Where you stay shapes the trip: the plaza’s buzz, a quiet palm grove on the north beach, or a view from the hill. Already booked? See what’s around your stay
Centro and the plazaNights out, and walking to everythingPlaza 1 minBeach 3 minFeels livelyMost US$110–350
The north sideFamilies and groups: palms, pools and the long beachPlaza 10 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$150–450
The south sideThe plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walkPlaza 7 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$130–400
Playa los MuertosCalm water for swimming and small kidsPlaza 11 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$200–900
Nanzal hillBig views from the hill; you'll want a cartPlaza 20 minBeach 3 minFeels quietMost US$200–600
Up the valleyBudget stays and everyday local lifePlaza 13 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$80–250| Side | Walk to the plaza | Walk to the beach | Feels | Most stays a night | Stays | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro | 1 min | 3 min | lively | US$110–350 | 112 | Nights out, and walking to everything |
| North side | 10 min | 3 min | calm | US$150–450 | 169 | Families and groups: palms, pools and the long beach |
| South side | 7 min | 3 min | mixed | US$130–400 | 95 | The plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walk |
| Los Muertos | 11 min | 3 min | calm | US$200–900 | 14 | Calm water for swimming and small kids |
| Nanzal | 20 min | 3 min | quiet | US$200–600 | 36 | Big views from the hill; you'll want a cart |
| Up the valley | 13 min | 3 min | mixed | US$80–250 | 41 | Budget stays and everyday local life |
Walks are on foot from the middle of each side, roughly; carts take about a third of the time. Prices are what places publish, the middle half of them.
Sizes are what the places publish; a few don’t list them, so we keep those in. Pool, A/C and kitchen show the stays we know have them; a place that doesn’t say isn’t a no, it just isn’t listed here.
Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
49 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed
Stay · South end of main beach
Six kinds of suite across the street from the calm south end of the beach, five minutes from the plaza: kitchenettes, bay-view balconies, a shared pool, and penthouses with their own infinity pools. Rates from about US$115.
Stay · South (residential)
Spotless group villa with private pool and an attentive host.
Stay · South-central, on a small hill above the surf break
Four-bedroom gated house two blocks from the beach, with a heated salt-water pool, waterfall, six-hole mini-golf, roof palapa and ocean views. Breakfast and coffee included.
Stay · South side
Two-bedroom house on a quiet south-end street, about four minutes' walk to the plaza and beach, with a private garden, outdoor shower and air-conditioned rooms. No pool; sleeps four.
Stay · South side near the south entrance, Selva Maaku
Three-bedroom house with a saltwater pool, a garden and a bungalow on the roof, inside a gated estate with round-the-clock security; sleeps seven, with two kitchens and three and a half baths.
Stay · South side
Compound of six casas sharing a waterfall pool and palapa lounge bar on the south side, under a 10-minute walk to the plaza and beach. Rent one casa or all nine bedrooms (24 guests).
Stay · South side
Open-air villas of one to three bedrooms stacked up the hillside at the south end of the bay, with ocean views, a two-level pool and a beachfront bistro and bar. About five minutes on foot to Playa los Muertos.
Stay · South (Av. Revolución)
Rustic-modern apartments in gardens just outside the center; low-season bargains.
Stay · South side
Private ground-floor suite in a family home on the south side, remodelled in 2024: a king bedroom, full kitchen and air conditioning, close to town but quiet.
Stay · South side
Three-bedroom, three-level hillside house with a heated saltwater pool and waterfall, rooftop pergola with soaking tub, and ocean views. Renovated in 2023, five minutes' walk to town.
Stay · South side
One-bedroom casita with a king bed and outdoor shower on Gringo Hill, about a six-minute walk to the plaza and beach.
Stay · South side
Hilltop house with a private pool and open-plan living, offered in three sizes from 3 to 5 bedrooms. Within about half a mile of the plaza but up a steep hill; a golf cart helps.
Stay · South side
Three-bedroom house on the south side with 360-degree views, a waterfall pool, roof terrace with soaking tub and housekeeping three times a week. Under ten minutes' walk to town.
