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Where to Stay in Uvita: Town, Beach or Hills?

Uvita is small, but its hotels are more spread out than you’d expect, so the area you pick shapes your whole stay.

• Uvita town: the bus station, supermarkets, banks and the cheapest beds, about 2 km from the beach. Easy without a car.
• Near the park: flat streets close to the Uvita entrance of Marino Ballena National Park. The best pick for walking to the whale tail.
• The hills: steep roads above town with big ocean views and the most private stays. Plan on a car, and often a 4×4.
• Playa Ballena: about 7 to 8 km south on the coastal highway, with condos and quieter hotels. You’ll want a car.

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

Hotel	Area	Rough Nightly Rate
Rancho Pacifico	The hills	About $450 to $700, more in December
Kura Boutique Hotel	The hills	About $670 to $910
Elan at Ballena Beach	Playa Ballena	About $300 and up
Oxygen Jungle Villas & Spa	The hills	About $300 to $480, more in high season
Cristal Ballena	Playa Ballena	About $190 to $280
Hotel FAREMITI Uvita	Between town and the park	About $100
Ballena Rey Hotel	Between town and the park	About $80 to $160
The Sutton	The hills, north of town	About $130
Hotel La Fiore de Bahía	Uvita	About $80 to $100
Ballena Dorada Lodge	Playa Ballena	From about $56
Shipwrecked Hostel	Uvita town	Dorms about $16 to $30
Nomadic Surf Camp	Near the park	Dorms about $10 to $17
Cascada Verde Hostel	Near Uvita Waterfall	Dorms from about $11
Uvita Pirates Hostel	Near the beach	From about $26
Cabinas Bahía Uvita	Near the park	About $35 to $80

Rates swing with the season, so treat these as a rough guide. December to April costs the most, especially Christmas and Easter, and the 13% tax often comes on top. Our guide on how to get to Uvita covers buses, shuttles and driving.

Luxury Hotels in Uvita

Uvita’s luxury stays are small and private, and nearly all of them are up in the hills. You give up walking to the beach, but you get big ocean views and a lot of quiet.

1. Rancho Pacifico

Rancho Pacifico is adults-only and built for couples, high in the hills about 4 km from Uvita town. There are only a handful of places to stay: three villas, two suites and two treehouses.

The property has its own spa, a small infinity pool with a poolside bar and a restaurant just for guests. You look out over the treetops to the Pacific.

Expect about $450 to $700 a night in low season and well over $1,000 in December. The drive up is steep, so rent a 4×4 and take it slow.

2. Kura Boutique Hotel

Kura has just eight villas, each built for two, in the hills above Uvita with wide ocean views. It’s adults-only and part of the Cayuga Collection, the same group behind Arenas del Mar in Manuel Antonio.

There’s an infinity pool, a spa, a restaurant and a bar, and some villas have their own plunge pool. A shuttle takes you down to the beach, so you don’t have to drive every day.

Rates run about $670 to $910 a night, and more at peak times. It’s a big splurge, but the view is the whole point.

3. Elan at Ballena Beach

Elan is the pick for families and groups who want space and their own kitchen. It’s a set of 2- and 3-bedroom condos at kilometer 170 of the coastal highway, with private access to Playa Ballena.

Units have full kitchens with ovens and full-size fridges, plus a washer and dryer, which is handy on a longer trip. Outside, there are pools, a kids’ pool, a hot tub and a BBQ area.

Rates start around $300 a night, and a 3-bedroom unit sleeps a family of six. It’s about 8 km south of Uvita town, so you’ll want a car for dinners out.

4. Oxygen Jungle Villas & Spa

Oxygen is a big favorite with couples, and it’s easy to see why. The villas have a Balinese look, with private terraces facing the jungle, and the whole place is adults-only.

There’s an infinity pool, a spa and a restaurant, plus a trail on the property that leads to a small waterfall. It’s about 1.5 km northwest of Uvita Waterfall, up a rocky road where a 4×4 helps.

Rates start around $300 a night in low season and average more than $900 in February. Breakfast in your villa is an option, and it’s a lovely way to start the day.

5. Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Cristal Ballena is a resort-style hotel about 7 km south of Uvita, near Playa Ballena. The suites have a Mediterranean style and ocean views, which feels quite different from the jungle lodges around town.

There’s a large pool, a full spa, a restaurant and a free shuttle to the beach. The marine park is about a 15-minute walk away, but the shuttle is the better bet in the heat.

Rates run about $190 to $280 a night, which is good value for this level. The food gets good reviews, but it isn’t cheap, so budget for dinners.

Mid-Range Hotels in Uvita

Mid-range hotels in Uvita give you a pool, air conditioning and often a kitchen for about $55 to $160 a night. Most are closer to town and the beach than the luxury lodges, which saves on taxis.

6. Hotel FAREMITI Uvita

FAREMITI is a calm, stylish hotel between Uvita town and the national park. You can walk about 1.2 km down to the beach and the park entrance, so a car is optional here.

Rooms range from bungalows with private patios to 3-bedroom apartments, and there’s a pool and a hot tub in the garden.

Rates run about $100 a night in low season. For the price, few places in town look this good.

7. Ballena Rey Hotel

Ballena Rey is a great family pick, about 1 km from Marino Ballena National Park and close to town. Rooms range from basic doubles to 2-bedroom apartments with kitchens that sleep up to six.

A free buffet breakfast runs 7 AM to 10 AM. There’s also a pool with a small bar that opens in the late afternoon.

Rates run about $80 to $160 a night. With kids, ask for the family apartment by the pool, since it’s the biggest unit.

8. The Sutton

The Sutton is a tiny adults-only retreat in the jungle north of Uvita, on the hill above Playa Hermosa. There are just four units, bungalows and a 3-bedroom villa, each with a kitchenette, air conditioning and a balcony.

There’s a pool with a view, a shared kitchen and an outdoor dining area. Guests love the hosts and the quiet, and Uvita town is 10 to 15 minutes away by car.

Rates average about $130 a night. Fair warning: the road up is steep, and guests say you need a 4×4.

9. Hotel La Fiore de Bahía

La Fiore de Bahía is a simple, family-friendly hotel with air-conditioned rooms, a fridge in every room and an outdoor pool.

Breakfast comes with local dishes, fresh juice and fruit, and the on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner too. That’s handy on the nights you don’t feel like driving into town.

Rates run about $80 to $100 a night. Bring cash, since the hotel only takes cash.

10. Ballena Dorada Lodge

Ballena Dorada is a small, good-value lodge south of Uvita town, about a 14-minute walk from Playa Ballena.

There’s a pool, a garden and a terrace, and the rooms are simple. Rates start around $56 a night, which is cheap for this stretch of coast, where most places charge far more.

It’s a smart base for a few beach days on a budget. Just plan on a car or taxis for dinners in town.

Budget Hotels in Uvita

Uvita is easy on a budget. Most of the cheap beds are in town or near the park, and entry to Marino Ballena National Park only costs $6.78.

11. Shipwrecked Hostel

Shipwrecked is the social hostel in Uvita town, and the owner is always around to help. The big supermarket and a bank are a 2-minute walk away, and the Tracopa bus station is about 10 minutes on foot.

Dorm bunks have blackout curtains and their own shelves, and the shared kitchen is well stocked, which saves money on meals.

Dorm beds run about $16 to $30, with private rooms from about $45. The beach is about 2 km away, a 30-minute walk, so plan on a taxi or a bike.

12. Nomadic Surf Camp

Nomadic is the budget pick for beach people. It’s about 40 meters from the sand, right by Marino Ballena National Park, so you can be in the water before breakfast.

There are dorms and private rooms, a shared kitchen and a terrace, and guests get a discount on surfboard rental. Breakfast isn’t included, so stock up at the supermarket in town.

Dorm beds run about $10 to $17 a night. The building is open-air, so doors don’t always shut tight and bugs can get in. Pack bug spray.

13. Cascada Verde Hostel

Cascada Verde is a jungle hostel a few minutes’ walk from Uvita Waterfall. It’s the one to pick for nature over nightlife.

