This guide covers the best luxury and upper-upscale options. We separate strictly 18+ properties from hotels that use the term loosely. Every entry includes what the property does well and who it is not right for.
This guide is published by Makanda by the Sea, an adults-only hotel in Manuel Antonio that appears in the comparison below. Minimum-age policies are quoted from each property’s official website and were verified in October 2026. Where a property does not publish an age, this guide says so instead of estimating.
Hotels in Costa Rica use the words “adults-only” in three different ways. The only thing that tells you what to expect is the minimum age the hotel publishes.
18 or older, everywhere on the property. No children in the rooms, at the pools, in the restaurant, or at the spa. This is what most couples mean when they search for adults-only.
A lower minimum age, usually 13 or 16. The hotel markets itself as adults-only, but teenagers can stay. Quiet, but not child-free.
An adults-only pool or wing inside a family resort. The rest of the property welcomes children.
This guide lists the first group as strictly 18+ and the second group separately, as adults-oriented. The third kind is not included. Every minimum age below is taken from the hotel’s official website.
Last reviewed October 2026. This is a curated guide to Costa Rica’s upper-upscale and luxury adults-only properties. Each property is classified based on the minimum age policy published on its official website. Age policies can change, so always confirm directly with the hotel before booking.
Use the table below to compare at a glance. The key differences: minimum age policy, private pool availability, location, and overall style.
| Property | Location | Min age | Private pool | Style | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makanda by the Sea | Manuel Antonio | 18+ strict | Pool villas | Boutique luxury | Couples, honeymoon |
| Nayara Springs | Arenal Volcano | 18+ strict | Every villa | Jungle luxury | Volcano views |
| Kura Boutique Hotel | Uvita | 18+ strict | Plunge pools | Eco boutique | Coastal seclusion |
| Secrets Papagayo | Guanacaste | 18+ strict | Resort pools | All-inclusive | Full service |
| Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas | Guanacaste | 16+ | Plunge pools | Beach boutique | Beach, walkable |
| Gaia Hotel & Reserve | Manuel Antonio | 13+ | Selected suites | Eco boutique | Sustainability |
The properties below publish a minimum check-in age of 18 on their official websites. These are the options where the adults-only policy applies throughout: rooms, pools, restaurant, and common areas.
Set in the jungle above the Pacific in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica’s most visited national park destination. 33 rooms, every one facing west over the ocean. Minimum check-in age 18. No families, no children anywhere on the property.
Private pool villas in four categories: Honeymoon Junior Pool Villa, Honeymoon Grand Pool Villa, Luxury Villa Private Pool, and the Sky Penthouse at the top of the property. Floating breakfast served in your pool. Árbol Restaurant on site. Shanti Spa with 270-degree Pacific views.
Best for: couples and honeymooners who want adults-only, a private pool, jungle setting, and Pacific views in one property. Created as a design gem, artistic and sexy. Access to a wild, untouched beach below the property, with no crowds and no noisy tourist activities.
Not for: guests with mobility issues (hillside location), or anyone who wants a large resort with multiple restaurants.
One of the most recognized adults-only properties in Costa Rica. Minimum age 18. Private bungalows set in the jungle with direct views of the Arenal Volcano, each with its own hot springs plunge pool. Consistently listed among the top hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and World Travel Awards.
Best for: couples who want private plunge pools, volcanic landscape, and a remote jungle setting.
Not for: guests who want a beach vacation.
Adults-only boutique in the hills above Uvita, overlooking the Whale’s Tail sandbar of Marino Ballena National Park. 8 suites with some of the most dramatic coastal views in Costa Rica. Part of the Cayuga Collection. In 2016 Forbes ran a profile of the property under the headline “The Most Glamorous, Romantic Resort In Costa Rica”. Minimum age 18: the hotel’s FAQ states that guests must be over 18, with an exception when the whole property is booked by a single party.
Best for: couples who want genuine seclusion and a dramatic coastal panorama.
Not for: guests who want easy access to restaurants or nightlife. Uvita is remote.
Adults-only all-inclusive on the Gulf of Papagayo. Minimum age 18. Large resort format: multiple restaurants, pools, spa, and an entertainment program. Close to Liberia International Airport. One of the most accessible adults-only all-inclusive options in Costa Rica for guests flying into Guanacaste.
Best for: guests who want the all-inclusive format, beach access, and a full resort experience.
Not for: guests who want boutique scale, a jungle setting, or a quiet atmosphere.
The two properties below are marketed as adults-only but publish a minimum age below 18. Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas accepts guests from 16. Gaia Hotel & Reserve accepts guests from 13. Both keep a quiet, adult-oriented atmosphere, but neither is a fully child-free environment.
Adults-only beach boutique in Las Catalinas, a car-free town in Guanacaste. Plunge pools in every villa, walkable streets, beach access nearby. The brand publishes a minimum stay age of 16 rather than 18: its terms state that Casa Chameleon Hotels are adults-only resorts and that guests must be 16 years or older. Guests aged 16 and 17 may therefore be present.
Best for: couples who want an adults-only beach town and are comfortable with a 16+ rather than a strict 18+ policy.
