Costa Rica Hotels Worth Booking Just for the Pool

The Best Hotel Pools in Costa Rica

Some hotels in Costa Rica are worth booking just for the pool alone.

Costa Rica has hot spring pools in the rainforest, infinity pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean, mountain-view pools, and small boutique hotels where you might have the pool completely to yourself. If you’re planning a trip and trying to decide where to stay in Costa Rica, these are some of the best hotel pools in Costa Rica and the hotels we recommend most often to our clients.

Woman at the infinity edge of the Kura Design Villas pool looking out over the jungle and Pacific Ocean toward the Whale's Tail in Uvita, Costa Rica

Aerial view of Kura Design Villas, its green roof and twin infinity pools set on a rainforest ridge above the Pacific in Uvita, Costa Rica

Kura Boutique Hotel – Uvita

Infinity Pool with Panoramic Ocean Views

If we are talking about views, it’s hard to beat the view from the infinity pool at Kura in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica. This adults-only 12 room hotel is one of our favorite Costa Rica hotels for honeymooners or couples who just want a quiet getaway. The infinity pool overlooks the jungle, the Pacific Ocean, and the famous ‘Whale’s Tail’ beach at Marino Ballena National Park. Extra mention for the private pool in the Master Suite *chef’s kiss*

If you want a ‘similar‘ view without the luxury price tag, Villas Alturas is just slightly north and has a beautiful pool with panoramic ocean views and is a great value option in this area. This is one of our favorite budget-friendly hotels in Costa Rica.

If you’re going to rent a car here (which we recommend for most Southern Zone Costa Rica trips), make sure it’s a 4×4 because the road here is no joke. Having a car is the easiest way to explore this region, especially if you want to visit Uvita, Ojochal, and the surrounding beaches. Make sure you check out our 7 Common Travel Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Trip to Costa Rica for more tips on driving!

Arenal Volcano framed by palms and greenery across the infinity pool from the main pool bar at The Springs Resort & Spa, with rattan bar stools in the foreground, Costa Rica

Man soaking in a jungle hot-spring pool beneath a cascading waterfall at Club Rio, The Springs Resort, beside the river in Arenal, Costa Rica

Swim-up pool bar with submerged stools under a wooden pergola, framed by palms and a waterfall, at The Springs Resort hot springs in Arenal, Costa Rica

The Springs Resort & Spa– Arenal

And the Secret Pools at Club Rio

The volcano view from the main pool bar at The Springs Resort & Spa is iconic, you’ve probably seen pictures of it on Instagram or in other “best hotel pools in Costa Rica” articles. But what we actually want to focus on are the pools most people miss.

The Springs Resort has an outdoor activity center called Club Rio that sits about a mile down the hill from the main resort (there’s a free shuttle that runs throughout the day). Once you get down there, if you walk behind the restaurant and follow the hiking trails, you’ll find what are, in our opinion, some of the best hot spring pools in Arenal.

This might be a controversial opinion because Arenal has a lot of hot springs, but these pools are hidden along jungle paths, some overlooking the river, and they’re usually quiet enough that you might have one to yourself. These hidden hot springs are the main reason this spot made our list of the best hotel pools in Costa Rica.

PS- don’t miss the monkey slide while you are here!

A couple relaxing under a rock waterfall in a hot-spring pool, the woman sipping a tropical cocktail, at Arenal Springs Resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Swim-up sushi and pool bar with a sushi board and menus set out beside the hot-spring pool at Arenal Springs Resort, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Arenal Springs Resort

Hot Springs Pool Bar + Sushi

The pools here aren’t the most dramatic in the country or even in Arenal, compared to some of the luxury resorts, but the pool bar here is a vibe (but still family-friendly!) and because of that, made it on the list. The swim-up pool bar doubles as a sushi bar, which is very fun and makes it very easy to spend an entire afternoon moving between hot spring pools, drinks, and sushi.

This is also one of the best value hot spring hotels in Arenal, which is why we recommend it so often when clients want hot springs in Costa Rica without the higher price tag of some of the luxury Arenal hotels. This is a really solid option.

Outdoor pool edged with red ti plants and a palm at Xandari Resort, overlooking the Central Valley and mountains near San José, Costa Rica

Tray of sparkling wine and snacks on the edge of a private plunge pool at Xandari Resort, overlooking the Central Valley and mountains near San José, Costa Rica

Xandari Resort – Central Valley

Pool with City Views

Xandari Resort is one of our favorite hotels near the San José airport and one we recommend often for the first or last night of a Costa Rica trip. The pool overlooks the Central Valley and the city in the distance. We love that you can actually watch planes land at the airport while sitting by the pool, which is surprisingly fun. And they have 3 outdoor pools!

