Hotels and places to stay in Costa Ballena

Featured

Villa $$$$

Vista Celestial

Uvita

A boutique property of five private villas, each with a personal infinity pool or jacuzzi and panoramic views of the Pacific and the Whale's Tail. The on-site restaurant focuses on plant-based and organic cuisine sourced partly from the property's own gardens. Wellness retreats, yoga, and waterfall trails are available on site.

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Boutique Hotel $$

Alborada Boutique Stay

Uvita

A boutique hotel in Uvita with an outdoor pool, garden terrace, and air-conditioned rooms, about 2 km from Uvita Beach and within walking distance of the village. Booking is available through the property's own site as well as major platforms.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Alma de Ojochal

Ojochal

Small boutique hotel perched in the mountains above Ojochal with five ocean-view rooms. The property markets itself as a romantic, adults-oriented getaway and takes reservations directly by phone or WhatsApp.

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Villa $$$

Casa Manigua

Ojochal

A custom-built three-bedroom home in Ojochal with ocean views, blending European minimalist design with tropical materials. All three suites are en-suite, the property has a private pool, and it runs on a 100 Mbps internet connection aimed at longer working stays. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand and holds a 4.96 average rating across more than 50 guest reviews.

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Vacation Rental $$

Casa Palm Breeze

Ojochal

A three-suite vacation home in Ojochal where every room but the bathrooms has a Pacific Ocean view. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and either a patio or a balcony, and guests get exclusive use of the full property including the pool. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Villa $$$

Cascada Escondida

Dominical

A gated three-bedroom villa about 20 minutes from Dominical with its own private waterfall and ocean-view pool. The house has a fully equipped kitchen, a large living room, and a covered outdoor patio, and is close to Matapalo and Playa Linda beaches. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Hostel $

Cascada Verde Eco Lodge & Hostel

Uvita

Family-run eco lodge and hostel in rural Uvita, a five-minute walk from the Uvita waterfall, with rainforest and ocean views from the terrace. The hostel offers yoga classes on its upper deck and books through WhatsApp for around 12 dollars a night.

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Vacation Rental $$

Casita Catalina

Uvita

A recently remodeled two-bedroom home in Uvita with a private pool and an outdoor bar and kitchen, a seven-minute walk from Playa Chaman inside Ballena National Park. The property is gated with keyless entry and sits on paved roads close to restaurants and the beach. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Hostel $

Cool Vibes Beach Hostel

Dominical

A beachfront hostel in Dominical steps from the beach, with a pool, free parking, shared kitchen, and free coffee all day. Dorm and private room options suit surfers and budget travelers. Booking is available directly or by WhatsApp.

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Villa $$$

El Rey de Portalon

Dominical

A three-bedroom hillside villa in the Portalon area above Dominical, managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand. The house has a waterfall-style swimming pool, an open-concept kitchen and living area, and panoramic views that reach Manuel Antonio National Park, Matapalo Beach, and on clear days Isla del Cano. A 4x4 vehicle is required for the access road.

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Villa $$$$

Esquina del Paraiso

Dominical

A five-suite luxury villa in the hills above Dominical, sleeping up to sixteen guests across ocean-view suites. The property has an 80-foot swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a table tennis table, a fire pit, and daily housekeeping five days a week. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Jungle Lodge $$

Hacienda Baru Lodge

Dominical

An ecolodge at the entrance to the Baru National Wildlife Refuge, a private reserve of 330 hectares of rainforest, mangrove, wetland, and beachfront. Six cottages and six pool-view rooms sit next to an open-air restaurant serving typical Costa Rican dishes, and the property has run ecotourism and birding programs for over 30 years. More than 365 bird species have been recorded on the refuge.

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Villa $$$$

Heli House

Dominical

A 7,500-square-foot estate at Playa Dominicalito marketed by Nomade Villa Collection as The Villas at Punta Gabriela, built around a main house and social area plus four detached suites. Villa 1 has its own private pool and jacuzzi facing the Pacific, and the third-floor penthouse suite opens through glass doors to an outdoor shower and hot tub. The property includes a helicopter pad and is rented as a full six-bedroom buyout.

