10 Best Resorts in Central America: 2022 Awards

Our Top Picks

• Nayara Tented Camp: The undisputed champion of luxury glamping Costa Rica, offering a masterclass in safari-style elegance and private thermal mineral pools.
• Hotel Belmar: A pioneer in the Monteverde cloud forest, blending carbon-neutral operations with artisan-crafted interiors and sweeping mountain views.
• Rancho Santana: Nicaragua’s premier coastal sanctuary, spanning thousands of acres where rugged cliffs meet the Pacific and local equestrian culture thrives.

The best resorts in Central America are led by Costa Rica, which claimed seven of the top ten spots in the 2022 World's Best Awards. Nayara Tented Camp in Arenal Volcano National Park remains the top-ranked property with a nearly perfect score of 97.55.

The Costa Rican Dominance: Glamping and Eco-Luxury

There is a specific kind of magic that occurs when the morning mist peels away from the peak of the Arenal Volcano, revealing a landscape so vibrant it feels painted. For the third year running, the 2022 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards have anointed Nayara Tented Camp as the pinnacle of the best resorts in Central America. This is not merely a hotel; it is an immersion into the wild, where luxury is measured by the clarity of the dawn chorus and the warmth of your own private hot-spring-fed pool.

The architecture here whispers rather than screams. Inspired by luxury African safari tents, the accommodations at Nayara Tented Camp feature canvas walls, mahogany floors, and oversized bathtubs that beckon after a day of rainforest exploration. Travelers seeking luxury glamping resorts in Costa Rica with private pools will find that each tent is a sanctuary, perched on stilts to minimize the impact on the forest floor while maximizing the views of the emerald canopy.

Logistics Snapshot: Nayara Tented Camp Drive time: Approximately 3 hours from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) or 2.5 hours from Liberia International Airport (LIR). Private helicopter transfers are available for those wishing to bypass the winding mountain roads.

Sustainability Highlight The resort has transformed former cattle pastures into a lush sloth sanctuary, planting over 20,000 indigenous trees to restore the natural habitat and carbon sequestration of the region.

Further into the highlands, the air turns crisp and the scent of damp moss replaces the humidity of the lowlands. Here, Hotel Belmar stands as a testament to the fact that eco luxury rainforest lodges in Costa Rica with sustainable practices can be profoundly sophisticated. Situated in the Monteverde cloud forest, this family-owned gem has spent decades perfecting the art of hospitality. The experience is tactile: the smoothness of hand-carved wood in the Art Deco suites, the taste of biodynamic garden vegetables at the farm-to-table restaurant, and the sound of the wind through the pines. It is widely considered one of the best boutique resorts near Arenal Volcano with on-site hot springs within a reasonable driving distance, offering a cooler, ethereal alternative to the volcanic heat.

Sustainability Highlight: Hotel Belmar The property operates with a carbon-neutral footprint, with an impressive 99.98% of its energy sourced from renewable means, including on-site solar and wind power.

Belize: Premier Diving and Beachfront Sophistication

While Costa Rica owns the rainforest, Belize claims the sea. The 2022 awards highlighted the country’s unique ability to blend high-end service with unparalleled access to the Belize Barrier Reef. For the discerning traveler, the lure of Central America beachfront luxury resorts often begins and ends here.

Victoria House Resort & Spa on Ambergris Caye remains a perennial favorite for its British colonial charm and white-veil elegance. It is the kind of place where you lose track of time between the infinity pool and the palm-fringed shore. However, for those who view the ocean as a playground rather than just a backdrop, Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort offers something more visceral.

Finding the best dive resorts Belize has to offer requires looking for a balance of professional instruction and ecological mindfulness. Hamanasi excels here, particularly for those researching best all inclusive dive resorts in Belize for beginners. Their PADI-certified team guides guests through the kaleidoscope of the Great Blue Hole and the vibrant coral gardens of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve.

Diver's Perspective Guests should budget for local marine park fees, typically around $10 USD per person per day, which go directly toward the conservation of the reef’s fragile ecosystem. Sightings of nurse sharks, eagle rays, and hawksbill turtles are common year-round.

