Once you step into this lush green paradise, you’ll understand why pura vida (simple or pure life) is a phrase synonymous with Costa Rica. Everything moves a bit slower here, with a little more intention —it’s no surprise it’s one of the happiest countries in the world.
It might also be one of the happiest countries because of its environmental commitment. Costa Rica is on a path to becoming carbon neutral (almost all of its energy comes from renewable sources) and plastic-free!
Pretty awesome, right? Well, it doesn’t end there — the country is also full of amazing vegan-friendly resorts!
No matter if you want to stay on the beach or tucked away in the jungle, there’s a gorgeous option for you. So, stop stalling and start planning your pura vida vacation at one of these stunning vegan or vegan-friendly resorts in Costa Rica.
This article contains affiliate links and Veggies Abroad is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associated Program. At no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — this helps keep Veggies Abroad churning out free content! For an explanation of our advertising policy, click here.
Traveling Soon?
If you’re hitting the road and looking for travel recommendations, check out these companies that I use regularly. Plus, by using these links, you can support Veggies Abroad!
- Hotels: Booking.com— They highlight properties with sustainable practices!
- Travel Insurance: Travelex— They have multiple comprehensive plan options with fewer “gotcha” moments.
- Activities & Tours: Viator & Get Your Guide
- Trains, Ferries, & Buses: Omio — use code OMIOFERRY to save 10% on ferry bookings.
- House Sitting: if your travels are flexible and you love pets, you need to check out TrustedHousesitters. Use code VEGGIESABROAD to save 20% on a new membership!
- Earth Hero: Travel-friendly toiletries & products. Use code VEGGIESABROAD to save 10% on your order!
Short on Time?
Here Are The Best Places to Stay!
- Best vegan resort: Mother Earth Vegan Hotel in Tamarindo (Guanacaste)
- Best luxury, vegan-friendly resort: The Retreat in Atenas (Alajuela)
- Best beach & jungle escape: IGLOO Beach Lodge in Quepos (Puntarenas)
- Best budget-friendly resort: Finca Luna Nueva Lodge in La Fortuna (Alajuela)
Vegan & Vegan-Friendly Resorts in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
#1 Mother Earth Vegan Hotel
100 meters west of AYA, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Mid-range, vegan boutique hotel
Just steps from the popular Tamarindo beach is this private vegan paradise. The eco-boutique hotel celebrates Costa Rican culture without sacrificing its plant-based values. Before heading out for a hike or exploring Tamarindo, guests are spoiled with their delicious vegan breakfast options — pancakes, chickpea omelet, avocado toast, and more (breakfast is included with your stay)!
The tantalizing food options don’t end at breakfast! You can also pop into the restaurant for lunch, dinner, or a snack — the globally-inspired menu features something everyone will enjoy.
If you feel like getting your Zen on, check out their Healing Studio. You’ll find a fantastic lineup of restorative therapies like Reiki, massage, sound healing, meditation workshops, and yoga classes. This is also terrific place to consider for a vegan honeymoon getaway!
#2 Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
W8RQ+8V4, Bodhi Street, Nosara, 50206, Costa Rica
Mid-range, vegan-friendly resort with an emphasis on fitness & wellness
If you love yoga, surfing, or seeking a wellness escape, look no further than this gorgeous resort. This little slice of paradise tucked into the lush Nosara Jungle was creatively designed around the jungle to be as eco-friendly as possible. In addition to sustainable building practices, the resort also has an extensive water recycling program, uses solar energy, and is plastic-free!
When it’s time to eat, the onsite restaurant has a very vegan-friendly menu that includes spicy tofu, hearty veggie-packed bowls, coconut crème brûlée, and more!
Vegan-Friendly Resort Near San Jose, Costa Rica
#3 Farm of Life (Finca de Vida) Retreat & Hotel
San José Province, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica
Budget-friendly, vegetarian resort
The options at this tranquil jungle retreat are perfect for every type of traveler! If you’re on a budget, you can prepare all your meals and juices in their communal kitchen, which is stocked with an abundance of seasonal and locally produced fresh fruits and veggies. No matter what you want to whip up, you’ll find all the tools, like a blender, juicer, dehydrator, and more! One note, meat and alcohol aren’t allowed in the kitchen.
