Last Updated: June 27, 2026
Costa Rica is one of the world’s leading ecotourism destinations, but not every hotel that calls itself eco-friendly is actually sustainable. Fortunately, Costa Rica has a rigorous tourism certification program to ensure that businesses are implementing real, verifiable sustainability practices. In this guide, we’ll share 23 eco hotels and sustainable lodges that have earned meaningful sustainability credentials and that we personally recommend.
This post is part of our Costa Rica Hotels category, where we cover the best options for hotels all around the country.
Background
The Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST) was created in 1997 to ensure Costa Rica’s success as a sustainable tourism destination. It was intended to prevent “greenwashing,” where businesses exaggerate their environmental practices for marketing purposes.
It’s a voluntary program that focuses on environmental impacts, while at the same time advancing social, cultural, and economic goals. The CST standard incorporates both national goals and international criteria, including the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Notably, the program has been recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
What Makes a Hotel CST Certified?
Getting the CST isn’t easy. The application process is lengthy and detailed, often taking years, and most hotels hire a specialized consultant just to manage the paperwork. That rigor is exactly why the certification means something: a CST-certified hotel has been independently audited, not just self-described as eco-friendly.
Certified properties earn either basic or elite status, depending on the measures they have in place. If you see the logo below on display at a hotel, you can know that they are implementing real, verified sustainability practices like using alternative energy, conserving water and electricity, avoiding chemicals, employing locals, and educating guests on sustainability.
Eco Hotels and Sustainable Lodges in Costa Rica
Below are some of our favorite eco-friendly hotels and lodges in Costa Rica that we have personally stayed at or have had clients stay at. They have all earned the CST or have other meaningful certifications.
Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you book a hotel using one of the links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our website and allows us to contribute part of our revenue towards sustainability programs in Costa Rica.
Map of Eco Hotels in Costa Rica
Check out our map for the location of each hotel on this list.
Arenal Observatory Lodge (Arenal/La Fortuna)
The Observatory, just outside the popular destination of La Fortuna, offers a true ecotourism experience. We have stayed here in the past and really enjoyed it.
The ecolodge is located on the foothills of Arenal Volcano within Arenal Volcano National Park. Not only does the lodge have great volcano views, but due to its location in conservation land, it is easy to see wildlife. The lodge has several trails onsite to explore.
Be sure to check out our National Parks page to learn more about Costa Rica’s many parks and reserves.
Arenal Observatory has valued the environment from the start. They sustainably maintain 270 acres (109 hectares) of their property as natural forest and 400 acres (162 hectares) in reforestation.
To give an idea of their sustainability practices, they have their own wastewater treatment plant, use native species in their gardens and green areas, and use natural and biodegradable products for outdoor maintenance and cleaning.
Rancho Margot (Arenal/La Fortuna)
Rancho Margot is a unique property near Lake Arenal. The self-sustaining ranch and ecolodge is designed to promote biodiversity and sequester carbon emissions. They generate more than half of the food they need for guests and staff right on the property.
Their rustic bungalows emphasize indoor-outdoor living and are made from beautiful local wood, most of which came directly from the property.
Among their sustainability efforts, Rancho Margot is fully off the grid and doesn’t use any agrochemicals on its farm. Notably, they were Costa Rica’s first carbon-negative company in 2012, verified by Carbon Clear.
Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Arenal Springs Resort is a well-known hotel near La Fortuna with views of Arenal Volcano. The mid-size resort has elaborate hot spring pools and many amenities onsite, including multiple restaurants, a fitness center, and family-friendly things to do.
The resort holds the CST at the Elite level, the highest tier available. On our stay, we saw their sustainability efforts in action. The hotel recycles, uses energy-efficient lighting and A/C, has solar hot water, composts, and runs a biodigester. They also maintain an agroecological farm where they produce organic fertilizer, grow vegetables for their restaurants, and carry out reforestation. Arenal Springs is a member of a local sustainability coalition.
On the cultural side, you will see traditional foods on menus at their restaurants, displays about Costa Rica’s culture and heritage around the property, and sometimes even live Latin music for guests.
Read our full hotel review for more.
Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort
Arenal Manoa is another medium-sized resort with natural hot springs just outside downtown La Fortuna. We have stayed here and enjoyed it. Accommodations are in bungalows with outdoor sitting areas overlooking Arenal Volcano. This is a very family-friendly property, though it draws all types of travelers.
The resort holds the CST at the Elite level and publishes an annual sustainability report. In 2024, they recycled 75% of their total waste and completed a full carbon footprint calculation to guide their ongoing carbon reduction efforts.
Interestingly, they have been monitoring local biodiversity via camera traps and have documented 42 species in the area of the hotel, including ocelots, caimans, and armadillos.
The on-site farm grows fruit and organic ingredients for the restaurant, and the property keeps a beehive for native pollinators. Arenal Manoa also participated in launching a regional EV charging network and has installed 23 electric vehicle charging stations on the property for guests.
El Silencio Lodge and Spa (Bajos del Toro)
Bajos del Toro is one of Costa Rica’s quietest corners, known for its abundant waterfalls and mist-covered mountains, and El Silencio Lodge and Spa sits right in the middle of it. It’s the perfect destination if you’re looking to go off-the-beaten path in a beautiful, natural setting.
The lodge’s primary focus is sustainable luxury. Their model is to protect their pristine natural surroundings, foster the personal growth of staff, and promote the development of neighboring communities.
The lodge sits on a 500 acre (202 hectare) private reserve with cloud forest.
El Silencio has a Sustainability Manager who leads their efforts. Some of their more interesting sustainability measures include a thriving hummingbird garden, beehive for local stingless honeybees, and large organic garden that provides ingredients for their restaurant.
Hotel Costa Verde (Manuel Antonio Beach)
Hotel Costa Verde is a popular mid-range hotel in Manuel Antonio, a short drive from the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. The large property is spread out, with several different buildings and bungalows as the accommodations. All rooms are nestled in the rainforest. Wildlife, especially monkeys, is plentiful on the property.
One of the most prominent ways that Costa Verde furthers sustainability is by upcycling. On our stays, we’ve noticed lighting and decorations are made from colorful glass bottles. They have even taken old airplane fuselages and turned them into hotel rooms!
Costa Verde makes most of their own furniture from naturally downed trees from the region. They plant thousands of trees and plants every year on their properties. The hotel uses biodegradable cleaning products, doesn’t use pesticides, and uses captured rainwater for laundry.
Parador Nature Resort and Spa (Manuel Antonio Beach)
The high-end Parador Nature Resort & Spa sits on 12 acres (5 hectares) of protected rainforest in Manuel Antonio and is home to an abundance of wildlife. When we stayed at the Parador, we saw tons of birds and animals, including monkeys, sloths, and Scarlet Macaws. The Parador also has a few trails that you can explore.
The resort holds the CST (Elite) and has received Costa Rica’s Ecological Blue Flag for multiple consecutive years.
What is the Blue Flag? Costa Rica’s Blue Flag (Bandera Azul Ecologica) is another government certification program. It recognizes beaches, communities, schools, and other spaces that meet high environmental and public health standards.
Parador focuses on energy conservation, water recycling, composting, and sourcing local ingredients for its restaurants. Through its annual giving program, the resort also makes financial donations to several conservation and community causes, including the Baru National Wildlife Refuge and PAWS animal rescue.
Read our full review of Parador Resort.
Hotel Belmar (Monteverde Cloud Forest)
Hotel Belmar is a luxury ecolodge in Monteverde. The property has a few different buildings, all artfully crafted with local wood. With thick forest as the backdrop, many rooms have a cloud forest view.
Hotel Belmar is sustainable at its core. It is carbon neutral, focuses on regenerative travel, and has a zero-waste, farm-to-table restaurant. Its farm, which you can visit, not only grows vegetables, but also provides eggs, milk, cheese, and other products to the hotel restaurant. The Belmar captures rainwater, has solar hot water, has a biodigester that treats sewage while producing biogas for heating water, and uses products that are biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable.
The hotel is located on a nature reserve. Our family has stayed here before and we all really enjoyed it. Read our full review, Hotel Belmar: Sustainable Luxury in Monteverde.