Stay · South side
Two-bedroom ground-floor suite on the south side with a patio over the shared pool; five minutes' walk to the centre.
Stay · South side
Two-bedroom upper suite on the south side with a rooftop palapa bed, a patio over the shared pool and jungle views.
Stay · South side
Small group of villas on a hillside on Calle Naranjito, with views over the village and jungle and a five-minute walk to the beach. Daily maid service and an on-site manager.
Stay · South side
Gated set of five apartments south of the plaza, one two-bedroom and four one-bedroom, with a shared pool, garages and air conditioning.
Stay · South side
Two two-bedroom units on the quiet south end, each with its own private pool, rentable separately or together. About seven minutes on foot to the beach.
Stay · South side
Three-bedroom penthouse condo in the Casa Galeria complex, with a private rooftop terrace, bar and hot tub, a shared pool and a three-minute walk to the beach and plaza. Sleeps six.
Stay · South side
Remodelled three-bedroom home just off the south end of Avenida Revolución with a terrace, palapa and rooftop plunge pool; five minutes to the plaza.
Stay · South end of main beach
Beachfront 1BR casitas from $167; many stairs to some units.
Stay · South side, El Oasis hill
Two-bedroom house on the hill above the plaza, with a lit pool, gardens and views of the Pacific and Monkey Mountain. Can also be rented as two separate levels.
Stay · South side, El Oasis hill
One-bedroom lower level of Casa Sandia on the hill above the plaza, with a kitchen, outdoor shower and BBQ, and shared use of the lit pool. Ocean and jungle views.
Stay · South side
One-bedroom apartment on a hill on the south side, about 8 minutes on foot from the plaza along a dirt road. Courtyard, terrace and pool access; sleeps three.
Stay · South side
Remodelled two-bedroom casita on a south-side hilltop with its own private pool and ocean views. Walkable to town and the beach.
Stay · South side, La Villa Buena Vida
Second-floor studio at La Villa Buena Vida, overlooking a gated courtyard and pool. About five minutes to the plaza and six to the beach; four-night minimum.
Stay · South side hill, shares property with Casa Solana
Split-level jungle-view loft with a palapa-covered kitchen and dining deck upstairs, sharing a pool with Casa Solana. About five blocks from town.
Stay · South side
Eight two-bedroom condos with a pool, parking and A/C, rented only on six-month or longer terms. A few blocks from the beach and centre.
Stay · South side
Three-storey house with a pool, a palapa-roofed top floor with mountain and town views, and a separate one-bedroom casita. About three blocks from the plaza.
Stay · South side
Compound of three brick-vaulted villas (one, two and one bedrooms) sharing a pool terrace with BBQ. Quiet street a few minutes' walk from the plaza.
Stay · South side
Newer loft building with a shared pool, about a 5-minute walk to the plaza and beach. The main unit has two bedrooms and can be split into two one-bedrooms.
Stay · South side
Ground-level two-room apartment on the south side with a private pool and garden, a full kitchen and its own entrance on Calle Primavera. Five minutes' walk to the main beach.
Stay · South side, Cocos Norte hilltop
Estate with views and wheelchair access.
Stay · South side
Newer two-level villa on the south side with three en-suite bedrooms, a private heated pool and air conditioning throughout. About a four-minute walk to the beach and plaza.
Stay · South end of main beach
Oceanfront studios from $167 and a 2BR penthouse from $543, a block from the plaza.
Stay · South side
Owner's house on Calle Luna with a two-bedroom main house and pool, plus a one-bedroom boutique casita that rents year-round. Looks over Monkey Mountain (Cerro del Mono).
Stay · South side
Modern one-bedroom vacation apartment about ten minutes' walk from the beach, with A/C, fast wifi, a kitchenette, and use of the building's rooftop infinity pool, gym and co-working space. Secure garage parking for one car.
Stay · South side
Two private villas on the south end sleeping up to 15, with jungle and ocean views, a pool and jacuzzi in the lower villa, and an event patio used for weddings.
Requests to book go straight to the owner or manager on WhatsApp; we don’t take payments or a cut. Owners and managers can claim a listing.
