Hotels in North Puntarenas

Puntarenas is the largest province in Costa Rica, and extends all the way up from the border of Panama in the south, to Guanacaste province in the north. Due to its vast size, it is a good idea to divide it into north and south zones, with North Puntarenas being the region that stretches down to Dominical. North Puntarenas is easily accessible; you can reach the beautiful beaches in this region in about an hour from the San Jose International Airport via the new 27 highway that goes through the upscale San Jose suburb of Escazu.

Popular Places

What makes visiting Puntarenas so special is its diverse landscape, which offers tourists a variety of activities to enjoy. During your visit, you can experience the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and find a surfing mecca at one of the many beaches. After a long, exciting day exploring all the beauty that Costa Rica has to offer, you can rest assured that North Puntarenas has many hotels for you to choose from, including basic hotels, luxury resorts and everything in between!

Places and Accommodations

Near the beach and naturally beautiful, the Manuel Antonio National Park, along the Central Pacific Coast, is also close to several hotels and resorts. The budget-traveler can find suitable accommodations for individuals, groups and families that offer clean, private rooms and restrooms for around the $75 - $150 range. If you are looking for spa services, like massages, after a day of exploring and have a more fluid budget, there are also top-notch resorts available near Manuel Antonio National Park. If you are traveling here, check out the Manuel Antonio and Quepos areas for accommodations. Quepos is only 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio and is great for budget travelers that plan on exploring nature most of the time, and won’t need many luxuries.

If your travels take you to the magical, breathtaking views of the cloud forests of the Monteverde Reserve and the Santa Elena Reserve, accommodations can be found in the nearby town of Santa Elena as well as along the way to these incredible tourist attractions. Inns, lodges, hotel rooms and cabinas can be rented out at affordable rates. There is also a number of top-end lodges in the area that offer additional luxuries and benefits.

Map of North Puntarenas

Click to enlarge map - North Puntarenas Map

Surfer's Paradise

North Puntarenas also offers locations that are great for beach lovers and surfers. The Nicoya Peninsula and the beach towns of Montezuma, Mal Pais and Santa Teresa offer a dream landscape for water activities, and the hotels range from B&Bs to luxury resorts, or the more laid-back, shared cabinas. Jaco is a popular tourist spot, with fun surfing. You can find accommodations ranging around $60 per night, depending on the features you are looking for and the time of year. Surfers and sun-seekers should definitely check out Playa Hermosa only 10 minutes south of Jaco, as well as Domincal, which both offer all ranges of hotels…because how often will you even be in it with all those waves calling your name?