Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Capitán Suizo

Nature, tranquility, luxury, and an unbeatably beautiful beach setting make this environmentally conscious boutique hotel the most elegant choice in town. Nestled in a tiny forest between Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta, the hotel offers a variety of room types. Balcony rooms surround a large, curvaceous pool shaded by native trees and greenery. If there's ever been a place to splurge, it's on Room 75, with stunning hardwood floors, a private balcony, and a linen-draped canopy bed that looks onto the sea. Enclosed by walls of glass, the airy bungalows have Jacuzzi tubs, outdoor showers, and sunken lounge areas. Second-floor rooms in the main building have high, angled ceilings and lots of screens, offering an ocean breeze as an alternative to air-conditioning (which the rooms do have). Lower rooms are smaller and a little darker, with terraces edging the lush garden, which is visited by iguanas, raccoons, howler monkeys, and birds. A beautifully decorated and romantically illuminated terrace restaurant, overlooking the pool and beach, serves upscale, contemporary cuisine and hosts beach barbecues (December 21–May) with live marimba music every Wednesday and Friday night.