Where to Stay in Puerto Jimenez: 12 BEST Hotels with the Best Location
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Close to the tip of Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula sits the small town of Puerto Jimenez, home to just over 3,000 inhabitants. This historic logging and gold mining community is one of the biggest towns in the peninsula that boasts marvelous natural beauty.
Puerto Jimenez may look like a typical neighborhood with a simple life, but there’s actually more to this modest seaside town than what meets the eye! It is a go-to destination for visitors wanting to explore the raw nature of the Osa Peninsula. Additionally, this area is bustling with nightlife as it’s the main town in the area.
There is so much to see and do in Puerto Jimenez (despite its small size)! This is exactly why finding the best hotel with the best location to fit your needs in Puerto Jimenez is crucial to making the most out of your visit.
If you’re one of those looking where to stay in Puerto Jimenez, you’ve come to the right place! I have collated some hotels situated in and out of town to come up with this blog, which can help travelers with either a low or big budget.
Where to Stay in Puerto Jimenez: The BEST Areas
You can get two totally different vibes depending on if you stay at a hotel right in the town of Puerto Jimenez, or a hotel at a remote property outside the town. So, this blog will give you a closer look at what to expect in these two locations.
If you have your own car, driving and traveling around the town will be a piece of cake for you. You won’t experience heavy traffic, and finding a parking lot isn’t too hard! What a relief, right?
While public transport like colectivos, taxis, and public buses are available in town, they operate only on occasion. So, I suggest booking hotels right in town if you don’t have personal vehicles, since staying downtown means being able to walk around easily. Puerto Jimenez is very small after all.
If you wish to spend time on the beach, the one in Puerto Jimenez isn’t the best. You would need to head out of town for the best beaches. So, it’s best to reserve accommodations outside the town.
On the other hand, wildlife is probably the prime feature here. Wildlife is everywhere in the area. In fact, you’ll get to see birds, monkeys, and even sloths in town. But, a nature stay is more ideal out of town.
While other people look forward to the town’s wildlife, most travelers visit Puerto Jimenez to check out Corcovado National Park, which is around a 1.5-hour drive away. So, if you’re one of these visitors, I recommend booking a hotel near Carate, which serves as the entrance to the national park. This town is a little over two hours away from Puerto Jimenez.
Accommodations in Carate treat guests to a special nature retreat close to the national park. This means you can be the first to visit the 41,000-hectare park every day.
Below you’ll find information about 12 different hotels in and around Puerto Jimenez. I’ve included a detailed explanation of the location of each hotel so you can easily pick one in the area that works best for your trip.
4 BEST Hostels and Budget Hotels in Puerto Jimenez
The Palapa Nature Hut Hostel & Camping
The Palapa Hut Nature Hostel & Campground is situated a little outside of Puerto Jimenez, sitting just 350 m (.2 miles) away from the center of town. Regarding transportation, buses are available nearby and restaurants and shops in town are all easily within walking distance.
The hostel’s facilities include a garden, public and private parking space, a shared lounge, luggage storage, a table tennis court, and a bar. There’s also free Wi-Fi access and meeting facilities on-site.
When it comes to the type of accommodation available, there are single rooms, dormitory rooms, quadruple rooms, twin rooms, and double rooms. Tents are also available here! Rates of one bunk bed in dorms start at approximately $32 USD/two nights while a room for two costs almost $43 USD/night.
I personally consider this hostel one of the best Puerto Jimenez hotels because of its tranquil setting. It is surrounded by a lush green forest home to monkeys, birds, and more – but it’s also so close to the center of town! Moreover, several activities like horse riding, hiking, and more can be booked directly here. And, if you like swimming and snorkeling, the nearest beach to the property lies only 300 m (.2 miles) away!
Kind in mind, Carate (where you can access Corcovado National Park) is more than a two-hour-long drive away. Tours can easily be organized through the hostel. Check availability and reserve a spot on Booking.com.
La Palapa Hut Nature Hostel
Corcovado Wild Hostel is located right in Puerto Jimenez, just 300 m (.2 miles) away from the town center and 42 km (26 miles) from Carate. Public transport is available around the property, particularly buses. The bus station is a mere 15-minute walk away.
