Hotel Nantipa

What it's like

Nantipa sits right on the sand of Playa Santa Teresa, a short drive from the busy middle of town. It opened in 2019, it's Costa Rican-owned, and it's one of the most polished places to stay in the area. Low wooden buildings are spread through native gardens of more than 5.7 acres, so even when it's full it doesn't feel crowded. The style is relaxed luxury: barefoot, open-air, and quiet, with the beach as the main event.

It's a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and it holds Costa Rica's CST sustainability certification at the Élite level, awarded by the national tourism institute. In 2025, readers of Condé Nast Traveler named it among the 20 best resorts in Central America, according to the Costa Rican paper El Observador.

Rooms

There are 29 units in total, in 4 main types:

• Ninta Beachfront Bungalows: for 2 people, a few steps from the sand, with a private plunge pool, hammock and indoor/outdoor shower.
• Manti Bungalows: the same size and layout, set back among the garden and trees, also with a plunge pool.
• Nanku Suites: a little smaller, with a living area and daybeds, sleeping up to 3 adults and 1 child.
• Beachfront Villas: 3-bedroom houses for up to 7 guests, with a full kitchen, big social space, private pool and direct beach access.

Food and wellness

Manzú is the hotel's open-air restaurant, facing the beach and serving from breakfast through dinner. We have a separate page on Manzú.

Numu is the wellness area, an open-air space in the gardens for massage and other treatments, along with classes such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, Pilates and sound healing. If yoga is a big part of your trip, see our yoga guide for other options in town.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

Nantipa is a great fit for honeymooners and couples who want to step out of a private pool and onto the beach, and for families or friends who'd like a villa with hotel service around them. Surfers can paddle out from the front of the property.

It's not for travelers on a tight budget, and if you want to be in the thick of the bars and cafés, you'll need a short drive or ride into town. The beach in front faces the open Pacific, so swimming depends on the day's surf; read our notes on Playa Santa Teresa before you go in.

Getting there

The hotel is on the beach side of Santa Teresa, about 1 km from the town center and around 3 km from Mal País. Cóbano's small airport is about 12 km away, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car, and the Paquera ferry terminal is about 1.5 hours' drive. The hotel can arrange private transfers. Our travel guide covers the routes in more detail.