It has dorms, simple private rooms and family rooms, a shared kitchen and a garden with rainforest and ocean views. Guests often mention the cheap laundry.

Dorm beds start around $11, and private rooms around $25. The beach is about 5 km away, so you’ll want a bike, a taxi or the bus.

14. Uvita Pirates Hostel

Uvita Pirates is on the road to Playa Chamán, about a 6-minute walk from Uvita Beach. Rooms come with a private bathroom, air conditioning and a balcony, which is more than most hostels give you.

There’s a shared kitchen, outdoor seating and a BBQ area for cooking dinner at home.

Rooms start around $26 a night, and it’s cash only, so stop at an ATM in town first.

15. Cabinas Bahía Uvita

You can’t sleep much closer to the park than Cabinas Bahía Uvita. It’s around 75 meters from the main entrance to Marino Ballena National Park and about 100 meters from the beach.

It’s tiny, with just three rooms, each with air conditioning, a private bathroom and a terrace looking onto the garden. Parking is free and on site.

Rates run about $35 to $80 a night. It’s basic, but you can walk to the whale tail in minutes when the tide is low.

Which Uvita Hotel Should You Pick?

For a first trip without a car, stay in town or near the park. FAREMITI, Ballena Rey or Cabinas Bahía Uvita let you walk to the beach and the whale tail.

For a honeymoon, Rancho Pacifico and Kura are worth the splurge, and Oxygen gives you a similar jungle feel for less. With kids, Elan’s condos or Ballena Rey’s apartments give everyone room to spread out.

On a budget, Shipwrecked suits solo trips and Nomadic is the one for surfers.

Whatever you pick, book about a month ahead for December to April, and earlier for the small hill hotels. Our 2-day Uvita itinerary and our guide to things to do in Uvita will help you plan the rest.

Uvita Hotels FAQ

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Uvita?

The best area to stay in Uvita for most people is near Marino Ballena National Park. Aim for the flat streets close to the Uvita entrance. You can walk to the beach and the whale tail.

Uvita town works well without a car, since it has the bus station and supermarkets. The catch is that the beach is about 2 km away. The hills have the views, but you’ll need a car and often a 4×4.

Do You Need a 4×4 to Stay in the Hills Above Uvita?

You often need a 4×4 to stay in the hills above Uvita. The roads up to places like Rancho Pacifico, Oxygen and The Sutton are steep. Some are rocky gravel that gets slippery after rain.

A small car is fine for town and the hotels near the park. Compact rentals cost about $35 to $50 a day plus insurance. A 4×4 costs more, so book it early for high season.

How Far Is the Beach From Uvita Town?

The beach is about 2 km from Uvita town, roughly a 30-minute walk in the heat. Most people drive, bike or take a taxi, which costs about $5 to $15 around town.

Hotels near the park, like Cabinas Bahía Uvita and Nomadic Surf Camp, are a short walk from the sand. Entry to Marino Ballena National Park costs $6.78, and the booths only take cards.

Are There Adults-Only Hotels in Uvita?

There are several adults-only hotels in Uvita. Rancho Pacifico and Kura are the luxury picks, both with big ocean views. Oxygen Jungle Villas is adults-only too, from about $300 a night.

The Sutton is a cheaper adults-only option at about $130 a night, with just four units and a pool. Selva Armonía is another adults-only pick, at about $96 a night.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel in Uvita?

Book a hotel in Uvita about a month ahead for December to April, the dry season. Book even earlier for Christmas, New Year and Easter. Small hill hotels like Kura, with just eight villas, fill up first.

Whale season brings another busy spell, with southern humpbacks July to November. Book a few weeks ahead then, especially for August and September, the peak months.

Is Uvita a Good Base for the South Pacific Coast?

Uvita is a good base for the south Pacific coast. Dominical is 15 to 20 minutes north, and Ojochal’s restaurants and El Pavón Waterfall are about 20 minutes south.

Manuel Antonio is about an hour north by car, and Nauyaca Waterfalls is about 30 minutes away. Boat day trips to Corcovado also leave from Uvita, for about $160 per adult.