Pros

  • Spacious bungalow-style rooms with kitchenettes and shared front porches
  • Located directly on Playa Dominicalito and within walking distance to Playa Dominical
  • ¿Por Que No? restaurant serves exceptionally fresh meals on a cute terrace facing the ocean
  • Gorgeous garden grounds with dramatic rocky beach and crashing wave views
  • Outdoor swimming pool and palapa with hammocks and table tennis
  • Free Wi-Fi and parking
  • Weekly yoga classes (for a charge)
  • Pet-friendly property with resident dog and cat on-site
  • Staff can arrange horseback riding, zip lining, and water activities
  • Year-round property
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Cons

  • Playa Dominicalito is too rough for swimming
  • Breakfast not included
  • Most rooms overlook the parking lot or restaurant with the ocean behind them
  • No TVs in the rooms (a pro for some)
  • Too far to walk to the main drag in Dominical
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Bottom Line

Costa Paraiso (which translates to paradise coast in English) may be just that for surfers and nature lovers. This mid-range property is built on the crashing coastline of Playa Dominicalito, a rarity in Dominical. It has just four bungalow-style rooms with kitchenettes (but no TVs) and a suite with ocean views. ¿Por Que No? is one of the most popular restaurants in the area; it serves prettily presented smoothies, fresh salads, fish tacos, and more on a comfortable covered deck overlooking the beach. Expect to pay extra for breakfast. Overall, the vibe and decor are much like the area itself: laid-back and friendly, with an emphasis on the jungle, beach, and animals of Costa Rica. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Costa Paraiso

Scene

Tropical garden grounds and waves crashing against huge rocks

Costa Paraiso is a smaller property with low-lying buildings that blend into the stunning natural scenery. Guests drive down a steep hill and turn left into the cramped parking lot in front of yellow and green one-story bungalows with gardens and front porches strung with hammocks. The reception area and lobby are outfitted with surfboards on the ceiling, a painted map of Costa Rica and a tropical mural, and a small book exchange. ¿Por Que No? restaurant is just adjacent to the lobby. It's set on a covered terrace with wooden tables and chairs. The views and sounds of large waves crashing against huge rocks are dramatic and breathtaking; the water shoots as high as 30 feet into the air. A crows nest seating area upstairs offers even better views. There's a lawn and garden between the restaurant and ocean, and a cute swimming pool with a tiled gecko at the bottom. Colorful hammocks hang from a palapa-style roof. 

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Location

On Playa Domincalito, just off of Route 34

Costa Paraiso isn't visible from busy Route 34, so keep an eye out for signs on the coastal side of the highway. The property is built directly on a rocky stretch of Playa Domincalito, with access to a sandy (but still pretty rough) beach just next to the rocks. There isn't much within fast walking distance, but many people do walk (and hitchhike) along the road. It's about a two-minute drive to the main drag on the beach in front of Playa Dominical, and a 20-minute drive south to Playa Uvita. Dominical isn't as built up or touristy as nearby Manuel Antonio, and the area has more of a laid-back surfer vibe. Outdoor parking is free. Many hotels and restaurants close during low season, but Costa Paraiso is open all year round. 

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Rooms

Four bungalow-style rooms and a suite with kitchenettes

There are just five available rooms at Costa Paraiso: four bungalow-style rooms with limited ocean views, and a suite, Toucan Nest, with awesome views of a rocky peninsula and crashing waves. Each room is built into a cute one-story bungalow with green or yellow painted exteriors and green roofs; shared front porches are hung with hammocks and set with wooden furniture. Inside, there are orange tile floors and tall ceilings with wooden beams. The decor is a bit basic, but spotlessly clean, and paintings of birds add a splash of color. Some rooms have one king-bed while others have two queens; small cots can be added to most rooms for an additional charge. Kitchenettes, coffeemakers, air conditioners, and jugs of drinking water are included. The Coconut Room has a tiled single sink, step-in shower, and surfboard-shaped towel rack. In keeping with the natural ambiance, the rooms don't have TVs. 

