodges. Expect nightly rates from roughly $650 to over $1,500, with all-inclusive rainforest properties commanding the highest numbers.
How We Ranked These
We weighted four factors. First, third-party authority: every property here appears on at least one of Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Costa Rica list, Travel + Leisure's IT List, or Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice. Second, verified operation and pricing as of 2027, cross-checked against the resort's own booking engine and major OTAs.
Third, experience differentiation — does the resort own a category (clifftop reserve, volcano glamping, rainforest eco-lodge, beachfront design hotel)? Fourth, sustainability, which Costa Rica leads globally; properties with credible carbon-neutral or biological-reserve credentials scored higher.
We deliberately mixed coast and interior so this list works for a beach trip, a wellness escape, or an adventure itinerary.
1. Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Opening on the Papagayo Peninsula in Guanacaste, Nekajui is the only Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central America and was named the standout property in Costa Rica by Condé Nast Traveler for 2026. The name means "the soul of the place" in the local Chorotega language, and the design leans hard into that ethos — naturalist-led rainforest walks, an over-the-treetops spa, and a beach club reached by a funicular down a forested hillside.
Rooms and villas sit among 74 keys overlooking the Pacific Ocean, many with private plunge pools and outdoor showers. The culinary program spans multiple restaurants including a ceviche-forward beach concept and a fine-dining room built around Guanacaste ingredients. This is the most design-ambitious resort to open in the country in years.
Nightly rates sit in Guanacaste's uppermost price tier, alongside the Four Seasons, typically $1,400 and up depending on season and villa category. For travelers who want the newest, most exclusive address in the country, Nekajui is the answer.
2. Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
A long-standing benchmark for family luxury in Costa Rica, the Four Seasons spreads across a narrow isthmus with beaches on both the Culebra Bay and Pacific sides. Condé Nast Traveler specifically calls it out as the country's best option for families, thanks to a kids' club, an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, and a marina running catamaran and sportfishing trips.
The resort's adults-only pool, three-tier spa, and seven restaurants make it a genuine all-day destination. Bungalow-style rooms climb the hillside with ocean views, and the property's biological reserve status keeps howler monkeys and iguanas as regular guests.
Rates start around $929 per night in shoulder season and climb past $1,378 in peak winter months. It is consistently ranked among Travel + Leisure's top Costa Rica resorts and remains the safest premium choice for multigenerational trips.
3. Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection
Tucked into the Talamanca highlands near Pérez Zeledón, Hacienda AltaGracia is an all-inclusive estate resort that trades beach for mountain panoramas at 3,000 feet of elevation. It made Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 list for its blend of wellness and adventure, including a working stable, a private airstrip, and the dramatic AltaGracia Spa carved into the hillside.
The The Well wellness center anchors the experience with practitioners, hydrotherapy circuits, and altitude-tuned programming. Casitas are private and spread across the property for genuine seclusion, and the all-inclusive rate covers meals, ranch activities, and most excursions.
All-inclusive rates start around $1,520 per night based on double occupancy. For a wellness-and-horses escape away from the coastal crowds, this is the most complete option in the country.
4. Nayara Tented Camp 💎 BEST VALUE
A Leading Hotels of the World member at Arenal Volcano National Park, Nayara Tented Camp delivers the country's best glamping experience with direct views of the Arenal Volcano from private deck plunge pools fed by natural hot springs. Tripadvisor consistently ranks it among the top La Fortuna stays.
The luxury tents are anything but rustic — air-conditioning, king beds, soaking tubs, and butler service — set on a former cattle pasture that Nayara reforested with thousands of trees, drawing back sloths that now live on property. Guided sloth walks are a signature.
Nightly rates run from roughly $658 to $1,000 depending on season, well below the all-inclusive jungle lodges while delivering a more memorable, volcano-front experience. That price-to-experience ratio is why it earns Best Value here.
5. Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
A Hyatt-brand design resort on the Papagayo Peninsula, the Andaz has appeared on Condé Nast Traveller's Hot List and Travel + Leisure's IT List. Architecturally striking, it cascades down a forested hillside to two private beaches on Culebra Bay.
The vibe is more contemporary and social than the Four Seasons — vibrant restaurants, a buzzing pool scene, and locally rooted design by Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher. It's a strong pick for couples and design-minded travelers who still want full-service amenities.
Rates are competitive for the peninsula, often $500 to $900 per night, and Hyatt loyalty members can book award nights from 17,000 points in low season — a rare points value at this caliber.
6. El Mangroove, Autograph Collection
On the calm waters of Bahía Culebra in Papagayo, El Mangroove is a sleek, lower-key Marriott Autograph Collection resort that punches above its price. Its 85 rooms, infinity pool, and Matiss restaurant give it a boutique feel without the ultra-luxury price tag.
The resort runs catamaran sunset cruises, paddleboarding, and a spa program, and its mangrove-fringed setting makes for calm swimming — ideal for travelers who find the open-Pacific resorts too rough. The design is minimalist and tropical, with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.
Rates typically run $350 to $600 per night, making it one of the best mid-luxury values on the Papagayo coast and a frequent Bonvoy points sweet spot.