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Villa $$$$

Honu Kai Arribada

Uvita

A five-bedroom estate tucked in the jungle outside Uvita, built as two separate homes about 30 yards apart, each with its own swimming pool, on more than four gated acres. The layout suits multi-generational groups who want shared time plus separate space, and guests routinely see monkeys and birds on the property. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Luxury Hotel $$$

Hotel Cristal Ballena

Uvita

A four-star Mediterranean-style resort and spa on 12 hectares of hilltop grounds overlooking Marino Ballena National Park, 7 km south of Uvita center. The property includes a 400 square meter ocean-view pool, an open-air restaurant, Spa Cristal, and rainforest hiking paths.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Hotel Cuna del Angel

Dominical

A boutique hotel surrounded by tropical jungle above the coast near Dominical, with an infinity pool, the open-air restaurant La Palapa, and a spa. The property holds sustainability certifications, and howler monkeys, toucans, and lizards live on the grounds. Direct booking includes daily breakfast and a welcome drink.

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Luxury Hotel $$$$

Hotel Three Sixty

Ojochal

Adults-only (16 and up) luxury retreat on Calle Perezoso above Ojochal, with twelve private villas, an infinity pool, and panoramic views of rainforest and ocean. The final approach road is unpaved and the hotel recommends a 4x4 to reach the property.

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Hostel $

Koru Boutique Hostel

Uvita

Adults-only boutique hostel in Uvita with sculptural private concrete pods, each topped with a hand-painted animal, plus dormitory rooms and open-air jungle bathrooms. It sits about a 10-minute walk from Marino Ballena National Park and includes breakfast with every stay.

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Boutique Hotel $$$$

Kura Boutique Hotel

Uvita

An adults-only property of 8 luxury suites perched on a jungle ridge above Uvita, overlooking Marino Ballena National Park and the Whale's Tail sandbar. Rooms have panoramic Pacific views, and the hotel runs on solar power with chemical-free pools. It is a member of the Cayuga Collection of sustainable hotels.

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Luxury Hotel $$$$

Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort

Dominical

All-inclusive luxury surf resort in the hills above Dominical, opened in January 2024, with 10 to 12 ocean-view rooms, a private chef, and personalized surf instruction included in every stay. The resort runs on solar power and reuses treated wastewater for irrigation.

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Jungle Lodge $$$

Mandala Ojochal

Ojochal

An eco-luxury boutique resort and retreat center on 14 acres of restored tropical jungle above Ojochal, offering private villas, bungalows, and luxury suites. The property has multiple open-air bamboo yoga shalas, an infinity pool, organic farm-to-table dining, and a wildlife corridor along an on-site stream. It works as both a hotel and a purpose-built venue for wellness retreats of 10 to 50 people.

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Glamping $$$

Manoas Luxury Camping

Uvita

A jungle property 2 km up the mountains from Uvita combining luxury safari tents and standalone villas, 10 minutes from the beach. Safari tents each have a king bed, private bathroom, and a viewing deck surrounded by rainforest. Villas on the same property suit larger groups or longer stays.

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Boutique Hotel $$

Mavi Surf Hotel

Dominical

Small boutique hotel in downtown Dominical with eight studio rooms, built by surfers for surfers but also welcoming non-surfing travelers. It sits at walking distance to the beach break and does not accept guests under 12 years old.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Nature's Edge Boutique Hotel

Uvita

Adults-only bed-and-breakfast-style boutique hotel on the ridgeline of Uvita Mountain, run by owners Keith and Joe. The property overlooks the South Pacific coast and is set up as an inn rather than a full-service resort.

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Luxury Hotel $$$$

Oxygen Jungle Villas

Uvita

Adults-only jungle retreat above Uvita with ocean-spa villas, an infinity pool, and a restaurant serving indigenous-rooted cuisine. The resort offers airport transfers, housekeeping, and a riverfront spa, and sits inside a private reserve near several national parks.