The real secret here, though, is the spa. The spa is set lower on the property and has some of the best views at the hotel. If you book a spa treatment, plan to arrive early and spend time enjoying the jacuzzi with a view.

Couple at the infinity edge of the main pool at Origins Lodge, looking over the northern plains and rainforest toward Nicaragua, Bijagua, Costa Rica

Couple in a private villa plunge pool beside a suspended wood-burning fireplace, overlooking the rainforest at Origins Lodge in Bijagua, Costa Rica

Open-air restaurant terrace with a curved wooden roof and a hanging daybed beside the infinity pool overlooking the rainforest at Origins Lodge in Bijagua, Costa Rica

Origins Lodge – Northern Costa Rica

Off-the-Beaten-Path Luxury Boutique

Origins Lodge is one of the most unique hotels in Costa Rica. The main pool has a panoramic view looking out over the northern plains toward Nicaragua, and the setting feels very remote and peaceful.

But the highlight here is the private plunge pools in the rooms. Each villa has a wood-burning fireplace that heats the jacuzzi, so you can sit in the plunge pool with a fire next to you. It’s a really special property and perfect for couples or anyone who wants to disconnect for a few days and stay somewhere completely different.

Flame water feature rising from the infinity pool against a fiery Pacific sunset at Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Guests by the clifftop infinity pool lit with flaming torches at dusk, beside the green-roofed lodge above the Pacific bay at Casa Chameleon, Las Catalinas, Costa Rica

Casa Chameleon – Playa Danta (Las Catalinas)

Private Plunge Pools and Fiery Costa Rica Sunsets

Casa Chameleon has some of the best sunset views in Costa Rica, and every room has a private plunge pool overlooking the ocean. The main infinity pool is beautiful as well, and the built-in water fire features are fun and very Instagram-worthy. This is one of our favorite adults-only beach hotels in Costa Rica for couples!

Lagarta Lodge – Nosara

Jungle Meets Ocean Views

Another infinity pool makes the list, but the view here is different from many of the others. The pool overlooks the river, the protected nature reserve, and the ocean in the distance, so it feels very green and immersed in the setting. There are several pools to choose from at different temperatures. It’s a very family-friendly property and a great option for anyone looking to spend time in Nosara.

Indoor spa pool at Hacienda AltaGracia under a vaulted ceiling of cascading greenery and purple flowers, with loungers and floor-to-ceiling windows onto the Pérez Zeledón mountains, Costa Rica

Indoor spa pool with a bubbling jacuzzi in the foreground and double-height windows onto the mountains at Hacienda AltaGracia in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica

Hacienda AltaGracia – Spa Pool

Best Spa Pool in Costa Rica

Hacienda AltaGracia isn’t in one of the main tourist areas like Arenal or Guanacaste, it’s located in the mountains of Pérez Zeledón in southern Costa Rica, which makes it feel more like a hidden destination. The property has several outdoor pools, but the one that makes our list is the indoor spa pool. The spa here is one of the best wellness experiences in Costa Rica, and the indoor pool overlooking the mountains is incredible. If a high-end spa and wellness experience are important to your trip, this is absolutely the place for you.

Beachfront swimming pools with blue loungers among palms by day, steps from Tamarindo Beach and the Pacific, at Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Glowing beachfront pool at dusk beside the open-air thatched bar at Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort, with palms silhouetted against the sunset over the Pacific in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Tamarindo Diria

Budget Beachfront Pool

If I saw Tamarindo Diria on a list of the best pools in Costa Rica, I would be a little suspicious, but hear me out! The pool itself isn’t as breathtaking as some of the others on this list, BUT the location makes it worth including. It’s true beachfront, budget-friendly, family-friendly, and walkable to everything in Tamarindo, which is hard to beat. It’s a bit more no-frills, but it’s a solid option if you want to be on the beach, near restaurants and shops, and not break the bank! This is also a great home base we recommend for a 5-day trip to Costa Rica.

Aerial view of the turtle-shaped pool and rainforest bungalows of Pachira Lodge beside the canal in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Free-form swimming pool with sun loungers and a planter of magenta plants below the open-air restaurant, surrounded by rainforest at Pachira Lodge in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Pachira Lodge – Tortuguero

The Turtle-Shaped Pool

We had to include Pachira Lodge simply because the pool is shaped like a turtle and we think that’s fun. Tortuguero is famous for sea turtles so it’s very on the nose here.

If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica and want help choosing the right hotels with the best pools, let us help!

Which pool is your favorite? Did we miss any on our list? Let us know!