Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I have been staying at the Copa every time I visit Costa Rica, which now has been about 10 times over the past 2 years. I love the Copa, its staff, food, entertainment and definitely its location. I love hearing the music in the morning till night. The karaoke nights are awesome along with the live music. The renovations to the hotel are great especially the pool. The rooms are adequate and the prices, reasonable! I have become like family to the staff including the watchdogs, Scruffy and Sally. I always overstay my visit as the Copa is addictive because its so great! Thanks to all the staff, Fernando, Pablito, Edgar, Vivianna, Raquel, Ginger (the best karaoke singer, ever!) and of course the cook Norma and a special shout out to Keki. I can't forget Luis and Katia for their hospitality as well as Vivecca, Ronald and Myrna for their welcomes and Santiago for watching out for me at night! Gracias a todos, los quiero mucho!!!!!!!! Thanks guys, Pura Vida from la chica de Canada, ya sabes, besos y abrazos fuertes!!!!

“Loved the Copa, Copacabana!”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I have been staying at the Copa every time I visit Costa Rica, which now has been about 10 times over the past 2 years. I love the Copa, its staff, food, entertainment and definitely its location. I love hearing the music in the morning till night. The karaoke nights are awesome along with the live music. The renovations to the hotel are great especially the pool. The rooms are adequate and the prices, reasonable! I have become like family to the staff including the watchdogs, Scruffy and Sally. I always overstay my visit as the Copa is addictive because its so great! Thanks to all the staff, Fernando, Pablito, Edgar, Vivianna, Raquel, Ginger (the best karaoke singer, ever!) and of course the cook Norma and a special shout out to Keki. I can't forget Luis and Katia for their hospitality as well as Vivecca, Ronald and Myrna for their welcomes and Santiago for watching out for me at night! Gracias a todos, los quiero mucho!!!!!!!! Thanks guys, Pura Vida from la chica de Canada, ya sabes, besos y abrazos fuertes!!!!

“Excellent”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

Excellent is the only word I can use to describe my stay.

Let me start with my room I stayed in one of the suites with jacuzzi on the Balcony while I was relaxing I was having a drink and watching the ocean.

The food at the Restaurant was amazing, the parties at the Bar incredible.

The Staff is helpful they booked all my tours.

I am booking again for new years everybody told me The Copacabana has the Best New years party and dinner with The Blind Pigs. I will be there for sure.

The Spa was great, relaxing.

They have an Adult Area where you can tan with jacuzzi .

Everything was perfect THANKS.

“Another great visit”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I just had another great trip to Costa Rica, and of course stayed several times in the Copacabana. Often times, when a client becomes familiar with the employees there is an unintentional drop-off in service. But, not at the the Copa. I was greeted every stay, as well as every day, by a hello and a smile. The pool had been refinished, the karioki nights were a blast, the food and drinks were just as good as they always are, the view was beautiful, the beach was right in front of my room. What more can you ask for?

“Love the Copacabana, I go back”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I have stayed at the Copacabana around 20 times. They support the Surfing Federation in Costa Rica, beach cleanups, overall town planning and more. They are one of the "good citizens" of Jaco.

The staff is always friendly with me. I am from the US, but long ago gave up the "ugly American" attitude. I go to Jaco to enjoy the beach, the ocean, the laid back lifestyle. I have been there several times when I heard people say "I changed my flights, and I'm staying here another week...or two!"

I have taken my four children there and they have had a good time, been well treated, and love the food like I do.

The menu is varied and priced very reasonably. Around 10 items for breakfast ranging from fruit plates to heavier fillng omelettes and more. Lunch, snacks, dinners...lots of fresh seafood, all prepared on order.

The suites overlook the ocean...right on the beach really means right on the beach! These are large rooms that easily sleep 4. They provide kitchens and thus a good place to buy local food and cook it ourselves, which we do frequently. The refrigerators are good size for this type of situation, and hold the food well. I was just told they are adding jacuzzi hot tubs on the balconies!

The studio rooms are smaller, but easily adequate for 2. We choose these when we don't plan to cook, and don't need the view. More economical too, when that matters.

The air conditioning, fans, water, lights all work normally. Occasionally there is a problem, like anywhere, but the staff is quick to fix it. Water pressure does vary, but that is a Costa Rica building problem, not a Copacabana problem.

The pool is cleaned daily, and this last trip they were drained and re-tiling the whole thing for even better maintenance.

The new spa is wonderful, the massages great, and the Pina Coladas sweet and delicious.

