Hotels in Playas Cocles, Chiquita & Manzanillo
You might want to rent a car if you plan to stay at one of these hotels because public transportation is sporadic and taxis aren’t always available. If you arrive by bus, however, a rented bicycle or scooter might be all you need to get around once you are settled.
In Manzanillo, the simple Cabinas Something Different (tel. 2759-9014) are a good option, while Congo Bongo (tel. 2759-9016) offers fully equipped houses in a forest setting.
- Campground
Almonds & Corals Hotel
Don’t let the word “hotel” fool you. At Almonds & Corals you’ll be staying inside a 3-hectare wildlife reserve in tent-cabin hybrids on stilts. Yup, this is “glamping” (glamorous camping, or some would say glorified camping), so your digs are tents with benefits like electric…$$Around Town - Hotel
Azania Bungalows
This intimate lodge sits across from the beach, snuggled amid forest and densely planted gardens. It has 10 identical wooden cabins with high roofs, lots of space and rooms with either one queen-size or two twin beds, one of which is located in a small loft accessed by a steep…$$Around Town - Hotel
Cariblue Bungalows
A posh mid-range option, Cariblue Bungalows has the feel of a tropical country club. The main pool is the biggest in the region, with a swim-up bar; cobblestone walkways cut through manicured grounds and gardens; and amenities ranging from the SoleLuna restaurant to a tropical bar,…$$Around Town - Hotel
La Costa de Papito
This string of homey bungalows is right in the Goldilocks zone—close to Puerto Viejo but not too close, inexpensive but not too cheap, surrounded by jungle but right across from the beach. Built by New York transplant Eddie Ryan in the mid-1990s in a style he calls “rustic elegance,”…$Around Town - Hotel
Lanna Ban Hotel
Lanna Ban has a unique, Zen-like design meant to resemble a 12th-century Thai village, with Buddha statues, lotus flowers imported from Thailand blooming in the fish pond, and high peaked roofs topped with golden decorations that symbolize protection. Rooms come with one queen bed or…$$Around Town - Hotel
Le Caméléon
Contemporary comforts and style are the lure at Le Caméléon, by which I mean this is the place where you’ll find rooms with air-conditioning, flatscreen TVs, and chic, contemporary design. The latter consists of minimalist, all-white rooms livened up by unusual lighting accents.…$$$Around Town - Hotel
Playa Chiquita Lodge
These simple rooms are painted lively colors and housed in a series of wooden buildings that run in a line through thick gardens, connected by a raised wooden walkway. A short trail through the rainforest lets you out onto Playa Chiquita, a lovely and underdeveloped stretch of beach,…$Around Town - Hotel
Shawandha Lodge
Located in a patch of thick forest across the road from the lovely Playa Chiquita, this was one of the first boutique lodges in the area and it’s still going strong. The individual wooden bungalows are beautiful, and they spread out among the trees and gardens, giving each a sense of…$$Around Town - Hotel
Tree House Lodge
Everything has a funky, fun, Gilligan’s Island feel to it here, and artistic touches and distinct architectural feats make each unit memorable. The namesake Tree House is built on high stilts, reached via a suspension bridge, and features a toilet in the middle of a hollowed-out…$$Around Town

