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Where to Stay in Limón: Puerto Viejo, Cahuita or Tortuguero?

Limón province covers the whole Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Each of these five areas gives you a different kind of trip.

• Puerto Viejo: the liveliest town, with restaurants, bars, surf and most of the budget beds. It’s walkable and easy without a car.
• Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva: quieter beaches south of Puerto Viejo, with most of the nicer hotels and lodges. Bikes and taxis are the easy way around.
• Manzanillo: the end of the coast road, inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, with jungle right down to the beach.
• Cahuita: a small, laid-back town north of Puerto Viejo, next to Cahuita National Park.
• Tortuguero: a village between the canals and the sea with no road access, known for turtles and wildlife boat tours.

Here’s a quick look at all 15, with rough nightly rates for two people:

Hotel	Area	Rough Nightly Rate
Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel	Playa Cocles	From about $400
Hotel Aguas Claras	Playa Chiquita	From about $520
Mawamba Lodge	Tortuguero	Packages from about $470
Tree House Lodge	Punta Uva	Check direct rates
Umami Hotel	Puerto Viejo	Check direct rates
Hotel Shawandha Lodge	Playa Chiquita	From about $175
Terrazas del Caribe	Edge of Puerto Viejo	From about $160
Villas del Caribe	Beachfront, south of town	From about $85
Jaguar Inn Bungalows	Playa Cocles	About $70 to $115
Congo Bongo EcoVillage	Manzanillo	About $120 to $135
Bungalows Calalú	Puerto Viejo	Check direct rates
Hotel La Diosa	Cahuita	Check direct rates
Hotel El Icaco	Tortuguero	From about $42
Cabinas Popular	Puerto Viejo	About $25 to $50
Rocking J’s	Puerto Viejo	Dorm beds from about $14

Most of these are starting prices, so treat them as a rough guide. Christmas, New Year and Easter cost the most, and the 13% tax isn’t always included in the first price you see.

Luxury Hotels in Limón and the Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean coast does luxury its own way, with jungle bungalows, beachfront pools and lodges you reach by boat. These five are the most special stays on the coast.

1. Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel

Le Cameleon is the big beachfront splurge, by Playa Cocles just south of Puerto Viejo. It has 51 rooms, seven oceanview suites and three villas, so it works for couples and families.

There are three pool areas, two looking out to sea and one in the jungle with a hot tub. Some suites come with their own pool, and the Bërë Bërë Spa is set in the jungle. Gigi Beach is the oceanfront restaurant.

Rates start around $400 a night. Book a suite with a pool for a honeymoon, or a villa for a family group.

2. Hotel Aguas Claras

Aguas Claras is a small boutique hotel at the north end of Playa Chiquita, part of the Cayuga Collection. There are only 12 rooms, with suites in a Victorian-style row house and a handful of bungalows.

Several bungalows have a kitchenette, and the two-bedroom deluxe bungalow has a full kitchen and its own plunge pool. The pool is next to the Papaya Restaurant, which mixes local and international food.

Rates start around $520 a night. The sand right in front is a bit rocky, so walk a little way down the beach for the best swimming.

3. Mawamba Lodge

Mawamba is the classic Tortuguero lodge, on a narrow strip of land between the canals and the Caribbean Sea. There’s no road into Tortuguero, so you arrive by boat, and the lodge sells packages of one to three nights.

Packages include transport from San José hotels, meals at the lodge and standard tours. Its 50-plus rooms are rustic, with fans, screened windows and a porch, and there’s a pool and a hot tub.

Packages start around $470 a night for two. Park entry costs $16.95 per adult and $5.65 for kids 2 to 12, and turtle nesting tours cost extra. Don’t swim at the beach, since riptides make it unsafe.

4. Tree House Lodge

Tree House Lodge is the most unusual stay on the coast. It’s on a 10-acre oceanfront property in Playa Chiquita, steps from Punta Uva beach. Every unit here is different.

The Tree House is built on stilts and reached by a suspension bridge, and The School Bus is a converted 1980-era bus. The Crystal House sleeps six, the bamboo Garden House sleeps four, and the Bungalow has a full kitchen.

Jungle fitness classes run seven days a week, and there’s an EV charging point. The lodge doesn’t publish rates online, so check availability direct, where it promises its best rates.

