Hotel Playa Bejuco

What it's like

Hotel Playa Bejuco sits in the Esterillos area of the Central Pacific coast, a stretch of long, open beaches between Jacó and Quepos that stays much quieter than either town. The hotel describes itself as a family hotel, and that's the feel: a two-story building set around a pool, with palms, gardens and plenty of loungers.

The beach is about 200 m away. Playa Bejuco is wide and open to the ocean, with strong waves that are good for surfing, plus room for long walks, volleyball and fishing. The hotel asks parents to keep kids close in the water and stick to the marked safe zones, which tells you this is a real surf beach, not a calm bay.

The hotel runs mostly on solar power, with panels on its roofs, and it frames its whole concept around a quiet, nature-focused stay. Daily breakfast is included in its rates.

Rooms

There are three room types:

• Deluxe double: up to 2 guests, queen or king bed, with pool or ocean views
• Deluxe triple: up to 3 guests, king or twin beds
• Deluxe family: up to 4 guests, overlooking the gardens and pools

All rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, a safe, a fridge, a hair dryer, Wi-Fi and hot water. The double and family rooms have bathtubs.

Food and facilities

The main restaurant sits on the top floor above the lobby and serves dinner in the evening. A poolside restaurant handles breakfast and lunch, and there's a pool bar in the afternoon. There are two pools, one for adults and one for kids, plus a jacuzzi, a games room with billiards, a playground and a garden terrace.

The front desk runs a tour desk and can arrange airport shuttles and car hire. The hotel also hosts weddings, private parties and business meetings.

What to do from here

A surf school operates close to the hotel, and the Esterillos area has canopy tours, ATV and bike rides, fishing and boat trips. It's an easy day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park to the south. See our Manuel Antonio trip planner and surfing guide for more.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It suits families, couples and surfers who want a pool, an uncrowded beach and a calm base. If you want to walk to restaurants and nightlife, Jacó or Manuel Antonio will suit you better, and you'll want a car to explore from here.

Getting there

Playa Bejuco is on the Costanera coastal highway, south of Jacó and north of Quepos. Most travelers drive or take a shuttle from San José. Costa Rica Journeys has its own write-up of Hotel Playa Bejuco, and there's also a Hotel Playa Bejuco profile on Costa Rica Eco Lodges, which looks at its solar setup.