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Jungle Lodge $$

Pacific Edge Eco Lodge

Dominical

Small eco lodge just south of Dominical with three private bungalows and one deluxe bungalow, each built as an open-air, screened-in cabin perched on a ridge between the ocean and rainforest. The property has a pool, a lookout tower, and a yoga and massage platform.

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Luxury Hotel $$$$

Rancho Pacifico

Uvita

Adults-only luxury resort on a mountain road above Uvita, with treehouses, luxury villas, and suites overlooking the Whale's Tail. The property runs an award-winning spa and an optional all-inclusive dining package, and shares ownership with the nearby Vista Celestial.

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Glamping $$$

Seren Glamping

Uvita

Glamping property in the hills of Bahia Ballena near Uvita, offering elevated tent-style accommodations with rainforest views close to the beach. Reservations run through WhatsApp and the property has an active following built on its Instagram content.

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Hostel $

Shipwrecked Hostel

Uvita

A centrally located hostel in Uvita built around a ship theme, with custom air-conditioned private cabins and dorm bunks. Each bunk includes a curtain, locker, fan, and power outlets, and the hostel has a full community kitchen, fiber internet, bike rentals, and 24-hour concierge.

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Hostel $

Tucan Hotel

Uvita

A well-established budget hotel in the center of Uvita with dorm beds, air-conditioned private rooms, rustic pool-view cabins, and a renovated caravan suite. Breakfast is included in all stays, a shared kitchen is available, and there is a pool. Bicycle rentals and tour bookings are handled on site.

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Vacation Rental $$

Villa Heliconia

Ojochal

A two-bedroom home in Ojochal with a private pool and fast internet, a few minutes from Playa Tortuga and Playa Ventanas and close to the village's restaurants and grocery stores. It suits couples or small families rather than large groups. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Villa $$$

Villa Ocaso

Ojochal

A modern three-bedroom villa in a gated section of Ojochal built with two separate infinity pools and no shared spaces with other units. The house sleeps up to eight guests and is marketed as a fully private buyout rather than a shared-property rental. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Villa $$$

Villa Tres Vistas

Dominical

A three-bedroom hillside villa above Dominical with a waterfall-style pool and an open-concept kitchen, living, and dining area. Two of the three bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, and the property shares the same panoramic sightline toward Manuel Antonio National Park, Matapalo Beach, and Isla del Cano found elsewhere on this ridge. It is managed by Osa Property Management under the Costa Rica Las Villas brand.

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Villa $$$

Villas Alma Tierra Mar

Dominical

A four-villa boutique estate on 2.5 acres in the Escaleras hills above Dominical, run by Jason and Sienna. Each villa (Cascada, Sol, Olas, Selva) has its own ocean-view deck, and the property shares a coral-stone pool, a 900-square-foot open-air yoga shala, and a covered pavilion for group meals. It is an Airbnb Superhost listing bookable by the individual villa or as a full buyout for weddings and retreats.

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Villa $$$

Villas Alturas

Dominical

A boutique all-villa property on a rainforest hillside above the coast between Dominical and Uvita, offering 1- and 2-bedroom tropical villas with full kitchens and ocean views. The property includes a poolside restaurant open to the public and operates the on-site Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates local animals.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Vista Ballena Hotel

Uvita

A 20-room eco-conscious hotel on a jungle hillside above Uvita, powered by solar panels and built with bamboo architecture. Each room has a private ocean-facing balcony looking toward the Whale's Tail coastline, and a two-tier infinity pool anchors the common area. The on-site restaurant serves breakfast through dinner with locally sourced ingredients.

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Jungle Lodge $$$

Waterfall Villas

Dominical

Eco-luxury retreat in Baru, next to a private waterfall on the Cascadas Farallas reserve, with six suites built around wellness packages, organic vegan meals, and yoga. The property is solar powered and runs its own permaculture gardens for farm-to-table dining.

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Jungle Lodge $$$

Yaba Chigui Lodge

Ojochal

Small bed-and-breakfast lodge on a 58-acre reserve above Ojochal's coastline, with four bungalows set beside a river inside the jungle. The lodge operates a year-round outdoor pool and offers ecotours from the property.

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