If you’d prefer to have everything taken care of for you, they can do that too! Every day, guests can enjoy dinner at The Harvest House, which includes a hearty main dish, a superfood salad, or a detox salad. Check out their all-inclusive resort options if you’re interested in a fully catered meal program.
Book Farm of Life
Vegan-Friendly Resorts Near Arenal Volcano
#4 Finca Luna Nueva Lodge
Peñas Blancas La Fortuna 158, 4400, Costa Rica
Budget-friendly, vegan-friendly resort
This sustainable rainforest eco-lodge and educational center is on a mission to protect Mother Nature and offer guests a little bit of peace, adventure, and luxury. If you’re into adventure, this location is stellar — you’re only 25 minutes from La Fortuna. There you can enjoy white water rafting, strenuous hikes, and the opportunity to swim in a crater lake!
Although you’re close to many fantastic activities, many people never leave the property grounds — Finca Luna offers hiking trails, farm tours, yoga, chocolate-making classes, and more!
When you get hungry, their open-air onsite restaurant prepares breakfast (included with your stay), lunch, and dinner utilizing ingredients grown on the farm or locally sourced. They are skilled at preparing delicious vegan and gluten-free dishes.
#5 Essence Arenal Hotel, Spa & Bio Farm
Alajuela Province, El Castillo, 20213, Costa Rica
Budget-friendly, vegan-friendly hotel
Get off the beaten track at this charming eco-lodge tucked into the lush jungle with majestic views of Arenal Volcano. The lodge is made up of a variety of unique guest accommodations — a glamping jungle treehouse, private rooms, and one-bedroom casitas with a kitchen and living space. You’ll also sleep well here knowing that the lodge is working to protect Mother Nature by utilizing 90% solar energy, locally sourced spring water, and has been pesticide/chemical free for 13 years!
Once you’ve had a chance to relax, you’ll want to check out the onsite vegetarian restaurant, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The chefs are skilled at catering to guests’ needs, whether for a detox smoothie or a hearty vegan and gluten-free dinner — you won’t leave hungry.
Book via Booking.comVegan & Vegan-Friendly Resorts in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
#6 Ylang Ylang Beach Resort
Puntarenas Montezuma, 60111, Costa Rica
Mid-range, vegan-friendly resort
Want to relax on a white sand beach, watch wildlife in the jungle, or enjoy a yoga class? You can do that and more at this beachfront boutique resort! This lovely slice of paradise offers a variety of experiences for its guests to unwind or work up a sweat, all while enjoying scenic views.
The unique property only offers 23 guestrooms, designed in harmony with nature — think tropical treehouse! Every stay includes breakfast and dinner, which includes a ton of terrific vegan options! All the options are well-marked, or you can just scan the handy vegan menu — start the day with a traditional Costa Rican breakfast and end it with a blackened tofu steak topped with passion fruit sauce!
#7 Waterfall Villas
Provincia de Puntarenas, Baru – Dominical, 99999, Costa Rica
Mid-range, vegan wellness retreat
Want to go on a complete vegan adventure that includes a week full of incredible food, fresh juices, waterfall hiking, and more? This vegan wellness retreat offers that and much more; there’s something for everyone! Whether you want to make your getaway all about food or adventure, they can help!
As if a week of vegan food and waterfalls wasn’t enough, this charming jungle lodge also offers a variety of specialty workshops and nature tours. When you’re ready to relax, it’s only 30 minutes from eight stunning beaches and five national parks — how awesome is that?!
#8 IGLOO Beach Lodge
Calle Principal, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, 60601, Costa Rica
Mid-range, vegan-friendly resort
Igloos in the jungle? Yes! These eco-friendly igloos aren’t made of ice but with an air foam method that uses 50% less energy than traditional building materials. The technique allows for harmony with the jungle while creating a special place to stay.
These beach igloos are also the perfect place to explore Costa Rica. You’re only a short walk to Espadilla Beach and less than a mile to Manual Antonio, one of the best national parks.
After a day at the beach or bird watching, you’ll want to hurry back to enjoy the delicious vegan eats at Casa Planta, one of two onsite restaurants. Renowned plant-based chef Matthew Kenney helped create the fantastic menu, so you know it will be good!
