People sometimes get the wrong idea about Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is not Cancun, or Cozumel or Saint Martin. Sure we have our large, swanky and all-inclusive resorts, most of them tucked away up in the North Pacific (Guanacaste).
But here is a little secret that will help you get the most out of your trip to Costa Rica (you know, the one you’re gonna book with Package Costa Rica).
Those mega-resorts do not offer the best experience of this country. The really unique experiences are offered by what we call Costa Rica boutique hotels and eco-lodges, or better yet, “boutique eco-lodges.”
What is that you ask?
Well it can be a small hotel like Villa Caletas that sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. The ambiance is ultra-romantic Mediterranean, complete with a Grecian-columned amphitheatre where guests gather to watch the most extraordinary sunsets. That would be a “boutique hotel.”
We actually have a group known as the “Small and Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica” (Villa Caletas is part of the group) whose members rank as the best of the best (in my opinion) for the boutique hotel experience.
An eco-lodge would be along the lines of Lapas Rios down in the jungle of Corcovado. This incredible place has been awarded the highest possible ranking by the Tourism Ministry’s Certificate for Sustainable Tourism. The experience they offer is first class yet as close to the incredible ecological richness of the area as you can get without being in a tent.
Another such place is the Pacuare Jungle Lodge, which is a five star level of experience in a place that doesn’t even have electricity….they have to generate their own power, using only renewable sources. The way you arrive to the lodge is by rafting down the Pacuare River.
These are the experiences that keep people coming to Costa Rica year after year.
Being the owner of a travel company we get a few requests that go kinda like this…”I want 7 nights at the beach in an all-inclusive and I don’t want to move a muscle the entire time!” OK fine, if that’s what you want Costa Rica can deliver.
But if you are reading these words and considering a trip to Costa Rica, remember my little secret….those special little places tucked away in jungle enclaves and on mountainsides and scenic overlooks really provide the authentic experience of Costa Rica you may be looking for.
Ten of the Best Costa Rica Boutique Hotels (in random order)…
Lapas Rios
Pacuare Jungle Lodge
Villa Caletas
Peace Lodge
La Mansion Inn
Villa Blanca
Arenas del Mar
Arenal Nayara
Punta Islita
The Springs Resort and Spa
There are others I’m not mentioning that are great as well, but any of the above list of ten will provide the “unique Costa Rican experience” I am referring to.
Our fully customizable Costa Rica vacation designs can be modified to include any on the above list!
See you in Costa Rica!
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