5. Umami Hotel

Umami is a small, modern hotel in Puerto Viejo, and a nice change from the rustic lodges. Rooms have air conditioning, cable TV and a minibar. The options include a suite with a bathtub and a two-bedroom unit for up to four.

The Umami Garden Spa is on site, and the hotel runs its own restaurant, Mar & Sal.

Rates aren’t published, so book through the hotel’s website or ask on WhatsApp. Being in town means you can walk to dinner every night.

Mid-Range Hotels in Limón and the Caribbean Coast

Mid-range stays on the Caribbean coast are mostly bungalows, villas and apartments, often with a kitchen. They’re great value for families and longer trips.

6. Hotel Shawandha Lodge

Shawandha has 14 jungle bungalows on a five-acre private reserve in Playa Chiquita, about 6 km south of Puerto Viejo. A trail leads about 200 meters down to the beach.

The bungalows are built with hardwood, bamboo and palm, and most rely on natural airflow, with no air conditioning or TV. There’s a pool with a small waterfall, and the open-air Wandha restaurant mixes tropical flavors with French cooking at dinner.

Rates start around $175 a night with taxes. Some recent guests found the older bungalows worn, so ask for a renovated one. The restaurant closes on Mondays, so plan that night in town.

7. Terrazas del Caribe

Terrazas del Caribe is an apartment-style hotel on the edge of Puerto Viejo, about 450 meters from the beach. It’s a great fit for families who want room to spread out.

The Junior Suites and Suites have two bedrooms and a kitchen, and some apartments add a mezzanine with extra beds. There’s a pool in the gardens and a restaurant serving local and international dishes.

Rates start around $160 a night. Breakfast isn’t always part of the rate, so check when you book.

8. Villas del Caribe

Villas del Caribe is right on the beach south of Puerto Viejo, and all 26 units have a sea view. Warm natural coral pools form right in front of the hotel.

The two-story Villas have two bedrooms and a full kitchen, and the Villa Junior has a kitchenette. Breakfast is included, and there’s a seaside restaurant, a pool and a kids’ pool.

Rates start around $85 a night in quieter months, which is good value for beachfront. Bring water shoes for the coral.

9. Jaguar Inn Bungalows

Jaguar Inn Bungalows is a tiny place in Playa Cocles, about 4.5 km south of Puerto Viejo. It’s right next door to the Jaguar Rescue Center. The beach is about a 2-minute walk away.

There are just three bungalows, all with air conditioning and a private terrace. The Sloth Bungalow sleeps two with a full kitchen. The Ocelot Family Bungalow sleeps five with bunks and a full kitchen. The Turtle Bungalow, set up for wheelchair users, sleeps three.

Parking is free and fenced, there’s a night guard, and you can rent bikes for the ride into town. Rates run about $70 to $115 a night. Staying next door makes it easy to join a guided tour at the rescue center.

10. Congo Bongo EcoVillage

Congo Bongo is eight vacation houses on about 6.5 hectares in Manzanillo, inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. A path of about 200 meters leads to a quiet white-sand beach.

Houses have one to three bedrooms and sleep two to seven people. Every house has a full kitchen, and the beds come with mosquito nets.

Rates run about $120 to $135 a night, and booking direct can save up to 30%. Stock up on groceries in Puerto Viejo first, since Manzanillo is a tiny village.

11. Bungalows Calalú

Bungalows Calalú is a small spot with six bungalows. It’s about 300 meters from the center of Puerto Viejo and 100 meters from the beach. You can walk to town and the sand in minutes.

The bungalows come in a few versions, with or without air conditioning, and some have a well-equipped kitchen. The pool has a beach-style entrance and a little waterfall.

Rates aren’t published online, so email or call to book. Ask for a kitchen bungalow for a longer stay.

12. Hotel La Diosa

Hotel La Diosa is a garden hotel in Cahuita, about 700 meters northwest of the Plaza Víquez entrance. It’s a 3-minute walk to Playa Grande, the biggest beach in the area.

Rooms have a terrace, air conditioning and sea or garden views, and there’s a pool. The flowers in the gardens bring in butterflies and hummingbirds.

Cahuita National Park is about 10 minutes away by car. Rates aren’t listed online, and the hotel says booking direct gets you the lowest price.

Budget Hotels in Limón and the Caribbean Coast

Budget stays on the Caribbean coast are mostly in Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero village, close to cheap sodas and tour offices.

