The Best Costa Rica Airbnbs Near Cloud Forests, Surf Breaks, and Towering Volcanoes

• Seven-bedroom stay with a view

  Number of guests: 19
  Bed and bath: 7 bedrooms, 7 baths
  Why we love it: Ocean views, beach access, concierge support, outdoor living areas, swimming pool

  Conveniently located an easy walk from Tamarindo town, Casa Ilios is an ideal home for reunions of all types, whether with friends or family. Sustainably made from local Guanacaste and teak wood, the home features seven bedrooms and three living rooms—including a lounge set off the largest bedroom—and comfortably fits large groups of up to 19 people. Outdoor spaces are plentiful, with a palapa dining area for alfresco meals and a swimming pool the entire group can enjoy. For an extra cost, your host can stock the home with your favorite food before you arrive, which you’ll likely want, as in-home breakfast preparation is included with the stay.

  Town: Tamarindo
  Things to do nearby: Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, Las Baulas National Marine Park

• Forest cabin surrounded by nature

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
  Why we love it: Gated community, private spring-fed pool, rain shower, marked hiking trails

  Tucked within 10 pristine acres of rainforest, this cozy cabin is perfect for solo travelers or couples seeking a nature retreat. Delightfully silent except for the occasional toucan song and howler monkey call, the property sits within a gated community but feels a world away. A balcony overlooks the forest canopy and San Carlos Plains, and it feels more like staying at a nature reserve than a vacation rental. The booking comes with rubber boots and a walking stick to borrow, perfect for use on the four marked trails. There’s also a private, spring-fed pool and a river surrounding the cabin, ideal for active travelers seeking to explore Costa Rica’s abundant biodiversity.

  Town: Los Mesen
  Things to do nearby: La Fortuna and Arenal Volcanoes, Bajos del Toro waterfalls, Río Cuarto crater lake, Sarapiquí River

• Octagon-shaped villa in Montezuma near the ocean

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
  Why we love it: Oceanfront garden with hammocks, natural tide pool, daily housekeeping

  One of the only properties sitting directly on the ocean in Montezuma, Casa Sol is an octagonal, two-story villa with hardwood floors and a radial wood ceiling. The architecture alone makes it worth a stay: A spiral staircase, vaulted beamed ceilings, and artistic touches throughout make the home feel more like an art installation than a rental. While the property's interior is impressive, don’t discount the outdoor amenities: Casa Sol is part of the boutique Hotel Amor de Mar, so guests have access to hammocks in the oceanfront garden, a natural tide pool in the rocks, spa services, and a restaurant serving fresh, local breakfast. The famous Montezuma Waterfall is directly across the street, and two beaches are within a 10-minute walk in either direction.

  Town: Montezuma
  Things to do nearby: Montezuma Waterfall, Tortuga Island, Playa Montezuma

• Modern jungle villa with floor-to-ceiling windows

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
  Why we love it: Jungle views, outdoor dining area, dipping pool, barbecue grill, Bluetooth sound system

  Perched within the rainforest canopy in Uvita, Casa Rebi offers floor-to-ceiling views of the jungle from nearly every room. It's the ideal escape if seeing monkeys and toucans is on your Costa Rica bucket list. This design-forward two-bedroom retreat is built for couples or small groups of friends who want privacy without sacrificing comfort. The open-concept layout leans into indoor-outdoor living—think morning coffee on the deck as birds pass through, evenings around the barbecue, and nights in the dipping pool with excellent stargazing opportunities. Both queen en suite bedrooms have memory foam mattresses, and the fully equipped kitchen means you can load up on groceries before you arrive and cook at home as easily as you can eat out. Outside, an expansive deck with a dining table faces directly into the jungle canopy. When errands are necessary, the town is only five minutes away.

  Town: Uvita
  Things to do nearby: Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, Catarata Uvita, Playa Hermosa, Playa Ventanas

• Exceptional Playa Hermosa villa built for pampering

  Number of guests: 10
  Bed and bath: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths
  Why we love it: Infinity saltwater pool, proximity to the beach, weekly wellness programming

  I stayed at this villa, called Pandora, in the spring, and it was the perfect home base for one of the most effortless trips I've ever taken. One of five villas in the Rayo Verde complex, Pandora may also be the most architecturally striking, with coral-tinted concrete walls, intricate carved woodwork, and double-height living spaces—the kind of pink-walled, light-drenched architecture that feels deliberately, confidently feminine. Large sliding glass doors can connect the kitchen and living areas with the jungle and pool, or seal shut when AC is warranted. The beach is within a minute's walk.

  Rayo Verde's shared palapa hosts a weekly calendar of mat Pilates, yoga, and sound healing, with an ice plunge and sauna also on-site. The staff pre-stocks the kitchen based on your grocery list before you arrive, housekeeping cycles through multiple times a day (you won't wash a single dish), and security and concierge staff are on hand throughout. When you're ready to get in the water, local surf instructor Pablo Sandoval meets guests on the beach daily to teach how to navigate the break at Playa Hermosa.

