Santa Elena Beach Hotels, Guanacaste: Santa Elena Hotel Guide

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Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

Santa Elena

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Premium bedding, down duvets, minibar, in-room safe

La Anita Rainforest Ranch

Guayabo

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Hotel Guanacaste

Liberia

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Outdoor pool, open 8 AM to 8:00 PM, pool loungers

Hotel Villa del Sueño

Sardinal

Soak up the sun at this tranquil beachside retreat, just steps from Playa Hermosa's golden shores and dazzling sunsets.

includes taxes & fees

15 Jun - 16 Jun

The Palms At Coco Beach

Sardinal

Stroll to the black sand beach and relax poolside at this coastal retreat steps from Coco Beach.

includes taxes & fees

2 Jun - 3 Jun

Nandel Beach Resort

La Cruz

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Liberia

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

On the beach, sun-loungers, beach towels

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Sardinal

Escape to an all-inclusive beachfront paradise with private sand, sun loungers, and waterfront views that refresh the soul

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

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Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Pool

Breakfast included

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

8/10 Good

"The shuttles to airport were poorly managed. The restaurant needed air conditioner. Otherwise beautiful hotel"

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

10/10 Excellent

"This was such a great place, the views and staff were amazing! It was awesome staying right off the beach. The beach was beautiful and not overcrowded. We could walk down the beach to different restaurants. We caught a sail boat ride that picked us up from the beach. The hotel staff coordinated it all. Would definitely go back to this hotel!!"

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

10/10 Excellent

"The resort isn't brand new, but it's kept up very well and the older build actually brings the building and the grounds much charm! It fits nicely into the allure of the region! When I booked I saw that the resort is labeled as "all inclusive" but only saw the breakfast buffet as being included with our room purchase, which was ok since we were just using the hotel as a stop over for flying out of Liberia the next morning. So I was surprised when we checked in that they are a True All Inclusive with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bars on property all included in the package! The property is beautiful with two large pools and the most wonderful breeze coming up from the ocean! This was very welcomed after 3 weeks in Nosara which is far less breezy and far more dusty which makes it a bit harder to handle the hot weather of the period we visited. The rooms are nice and clean with a nice patio, ours facing the water, which allowed us to sit outside and enjoy the birds and the weather with a drink in our hand! Our only regret is that we didn't realize how nice this property was before booking because we would have liked to take advantage of their amenities for at least 3 or 4 days as we will next time we come to Costa Rica! One guest I talked to even said they snorkeled with turtles near the hotels beach which the extra days will hopefully allow us to see next time. "

Condovac la Costa

8/10 Good

"Our stay at Condovac was very nice for the most part. First off, the staff was very kind and helpful with everything. From the reception to food service and hotel cleanliness, the staff was the best. Maybe due to it being low season, there were just a few things we would have like to have seen more of around the resort itself, like more food choices and activities, especially for kids, but for us the vacation was about relaxing with family and we were able to do just that. Thank you for your hospitality."

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive

2/10 Terrible

"I am writing to report a significantly misleading and disappointing experience at CC Papagayo, which ultimately caused us to leave the property and transfer to another hotel. The hotel listing advertised multiple amenities and experiences that were either unavailable or materially different from what was represented. Upon arrival, we found that only one of the two advertised restaurants was operational. Additionally, the live music and entertainment promoted in the listing was entirely nonexistent during our stay. The beachfront experience was also substantially misrepresented. The property was advertised as being directly on a desirable beach; however, the actual beach area was rocky/gravel-based and did not resemble the appearance or experience suggested in the listing photos and description. There were also no beach chairs or towels available, which further diminished the advertised beach experience. Another major issue involved the outdoor dining and beach environment. There were numerous large iguanas roaming the property that repeatedly approached and chased guests in attempts to obtain food, creating an uncomfortable and, at times, intimidating experience that negatively affected our ability to comfortably enjoy the premises. Additionally, the overall atmosphere and amenities available onsite were far below expectations based on the listing, price, and marketing materials. The combination of unavailable amenities, misleading representations regarding the beach and"

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

10/10 Excellent

"We stayed one night but wish we could stay longer. Clean, large rooms. What was unclear during reservation but was a great surprise when we actually got there is that if u are a guest of the hotel, you get access to many nature attractions around without having to pay extra. So the hotel is on a privately owned land and on the same land are waterfalls, ponds, hiking trails. As a guest you have free access to all of these while non guests have to pay to access them."