Valle Escondido Nature Reserve Hotel & Farm (Monteverde Cloud Forest)
This small, family-run ecolodge is located just outside the main area of Monteverde at the end of a private road. Thick forest surrounds the property, and the Pacific Ocean can be seen in the distance. The hotel is situated on a nature reserve that protects 44 acres (17 hectares).
Valle Escondido has an organic permaculture farm, farm-to-table dining, and a reserve with hiking trails and waterfalls.
Some of their projects include rainwater collection, gray water management, composting, a tilapia aquaculture project, and a huglekultur garden, which is a high production, low maintenance method of gardening. Guests can take part in one of their sustainability tours.
Cala Lodge (Monteverde Cloud Forest)
Cala Lodge is a small, family-run hotel in the heart of Monteverde, founded in 2007 by a couple with deep roots in the area. The founding family was among the first Costa Rican families to settle in Monteverde in the 1920s, decades before the region’s well-known Quaker community arrived.
Cala Lodge holds the CST and Blue Flag and publishes its own annual sustainability report. In 2024, the lodge cut its water consumption by 25% through rainwater harvesting and efficiency upgrades, reduced electricity use by 4%, and recovered more than 5 tons of solid waste through recycling and composting. The lodge also offset over 17 tons of CO2 that year and takes part in an international project to help decarbonize Costa Rica’s tourism sector.
On the community side, Cala Lodge sources 80% of its purchasing locally, which directly supports more than 50 families. The lodge also collaborates with Corclima, Monteverde’s climate resilience commission, and volunteers alongside a local hotel coalition on waste management efforts.
Olas Verdes Hotel (Nosara)
Olas Verdes is a high-end boutique hotel in the heart of Playa Guiones, Nosara. It was Costa Rica’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum hotel.
Olas Verdes started as new construction and was designed to minimize A/C through passive solar, shading, predominant wind patterns, and natural ventilation. To help offset the hotel’s energy needs, they have solar panels and solar hot water.
The hotel was designed to protect the sensitive ecosystem surrounding the property. They included a large no-build area to provide a setback from the ocean, minimized stormwater runoff, and used sustainable construction as much as possible to protect an adjacent wildlife refuge.
Importantly, the project was designed to save water, which can be scarce in Nosara during dry season. They have an underground rainwater storage system that captures up to 14,000 liters of rainfall. Gray water is treated with bacteria instead of chemicals, then recycled to irrigate the property.
Lapa Rios (Osa Peninsula)
Lapa Rios is a luxury ecolodge on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s premier ecotourism destination.
It was started to preserve the pristine rainforest of the Osa. The 17-bungalow lodge conserves an impressive 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of primary and secondary rainforest. This land abuts Corcovado National Park and provides an important wildlife corridor.
The lodge is 100% solar, uses renewable materials for low-impact construction, serves organic foods, uses local biodegradable products, and employs locals from the Puerto Jimenez area.
Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge (Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui)
Tirimbina is a biological reserve and small ecolodge that we have visited and really enjoyed. The reserve spans 852 acres (345 hectares). Within this vast rainforest lies an impressive range of biodiversity, including more than 1,200 plant species, 407 bird species, and 110 mammal species, among many more.
Importantly, Tirimbina keeps the majority of its reserve, roughly 90%, off-limits to visitors (only scientific research is permitted). Visitors cross an impressive 866-foot (264-meter) suspension bridge over the Sarapiqui River to reach the trail network.
Tirimbina holds the CST and Blue Flag, and is part of both Sarapiqui’s local sustainable destination initiative and the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor. The reserve has active research and education programs in biodiversity, water quality, and forest regeneration, and has operated sustainable tourism for more than 15 years.
Learn more with our post, Tirimbina: An Eco-Treat in Sarapiqui.
Hideaway Rio Celeste
The Hideaway Rio Celeste is a high-end boutique hotel located near the beautiful Rio Celeste Waterfall and small town of Bijagua. Since 2019, the property has dedicated 90% of its land, about 30 acres (12 hectares) of primary and secondary forest, to conservation.
Hideaway Rio Celeste holds the CST at the Elite level and the Blue Flag. Through Costa Rica’s carbon program, the property has documented that its forest stores nearly 6,746 tons of CO2, far exceeding the roughly 200 tons the hotel emitted in 2024. The hotel also plants native trees annually through Community Carbon Trees, a Costa Rican organization we work with as well (learn more about their work).
