Best Private Pool Villas in Costa Rica (2026)

Nayara Tented Camp sits in the rainforest at the base of Arenal Volcano, and every one of its 38 suspended tented suites – 1,700 sqft each – comes with a private plunge pool heated by natural mineral hot springs rather than a standard pool heater. Guests describe soaking in the pool with the volcano visible from the private terrace, alongside an indoor-outdoor shower and hammock deck.

Family Tents pair two connected tents sharing an outdoor living space and private pool, suited to families traveling with children. The property is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, and rates reflect its status as one of Costa Rica's most distinctive luxury stays – recent bookings run well above $2,000/night in peak periods.

Transfers within the resort's rainforest grounds are by golf cart, which guest reviews note can take 20–40 minutes to arrive at busy times, particularly around dinner.

Nayara Gardens is the original Nayara property in La Fortuna, a Leading Hotels of the World member set in rainforest gardens at the base of Arenal Volcano. The entry Arenal Pool Casita has an 855 sqft layout with a wraparound terrace and private plunge pool; the Rainforest Pool Villa is an octagonal-shaped room with a plunge pool on the balcony and direct volcano views.

At roughly a third of Nayara Tented Camp's peak rates, this is the more accessible entry point into the Nayara brand's confirmed private-pool inventory, with the same rainforest and volcano setting.

Tulemar Resort overlooks the rainforest and Pacific Ocean near Manuel Antonio National Park, and its Tule Villa is a standalone 4-bedroom residence with a full chef's kitchen, four bathrooms and a large private infinity pool on its own terrace – separate from the resort's four shared pools. At 2,500 sqft sleeping up to nine guests, it suits a family or group booking rather than a couple's stay.

The villa includes access to Tulemar's private beach and on-site restaurant, and is the resort's only home that is street-level handicap accessible. Manuel Antonio's central Pacific location puts it roughly 3 hours by road from San José's international airport.

Kura Design Villas is a tiny, adults-only, eight-suite hotel built on a mountain ridge above Uvita's Whale's Tail sandbar, part of the sustainability-focused Cayuga Collection. Only the Master Suite category – 1,500 sqft of private living space – carries its own plunge pool on the terrace; the rest of the property shares a 62-foot saltwater infinity pool with 180-degree Pacific views.

Kura runs on solar power with a chemical-free saltwater pool system throughout. This is the pick for travelers who want architectural design and sustainability credentials alongside a confirmed private pool, in Costa Rica's less-developed South Pacific region rather than Guanacaste or Arenal.

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo occupies 45 acres on its own peninsula on the Gulf of Papagayo, ten consecutive years a Forbes Five-Star property and widely regarded as Latin America's most exclusive resort. Its confirmed private-pool categories are the Three-Bedroom Villa with Plunge Pool (3,572 sqft, accommodating up to 8 adults) and the Two-Bedroom Residence, both with a private infinity or plunge pool separate from the resort's four shared pools.

The three-bedroom villa runs from roughly $5,000 to $8,000/night depending on season – the highest confirmed rate in this guide – with complimentary personal attendant service included. Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) is roughly 35 minutes away, the shortest airport transfer of any property on this list.

Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas is an adults-only, 21-villa property on the Guanacaste coast near Playa Flamingo, and every villa includes its own saltwater plunge pool as standard – there is no non-pool room category. The Sunset Villa with Plunge Pool faces west over the Guanacaste coast and Catalinas Islands; the Villa Suite with Plunge Pool occupies a hillside position with the same coastal views.

At an entry rate below Kura Design Villas or the Nayara properties, this is the most accessible confirmed all-villa private-pool hotel in Costa Rica, part of the Relais & Châteaux collection.