7. Kurà Design Villas
A boutique, adults-only property above Uvita on the South Pacific coast, Kurà made Condé Nast Traveler's list as a top romantic choice. Just six glass-walled villas perch on a ridge with sweeping ocean views toward the Marino Ballena National Park and its famous whale-tail sandbar.
The architecture is dramatic and modern, with an infinity pool that appears to spill into the rainforest canopy. Service is intimate and personalized, and the resort emphasizes sustainability and seclusion over big-resort amenities.
Rates generally run $600 to $900 per night. For honeymooners or couples wanting privacy and design over a sprawling resort, Kurà is the standout.
8. Nantipa, a Tico Beach Experience
In bohemian Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula, Nantipa is a small, beautifully designed beachfront resort with a restaurant and spa right on the sand. It blends surf-town energy with genuine boutique comfort, a rare combination on this stretch of coast.
Bungalows sit steps from the beach, and the resort's Manzú restaurant is a destination in its own right. Santa Teresa's legendary sunsets and surf breaks are the backdrop, and Nantipa caters to a younger, style-conscious traveler.
Rates run roughly $400 to $700 per night. It's the best base for combining surf, yoga, and design on the increasingly popular Nicoya coast.
9. Cielo Lodge
A luxury rainforest eco-lodge on the remote Osa Peninsula, Cielo Lodge earned a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Costa Rica list. Bordering Corcovado National Park — one of the most biodiverse places on Earth — it offers immersive nature with surprising comfort.
Just a handful of villas overlook a private waterfall and the Pacific, and the lodge runs guided Corcovado hikes, birding, and river excursions. This is for travelers who want serious wildlife — scarlet macaws, tapirs, monkeys — without sacrificing good food and a proper bed.
Rates typically run $600 to $1,000 per night, often including meals and some activities. For the wild Osa, it's the most refined base available.
10. Lapa Rios Lodge by Cayuga Collection
A pioneering sustainability lodge on the Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios sits within a 1,000-acre private rainforest reserve and is one of Costa Rica's most awarded eco-properties under the Cayuga Collection. Its open-air bungalows look out over the Golfo Dulce where rainforest meets sea.
The lodge is rustic-luxe by design — no air-conditioning, screened walls, and a thatched main lodge reached by a long staircase — and the payoff is total immersion in primary rainforest teeming with wildlife. Guided walks, tide-pool tours, and a sustainability program are central.
Rates run roughly $500 to $850 per night, often inclusive of meals. For conservation-minded travelers, Lapa Rios is the soul of Costa Rican ecotourism.
FAQ
What is the best resort in Costa Rica for 2027? Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the Papagayo Peninsula, is widely considered the top new luxury resort, leading Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Costa Rica ranking with rates from about $1,400 per night.
Which Costa Rica resort is the best value? Nayara Tented Camp near Arenal Volcano offers the best value, with volcano-view glamping and natural hot-spring plunge pools from roughly $658 to $1,000 per night — far below the all-inclusive jungle lodges.
Should I stay on the coast or in the rainforest? Both. The Papagayo Peninsula (Four Seasons, Nekajui, Andaz) offers beaches and golf, while Arenal and the Osa Peninsula (Nayara, Lapa Rios, Cielo) deliver volcanoes and wildlife. Many travelers split a week between the two.
Are Costa Rica resorts all-inclusive? Most are not. Hacienda AltaGracia is fully all-inclusive, and some eco-lodges like Lapa Rios and Cielo include meals, but the Papagayo beach resorts are typically room-only or breakfast-included.
When is the best time to visit? The dry season from December to April brings the best beach weather and highest rates. The green season from May to November is cheaper, lusher, and ideal for the rainforest lodges, with afternoon showers.
Is Costa Rica good for families? Yes. The Four Seasons at Peninsula Papagayo is specifically ranked the top family resort, with a kids' club, golf, and a marina, while most coastal properties offer wildlife and adventure activities suited to all ages.
Bottom Line
Costa Rica's best resorts in 2027 reward travelers who match the property to the region. For the newest and most exclusive address, Nekajui leads. For families, the Four Seasons remains untouchable.
For value with a view, Nayara Tented Camp wins decisively, and for true rainforest immersion, Lapa Rios and Cielo Lodge deliver the wildlife that made Costa Rica famous. Every property here is real, currently operating, and backed by major travel-publication recognition — book early for the December-to-April dry season.
Sources
- Condé Nast Traveler — Best Hotels in Costa Rica 2026 (via People of Costa Rica)
- Virtuoso — 15 of the Best Costa Rica Luxury Resorts
- Nayara Tented Camp — Official Site
- Tripadvisor — Nayara Tented Camp Reviews & Prices
- Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo — Official Site
- Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection — Offers
- Cielo Lodge — Official Site
- The Points Guy — Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica
*Searching for the best resorts in Costa Rica, top Costa Rica resort rankings, Costa Rica resort reviews, Costa Rica luxury hotel ratings, or a Costa Rica resort review for 2027? This verified Top 10 covers Papagayo, Arenal, and the Osa Peninsula.*