More than 95% of the hotel’s staff are from the area, and the property sources many products locally. It also works with local schoolchildren to teach them about recycling and conservation.
Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin (Rincon de la Vieja)
Hacienda Guachipelin is a working cattle ranch and hotel on the slopes of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. This is a large property with many waterfalls and hot springs, which guests get free access to. We enjoyed having access to these amenities when we stayed and also that there were several options for tours onsite (river tubing, ziplining, horseback riding).
The hotel holds the CST at the Elite level and treats 100% of its wastewater for reuse in irrigation. It runs on solar power and LED lighting, sorts and recycles all its waste, and grows much of its own food (through greenhouses and cows and chickens). The property also maintains a forest fire brigade (important for dry Guanacaste) and participates in Las Morocochas Biological Corridor reforestation effort.
Hotel Giada (Samara Beach)
Hotel Giada is a charming, budget-friendly hotel in the main area of Samara. The hotel is within walking distance to many restaurants and the beach. It has held the CST since 2014 (currently Elite level).
In 2024, Hotel Giada expanded its solar capacity with a new 44-panel system, helping to support its carbon-neutral certification, which it has had since 2015. The hotel is also part of the local Blue Flag Beach Committee of Samara.
The hotel supports Project Corals Association, a coral restoration initiative working to rebuild reefs around Isla Chora. They also partner with ASVO, a volunteer organization that runs the sea turtle conservation station at nearby Playa Buena Vista.
Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Farm and Inn (San Jose)
Finca Rosa Blanca is a 30-acre (12-hectare) property in the mountains of Heredia near San Jose with an organic coffee farm and hotel. It was started by a local family with three goals: hospitality, community, and the environment. Finca Rosa Blanca was the first hotel in Costa Rica to achieve the CST in 1999. Today, it holds Elite status.
The property focuses on sustainability and regenerative tourism. Hot water and electricity come from solar power, their pool is chemical-free, and they avoid chemicals in general. They have planted over 5,000 native trees in the last 25 years and were one of the first carbon-neutral hotels in Costa Rica. The hotel also employs only locals from the area.
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas (Tamarindo Beach)
Cala Luna is a gorgeous boutique hotel just south of Tamarindo in Playa Langosta. The property has contemporary villas nestled in the thick tropical forest. A short walk away is the quiet Playa Langosta. Cala Luna aims to combine well-being and eco-luxury, with a holistic spa, onsite yoga classes, and sustainable gastronomy. We have stayed here before and really enjoyed it. It’s great for couples but also works for families.
Taking advantage of the sunny weather in Guanacaste, Cala Luna has a sizeable solar installation of 1,400 panels, which offsets about 34 tons of carbon emissions. Cala Luna’s restaurant uses local, organic ingredients from their own farm.
Since the Tamarindo area is prone to drought, Cala Luna has several water-conservation measures in place. Biological planters filter water from the laundry and kitchen, which they then reuse to irrigate the gardens. After treatment, pool water goes back to the landscape. They’re currently working on a project that will ensure that every drop of water that runs through the hotel will go back into the land. By 2027, they aim to be environmentally neutral.
Rancho Pacifico (Uvita)
Perched in the mountains above Uvita on the jungle-filled southern Pacific coast, Rancho Pacifico is an adults-only retreat for couples looking to unwind in a private, natural setting.
The hotel was designed for sustainability and even has green roofs. The common areas are completely open air, allowing for natural ventilation without the need for air conditioning. Over 95% of their electricity is produced from renewable sources (solar).
Ingredients for their restaurant come from local suppliers and their own garden. To involve guests, they offer local experiences to turtle-nesting sites and family farms.
They have joined 1% for the Planet and donate a portion of their profits to sustainability causes. They also worked with a local organization called Community Carbon Trees to plant 700 native trees on the property. Through a partnership with Climate Vault, Rancho Pacifico offsets the carbon footprint of guests’ flights to Costa Rica.
Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River (Guanacaste)
Rio Perdido is a boutique hotel built around a thermal river near Miravalles Volcano in Guanacaste. We have visited this property and found it to be gorgeous and serene. Well-manicured hot springs surround the main building, and smaller guest room bungalows are spread out around the property. Because the hotel is somewhat isolated, it has a restaurant and activities onsite.
For sustainability, the Rio Perdido Resort is set on 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of tropical dry forest, which the property has nearly tripled in size through a decade of conservation and reforestation. Less than 1% of the land has been developed.
Rio Perdido holds the CST at the Elite level, is certified carbon neutral, and has earned the Ecological Blue Flag’s top ratings in both the Watershed and Climate Change categories. The property runs an all-electric onsite vehicle fleet, and its conservation team discovered a rare, endemic tree species on the land that they’ve since worked to protect.
Large Resorts Doing Notable Work
The three beach resorts below are large-scale developments, not low-footprint lodges, but they’re a good option if you’re choosing a resort-style stay as they have genuine sustainability efforts.
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort
Andaz is one of three luxury hotels on the Papagayo Peninsula in northern Guanacaste, alongside Four Seasons and the newly opened Nekajui (Ritz-Carlton). All three operate under a shared sustainability framework called Papagayo Legacy.
Andaz first achieved the CST in 2016 and has since reached the Elite level. The resort also holds an energy management certification (ISO 50001:2018), and its adjacent beach, Playa Sombrero, has the Blue Flag. Andaz’s electricity consumption dropped 7% in 2025 alone.
Across the wider peninsula, the shared sustainability program has documented real, measurable results: 1,038 species have been recorded on the property (up 12.5% from the previous year), 11 wildlife corridors and 6 green bridges help animals move safely through the development, and 11,000 coral fragments now grow as part of a reef restoration project. The resort also contributes to Creciendo Juntos, an important community program.
W Costa Rica (Playa Conchal)
W Costa Rica is a luxury beachfront resort on Playa Conchal, one of Guanacaste’s most beautiful beaches. It’s part of the larger Reserva Conchal development alongside the Westin Conchal, which preserves 98 acres (40 hectares) of adjacent forest as the Conchal Mixed National Wildlife Refuge.
The resort holds the CST and was the first Carbon Plus all-inclusive resort in Latin America, offsetting 20% more carbon than it emits. It also operates the country’s first seawater desalination plant, runs on solar energy, maintains an electric vehicle fleet, and has its own waste recovery and wastewater treatment systems.
This resort is great for both couples and families. Our family loved it. Refer to our full review of W Costa Rica.
Botanika Osa Peninsula
Botanika Osa Peninsula (a Hilton hotel) is a luxury resort in Puerto Jimenez. It is the only large-scale resort on the remote Osa Peninsula. Guest rooms are located in larger, multi-story buildings. The property has a sizeable lagoon-style pool, a couple of restaurants, and a huge fitness center. Though not on the beach, the ocean is a short walk or boat ride away.
The resort’s architecture is LEED certified, native species have been planted throughout the property, and it holds ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 50001 energy management certifications, both independently audited.
On the community side, Botanika supports the amazing BioSur organization. BioSur is a local non-profit working to preserve biodiversity on the Osa Peninsula. We work with them directly through our own giving back program.
Other work includes beach cleanups at nearby sea turtle nesting sites, an annual tree-planting initiative, and an internship program for local high school students.
Read our full review of Botanika.
Conclusion
Costa Rica makes it easy to travel sustainably with an impressive list of eco hotels all around the country. From luxury beachfront resorts to rustic jungle ecolodges, you can find an array of options that will not only let you experience Costa Rica’s natural beauty but also help protect it.
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Have a question about eco hotels in Costa Rica? Ask us below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:
Sustainability: Check out all our sustainability articles for information on wildlife centers you can visit and other conservation-focused tours, and to learn about some non-profits doing amazing work in Costa Rica.
Itineraries: Wondering how to fit some of these hotels into your plans? Our Itineraries page has several samples to help break it down.
Best Hotels in Costa Rica for Families: Insider Tips – If you’re traveling with kids, this detailed guide breaks down the best options, including places with pools, family-friendly room set-ups, good beaches for swimming, etc.
Hotel Guides: Our hotel guides cover destinations all around Costa Rica.