  Town: Santa Teresa
  Things to do nearby: Playa Hermosa, Carara National Park, Río Tárcoles

• Rainforest sanctuary in Puntarenas

  Number of guests: 12
  Bed and bath: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths
  Why we love it: Infinity saltwater pool, daily breakfast, customized nature walks

  For adventurers seeking their own personal slice of lush rainforest 1,060 feet above sea level, Cielo Lodge offers small groups the opportunity to book all six of the elevated one-bedroom canopy suites on the property. With the Rainforest Sanctuary Buyout package—offered for a minimum of four nights for up to 24 people—guests get the grounds to themselves and customized activities like wellness, agritourism, environmental programs, and experiences with indigenous communities. Suite designs highlight minimalism and the natural surroundings, including sinks made from local stone and salvaged hardwood. Amenities include an infinity-edge saltwater pool, morning coffee brought straight to your door, and excursions with a certified naturalist who can take you to nearby attractions like Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park.

  Town: Golfito
  Things to do nearby: Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park

• Private geo-dome in Tajo Alto

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
  Why we love it: Outdoor rain shower, kitchenette

  Situated on a mountainside teeming with plants in Puntarenas’s Tajo Alto, this lush retreat is the place to go when you want to escape the crowds and be completely immersed in nature. The one-bedroom private dome comes equipped with a small kitchenette and bathroom, and guests have access to a pool and waterfalls. Nearby attractions include Adventure Park Costa Rica—where you can zip-line across 11 waterfalls—and the Nicoya Peninsula, where you can, and should, go island hopping.

  Town: Tajo Alto
  Things to do nearby: Adventure Park Costa Rica, Nicoya Peninsula beaches

• Beach town retreat with a chef

  Number of guests: 16
  Bed and bath: 7 bedrooms, 10 baths
  Why we love it: Infinity pool, on-property chef

  Located within a sustainable yoga retreat on the southern coast of Uvita, this seven-bedroom spot includes plenty of common areas for groups to relax, including an infinity pool with Bluetooth speakers and views that overlook a jungly mountainside. Guests can enjoy a number of nearby activities like whitewater rafting and a chocolate tour that the property host can help set up. Even better: Uvita is well-known for its white-sand beaches.

  Town: Uvita
  Things to do nearby: Whitewater rafting, chocolate tours

• Home overlooking Playa Hermosa

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 2 bedrooms, 3 baths
  Why we love it: Meditation deck, dipping pool

  Though a stay in Santa Teresa is often marked by time spent at the area’s buzzy bars and restaurants, this luxury home offers a quiet respite away from it all. Set on a verdant hill overlooking the area’s popular surf beach, Playa Hermosa, the split-level, two-bedroom home is situated on a secluded one-acre property and comes with a fully stocked kitchen and an expansive outdoor terrace with a dipping pool. There’s also an outdoor dining table, and the small wooden deck is perfect for morning meditation and yoga.

  Town: Santa Teresa
  Things to do nearby: Restaurants in Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, Playa Carmen

• Hideaway near a sea turtle beach

  Number of guests: 6
  Bed and bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
  Why we love it: Outdoor barbecue, cascading waterfall

  Set between the legendary beach break of Playa Guiones and the Ostional Wildlife Refuge (where sea turtles hatch by the thousands on a black-sand beach), this two-bedroom, two-bath villa on Playa Pelada has all of the necessities for a relaxing coastal vacation. Perfect for a group of friends or a small family—one room has a queen bed while the other has two double beds—this modern home offers plenty of space to entertain. Spread out in the outdoor kitchen with funky blue-and-white tiles or take a dip in the pool, which has a cascading waterfall.

  Town: Nosara
  Things to do nearby: Playa Pelada, El Chivo bar

• Puntarenas beach house with a saltwater pool

  Number of guests: 12
  Bed and bath: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
  Why we love it: Wooden deck with sun loungers, saltwater pool

  Big-city amenities and laid-back jungle living merge at this luxury villa set between the ocean and tropical rainforest of Santa Teresa. Located along the town’s bustling beach road, this four-bedroom home is steps from the beach, as well as myriad cafés, boutique shops, and restaurants that line the area’s main road. There is air-conditioning throughout, each room has king-size beds, and the A-frame-style communal area is spacious and inviting. The living room opens to an expansive wooden deck where sun loungers rim a saltwater pool with views of the ocean.

  Town: Santa Teresa
  Things to do nearby: Playa Santa Teresa, ATV rides to Montezuma

• Light-filled San José loft

  Number of guests: 4
  Bed and bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
  Why we love it: Floor-to-ceiling windows, balcony with volcano views

  Whether you’re visiting the city of San José for a week or need a quick overnight stay before heading to the international airport the next morning, this Costa Rica Airbnb, set within a gated community, offers an ideal respite. The one-bedroom loft—located in the forested hills between Santa Ana and Ciudad Colón—is an open-concept space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the area’s lush greenery, including a spacious balcony with both mountain and volcano views.

  Town: San José
  Things to do nearby: National Museum of Costa Rica, San José Central Market

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This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Kristin Braswell.