Casa Caletas is a small boutique beach hotel on Playa Coyote, on the remote southern Pacific coast of Guanacaste, with mangroves around it and a protected sea turtle beach next door. It’s a comfortable beach hotel rather than a forest eco-lodge, but its estuary setting, kayak and boat trips through the mangroves, and the Caletas-Arío wildlife refuge down the coast give it a genuine nature side.
At a glance
| Location | Playa Coyote, San Francisco de Coyote, on the Nicoya Peninsula’s Pacific coast |
|---|---|
| Style | Small boutique hotel with rooms, a villa and larger group houses |
| Setting | Oceanfront, bordered by mangroves and an estuary |
| Best for | Couples, families and groups who want a quiet beach and simple nature outings |
| Getting there | Ferry from Puntarenas to Playa Naranjo, then a long rural drive |
| CST status | Not listed in the official directory (checked 2026-Oct-21) |
Where it is
Playa Coyote is a long, open beach between Punta Islita to the north and Manzanillo and Mal País to the south, on a coast where paved roads and big hotels are still scarce. The hotel’s website describes the property as facing the Pacific and surrounded by mangroves, and it markets its location as part of the Nicoya Peninsula “Blue Zone”, the region known for its unusually long-lived residents.
The hotel’s wellness page suggests coming by the car ferry from Puntarenas to Playa Naranjo, then driving across the peninsula. Ask the hotel about road conditions before you set off, especially in the rainy season. The hotel links Waze and Google Maps directions on its home page rather than publishing a route. Small aircraft also serve local airstrips on this coast, including Punta Islita.
Rooms and villas
Older descriptions of Casa Caletas list eight rooms around a pool, and the hotel has since added villas and group houses. According to its lodging page, it now offers:
- Standard King Room: one king bed, for two.
- Standard Queen Room: three beds, for up to four.
- Deluxe Room with Jacuzzi: one bed, for two.
- Hotel Villa: two bedrooms with king beds, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a dining area, a terrace and a private pool, for up to four. Breakfast for four is included, according to the villa page.
- Luxury Villa: six bedrooms for up to 12, with a full kitchen and pool.
- Casitas: eight bedrooms for up to 16, with a full kitchen and private pool.
Every unit has air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The hotel doesn’t say how many of each room type there are.
Food
There’s an on-site restaurant and bar. Breakfast is included with stays, according to the hotel. Its About page says it grows vegetables and herbs in its own organic garden for the kitchen and buys directly from local producers rather than through middlemen. It doesn’t publish menus or meal hours online, so ask ahead about special diets. The hotel also lists Guanacaste cooking classes with local cooks and wine and coffee tastings among its experiences.
Things to do
The hotel’s activities page puts the water first:
- Mangrove boat trip: a two-hour outing for up to 10 people, looking for birds, monkeys and reptiles in the mangroves.
- Estuary kayaking: two hours paddling a mangrove-lined estuary.
- Sunset boat trip: two hours, in the dry season only.
- Sea fishing: two hours with local fishermen.
- Surfing: lessons or coaching on the Coyote beach breaks.
- On land: a guided hike to a Pacific viewpoint, horseback rides over beaches and hills, and mountain biking.
- Wellness: yoga and meditation by the ocean, and massages.
All tours are booked through the hotel by WhatsApp. Swimming conditions on this open coast change with the swell, so ask the staff before you go in.
The Caletas-Arío refuge
A few kilometers south, the coast from Punta Coyote along Playa Caletas to beyond the mouth of the Bongo River is protected as the Caletas-Arío National Wildlife Refuge. According to SeaTurtles.org, the refuge was declared in August 2006 after work by the Costa Rican sea turtle group PRETOMA, local fishermen and the Tempisque Conservation Area. It covers 313 hectares of land and a marine protected area of 19,846 hectares reaching 12 miles offshore. Four species of sea turtles nest at Caletas: leatherbacks, olive ridleys, Pacific greens and hawksbills. The refuge also protects mangroves, seabirds, crocodiles and monkeys.
The hotel doesn’t list a turtle tour, so if you want to see nesting, ask it about current access rules and authorized local guides before you arrive. Our sea turtle nesting guide explains how responsible night visits work.
Sustainability
Casa Caletas isn’t listed in the CST directory. According to the hotel, its staff are local residents, it trains them continuously, it buys from regional suppliers and it grows some of its own produce. It doesn’t publish energy, water or waste practices. That’s a modest record, so book here for the beach and the setting rather than for a showcase of green practices.
Who it suits
Casa Caletas suits couples who want an unhurried beach and sunsets over the mangroves, families who’d like a villa with a kitchen and private pool, and groups who can fill one of the large houses. It’s also a sensible stop for surfers working their way along this coast.
It’s less suited to anyone who wants rainforest trails from the door, a certified eco-lodge or easy access. If those matter, consider Hotel Punta Islita up the coast, which holds CST Elite status and runs a macaw project, or browse our beachfront eco-lodges guide. More places to stay in the region are in our Guanacaste eco-lodges section.
Frequently asked questions
Is Casa Caletas right on the beach?
Yes. The hotel describes itself as oceanfront on Playa Coyote, with mangroves around the property. It's a wild, open beach, so check sea conditions with the staff before swimming.
Can I see sea turtles near Casa Caletas?
Possibly. The Caletas-Arío refuge just south of Playa Coyote protects a beach where leatherback, olive ridley, green and hawksbill turtles nest. The hotel doesn't run its own turtle tour, so ask it to put you in touch with an authorized local guide.
Does Casa Caletas have options for large groups?
Yes. Besides its rooms, it rents a two-bedroom villa for four, a six-bedroom villa for up to 12 and a group of casitas with eight bedrooms for up to 16, each with a full kitchen and pool.
Which activities start at the hotel?
The mangrove boat trip and horseback rides start from the hotel or close by, and surfing is on Coyote's own beach. Others, such as fishing and the viewpoint hike, are arranged with local operators through the hotel.
