Boutique Hotel Aguas Claras Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Playa Chiquita
Vibe
Curved papaya-hued loungers flank the pool amid dense canopy, while vintage Caribbean timber cottages catch the ocean breeze.
“Artistic jungle atelier”
Victorian-Caribbean timber cottages filled with Elizabeth Steinvorth watercolors, upcycled vintage furniture, and whimsical retro-pastel palettes.
Weekend DJ sets at poolside Papaya and relaxed sunset gatherings around the lantern-lit beach club deck.
Afro-Caribbean menus featuring Dock to Dish seafood, surrounded by coastal jungle where sloths and toucans roam.
Tucked in the coastal jungle along Playa Chiquita, a quiet stretch south of Puerto Viejo.
“Along the coastline, Hotel Aguas Claras is an anomaly and a gem. It has a clubby, local vibe, bringing guests and the community together.”
Rooms
Deluxe bungalows offer private plunge pools, while timber suites and open-air cottages feature wraparound verandas and outdoor showers.
“Hotel Aguas Claras, where you can see sloths climbing in poolside trees.”
Wellness
Casa Gandhi is an open-sided wooden pavilion beside a lily pond, hosting aerial yoga sessions and restorative Ayurvedic massages.
Backstory
A mother and daughter duo reimagined older seaside cottages, blending Victorian-Caribbean architecture with their own paintings and upcycled furniture.
Eat & drink
Papaya serves Afro-Caribbean dishes beside the pool, while DaLime Beach Club mixes craft cocktails right above the sand of Playa Chiquita.
The neighborhood
Unpaved jungle tracks lead straight to the calm reef waters of Playa Chiquita, with Puerto Viejo a short bike ride away.
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.