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Aguas Claras

  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
  • Hotel Aguas Claras
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Aguas Claras is a first class beach retreat on an unspoilt stretch of Costa Rica's Caribbean jungle-fringed coast.

Set on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica near Playa Chiquita, Puerto Viejo, eco-friendly Aguas Claras is a gleaming white-wood, traditional Victorian-style plantation house. It’s the only really luxurious, boutique-style property on this stretch of the palm-fringed coastline, which features a unique combination of exuberant wildlife and undisturbed tropical beaches.

This dreamily romantic hotel, sheltered by verdant foliage, has a delightful open-air free-form pool and probably the best restaurant in the region although, to add variety to your stay, there are a number of small, locally run restaurants just a short bike ride away.

The building’s nostalgic design – conceived by a renowned Costa Rican artist – recalls bygone times when British colonial dominance of the Caribbean dictated architectural style, and inside you’ll find traditional artifacts and original works by local artists alongside state-of-the-art contemporary features. Guest rooms – each uniquely decorated and furnished – are situated in both the main building and individual thatched cottages which are similar in style but offer additional space and added privacy.

It’s easy just to lie back and relax there, but you may be tempted by a range of activities such as jungle hikes, cycle rides, surf lessons, canopy zips and cocoa tours.  Cahuita National Park, half an hour away by car, encompasses a magnificent area of biodiversity which stretches beyond the shore line and out to sea. Sea turtles nest in the area and manta rays glide between weird and wonderfully shaped live coral. On land, sloths are common place and not just in the park – road vehicles have to stop to let them cross…

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • The whole Tortuguero experience was brilliant.

    TK, Leighton buzzard Dec 2016
  • Costa Rica with Journey Latin America is one of the best holidays we have ever had, if not the best.

    MD, Southam Apr 2026
  • Highlight: Seeing the wildlife in Costa Rica. There are so many beautiful birds and amazing animals that it's hard not to see them. The guides were exceptional, especially William and…

    JW, Weymouth Jan 2016
  • Highlight? We did a night hike in Monteverde and saw snakes, sloths, owls.

    SW, London Feb 2020
  • Highlights: Bird watching at Tortuguero and snorkelling on the reef in Belize which was simply amazing.

    GW, Winchester Dec 2015
  • Costa Rica is a stunning country: in terms of its people, who are so warm and welcoming; its ethical basis and its phenomenal wildlife. Snorkelling at Cano Island was truly…

    JS, Brighton Mar 2019
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Our Expert's Opinion

Sallly
Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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