13. Hotel El Icaco

El Icaco is a good-value hotel in Tortuguero village, on the southeast side of town. It’s a few steps from the beach and close to the national park.

There are more than 30 rooms and a restaurant. The hotel also sells packages that can add guided canoe trips and turtle nesting walks.

Rooms start around $42 a night, a fraction of the lodge packages. You’ll arrange your own boat transfer and tours, which keeps costs down.

14. Cabinas Popular

Cabinas Popular is a simple place on Street 217 in Puerto Viejo. It’s about half a kilometer from the center and a short walk from the beach.

Rooms are private, and guests get a fridge, a kettle and pots and pans for basic cooking. Check-in runs 2 PM to 9 PM, so message ahead for a late arrival.

Rooms run about $25 to $50 a night. It’s a no-frills base for exploring the coast on a tight budget.

15. Rocking J’s

Rocking J’s is Puerto Viejo’s famous beachfront party hostel, about 1 km south of the center. You can sleep in a dorm, a private room, a deluxe suite or a tent.

The Good Vibes bar and restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, though breakfast isn’t included. There are bike, surfboard and snorkel rentals, and Caribe Shuttle has a desk on site for tours and transport.

Dorm beds start around $14 a night. Cleanliness gets mixed reviews, and there are live music and reggae nights, so it’s for social trips, not early nights.

Which Limón Hotel Should You Book?

For a first trip to the Caribbean coast, stay in or near Puerto Viejo. Umami and Bungalows Calalú keep you walking distance from town, and Le Cameleon is the beachfront splurge.

For quiet beaches, head south. Aguas Claras, Shawandha and Tree House Lodge are in Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. Congo Bongo in Manzanillo is the pick for families who like to cook. Jaguar Inn Bungalows in Cocles is great value for a small family.

For turtles and wildlife, give Tortuguero two nights. Mawamba makes it easy with an all-in package, and El Icaco keeps costs down.

Our guide to the best places to visit in Costa Rica shows how the Caribbean fits into a bigger trip. Our guide to renting a car in Costa Rica helps with the drive.

Limón Hotels FAQ

Is Puerto Viejo or Cahuita Better to Stay In?

Puerto Viejo is better for most first trips, with the most restaurants, bars, surf and budget beds on the coast. Cahuita is smaller and calmer, right next to Cahuita National Park.

Puerto Viejo suits social trips and food lovers. Cahuita suits couples and nature lovers, and Hotel La Diosa there is a 3-minute walk from Playa Grande.

How Do You Get to Hotels in Tortuguero?

You get to hotels in Tortuguero by boat, since there’s no road into the village. Lodges like Mawamba sell packages that include transport from San José hotels, meals and tours.

Staying in the village at a hotel like El Icaco, you arrange your own transfer and tours. Park entry costs $16.95 per adult and $5.65 for kids 2 to 12.

Is Puerto Limón City Worth Staying In?

Puerto Limón city isn’t worth staying in for most trips. It’s a working port. The beaches and hotels that draw people to this coast are elsewhere. Head south to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, or north to Tortuguero.

Most people pass straight through. Puerto Viejo is the easiest base, with the widest spread of hotels and the most going on.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel on the Caribbean Coast?

Book a hotel on the Caribbean coast a month or more ahead for Christmas, New Year and Easter. Small places fill up first, like Jaguar Inn with three bungalows, Congo Bongo with eight houses and Aguas Claras with 12 rooms.

In quieter months, a week or two ahead is usually fine in Puerto Viejo. Book Tortuguero packages early, since turtle tours depend on availability.

Which Caribbean Coast Hotels Are Best for Families?

Congo Bongo is the best Caribbean coast pick for most families. Its houses sleep up to seven, with a full kitchen in each one, from about $120 a night.

Le Cameleon has villas built for families and groups. Terrazas del Caribe has two-bedroom suites with a kitchen and a pool. At Tree House Lodge, the Crystal House sleeps six. Jaguar Inn’s Ocelot Family Bungalow sleeps five, with bunks and a full kitchen.

Can You Swim at the Beaches Near These Hotels?

You can swim at some beaches on the Caribbean coast, but not all. Don’t swim at the beach in Tortuguero, since riptides make it unsafe, so stick to the lodge pools.

At Aguas Claras, the sand in front is rocky, and the better swimming is a short walk down the beach. Villas del Caribe has warm coral pools out front. Ask your hotel about currents before you go in.