Logistics Snapshot: Belize Resorts Most travelers arrive at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BGE) in Belize City, followed by a scenic 15-minute puddle-jumper flight to San Pedro or a private shuttle to the Hopkins coast.

Alternative Escapes: Nicaragua and Panama

Beyond the famous hubs of Costa Rica and Belize, 2022 was a year that saw Panama and Nicaragua reassert themselves as essential destinations for the luxury traveler. In Panama, the private island sanctuary of Islas Secas made waves internationally. It was voted the number one resort in Central America in the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, a feat achieved through the feedback of more than 240,000 readers. This archipelago hideaway offers an almost surreal exclusivity, where only a handful of casitas exist on a chain of islands.

In Nicaragua, the narrative is about space and soul. Rancho Santana, located on the Emerald Coast, spans 2,700 acres of pristine coastline. It is increasingly sought after by couples seeking the most romantic adults only resorts in Central America for honeymooners, even though the resort caters to families as well. The sheer scale of the property ensures that you can spend an entire afternoon on a secluded beach without seeing another soul.

Rancho Santana is a masterclass in regional authenticity. The buildings are constructed with locally sourced wood and tiles, and the guest experience is centered around the rhythm of the tides and the flight paths of the on-site bird sanctuary. Whether you are there for the professional-grade surf breaks or the serenity of an equestrian tour at sunset, it offers a refined ruggedness that is hard to replicate.

Logistics Snapshot: Rancho Santana Access is typically through Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua, followed by a 2.5-hour drive, or via Costa Rica's Liberia (LIR) airport with a border crossing and short drive.

Essential Planning: Logistics and Seasons

When curating a journey to the top-tier properties across the isthmus, timing is as critical as the destination itself. The best time of year to visit luxury resorts in Central America generally falls between December and April, known as the dry season or summer. This window provides the blue skies and calm waters ideal for mainland exploration and offshore adventures.

However, the shoulder seasons offer their own rewards. For those visiting the Belize coast, the months of March through May provide the best opportunities for spotting whale sharks. In Costa Rica, the green season (May to November) brings afternoon rain showers that turn the rainforest into a lush, vibrant theater, often at a more accessible price point for five-star lodging.

Choosing between regions often comes down to your personal travel vocabulary. If your heart beat faster at the thought of hidden waterfalls and thermal springs, Costa Rica is your spiritual home. If you dream of waking up over turquoise waters with a tank on your back, Belize remains the gold standard. Regardless of the choice, the 2022 awards have proven that the hospitality industry in this corner of the world has reached a level of sustainable sophistication that rivals any destination on the globe.

FAQ

Which Central American country has the best beach resorts?

For a classic Caribbean experience with white sand and turquoise water, Belize offers the most iconic beach resorts, particularly around Ambergris Caye and the outer atolls. However, for those who prefer dramatic Pacific cliffs and world-class surfing paired with five-star service, the Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica and the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua offer some of the highest-rated beachfront luxury in the region according to the 2022 awards.

Are there luxury eco-resorts in Central America?

Central America is the global leader in sustainable luxury. Costa Rica in particular specializes in eco-conscious hospitality that does not sacrifice comfort. Properties like Hotel Belmar in Monteverde and Nayara Tented Camp near the Arenal Volcano operate with sophisticated renewable energy systems, farm-to-table culinary programs, and intensive reforestation projects, allowing guests to enjoy high-end amenities while supporting deep ecological conservation.

Is it better to travel to Belize or Costa Rica for a resort vacation?

The choice depends on your primary interests. Belize is generally superior for marine adventures, offering world-class diving and snorkeling along the Belize Barrier Reef and easy access to the Great Blue Hole. Costa Rica is better suited for travelers who want a hybrid experience of rainforest exploration, volcano hiking, and wildlife viewing combined with high-end spa and thermal spring facilities. Both countries offer exceptional service, but Costa Rica has a higher density of top-ranked luxury lodges.

What is the best month to visit Central America?

The best month to visit Central America is generally January or February. During this time, the region is in its dry season, ensuring sunny days and lower humidity for outdoor activities. This period is ideal for both the rainforests of Costa Rica and the reefs of Belize. If you are looking for specific wildlife events, such as turtle nesting or whale shark migrations, March and April are also excellent choices, though these months tend to be busier with travelers.