The property has a jungle atmosphere with animals and there is a beautiful garden to walk through.
Regarding the in-house facilities and amenities, there’s free parking space and a fully-equipped kitchen that guests can share. For additional convenience, complimentary Wi-Fi access is provided but it tends to be hit and miss.
Guests can choose to book a double room, a twin room, or a triple room. For individual travelers, a bed in a dormitory room can be reserved. Rates for private rooms here start at approximately $41 USD/night.
Thanks to its location, you have easy accessibility to horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and a walking tour! Water activities like snorkeling, fishing, and surfing are also available nearby, with the closest beach lying 800 m (.5 miles) away. Hence, Corcovado Wild Hostel is the best fit if you wish to stay downtown but near the beach. You can book a room here on Hotels.com or here on Expedia.
Bolita Rainforest Hostel and Cabinas
Bolita Rainforest Hostel and Cabinas is a budget hostel in the middle of the jungle in Dos Brazos village. It is situated 14 km (8.7 miles) from Puerto Jimenez town.
Accommodations here include a mixed dormitory room, a double room, a twin room, and a two-bedroom house. One bed in a dormitory room costs approximately $14 USD/night while a double room is priced at $40 USD/night (not bad, right?!).
In addition to rooms, the hostel also offers a shared kitchen, free private/street parking, complimentary Wi-Fi access in public areas, a designated smoking area, and luggage storage.
Around the property are lots of activities, such as horseback riding and hiking. More activities await you at Corcovado National Park, which is only 2 km (1.2 miles) away from the property. So, if you are into thrilling adventures but you don’t know where to stay in Puerto Jimenez, look no further than Bolita Rainforest Hostel and Cabinas.
In case you don’t have a car, public transport tickets can be booked at the hostel for an additional charge. They have a free airport shuttle offered on-site too! Check prices and availability for Bolita Rainforest Hostel and Cabinas here on Booking.com.
Albergue La Laguna
The last budget hotel on my list of places to stay in Puerto Jimenez is Albergue La Laguna. It is set remotely amid a jungle that boasts great biodiversity of flora and fauna, making it ideal for nature lovers. From here, Puerto Jimenez is almost an hour-long drive away, but the Corcovado National Park is only a 10-minute walk away!
This pet-friendly property features a garden, a free private parking space nearby, and a restaurant that offers an American or vegetarian breakfast. There’s also a patio and a balcony where you can unwind and take in the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Available accommodations here include a double or twin room with lake views and a twin room with mountain views. Room prices here start at nearly $20 USD/night.
When in Albergue La Laguna, there is plenty of nearby hiking to enjoy, you can even arrange it with the hotel for an additional charge. Check availability online here on Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia.
Related Read: Heading to Uvita? Check out the best hotels in Uvita to help you decide where to stay!
5 BEST Mid-Range Hotels in Puerto Jimenez
Cabinas Jimenez
Cabinas Jimenez is one of the best hotels in Puerto Jimenez that is situated along the shore! It sits right by the beach of Gulfo Dulce, just 550 m (.3 miles) away from the town center of Puerto Jimenez. For this reason, Cabinas Jimenez is an excellent choice if you’re wanting to stay near the sea and the vibrant town at the same time.
The in-house facilities include an outdoor pool, a private/street parking space, luggage storage, barbecue facilities, a garden, and a terrace. On top of this, there’s a massage room where you can pamper your body.
What I love about Cabinas Jimenez is that it offers activities like cycling, kayaking, snorkeling, and other water sports. The hotel can even arrange more activities and guided tours in Corcovado National Park, which is located a two-hour drive away from the hotel. You can take private transport or a public colectivo bus to Carate (the entrance to the national park).
This beachfront hotel offers a double room, a triple room, a quadruple room, and a family room. Each room is air-conditioned, has complimentary Wi-Fi, and sea views. Room rates start at $70 USD/night. Check availability online at Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia.
