Hotels and places to stay in San José & Escazú

Boutique hotels, jungle lodges, hostels, and private villas, verified and current. Every listing checked against live sources.

San Jose's 14 verified stays are led by 9 boutique hotels concentrated in Escazu and Santa Ana, plus 4 hostels in the capital itself, reflecting the zone's mix of upscale suburban neighborhoods and a backpacker-friendly downtown.

Boutique Hotel $$$

Aloft San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica

Santa Ana

Aloft San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica is a Marriott-brand property in the Forum 2 Business Park in Lindora, on the Santa Ana side of the Central Valley's business corridor. The hotel targets business travelers with loft-style rooms, a 24 hour bar, and an outdoor pool, and sits close to the Prospera Business Park and Santa Ana's shopping and restaurant strip. It is roughly a 15 minute drive from Juan Santamaria International Airport depending on traffic.

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Hostel $

Capital Hostel de Ciudad

San José

Capital Hostel de Ciudad is a city hostel in San Jose's Mata Redonda district, a couple of blocks from La Sabana Metropolitan Park. The property is built around co-living common spaces, including a fully equipped kitchen, backyard with barbecue, indoor patios, and a work desk area for digital nomads. Rooms range from doorless dorm pods to private rooms.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Casa 41

Escazú

Casa 41 is a five room hotel in San Rafael de Escazu, run with a private-home feel under the motto Mi casa, su casa. Each room has its own layout and decoration, with a king bed, air conditioning, and minibar, and some open onto private gardens or a terrace. The property has a restaurant and bar lounge on site and is positioned as a quiet first or last night stop close to the airport and Escazu's restaurants and shops.

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Hostel $

Chillout Hostel Barrio Escalante

San José

Chillout Hostel is a small hostel in Barrio Escalante, San Jose's dining and craft-beer district, with dorm beds from around 13 dollars a night and private rooms from around 35. The hostel offers free WiFi, a shared kitchen, luggage lockers, and airport pickup and drop-off, and its bilingual staff help guests book tours and figure out bus routes around the country. It is about 40 minutes from Juan Santamaria International Airport by car.

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Hostel $

Costa Rica Backpackers

San José

Costa Rica Backpackers has operated in San Jose since 2001, built around a swimming pool and tropical garden a five minute walk from Barrio Escalante and Barrio California. The hostel offers dorm beds and private rooms, a full kitchen, co-working space, and an on-site bar-restaurant called Bar-Packers. It sits near the city's bus terminals, about 30 minutes from the airport.

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Hostel $

Hostel Pangea

San José

A long-running backpacker hostel in central San José with dorms and private rooms, a pool, and a rooftop bar. It sits near Parque España, a short walk from the National Theatre, and is one of the better-known budget options in the capital.

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Boutique Hotel $$

Hotel Casa 69

San José

Hotel Casa 69 occupies a restored early twentieth century house in Barrio California, four blocks from the National Museum. Each of its rooms is individually decorated with local art, and the property centers on a garden patio used for breakfast and relaxing between outings. It is a small, family-run operation geared toward travelers who want a walkable, character-driven stay over a chain hotel.

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Boutique Hotel $$$$

Hotel Grano de Oro

San José

A luxury boutique hotel in a converted century-old Tropical Victorian mansion just off Paseo Colon in downtown San José. The property has more than 40 rooms and an on-site restaurant with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. It is a member of Small Distinctive Hotels.

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Boutique Hotel $$

Hotel Luisiana

Santa Ana

Hotel Luisiana sits near the Santa Ana business center in a building dating to the 1950s, with mountain views and what the property advertises as the largest hotel pool in Santa Ana. Rooms include smart TVs and high-speed internet, and the restaurant serves breakfast daily. The hotel is pet-friendly for an added fee and deposit, a rarity among comparable properties in the area.

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Boutique Hotel $$

Hotel Presidente

San José

Hotel Presidente sits directly on the pedestrian Avenida Central in downtown San Jose, a block from the National Theater and Plaza de la Cultura. The hotel has operated at this address for decades and pairs its city-center location with a rooftop restaurant and bar, Azotea Calle 7. It offers airport shuttle service and complimentary buffet breakfast for guests booking directly.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Hotel Villa Los Candiles

Santa Ana

Hotel Villa Los Candiles is a 28 room property built in a Victorian style inspired by the architecture nineteenth century coffee exporters brought to Costa Rica, set among gardens in central Santa Ana. Rooms range from standard deluxe to master suite, all with air conditioning and private bathrooms. The location keeps guests close to Santa Ana's business centers, hospitals, and shopping, with a short drive to the airport.

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Luxury Hotel $$$$

Hyatt Centric San Jose Escazu

Escazú

A full-service Hyatt Centric hotel in Escazú with rooms, on-site dining, and parking, positioned near the Avenida Escazu and Multiplaza shopping districts. It serves business travelers and visitors using Escazú as a base west of San José.

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Boutique Hotel $$$

Studio Hotel Boutique

Santa Ana

An art-themed boutique hotel in Santa Ana with an on-site restaurant and event facilities, geared to both business and leisure travelers. It sits in central Santa Ana, close to the corporate parks west of San José, and holds Costa Rica's sustainable tourism certification.

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Boutique Hotel $$$$

The Alta Hotel

Escazú

A boutique hotel in the hills west of San José overlooking the Santa Ana valley, and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Rooms blend Moroccan, French, and Costa Rican influences, and the hotel runs the well-regarded La Luz Restaurant, with much of the produce from its own nearby farm.

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Frequently asked questions

Where should I stay in San Jose, downtown or Escazu?

Downtown San Jose has more hostels and budget options, while Escazu and Santa Ana carry the zone's boutique hotels and a more upscale, suburban feel.

Is there budget lodging in San Jose?

Yes, 4 verified hostels serve the capital, including Costa Rica Backpackers and Hostel Pangea.

Is there a hotel in Santa Ana?

Yes, Aloft San Jose Hotel is a verified boutique hotel in Santa Ana.

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