At a glance:

Awa Beach Hotel is an adults-only hotel that aims to offer guests the opportunity to disconnect from the real world in a “sanctuary of tranquility”.

What it actually is: A peaceful small beach hotel with modern rooms tucked between rugged Costa Rican juggle and the Caribbean coastline.

What it is not: A large full-service beach resort – there’s no pool or extensive list of activities, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Don’t expect any party vibes here either, it’s all peace and relaxation.

Room: Pepa room

Time of year: Winter (Holiday season)

Scores:

Hotel Design: 95 – A small modern property that still feels in harmony with its natural surroundings

Location: 95 – Steps from a beautiful stretch of coastline, and a short ride away from great restaurants

Sleep: 88 – Quiet and comfortable with AC that worked well against the jungle humidity

Service: 90 – Very good

Room Design: 88 – Beautiful, stylish and modern with space that opens completely to the outdoors. However, bathroom design is awkward and lacks privacy. Patio door screens would be nice to keep the bugs out.

Room Amenities: 87 – Pretty standard, but the private ocean-facing terrace was a highlights of this room.

Hotel Amenities: 78 – Onsite restaurant and beach bar, bikes to rent (but not always available) 

Vibe: 92 – Modern jungle beach barefoot luxury – perhaps a bit of Tulum…without Tulum.   

Cleanliness / Maintenance: 90 – Very good. No issues. It was impressive to have a clean Costa Rican coffee press ready for us each morning.

Value / Extras & Perks: 92 – Rates during our stay were very reasonable even at a busy time of year

OVERALL: 89.5

Would we stay again? Yes

Check our 10 tips to plan a trip to Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast by clicking here.