Hotel Hoja de Oro Corcovado
Hotel Hoja de Ora Corcovado is also a top choice if you’re wanting to stay right in Puerto Jimenez. It sits only 200 m (650 ft) from the town center, while the Corcovado National Park is a two-hour drive away.
The types of accommodation you can book here include a double room, a triple room, and a quadruple room. Room rates range from $37 to $110 USD per night
Apart from rooms, this mid-range hotel also houses a common kitchen, free private parking, and a shared lounge/TV area. And, throughout the property, complimentary Wi-Fi is available for use. What’s more, a free continental breakfast is served each morning on-site!
If you’re in the mood for an adventure, check out the hotel’s tour desk for activities and tours! You can book a room online here on Booking.com, here on Hotels.com, and here on Expedia.
Danta Corcovado Lodge
Danta Corcovado Lodge is also one of the best hotels in Puerto Jimenez in terms of offering a nature stay. Located in La Palma town, it is a 30-minute drive away from the town center, so you’re sure to enjoy nothing but a natural environment.
Within the property, you can find a library, a business center, gardens, a designated smoking area, a terrace/patio, a bar, and a restaurant. For other food options, there’s international-style seafood and fast food restaurant just 3 km (1.9 miles) outside of Palma.
If you want to embark on an adventure, outings, and tours can be arranged at the lodge, including tours in Corcovado National Park, which lies 11 km (6.8 miles) from the property. Booking public transport, particularly taxis, can also be done at the hotel.
Bungalows are available here at Danta Corcovado Lodge. One bungalow can accommodate up to four persons, and rates start at $212 USD/night. You can check availability and reserve a room online on Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, and Expedia here.
Finca La Bonita
Surrounded by lush greenery, Finca La Bonita is another great nature retreat, especially for those who wish to stay close to the Corcovado National Park. The property is located in Playa Carate in Carate town, sitting 18 km (11 miles) from the national park and nearly a two-hour drive from Puerto Jimenez.
From both the grounds of this beautiful property and nearby walking trails there will be lots of oppotunities to see wildlife!
For activities, you can head to the nearest beach, Carate Beach, which is only 200 m (650 ft) away from Finca La Bonita. While swimming here is not recommended because of the riptides and sharks you can aways tan. There are also nearby waterfalls and rivers that are ideal for swimming.
The hotel is ideal for couples and a group of four as they offer double and quadruple rooms. Rates here start at approximately $160 USD/for two nights minimum. Besides the accommodations, a few facilities like a restaurant, terrace, garden, and a free private parking space can be found on-site. You can check rates and availability for Finca La Bonita here on Booking.com.
Scarlet House
Scarlet House is a hotel hidden in the lavish jungle in Carate town, which makes it another suitable option for nature lovers. It is two hours away by car from Puerto Jimenez, where you can purchase food, supplies, and gas before heading straight to Carate.
I consider this one of the best hotels in Puerto Jimenez as it has a tranquil atmosphere and is equipped with various facilities including free private parking space, a garden, a terrace, and a snack. As a holiday home, it also has a living area and kitchen.
Moreover, three bedrooms are available here, each with bed linen and a wardrobe/closet. The whole house, which is ideal for up to eight persons, can be rented for approximately $345 USD/night but keep in mind that there is a two night minimum.
Scarlet House is also great for beach lovers and families who wish to stay near Corcovado National Park. The closest beach to the property is 700 m (.4 miles) away and the national park lies 16 km (10 miles) away. Considering these, guests can engage in activities like snorkeling, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and more! Check availability for Scarlet House on Booking.com here.
3 BEST Luxury Hotels in Puerto Jimenez
Iguana Lodge Beach Resort and Spa
If a luxury accommodation right on the beach is what you’re looking for, then Iguana Lodge Beach Resort and Spa has gotta be your top pick! It sits on Playa Platanares, just 3.2 km (2 miles) from the center of Puerto Jimenez and more than a two-hour drive from Carate.
Here, you can expect a terrace, a garden, an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, and water sports facilities. What makes this resort more special is that it houses a hot tub, a business center, a bar, a restaurant, a fitness center, and even a spa center.
