Three Costa Rica hotels have been named among the 100 best hotels in the world in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, giving the country another strong showing in one of the travel industry’s best-known reader rankings. Nayara Tented Camp, in the Arenal Volcano area, led tat No. 28 in the world and was also named the top resort in Central America. Hotel Belmar, in Monteverde, ranked No. 33 globally, while Nayara Gardens, also in the Arenal area, placed No. 97.
The awards, now in their 31st year, were based on more than 661,000 votes from more than 207,000 Travel + Leisure readers. The survey covered hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines and other travel experiences around the world. Costa Rica’s strongest result came in the Central America resort ranking, where the country took the top three places. Nayara Tented Camp finished first, followed by Hotel Belmar in second and Nayara Gardens in third.
Two more Costa Rica properties also placed in the regional top 10: Nayara Springs, in the Arenal Volcano area, at No. 6, and Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, in Guanacaste, at No. 8.
The rankings underline Costa Rica’s growing position in high-end nature tourism, where luxury hotels are increasingly built around rainforest access, volcano views, wellness programs and low-impact design. The strongest clusters were Arenal, Monteverde and Guanacaste, three areas already central to the country’s international tourism brand.
Nayara Tented Camp was recognized for safari-style tents set above the rainforest, hot-spring-fed plunge pools, outdoor showers and easy access to wildlife and waterfall tours. The property has become one of the country’s best-known luxury hotels, combining Arenal Volcano views with a design meant to keep guests close to the surrounding forest.
Hotel Belmar’s placement gave Monteverde a global spotlight. The family-owned hotel has long been associated with sustainability, cloud forest tourism, locally sourced food and nature-based experiences. Nayara Gardens’ appearance at No. 97 added another Arenal property to the global list, reinforcing the region’s role as one of Costa Rica’s strongest luxury travel draws.
Beyond the top 10, several more Costa Rica hotels appeared among Travel + Leisure’s Central America honorees, including Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Collection, in Pérez Zeledón; Hideaway Rio Celeste, near Tenorio Volcano National Park; Casa Chameleon Hotel Las Catalinas; Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo; Amor Arenal; The Westin Reserva Conchal; W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal; and Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort by Hyatt.
For Costa Rica, the results arrive at a time when the country is competing for travelers who may stay fewer nights but spend more on lodging, dining, wellness and curated nature experiences. The awards suggest that Costa Rica remains especially strong with readers looking for hotels that connect comfort with the country’s forests, volcanoes, beaches and wildlife.