Not for: guests who want a spa-focused or jungle retreat. The experience is more city-vibe, and the dry climate is not suited to wildlife watching. Also not for guests who need a fully child-free and teenager-free environment.
A note on Mal País. The property previously listed here as Casa Chameleon at Mal País now operates as OCiO Villas at Mal País. Its published terms state that families and children are welcome, so it is no longer an adults-only option and has been removed from this guide.
Built in 2005, a Manuel Antonio classic. Eco-luxury boutique set within a private nature reserve. Accepts guests 13 and older, so not strictly adults-only. World Travel Awards: World’s Leading Green Hotel 2025, 2024, and 2023. 22 rooms with Pacific views. Spa Terra, 6 treatment rooms. Skylounge with 360-degree views. The hotel sits on the hillside, about 10 minutes by car from the nearest beach; there is no beach within walking distance.
Best for: guests who prioritize sustainability credentials, boutique design, and a private reserve atmosphere.
Not for: guests who need a strictly child-free environment, a beach within walking distance, or a newly built property.
For a honeymoon in Costa Rica: Makanda by the Sea in Manuel Antonio suits couples who want adults-only, a private pool, and a jungle setting. Nayara Springs near Arenal suits couples who want volcano views and hot springs plunge pools.
For volcano views: Nayara Springs near the Arenal Volcano. Private bungalows with direct views, each with its own plunge pool fed by natural hot springs.
For coastal seclusion: Kura Boutique Hotel in Uvita. 8 suites on a hillside above Marino Ballena National Park, overlooking the Whale’s Tail sandbar.
For adults-only at the beach: Secrets Papagayo on the Gulf of Papagayo is the strictly 18+ option. Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas suits a walkable, car-free beach town in Guanacaste, with a 16+ rather than 18+ policy.
For all-inclusive: Secrets Papagayo on the Gulf of Papagayo. Multiple restaurants, pools, and entertainment included, close to Liberia airport.
For adults-oriented eco luxury: Gaia Hotel & Reserve in Manuel Antonio. Private nature reserve, World Travel Awards recognition, guests from age 13.
Four questions narrow it down.
Want strictly adults-only near Manuel Antonio? Makanda by the Sea: minimum age 18, jungle setting, Pacific views, private pool villas.
Want private plunge pools and volcano views? Nayara Springs near Arenal.
Want seclusion and dramatic coastal views? Kura in Uvita.
Want adults-only at the beach? Secrets Papagayo for strictly 18+, or Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas if a 16+ policy is acceptable.
Want all-inclusive? Secrets Papagayo in Guanacaste.
Want an adult-oriented eco boutique with sustainability credentials? Gaia in Manuel Antonio, minimum age 13.
Comparing all hotels in Manuel Antonio, including family-friendly options? See our guide to the best hotels in Manuel Antonio.
Yes. Makanda is strictly adults-only with a minimum check-in age of 18. The policy applies to all areas of the property: rooms, pools, restaurant, and spa.
It depends on what you want. For adults-only luxury near Manuel Antonio: Makanda by the Sea, with a jungle setting, Pacific views, private pool villas, and a minimum age of 18. For volcano views and private plunge pools: Nayara Springs near Arenal. For coastal seclusion: Kura in Uvita. For all-inclusive: Secrets Papagayo in Guanacaste.
Yes. Secrets Papagayo in Guanacaste is one of the main adults-only all-inclusive options, with multiple restaurants, pools, and a full entertainment program included. Most adults-only properties in Costa Rica are boutique and not all-inclusive.
It varies by property. Makanda by the Sea, Nayara Springs, Kura, and Secrets Papagayo publish a minimum age of 18. Casa Chameleon publishes 16. Gaia Hotel & Reserve accepts guests from 13. Always confirm the minimum age policy directly with the hotel before booking.
No, not strictly. Gaia accepts guests 13 and older. The atmosphere is adult-oriented and quiet, but it is not a child-free property. Guests who need a strictly adults-only environment should consider Makanda by the Sea, also in Manuel Antonio, with a minimum check-in age of 18.
Yes. Nayara Springs near the Arenal Volcano is strictly adults-only, minimum age 18. Its sister properties Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp are family-friendly.
Not typically. Most adults-only boutique hotels in Costa Rica are hillside jungle properties with Pacific views rather than direct beach access. Makanda by the Sea and Kura are both hillside properties. Secrets Papagayo is the closest strictly 18+ option to direct beach access. Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas is also close to the beach, at a 16+ policy.
Not all. Private plunge pools or pool villas are available at Makanda by the Sea, Nayara Springs (every villa), Kura Boutique Hotel, and Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas. Gaia and Secrets Papagayo offer shared pools. If a private pool is a priority, confirm the room category at time of booking.
Manuel Antonio and Arenal are the most requested. Manuel Antonio offers jungle, Pacific views, and national park proximity; Makanda by the Sea is the strictly adults-only luxury option there. Arenal offers volcano views and natural hot springs; Nayara Springs is the leading adults-only property. Uvita suits couples who want a more remote experience with dramatic coastal views.
Makanda by the Sea is one of the few strictly adults-only luxury boutique hotels in Costa Rica, minimum check-in age 18. 33 rooms, every one facing the Pacific from the jungle above Manuel Antonio.
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