You can even engage in sports like tennis and table tennis on-site. Meanwhile, the surrounding area is popular for hiking, cycling, walking tours, tours about local culture, and others.
With regard to rooms, Iguana Lodge Beach Resort offers twin/double rooms, double rooms, quadruple rooms, and family rooms. Room rates start at nearly $224 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room online on Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia.
Luna Lodge
Luna Lodge is a secluded property and one of the top Puerto Jimenez hotels, especially in relation to offering a perfect combination of luxury and a quiet retreat far from the buzzing town center. Located in Carate, the lodge is surrounded by tropical rainforest. It is ideal for nature lovers and those wanting to escape their city life.
The property boasts an organic swimming pool, a yoga room, a spa center, a bar, and a restaurant. Additionally, complimentary Wi-Fi is available in common areas. Meanwhile, free private parking is possible at a nearby location.
At Luna Lodge, you can book a bungalow, a triple room, or a tent. Accommodation rates start at approximately $386 USD/night.
If you wish to explore the area, the property can arrange tours in the rainforest and tour guides to take you around Corcovado National Park, which is 5 km (3 miles) away from the lodge. Other than that, activities like bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding can be organized on-site.
Meanwhile, if you wish to visit Puerto Jimenez, it will require a two-hour drive.
Check availability and make a reservation for Luna Lodge online on Booking.com, on Hotels.com, or on Expedia.
LagunaVistas Villas
LagunaVista Villas is the final luxury hotel on my list. Established in Carate, it is nearly a two-hour drive from Puerto Jimenez. Also, the property is located 200 m (650 ft) from the beach, just across the lagoon.
Set in the middle of towering lush trees, LagunaVista Villas is complete with a variety of facilities like an outdoor pool, gardens, bar and restaurant, BBQ facilities, water sports facilities, a terrace, a yoga room, and a free parking space. Complimentary Wi-Fi can be accessed in public areas of the hotel.
Bungalows are the only available accommodations here and they can accommodate up to four persons. Prices start at almost $864 USD/two nights.
Lots of activities can be enjoyed on-site and around the property, including fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and hiking. In particular, you can hike to the Corcovado National Park entrance that will take up to 40 minutes.
All things considered, LagunaVista Villas is a top choice for beach lovers and adventure seekers. You can book a bungalow online on Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia.
Things to do in Puerto Jimenez
Corcovado National Park – This stunnning national park on the Osa Peninsulas hould be at the top of your list while staying in Puerto Jimenez. It’s home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity so as you can image there is lots to se here! From Puerto Jimenez you can take a boat and then join a walking once at the park your OR choose a guided tour such as this one. Whatever you do make sure to reserve your tour in advance as there is a daily cap of 150 visitors.
Rancho Raices de Osa Chocolate Tour – While coffee farms in Mexico aren’t as widely known as South American countries like Colombia, this particular coffee farm is a special place. The Ranch Raices de Osa Chocolate Tour has all 5-star reviews. If that doesn’t convince you, you’ll get to tour the scenic property, learn about their plants and organic farming process, and the best part, make some chocolate for yourself to take home!
Sightsee by bike – Biking around Puerto Jimenez is one of the simplest activitites you can do but it’s the easiest ways to check out the entire area including the beaches. It’s also very cheap and you can find rentals in town for around $20 USD.
Explore the mangrove forest by kayak – One of the most unique adventures that you can do in Puerto Jimenez is to go kayaking through the calm waters of the dense mangrove forests that stand over 21 meters (70 ft) tall. This particular tour will teach you about the fragile environment and wildlife. It’s possible to see monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, lizards, crabs, crocodiles, caimans, snakes, all types of birds, butterflies! After you’ll transfer over to the oceans to continue kayaking with dolphins.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
I hope that this guide was helpful and made your decision of where to stay in Puerto Jimenez a little easier! I am sure you are going to enjoy this hidden jewel in the Osa Peninsula regardless of where you stay.
Be sure to have a look at some of my other blog articles about Costa Rica – there are plenty of informative blogs to help plan your trip including:
COMPLETE Guide to Visiting Corcovado National Park