Vegan-Friendly Resorts in Alajuela, Costa Rica
#9 Lands in Love Vegan Experience Hotel and Resort
Ruta 702 carretera San Ramón hacia La Fortuna, Provincia de Alajuela, San Ramón, 20208, Costa Rica
Budget-friendly, vegetarian hotel
Tucked away in Costa Rica’s Cloud Forest is this eclectic resort that wants to ensure you can share its love for nature and animals. Before breakfast, you’ll want to wander out to your private porch to enjoy the gorgeous views of the jungle and listen to the calls of some of Costa Rica’s famed monkeys!
When you get hungry, you’re in good hands — the onsite vegetarian restaurant offers a diverse mix of globally-inspired dishes. Start the day with a stack of golden pancakes or a loaded burrito and end it with Pad Thai or a veggie-packed salad.
#10 The Retreat Costa Rica
Atenas, Barrio Jesús, Alajuela Province, Atenas, Costa Rica
Luxury, vegan-friendly resort with an emphasis on wellness
How does mastering the art of resting sound? Or maybe get your glow on with a Farm to Spa ritual (I’ve got my eyes on the Mini Miracle-Coffee Scrub treatment)? Well, you can do all that and much more at this luxury wellness resort perched on a mountain overlooking the Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean!
In addition to extensive spa and wellness packages, two onsite restaurants offer top-notch vegan options. Many of the dishes are created with produce that’s been grown on the property or is locally produced. At the lunch café, Gratitude, you can enjoy portobello tacos, jack fruit sliders, vegan crab cakes, and much more. Tea and wine lovers will also enjoy their rare teas and organic, biodynamic wines.
One more bonus — this resort is only 30 minutes from the San Jose International Airport!
Vegan Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
#11 AmaSER
C. 213, Limón, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, 70403, Costa Rica
Budget-friendly, vegan retreat
If you’re looking to improve your crow pose while relaxing on the beach, you’ll want to check out this warm and welcoming yoga retreat! AmaSer offers its yogi-loving guests a rustic near-to-nature experience with its open-air casitas, and yoga classes are included with your stay.
Some casitas include kitchens, but if you’d rather skip cooking, head over to their onsite vegan and gluten-free café! The menu includes a huge breakfast and lunch lineup — I don’t think you’ll want to do much cooking after taking a look! Start the day with a stack of cinnamon French toast topped with passion fruit strawberry compote, then come back for cashew curry or coconut and plantain ceviche!
Book AmaSER
Is Costa Rica Vegan-Friendly?
To be completely honest, I think Costa Rica is more vegetarian-friendly than vegan-friendly, but it’s far from a vegan desert! You’ll have the best luck finding a diversity of options in San Jose — the city is home to multiple vegan restaurants and quite a few vegetarian restaurants.
Costa Rican cuisine focuses a lot on locally grown veggies, fruit, rice, and beans which are naturally vegan-friendly.
It’s essential that before you go, you learn key phrases like:
- Does this contain dairy?
- I don’t eat milk or animal products.
Side note, if you join my newsletter, you’ll receive seven language cheat sheets, including one in Spanish!
If you’re in San Jose (or close by), check out these vegan and vegetarian restaurants. The staff will also be an excellent resource for other vegan-friendly spots throughout the country!
- El Chante Vegano
- Sokko Happy Food
- Loving Hut
- El Búho
- MIXT Costa Rica
- Huacamole Vegan Food
- Mr. Veggie
Looking for More Vegan-Friendly Getaways?
You’ve come to the right place! Check out these other guides and articles to warm weather and white sand destinations!
Must -Book Vegan-Friendly Mexico Resorts
The Best Vegan Travel Guide to Maui
The Best Restaurants for Vegan Food in Aruba
The Most Vegan-Friendly Caribbean Islands
Vegan Tips for a Turks & Caicos Getaway
The Best All Inclusive Vegan-Friendly Resorts Around the World
Gorgeous Vegan-Friendly Resorts & Retreats in Bali
The Best Vegan-Friendly Resorts & Hotels in Thailand
Is The Palmaia, The House of Aia Worth a Visit?
