Cuesta Arriba Hotel: A Beachside Retreat in Santa Teresa

I heard the Nicoya Peninsula had some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches, mainly in Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, so I had to see it for myself. When looking for accommodation, I wanted something a little nicer and quieter than a hostel to spend my time in Santa Teresa. I didn’t need to look any further than Cuesta Arriba Hotel.

Cuesta Arriba Hotel is the perfect place to stay for a backpacker, flashpacker, or hotel lover. With both private rooms and affordable dorm rooms and a communal kitchen, Cuesta Arriba is like a hybrid between and hotel and hostel.

The dorm rooms are equipped with lockers and the beds are quite comfortable. The best part about the dorms was that the beds are singles – not bunk beds! I can count on one hand how many single beds I’ve stayed in at hostels in Central America, so I was very excited about this. I also had no problem at all having the entire dorm to myself! The bathrooms are very clean with freshwater showers, an amenity that I’ve found can be hard to come by with accommodation near the beach. The hotel also offers free breakfast of coffee and toast and is close to many restaurants (my favorite being Soda Tiquicia – their ceviche is amazing!).

Located right across the street from one of the entrances to Playa Santa Teresa, the beach is just a stone’s throw away if you want to go swimming or surfing. The beach is gorgeous, very popular among both surfers and beach bums alike. The hotel also offers a plethora of information on nearby activities and places to rent surf boards or take lessons, go zip lining, snorkeling, or horseback riding.

If swimming in the ocean isn’t your thing, Cuesta Arriba has a pristine swimming pool on the premises. I spent an afternoon reading beside the pool and swimming before walking to the beach to watch an unbelievably stunning sunset. The pool was definitely one of my favorite parts of Cuesta Arriba. I was even accompanied by a massive iguana while I relaxed poolside! The hotel also has many hammocks to lay in, which is one of my favorite places to hang out at the places I stay at in Central America!

Cuesta Arriba was such a relaxing place to stay. It wasn’t too crowded or loud like a hostel can be, and there was always a free hammock to lounge in and decompress. My recommendation? This hotel is a great place to stay if you want a more tranquil and relaxing retreat by the beach in Santa Teresa. It’s located close enough to restaurants, stores, and nightlife in town (the town consists of one road) but still offers more intimate and private accommodation. Cuesta Arriba suits any budget and is perfect for all types of travelers.

More Information:

Hotel: Cuesta Arriba Hotel
Room Types: Private rooms ranging from loft-style to petite-sized rooms and budget dorms.
Rates: Room rates vary depending on the type of room, ranging from $18 for a dorm to $60 for a private room during high season. Rates are listed here.
Reservations: You can make a reservation by contacting the hotel here.

Thanks to Cuesta Arriba Hotel for hosting me. But don’t worry; no matter who foots the bill, I’ll always keep it real and provide my honest opinion of my experiences.