If you want a great value right on the beach in Jaco, I whole-heartedly recommend the Copacabana Hotel & Suites.

“excellent hotel”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I have stayed at the Copacabana many times over the past few years. I have never had a bad experience. Located close to the main street in Jaco, yet on the beach. The same employees have been there for years, making it a destination that is almost like family. It is relately quiet during the day, with music at night.

Excellant food and service.

I highly recommend the suites. Each has a view of the beach.

This is the only hotel I would stay in Jaco.

“Nice and Fun”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I just came back from Costa Rica, i stay in Heredia for 1 night and then i went to Jaco, i decided to stay at the Copacabana.

The room was great the place is right on the beach and just one block from all the town activities. Is true that there are prostitutes but is not a Copacabana thing is a Country thing, you will see hookers anywhere you stay in Costa Rica....the lights are perfect in the room you dont need anything else... i had and small problem with the ac but they fixed right the way, so was not a big deal.... When you go to Costa Rica you have to remember that you are in a third world country so just enjoy your time there and dont waste your time complaining about everything, If not go to another hotel and pay 300 dollars a night..

Enjoy your trip and enjoy this nice hotel and beatiful country

“At the Copa,,, Copacabana”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

Hi folks, am writing this review to tell you about the staff at this hotel. I listed last time I stayed as November 2007, and this was the last time I actually stayed at the hotel. I was there in March for Easter weekend and they accidentally booked my room. Now, I have been going for years, and am there 6-8 times per year so you have to understand I know the staff well. I had travelled there with a good friend of mine, Dana, and they felt horrible. They put us up in the assistant manager Luis' house. It was awesome. It was another new experience in this wonderful country. The hotel has changed with every visit under the direction of Katia, hotel manager. From the landscaping to other very subltle nuances, the place is just beautiful. It is right on the beach, so if you surf, you don't have to stumble far. Most likely you will be stumbling because you partied all night. The Copacabana is not what I would call a quiet hotel. There is music at night until 11:00, unless the party is a really good one, but they don't keep it up late. If you're looking for quiet and boring, Los Suenos is the place for you. If you want to have some fun and meet some really great people, you have to try this place. Get to know the staff and you will soon have a new family, and probably have a really good time. Something new to the hotels list of amenities would be jet skis and 4 wheel ATV's. Dana and I went with Alonzo and Luis, asst. manager on a ride up in the mountains for sunset, awesome trip. We had a great time. Get some sort of mask or handkerchief though, the dust is incredible when it's been dry. I think if you will give this place a chance, you will find a cool little place. Try to remember you are in costa rica, if you can't deal with little petty inconveniences, do not even go there. If you want to see an absolutely beautiful country and meet some great and friendly people, Copacabana is for you.

“Re our stay”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

We arrived at 1 pm and where shown to our room with no problems.Had a few drinks at pool good service.

We had a breakfast and a wonderfull dinner there as well.

No complaints on this hotel.

Have been in much worse for nightly fees of $175.00

“Enjoyed it!”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

I really enjoyed my one bedroom ocean view suite. They were not very busy when i was there and I wish I had more days there.

It is a lil sleepy place tucked away on the ocean. Nothing fancy but well kept and comfy bed, and nice sized room.

The city was fun and ATV tour was great. Volleyball and surfing in a quaint small town. Security was very good,almost too good...lol.

I highly recomment this place for a relaxing getwaway in a fun town.

Its not posh, but it is wonderful location, views and very nice room.

“Loved Copacabana, can't wait to return!”

Copacabana Hotel & Suites

My husband and I travelled to Costa Rica in October of 2006. We split our stay between two properties owned by the same people. We started at Copacabana Hotel in Jaco. The staff picked us up from the airport and drive us right to the hotel. They checked us in quickly and showed us to our room.

The room was great, it had a big bedroom area and a living room/kitchen area that could be closed off from the bedroom if desired. The living room has a pull out sofa. The balcony view of the beach was amazing. Each morning I would go out on the balcony and enjoy the sunrise over the ocean, indescribable beauty! The hot water came easily and we never had a problem losing it. The kitchen was great to have around, we walked to the graocery store and picked up some staples to have around, it was perfect.

The staff was wonderul, they helped us choose tours and drove us to the dop off locations and then picked us back up. They were prompt and courteous. Escar the driver was great, we miss him! He took us on a tour of Manuel Antonio himself and did quite well as a tour guide. The staff gave us great food recommendations but we mostly ate at the hotel when we were not on tours because the servers were so nice and the food was so good.