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Features

¿Por Que No? restaurant, beach access, swimming pool, and weekly yoga classes

Costa Paraiso offers some excellent features, especially for a small hotel. ¿Por Que No? restaurant gets rave reviews, both for its unique ocean views, and for food quality and creativity. The menu consists of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and smoothies. It's open to the public and hugely popular for dinner; sometimes diners are turned away. Unfortunately, breakfast isn't included with the price of a room -- a rarity in Costa Rica. There's an outdoor swimming pool set in a garden, with ocean views. A palapa provides shade and houses hammocks and table tennis. Guests are strongly discouraged from walking on the rocks in front of the hotel, but there's private access to the adjacent, public sandy beach. The hotel hosts weekly yoga classes, for a charge, and rents surfboards. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Staff can assist with booking tours and excursions in the area. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Costa Paraiso

Scene

Tropical garden grounds and waves crashing against huge rocks

Costa Paraiso is a smaller property with low-lying buildings that blend into the stunning natural scenery. Guests drive down a steep hill and turn left into the cramped parking lot in front of yellow and green one-story bungalows with gardens and front porches strung with hammocks. The reception area and lobby are outfitted with surfboards on the ceiling, a painted map of Costa Rica and a tropical mural, and a small book exchange. ¿Por Que No? restaurant is just adjacent to the lobby. It's set on a covered terrace with wooden tables and chairs. The views and sounds of large waves crashing against huge rocks are dramatic and breathtaking; the water shoots as high as 30 feet into the air. A crows nest seating area upstairs offers even better views. There's a lawn and garden between the restaurant and ocean, and a cute swimming pool with a tiled gecko at the bottom. Colorful hammocks hang from a palapa-style roof. 

See More Scene

Location

On Playa Domincalito, just off of Route 34

Costa Paraiso isn't visible from busy Route 34, so keep an eye out for signs on the coastal side of the highway. The property is built directly on a rocky stretch of Playa Domincalito, with access to a sandy (but still pretty rough) beach just next to the rocks. There isn't much within fast walking distance, but many people do walk (and hitchhike) along the road. It's about a two-minute drive to the main drag on the beach in front of Playa Dominical, and a 20-minute drive south to Playa Uvita. Dominical isn't as built up or touristy as nearby Manuel Antonio, and the area has more of a laid-back surfer vibe. Outdoor parking is free. Many hotels and restaurants close during low season, but Costa Paraiso is open all year round. 

See More Location

Rooms

Four bungalow-style rooms and a suite with kitchenettes

There are just five available rooms at Costa Paraiso: four bungalow-style rooms with limited ocean views, and a suite, Toucan Nest, with awesome views of a rocky peninsula and crashing waves. Each room is built into a cute one-story bungalow with green or yellow painted exteriors and green roofs; shared front porches are hung with hammocks and set with wooden furniture. Inside, there are orange tile floors and tall ceilings with wooden beams. The decor is a bit basic, but spotlessly clean, and paintings of birds add a splash of color. Some rooms have one king-bed while others have two queens; small cots can be added to most rooms for an additional charge. Kitchenettes, coffeemakers, air conditioners, and jugs of drinking water are included. The Coconut Room has a tiled single sink, step-in shower, and surfboard-shaped towel rack. In keeping with the natural ambiance, the rooms don't have TVs. 

See More Rooms

Features

¿Por Que No? restaurant, beach access, swimming pool, and weekly yoga classes

Costa Paraiso offers some excellent features, especially for a small hotel. ¿Por Que No? restaurant gets rave reviews, both for its unique ocean views, and for food quality and creativity. The menu consists of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and smoothies. It's open to the public and hugely popular for dinner; sometimes diners are turned away. Unfortunately, breakfast isn't included with the price of a room -- a rarity in Costa Rica. There's an outdoor swimming pool set in a garden, with ocean views. A palapa provides shade and houses hammocks and table tennis. Guests are strongly discouraged from walking on the rocks in front of the hotel, but there's private access to the adjacent, public sandy beach. The hotel hosts weekly yoga classes, for a charge, and rents surfboards. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Staff can assist with booking tours and excursions in the area. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.