As you probably know, Yeison and I live in Playas del Coco, a rapidly growing beach town in Costa Rica that’s become one of the premiere destinations for not only USA/Canadians, but people from all over the world to come and visit. This peculiar little town is a destination loved by many because of the great location and diversity in terms of people and things to do.

There’s a few things to know about Coco before you visit but it’s also important to note along with those important characteristics that make Coco the magnetic town that it is, is the type of lodging available so that you can have the best visit here possible.

If you’re traveling in Costa Rica on a budget, knowing what your options are for lodging will help you greatly in reducing costs. For more budget travel tips, find out how you can travel Playas del Coco for $50 a day.

For an in-depth guide to finding accommodation in Costa Rica, check out our post here.

Types of Accommodations in Playas del Coco

1. Hotels

Hotels are for the most part small and usually family run. There are no all inclusive resorts or big chain hotels in Coco. If you are looking for an all inclusive, you will have to stay at the Hotel Riu which is the closest one about a 30 minute drive away.

Don’t expect five star luxury hotels but instead, expect comfortable lodgings with modest furnishings. What will most likely influence your decision as to which hotel to stay at is proximity to town and the beach.

There are a couple that are close to the beach just a minute walk and some up in the hills that you will need to take a taxi or drive to town.

As for prices, most are mid to upper range with breakfast included. Prices change depending on the season and the holiday.

2. Hostels

You would think Coco would be teeming with hostels since it is a popular beach town to visit in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it is not a town where that many backpackers come compared to Playa Tamarindo or Jaco. There are a few hostels with a couple fairly close to the beach for as cheap as $12 a bed but options are more limited.

Towards the main Coco beach entrance where the souvenirs shops are on the corner, you’ll see some signs for hostels that are on the beach. If you look on Trip Advisor, you’ll find one “best budget” hotel and no hostel listings. Hostelworld has zero results and Hostels.com has one.

3. Airbnb

Airbnb (click to read our tips to using Airbnb in Costa Rica). is getting more popular in Costa Rica and you can find some really affordable and great listings on there. Most of them are rented out by people who either own a place but are there only a few months of the year or manage several properties.

My friend found a condo on Airbnb for $50 a night for a two bedroom, two bathroom place with a pool, internet, cable, security and private parking. Not a bad deal at all!

If you sign up through this link you get $20 of credit towards your first booking. Who doesn’t love free stuff?

4. Apartment-Hotel

There are several condominium complexes that rent out the apartments for short or long term. Many people like these because they come fully furnished with all the amenities and it’s usually more than enough space.

Compared to a hotel, they aren’t that expensive as one would think. A condominium in Las Palmas, the most popular neighborhood in Coco rents for around $60 a night and most come with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, internet, cable, parking lot, pool, laundry, security guards, AC and sleeps up to 6. In Las Palmas, you do have to share the pool, laundry and parking lot with the other tenants.

5. Houses/Cabinas

Along the same lines as the apartment hotels, there are various little houses or cabinas in Coco available for rent. These are also great options for those who have a big party as you can split the cost between several people.

There are many cabinas right on Coco beach if you want to be as close to the beach as possible and several houses in Las Palmas and around town. One of the houses across the street from our place rents for $130 a night with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a private pool, private parking, guard, is fully furnished, Wifi, cable and AC.

6. Couchsurfing

This is a bit harder to find because you won’t find too many people signed up on Couchsurfing.net offering up a bed or an extra room. To find people willing to host couchsurfers, check out some Playas del Coco or Expats in Costa Rica Facebook groups and ask around there.

7. House Sitting

Like couchsurfing, there aren’t too many listings on house sitting websites but if you check the Facebook groups, you will find several people looking for people to rent their place. The reason is because many North Americans buy a vacation home but are only here 2 months of the year and need someone to take care of their home.

House sitting is a good option for someone who is staying long term and is willing is offer their services in exchange for lodging. You get a free place to stay but you do need to take care of the properties and any pets that may be there.

There are a few websites out there, I joined TrustedHousesitters and found a house sit pretty soon after I signed up.

There’s tons of options for accommodations in Playas del Coco so you will be able to find one that fits your needs whether you’re traveling alone, or with your significant other or with kids. Either way, you’ll be spending most of the time outside in the sun so all what really matters is having a nice clean shower and comfortable bed to relax in at the end of the day.

If you like this post, you’ll also love:

Playas del Coco beach guide

Living in Playas del Coco for $1500 a month

How to travel Playas del Coco for $50 a day

What to do for a weekend in Playas del Coco

5 Things to Know about Playas del Coco

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