The grounds of the hotel were beautiful and although we never went for a swim the pool looked inviting. We went during the off season so we had the palce mostly to ourselves, we really only heard/saw other guests at dinner and a few night we were the only ones down there!

The hotel also was able to exchange money for us at a good rate and had a computer we were able to use to touch base with home.

It was an absolutely magical experience, I just can't say enough about it. We fell in love with Costa Rica, its people, and this hotel

“The Jewel of Jaco - this tropical paradise would be a bargain at twice the price”

Villas Estrellamar

“It certainly looks like we’ve landed in paradise” remarked my friend as we first stepped into the lush tropical grounds of the Estrellamar hotel in Jaco, Costa Rica. This is a sentiment that held true for the entirety of our stay. We visited in March of last year having found a fantastic price on a package deal – flights from Toronto and a week in the hotel for under $500 each! As British students we were rather more used to European travel and weren’t sure what to expect of Central America, but we were most impressed with our stay at Estrellamar and I am confident that we will return.

The hotel is located in the beachside town of Jaco, a relatively small but popular area that is well-located for all of the major attractions. Jaco is a friendly place with many tourist shops, and you can book all of your tours locally or through the hotel reception. The hotel is just a 2-3 minute walk from the beach, which is some 2-3km long, with a mix of golden and volcanic sands, studded with palm trees, and with a warm breeze at some 35-40oC.

In terms of occupancy, the hotel is relatively small, but in an intimate sense. If you are tired of the massive Americanised hotel complexes, then this is probably the place for you. At the end of the week, we knew most of the hotel guests and all of the staff. Most of the staff are proficient in English, and the owners are in fact an American couple. While it is in the very heart of Jaco, it is set away from the streets and situated in the middle of the most beautiful tropical gardens. It is a peaceful location where silence is broken only by the songs of the tropical bids in the surrounding palms.

There are two places to relax. There is a hammock cabana, with some 8-10 hammocks, tables and chairs – because the hotel is fairly small, there’ll always be a spot free. Then there is the pool, surrounded by palm trees and sun-loungers. The water is warm and it is regularly cleaned, staying open until 9-10pm. Right next to the pool you will find the restaurant and bar under a palm cabana. The drinks are fairly cheap and the food is very good. We didn’t go on an all inclusive package as the majority of the time we ate outside of the hotel, but when we did buy food at the Estrellamar we found it to be wholesome and good value. I can’t remember the prices off the top of my head, but breakfast (fresh tropical fruit, toast, bacon, etc, and coffee) was in the region of $2.5, and a main course dinner won’t cost more than about $5. Imperial beer was about $1.50, and cocktails about $4. The staff were very friendly and the food was thoroughly cooked. We were told that the tap water is safe to drink, and from what I’ve heard this is true – but we decided to play on the safe side and go with bottled water, which we got from the hotel reception at a fairly reasonable price.

The rooms were pleasant and, in light of the price, exceeded my expectations. To be honest it was actually better than most student apartments by UK standards :-). We had two large bedrooms, both with air conditioning, a kitchen, a bathroom and a patio. The kitchen was equipped with a refrigerator, sink, hotplates, etc. but in all honesty the food is so cheap that I cannot imagine this being used. The bathroom is equipped with a toilet, a shower cubicle and a sink. The shower has a strong flow and hot water is plentiful. The bedrooms were fairly large, especially the master bedroom, well-lit and equipped with storage units and a wardrobe. There is a wall-safe, but this will cost another $20-30, and the key can be obtained from reception. The area seems very safe, but as it was so cheap, we decided to use the safe. The cleaners do a great job and every day you’ll come home to some fantastic towel art finished off with tropical flowers! I’d recommend leaving the cleaners a tip, just a dollar or so, as they work very hard. The rooms are very clean and maintained to a good standard. Despite being in the centre of a tropical garden, we never had any problems with insects – in fact we didn’t even see so much as a mosquito.

You can book a variety of tours from the hotel reception, but I would recommend having a wander around Jaco before booking anything – there are a good 10 different tour companies offering competitive prices. We booked all of our tours at one stall and negotiated a 20% discount, so it was certainly worth doing. At the reception you are also able to buy and send postcards, and hire bicycles, which is a great way to tour the beach or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, to take the 5 mile journey south to Playa Hermosa. When I was there last year they were in the process of installing an internet connection, which I imagine is now functional.