Villas Sol Beach Resort

6/10 Okay

"Waited a while before actually leaving a review because i wanted to be as honest as possible without being biased. First and foremost the property is huge and well maintained. The property was boring, i don’t know if it was because of the season but it was absolutely boring nothing to do at all. By the 2nd night i was over it. The views are beautiful and my kids enjoyed the pool. Love going to the beach. The food was absolutely horrible. Minimal variety at the buffet and i was literally starving every day. I stayed 5nights and payed for the all inclusive package for 2days and i am glad i didn’t pay the whole time because i was left starving after each meal. Most of the times i had to leave property to get a meal because it was a no no at the buffet. I will not say not to purchase The all inclusive package because that would be biased but try it out for a day before going the whole stay if you know what i mean. Wasn’t worth it for me personally. All in all i would rate my experience at a 5/10 and the 5 was for the staff and how great they are. Subtract for food, boredom, etc. all in all i could have stayed 2 nights instead of 5 got the whole experience after 1 day ehhh"

The Palms At Coco Beach

8/10 Good

"The main benefit of this hotel was its location. It's conveniently located only within 30 min drive from the airport, also just in between 2 main attractions - beaches and volcano. Should also mention that complimentary breakfast was spot on, and of course we daily enjoyed the pool. So overall great experience although the hotel is way outdated and needs a lot of renovations."

Frequently asked questions

What is Santa Elena like for travellers who love the beach?

Find a great place to stay in Santa Elena, which has a lot to offer the traveller looking to book a beach holiday.

What's the best place to stay for a beach holiday in Santa Elena?

Buddha Retreat Hotel is a top beachfront hotel with free WiFi and free parking, and it's located close to Playa Cuajiniquil .

When's the best time for a beach holiday in Santa Elena?

You can plan your beach trip with this snapshot of the seasons in Santa Elena: The hottest months are usually April and March, with an average temperature of 28°C, while the coldest months are November and December, with an average of 26°C. The rainiest months in Santa Elena are October, September, June and August, with each month seeing an average of 375 mm of rainfall.

What is there to see and do around Santa Elena?

After arriving and settling in at your accommodation of choice, you might want to venture out and explore. Beach lovers can head straight to Playa Copal or Playa Coco for some quality time by the water. Make time for a range of local attractions, which include Santa Rosa National Park and Maritza Biological Station. For even more to see and do, pay a visit to Sector Murciélago or Playa Cuajiniquil.

What's the best way to get to my beach hotel in Santa Elena?

This travel information can help you get to and around your beach accommodation in Santa Elena more easily: If you're looking to fly to Santa Elena, the closest major airport is in Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.), located 23 mi (37 km) from the city centre. If you'd like to explore around the area, consider renting a car to explore more sights.

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Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Santa Elena Beach Hotels

Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

La Anita Rainforest Ranch

Hotel Guanacaste

Hotel Villa del Sueño

The Palms At Coco Beach

Nandel Beach Resort

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Hotel Villa Del Sol

Hotel Villa Acacia

Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Condovac la Costa

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

Hotel Boyeros

Villas Sol Beach Resort

The Palms At Coco Beach

Frequently asked questions

Santa Elena Hotel Guide - Beach Hotels in Santa Elena, Guanacaste

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Santa Elena Beach Hotels

Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

La Anita Rainforest Ranch

Hotel Guanacaste

Hotel Villa del Sueño

The Palms At Coco Beach

Nandel Beach Resort

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Hotel Villa Del Sol

Hotel Villa Acacia

Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Frequently asked questions