TOP Beach Resorts & Hotels in Santa Elena for 2026

A boat on calm water near a sandy beach with a large rock formation in the background.

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Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

Santa Elena

฿3,392 total

includes taxes & fees

20 Jul - 21 Jul

Blue Dream Kiteboarding Resort

La Cruz

฿1,828 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Jul - 23 Jul

Private beach, free beach cabanas, sun-loungers, beach towels

Nandel Beach Resort

La Cruz

฿4,958 total

includes taxes & fees

17 Aug - 18 Aug

Hotel Punta Descartes

La Cruz

฿3,045 total

includes taxes & fees

19 Jul - 20 Jul

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.

฿3,567 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Jul - 22 Jul

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Liberia

฿2,493 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Jul - 25 Jul

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

฿7,864 total

includes taxes & fees

23 Jul - 24 Jul

Villas Sol Beach Resort

Sardinal

Experience coastal paradise at this resort with direct beach access, sandy shores, and ocean-view dining just steps from Playa Hermosa.

฿4,113 total

includes taxes & fees

12 Aug - 13 Aug

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Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Pool

Breakfast included

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Villas Sol Beach Resort

10/10 Excellent

"The Customer Service was excellent. From staff Maria from house keeping to Fred the front desk and how the best bartender Melvin. Forsure would come back to this properly for this great price."

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive

10/10 Excellent

"We had a wonderful stay at CC Beach Front Papagayo! Costa Rica is one of my new favorite destinations, and as always, it is the people that make the experience special. Everyone we encountered was welcoming, kind, and genuinely happy to help. The resort grounds were beautifully maintained, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the housekeeping staff did an excellent job throughout our stay. The chef was fantastic! Not only was the food great, but he made a point of greeting us every day and sharing the theme for that evening's dining experience. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, the pool staff kept our drinks full, and the pool attendants worked hard to keep the pool clean throughout the day. The tasting restaurant was a nice touch and a unique experience, but it felt a bit out of place given the quality and variety offered elsewhere on the property. My only area for improvement is communication around the snack menu. We arrived near the end of lunch service and scraped together what remained from the buffet. We discovered the snack menu by accident on our second day. We would have ordered from it if we had known about it sooner. The snack menu hours were also confusing. The times listed on the board near the kitchen differed from the sign outside the dining area. Overall, this was a fantastic stay with exceptional service, great food, and the warmth and hospitality that make Costa Rica so special!"

Condovac la Costa

8/10 Good

"I stayed one night at Condovac and honestly wished it had been longer! The resort was clean and exactly as advertised. It never felt overcrowded, even at the pools and lounge areas—which were open until midnight (although towel service wasn’t available that late). The rooms were spacious and comfortable. One of the AC units didn’t seem to cool as much as expected, but overall the stay was still very comfortable. No WiFi in rooms is a bummer. Beach access was a highlight—clean and easy to get to. Kayaks are available starting at 9am, and there were a few local vendors nearby selling treats like snow cones and handmade artisan items, which added a nice local touch. I really appreciated the continuous shuttle service around the property—it made getting up and down the hill effortless. The pools were warm and well-maintained. The food was delicious and had a home-cooked feel. Dinner included options like rice, pasta, potato wedges, vegetables, and chicken or fish. Breakfast offered traditional rice and beans, sweet plantains, eggs, pancakes, salami, fruit, and cereal. Lunch featured arroz con pollo, white rice, ribs, and salad. And the tres leches dessert was amazing! Coffee was always available, and alcoholic drinks were included—shoutout to the friendly bartender who made a caipirinha so good I wanted another! The only downside was the shuttle. Pickup from the airport is free, but return is not. It also isn’t 24hr (available from 7am–10pm). Paid $80 one way"

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica, by Hyatt

10/10 Excellent

"The staff was super attentive, helpful and friendly. The resort is absolutely beautiful. Stunning views, wildlife everywhere! We literally had monkeys on our balcony at times. The food was amazing as well. The way the staff cleaned and organized our room while we were out each day was great. They paid a lot of attention to little details. You could really feel the pride everyone there had for their part in making us feel like we were the most important people there."

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

10/10 Excellent

"Very relaxing environment. The rooms were clean and the AC worked great. Staff was friendly and helpful. They have a shuttle service and it doesn't take long for them to come get you after you call them. Be prepared to walk up and down steep hills if you don't use the shuttle service. Beach was clean. Small pool by the beach has a swim up bar and that's where I spent a lot of my time. We saw monkeys in the trees by the swim up bar a few days."

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

10/10 Excellent

"We stayed in the Nyuri Suite for 4 nights. The suite is huge, clean and well air conditioned. We brought our teenager and had his own room queen bed and bathroom within the suite. We had a king bed and a huge bathroom. The suite had 2 large decks that overlooked the beach and many beautiful large trees. The food at the hotel was fantastic! We enjoyed many meals there, including several on the beach. There is food and drink service on the beach from the hotel. The pool at the hotel was very pretty and clean and more refreshing than the ocean. The best part of this wonderful hotel was its staff. Everyone we encountered was warm, friendly and helpful. After staying here for several days we had felt we had made new friends with the staff. Such nice people!"

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 Coronado Beach or Junquillal Beach for some quality time by the water. Make time for a range of local attractions, which include Santa Rosa National Park and Sector Murciélago. For even more to see and do, pay a visit to Playa Blanca 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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Check availability on Santa Elena Beach Resorts & Hotels

Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

Blue Dream Kiteboarding Resort

Nandel Beach Resort

Hotel Punta Descartes

Hotel Villa del Sueño

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Villas Sol Beach Resort

Hotel Villa Del Sol

Papagayo Golden Palms Beachfront Hotel

Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Villas Sol Beach Resort

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive

Secrets Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Condovac la Costa

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica, by Hyatt

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

The Palms At Coco Beach

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Frequently asked questions

Search Beach Resorts & Hotels in Santa Elena

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Santa Elena Beach Resorts & Hotels

Our top choices for Santa Elena beach hotels

Santa Elena Lodge

Blue Dream Kiteboarding Resort

Nandel Beach Resort

Hotel Punta Descartes

Hotel Villa del Sueño

Karao - Guancaste Airport

Occidental Papagayo - Adults Only - All inclusive

Villas Sol Beach Resort

Hotel Villa Del Sol

Papagayo Golden Palms Beachfront Hotel

Choose what matters most at beach hotels in Santa Elena

Top Santa Elena Hotel Reviews

Villas Sol Beach Resort

Frequently asked questions