15 Dreamy Airbnbs in Costa Rica, From Open-Air Treehouses to Beachside Villas
Between the tropical jungle canopy teeming with wildlife and miles of untouched beaches, Costa Rica is an ideal spot for a dose of surf and sun—and a place worth spending more than a few days in to fully explore its stunning bounds. From the unbeatable surf breaks and small-town charm of Nosara to the thermal baths, botanical gardens, and trout farms of Chirripó, there are many landscapes to keep you intrigued, and to consider making your temporary home when searching for a Costa Rica Airbnb.
Whether you prefer swanky beachside bungalows or charming mountain lodges away from it all, the 15 Airbnbs below offer plenty of travel inspiration for your next trip. As a bonus, all of these vacation rentals are run by Superhosts, who each have a rating of 4.8 or above, a record of zero cancellations, and at least a 90 percent response rate, meaning they'll get back to you ASAP.
Ready to live the pura vida lifestyle? Here are our top picks for the best Costa Rica Airbnbs.
While we have not stayed in every Airbnb featured, unless otherwise stated, these listings are vetted based on Superhost status, amenities, location, previous guest reviews, and decor.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- Courtesy Airbnb
Santa Teresa home overlooking Playa Hermosa
Though a stay in Santa Teresa is often marked by time spent at the area’s bustling 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 a small wooden deck perfect for morning meditation and yoga.
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Costa Rican villa in Guanacaste
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 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 spaces to entertain, from an expansive outdoor barbecue with funky blue-and-white tiles to a dipping pool with a cascading waterfall.
Santa Teresa, Puntarenas beach house
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 line a saltwater pool with views of the ocean.
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Light-filled San José loft
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. Located in the forested hills between Santa Ana and Ciudad Colón, the open-concept space offers floor-to-ceiling views of the area’s lush greenery, including a spacious balcony with both mountain and volcano views.
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Clifftop villa in Tamarindo
Even though this sprawling clifftop villa is located about 20 minutes from the beach, it still packs a punch with its laid-back coastal aesthetic—and thanks to its very own infinity pool and hammock-strung nooks to relax away the afternoon, this home is worthy of a stay for the ocean view alone. Set on a secluded mountain top, it overlooks the verdant Las Baulas National Marine Park and hundreds of acres of protected mangroves set before a white-sand coastline. It also offers plenty of space for a group of friends or family to spread out in comfort, with three rooms situated in the main house and two additional private bungalows located nearby.
Read a full review of this property.
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Remote surf haven in Puntarenas
Live out your surf dreams at this two-bedroom home in Pavones, a 10-minute drive from one of the longest left point breaks in the world. Because of its remote location—toucans, macaws, and monkeys will likely be your only visitors—Pavones is notorious for having bad Wi-Fi. But not this home. It’s especially suitable for remote workers who want to wake up early to catch some waves before attending the day’s Zoom meetings. Another bonus: The main bedroom has an indoor hot tub with a skylight to stargaze through while you soak.
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Open-air treehouse in Puntarenas
This two-story treehouse is a yogi’s dream. About 15 minutes south of Pavones in Punta Banco—a biological hotspot known for its thriving populations of species like white-faced capuchin monkeys and brown-throated sloths—this isolated open-air bungalow will immerse you in nature. Offering indoor-outdoor living at its finest, this unique spot’s first floor includes a bedroom equipped with a comfortable bamboo mattress and waterfall-style outdoor shower, while the top level features a fully-equipped kitchen and a yoga deck with a hammock.
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One-bedroom Monteverde mountain home
Want to feel as if you’re floating in the treetops of a cloud forest? This open-concept cabin near Monteverde gives you the chance to do just that. Set near some of the area’s top attractions, from popular zip lines to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, this one-bedroom home is one of three independent houses on the property. Elevated on pillars with an unmatched view of the area’s lush jungle canopy, the home’s wide windows allow natural light to flood in, while its expansive living room and built-in fireplace make for a particularly cozy place to spend cool mountain evenings.
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Three-bedroom near the beach in Playa Avellanas
Fancy country club living in the middle of the jungle? This three-bedroom home has the works, including access to an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts. Located in Hacienda Pinilla, a private beachfront community with extensive mountain bike trails and a private beach club, this split-level home offers three bedrooms (two rooms with king-size beds and one with a queen-size bed) and is only 15 minutes from the popular beach town of Tamarindo and the popular surf beaches of Langosta and Playa Grande.
- Courtesy Airbnb
Mal Pais two-bedroom with jungle views
Only a 10-minute walk to the windswept beaches of Mal Pais, this two-bedroom with jungle views offers a tranquil respite while still being within reach of Santa Teresa’s top bars and restaurants. Located in a family-friendly neighborhood with multiple units and a gate offering security-code access, this minimalist home has a great outdoor set-up—pool, hot tub, terrace—as well as two expansive rooms with king-size beds.
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Remote San Juanillo mansion
Looking for a remote jungle mansion to soak up the natural world? Not only is this luxury vacation home surrounded by 86 acres of a private nature reserve, it’s also host to a saltwater pool and shaded river where the area’s wildlife come for a drink, from deer to ocelot. Though this two-bedroom home is set within a 300-acre gated community named Finca Los Sueños and has two treehouses on site, you won’t see or hear any of your neighbors, save for the howler monkeys that swing through the treetops. When it’s time to rejoin the world, you’re only a five-minute drive from the fishing village of San Juanillo or a 15-minute drive from the beach bars and restaurants in Nosara.
- Courtesy Airbnb
Chirripó mountain lodge
Book that 4x4 SUV and hit the road to this mountain lodge in Chirripó. Not only is this one-bedroom home enmeshed in nature with expansive outdoor decks for wildlife viewing, it also comes with its own sauna to warm up in after sunset. Only a 10-minute drive from the entrance of Chirripó National Park, this cabin is a gateway to exploring the area’s cloud forest replete with thermal baths, botanical gardens, and trout farms.
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Airy one-bedroom overlooking Baru River Valley
This is mountaintop living at its finest. This one-bedroom casita on a hill overlooks Costa Rica’s stunning Baru River Valley and rests on a sprawling 12-acre property in a gated community where waterfalls are plentiful and roads are surrounded by bamboo forests. Built with sustainable, locally-sourced materials, the floor-to-ceiling windows of this well-designed home offer unobstructed views of the natural world. Toucans and jungle cats might make appearances.
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Two-bedroom Limón home in walking distance of the beach
Bringing the Mediterranean to Puerto Viejo is this chic two-bedroom home: Its whitewashed interior is decorated with muted ceramic tiles and equipped with plenty of cozy seating nooks draped in geometric textiles. Offering the best of an indoor-outdoor lifestyle, its living area and kitchen are framed by sliding glass doors that open to a private pool ideal for mid-day dips. When it comes time to explore, you’re only about a 10-minute walk from the black-sand beaches of Playa Negra and a 30-minute beach walk to the shops, bars, and restaurants of Puerto Viejo.
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WFH-friendly two-bedroom on a dairy farm
How about a homestay on a dairy farm? This modern and spacious two-bedroom house in San Cayetano de Venecia is surrounded by miles of rolling pastures where cows graze away the day. This getaway’s lightning-speed Wi-Fi offers a perfect locale for remote workers, while its plentiful outdoor dining and living spaces—boasting a swimming pool and swinging daybed—make it a great rental for celebratory gatherings of friends and family. It’s also a great base to explore the Arenal Volcano, only 45 minutes away.