Well I think I’ve said just about everything I can possibly think of about the hotel. Just a couple of final tips: 1) on your way to the hotel, make sure that your driver stops to show you the huge crocodiles. 2) at the hotel, keep your eyes peeled for the iguanas, two of them are easy to spot as they usually come out to sunbath by the pool – there are another two very large iguanas, one orange/red, and the other bright green!

I would give the hotel Estrellamar my strongest of recommendations. It is a perfect blend: you can enjoy the tranquillity of the tropics in this secluded paradise, and yet it is literally within minutes of beaches, bars, towns and tours. I will happily return. This jewel of Jaco would be a bargain at twice the price.

“Oasis in Jaco”

Villas Estrellamar

This is a great place to relax/recharge in the sometimes hectic Jaco beach and from all of the other CR adventures.

The hotel is right off the main strip in town; however, it feels miles away with its resort-like grounds, pool, hottub, hammocks and restaurant. The staff is very friendly and although the waitresses in the restaurant are a bit more reserved, the food is great and so is the service.

The rooms are nothing to write home about but they are functional and with AC. The separate villas are great to book if you have a group - sleep five comfortably and are free standing within the hotel complex.

To sum it up, this is a great place to relax and enjoy Costa Rican hospitality for a budget price. Pura Vida!

“december and april and I'll go back”

Villas Estrellamar

This place was great a friend of mine found it online and we went in december of last year.Ihad never gone to central america

and was not sure what to expect I loved it and when I had a vacation in april I knew just where I was going villa estrellamar was the best place the owners were so nice and the bartender was very sweet and pretty.the food was very good and great priced if you need to relax this is a great place I'm going back in december and I will be staying at Villa Estrellamar I can't wait wish I was there now

thanks

Tommy Giles

Knoxville,Tn

“Great Value, Relaxing Atmosphere”

Villas Estrellamar

My friends and I frequent Villas Estrellamar in Jaco as we are American/British expats living and working in San Jose. It's a 2-2.5 hours drive from San Jose. The roads are good, even in rainy season and is a wonderful weekend getaway.

When we go to Jaco Beach we almost always stay at Villas Estrellamar since it can accomodate up to 5 people in a villa. It is a convenient walk to the beach (about 5 min.) and bars/clubs, has a clean, medium size pool and a nice, cozy restaurant/bar. The staff are always welcoming with a quick "pura vida" greeting and are very accomodating with requests such as extra keys, etc. The place has a very Tico feel which adds to its charm. A typical villa has 2 good size rooms with a queen size bed each. The bigger room has a pull out couch as well. The villa also includes a kitchenette, small T.V. air-condition and a decent-size bathroom. With 5 people in a villa, we tend to pay about $15-$20 each per night.

Having said all of the above though, my 2 all-time favorite things about Villas Estrellamar are (1) the 6 hammocks attached to a cute little hut in the middle of the villa buildings where anyone can just quietly read a book or talk to friends and forget about work/stress and (2) the iguanas you see among the palm trees circling the vicinity.

I heartily recommend Villas Estrellamar for a tranquila setting, if you get a chance to visit Jaco Beach in the land of pura vida.

A Trip Advisor Member

San Jose, Costa Rica

previously from New York, NY

“Good Expierence”

Hotel Pochote Grande

Manager was very friendly. Food was good. Service was decent. Right on the beach. Clean, affordable. A little hard to find, make sure your cab driver in San Jose knows the place!!

“Lovely hotel, friendly staff”

Hotel Pochote Grande

Just outside of the Jaco Crowd you find this little hotel. De buildings are no higher then 2 floors and everything looks lovely. The food is great and the desert even better. The staff is really friendly and remembers your name. We planned to stay there 1 night but extended our stay with 3 more nights. It's also right on the beach! and a short walk from the jaco crowd.

The only thing is the construction work besides the building. From 8 in the morning untill 6 at night it's noisy. Too bad! But even though.. would still go back there.. had a great time!

“Nice but Construction Sucked...”

Hotel Pochote Grande

Just popped in and they had a room so we took it. Pleasant enough with the tie-dye decor! Was hot out so we appeciated the AC. Great location being right on the beach but the construction next door is a total bummer. Noisy until late at night and they start back to work early! Took a swim in the pool which felt good on a hot afternoon. Walked into town (relatively short walk) for dinner. Enjoyed the Taco Bar! The breakfast was good. Overall it was a very nice little place though one wonders what all the construction in Jaco will do to this once quaint spot. The Pochete Grand is a great spot for a great price but new construction reduces the experience.