Costa Rica Campgrounds and Hotels

This article is part of our Accommodation Listing series.

Download the Google Earth KMZ of our Costa Rica route and lodgings.

Junquillal Bay Wildlife Refuge (Campground)

http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/junquillalbaywildliferefuge.html
GPS: N10 58.149 W85 41.286
Cost: $3 per person per day for camping, $13 per person for park entry
Date we stayed: April 21, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: The park entry fee is a bit steep if you're only staying one night. Tons of animals and a very well maintained camping area with friendly and helpful park rangers. Sunsets on the beach are amazing.

Brasilito Lodge (Hotel with Campground)

http://www.brasilitolodge.net/english.htm
Playa Brasilito
GPS: N10 24.439 W85 47.857
Cost: $4 per person per night
Date we stayed: April 23, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Website says it has wifi, but it does not. Owners were rude and not at all helpful. OK place to pitch a tent if you want to get an early start heading down the Nicoya Peninsula.

Camping Mora (Campground)

Playa Carrillo
GPS: N9 52.124 W85 30.079
Cost: $4 per person per night
Date we stayed: April 24, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Very friendly and helpful owners. Good covered areas to cook under. Showers are bit rustic. Lots of bugs and even more crabs! Close to Playa Carrillo which is a beautiful beach and less crowded than nearby Playa Samara.

Arenal Volcano National Park (Campground)

GPS: N10 27.755 W84 44.399
Cost: $5 per person per night
Date we stayed: April 27, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Across the street from the main entrance to Arenal Volcano National Park. Camping in a field in the middle of a farm, lots of animals!

Lake Arenal (Campground)

El Castillo
GPS: N10 25.860 W84 45.502
Cost: Free
Date we stayed: April 28, 2012

Water & Bathroom: No
Showers: No
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: On the shores of Lake Arenal in the town of El Castillo, just off the main road through town before the pizza shop. No services, but it's free and offers an amazing view of the volcano.

Pension Santa Elena (Hostel with Camping Area)

http://www.pensionsantaelena.com/
Santa Elena
GPS: N10 19.048 W84 49.421
Cost: $5 per person per night
Date we stayed: April 29, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: Yes (Taco Taco next door)

Notes: A great, cheap place to stay in the middle of Santa Elena. Offers all the amenities, hot(!) showers and a great kitchen. Camping is in the back and the parking lot is guarded 24 hours a day.

El Rodeo Inn and Steakhouse (Hotel)

http://www.elrodeohotel.com/
Near San Jose Airport
GPS: N9 58.641 W84 11.971
Cost: $100 for a deluxe room
Date we stayed: May 2, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: We stayed here when our parents flew in after dark, and again the night before they left early. Ten minutes from the airport. Had our parents not been paying we would not have stayed here. It is a very nice hotel, cheaper than other boutique hotel options. The steakhouse restaurant is also very good, and not expensive given Costa Rican prices.

Truchas Selva Madre (Campground)

http://www.truchasselvamadre.com/en/home.php
Cerro de la Muerte
GPS: N9 40.144 W83 52.684
Cost: $10 per person, per night
Date we stayed: May 13, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: No
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: High in the mountains, relatively cold weather. Crowded with locals on the weekend, especially Sunday, but very few overnighters. Covered areas for cooking. Trout pond for fishing, gear provided. $9 per kilo, no catch and release, expensive but delicious. Beautiful 1.5 mile hiking trail into the cloud forest behind the restaurant.

Rancho Remos (Campground and Cabins)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecolodge-Ranchos-Remo/205982422826520
Uvita
GPS: N9 11.478 W83 46.335
Cost: $5 per person per night
Date we stayed: May 17, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: A lucky find. Look for the camping sign on the main street just outside Uvita. Beautiful view, lots of toucans. Brand new bathrooms and covered area to cook under. Very friendly owners who will made food in their restaurant on request.

Vista Drake (Hostel with Campground)

http://www.drakeview.com/
Bahia Drake
GPS: N8 41.389 W83 39.969
Cost: $7 per person per night
Date we stayed: May 18, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Parking in front of the hostel, it's a bit of a climb up to the camping area. Covered tent areas. A great view of Drake Bay. The roads to Drake aren't the greatest, they were newly graded but did involve a few shallow river crossings. 4x4 recommended.

Playa Josecito (Camping Area)

GPS: N8 39.131 W83 42.769
Cost: Free
Date we stayed: May 19, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: A beautiful free place to camp south of Drake Bay near the Corcovado. Scarlet macaws everywhere, an amazing beach and not a person in sight. River crossings and bad roads, 4x4 required. Pack your trash out. Camping on the grass in front of the house, next to the soccer field. Can use the covered shelter for cooking. Do not camp on the soccer field or beach, the tide is high, and low areas will flood if it rains.

Freshwater hose and open shower on the beach. Bathrooms in the school you can use if you ask for a key. A lodge with a bar and restaurant 500m down the beach will also let you use their showers and bathrooms.

Cabinas Jimenez (Hotel)

http://www.cabinasjimenez.com/
Puerto Jimenez
GPS: N8 32.437 W83 18.408
Cost: $80 for a waterfront cabin (low season prices)
Date we stayed: May 21, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No (fridge, microwave and coffee makers in room)
Restaurant: No, but many nearby

Notes: A great place, the owners cut us a deal for staying two nights. Don't leave your stuff on the porch, we had a few things stolen. The owners were very sorry and incredibly helpful, dealing with the police and talking to locals to try and recover our stuff. They were putting up security cameras the day we left. And they gave us a free night stay. Can't recommend enough if you want to splurge after camping for free without facilities in the jungle for a few days.

Carate Beach (Camping Area)

Carate
GPS: N8 26.559 W83 27.760
Cost: Free
Date we stayed: May 23, 2012

Water & Bathroom: No
Showers: No
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: 4x4 required. River crossings can flood if rains are bad. Do not leave anything unattended on the beach. Pack your trash out. There's a shop at the end of the road offering cold beer, bathrooms, showers and food for a cost. If you're headed into Corcovado you can park your car behind the store for $5 a day. Buy the old Canadian expat a beer and listen to some of his stories!

Sirena Ranger Station (Dorms and Camping Area)

Corcovado National Park
GPS: N8 28.791 W83 35.376
Cost: $8 per person for dorm, $4 per person to camp, $10 per person per day park fee
Date we stayed: May 24, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: Make reservations in Puerto Jimenez. You must do this, or arrange through a tour organizer. It's an 11 mile hike from Carate. You can take a boat from Bahia Drake, and you can take a boat or fly from Puerto Jimenez.

Dorms are two bunk beds each in a screened room. Bugs can be a problem, bring mosquito nets or lots of DEET. Camping area is in a covered pavilion. Meals can be provided with reservation, but cost $20-25 per person per meal. There is a building for cooking next to the camping area. Water can be bought for $4 per 2 liter bottle, or purified from the tap. Pack out all trash.

Comments

 

#1 Helga Shindler 2013-12-11 09:29

Do you have to make reservation in advance in the summer months? Or is it even advisable to tent-camp there in the summer? If you have more information, we would be interested. Thank you.

 

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