Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón

Banana Azul (their website link) is one of my favorite hotels in Costa Rica, not because of luxury but one of the most relaxing atmospheres with the closest rooms to the beach of any so far, and unlimited nature photography opportunities! That includes the adjacent “Beach Road,” Cahuita National Park, Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve and other nearby places listed below. I don’t swim in the ocean, but I love walking on the beach and even more so the beach road lined in big trees and wildlife. It’s my “Tranquilo Place!”

Would I Return Here?

Yes! I’ve been here 7 times which says how much I love it! 🙂

Likes

Casual, relaxed atmosphere.
Going to sleep with the sound of the surf.
The Howler Suite or Room 1 which is upstairs on a corner with a deck view of the ocean and the hotel gardens. The above photo is a view from that room.
My #1 best butterfly location and maybe the best for sloths, plus very good for some birds.
The two national parks nearby.
The beach road and beach.
Great & friendly service!

Dislikes

Almost nothing! The tour company associated with the hotel, “Caribe Fun,” (possibly same owner) used to give me excellent service but they were incompetent and dependent on and/or hampered by their computer system the last time there (rejected both debit cards) and thus I made all my own arrangements, including a taxi to and from the airport which is easy.

Nature

The endangered Great Green Macaw, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón – Photo by Charlie at Ara Manzanillo!

Nature is my reason for every visit and this place is no exception! Both on property and in nearby places I find much unspoiled nature.
Cahuita National Park is one of the better nature parks in Costa Rica with good walking trails and . . .
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is one of the best anywhere!
The Jaguar Rescue Center and the Costa Rica Sloth Sanctuary are both excellent for visitors and photo ops!
Ara Manzanillo (Green Macaw Sanctuary) is wonderful and where I’ve gotten most of my green macaw photos, like the one above.
“Beach Road” behind Hotel Banana Azul is where I have photographed more species of butterflies than anywhere in Costa Rica other than my own garden where I live.
Las Hormigas Permaculture Farm tour was enjoyable and some interesting photos on 2019 visit!
Multiple Bribri Indigenous villages & reserves nearby for living in nature. See link to a Bribri Tour I took in 2018 under Activities below.
And you can drive a little farther for even more nature places, like up towards the airport where they recently spotted a pink flamingo! 🙂

Brown Pelican
Agouti
Whimbrel
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
Hermit Crab
Giant Grasshopper
Yellow-throated Toucan
Gray-cowled Wood-Rail
Three-toed Sloth
Blue-gray Tanager
Green Iguana
White-faced Capuchin Monkey
Africanized Bee
Emerald Basilisk
Zebra-striped Hairstreak

Activities

Bribri Indigenous teen jumping from Bribri Volio Waterfall, Bribri Village, Puerto Viejo, Limón

See the above Nature Tours under “Nature.”
Snorkeling a Coral Reef is available in multiple spots but I’m told the best is a guided tour at Cahuita National Park. I have not done this yet.
Bribri Indigenous Tour including a shamin visit, chocolate tour, waterfall, lunch and more. A great day trip! See my 3 sub-galleries on it in the Trip Gallery.
Surfing at Playa Cocles and other water sports in the area including kayaking & cnaoeing.
Hiking – Beach Road at Banana Azul & Trails in all the parks either on your own or with a paid guide. (I advise using a guide. You see much more!)
Art Galleries in Puerto Viejo.
Free Bicycles at Hotel Banana Azul and rentals in Puerto Viejo, including electric bikes.
Caribe Fun Tours at Banana Azul & Multiple tour companies in town with many more tours available.

Surfer at Playa Cocle, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón

Rooms

Both new modern rooms with A/C and simpler, older open air rooms. Plus a house and cottage near the beach and more rooms back on the highway.
My favorite is the “Howler Suite” or Room 1 in the original building with by far the best vistas from the corner deck.
Rooms are not huge and plush like Xandari, but very comfortable and relaxing. And the ones without air have the surf to put you to sleep! 🙂
There are both upstairs and downstairs rooms.

Food

A very broad menu with many types of food with the highlight being Caribbean dishes. There are also many restaurants in town that are also good, some with only Caribbean dishes, but I found the Banana Azul to be as good or better and it is right there by my room! 🙂
All is by menu at hotel (my preference) with daily specials for breakfast and dinner and a small buffet with fruit, cereals and drinks at breakfast which is turned into a salad bar at night for dinner. Breakfast comes with room.
Very friendly local waiters & waitresses!
Morning, lunch, happy hour and dinner are also served on the beach at either the beach bar or at your own cabaña on beach.
Plus Room Service is also available.

Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul

Getting There

Like almost everywhere in Costa Rica, you can drive there in your car or hire a van or driver or there are some shared shuttle systems available where you ride in a van with other passengers.
Bus Service is available from anywhere in Costa Rica to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, usually changing buses in San Jose. Then from the center of Puerto Viejo you take a short taxi ride to Hotel Banana Azul or with only a backpack you could easily walk to the hotel. 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile and from the bridge you can walk the beach instead of the road. More scenic! 🙂
My preference now is for Walter to take me to the Domestic Terminal at the SJO Airport and I fly Sansa to the Limón Airport (landing strip) which is south of Limón, thus less than an hour to Puerto Viejo in a taxi. You get terrific vistas on the flight and it is so much quicker and easier! It’s around $100 each direction to/from anywhere in Costa Rica! 🙂 The hotel can arrange a taxi or it is a tiny bit cheaper to get the next available taxi at the airport. They are always there!