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C$178
Fully refundable before Sat, Jul 27
C$178
Fully refundable before Sat, Jul 27
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C$178
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About
4.0
#4 of 12 hotels in Playa Hermosa
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Welcome to Hotel El Velero, a mediterranean-style, boutique beach hotel just paces from the Pacific blue waters of Costa Rica's pristine Playa Hermosa. Hear the waves crash and breathe the clean, salty air as you relax in our seaside tropical gardens.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Playa Hermosa Costa Rica
Hotel El Velero
594 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Hotel El Velero enjoys a beachfront location that earns high marks from guests for its comfortable accommodations and variety of convenient amenities. The staff's friendliness and helpfulness shine, though dinner service can sometimes lag. Its prime spot near the beach and airport, coupled with reasonable rates, contributes to its reputation for offering great value.
Guests consistently commend the hotel's cleanliness and updated rooms, although noise can be an issue. The atmosphere is often amplified by live music, making for a more enjoyable stay.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Relaxing
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In prior years we had stayed near the other end of the beach but decided to try this location for a few dollars more, and now wouldn't go back to our former abode for a few reasons. First off, all the staff here were personable and friendly, from the reception to the restaurant/bar staff and so on; always what seemed like genuine warm interaction, remembering your name, room # and drink choice right off the bat! Our room was quiet, as per fridge, aircon etc. When we got neighbours (with loud family) there was bleed-through noise from the hall and walls, but all in all slept well. The room was very nice and my only bother was the overlarge pillows, something that seems trendy these days, but my neck can't take it. Would be nice if a large and a small were offered. The layout was great with restaurant/bar opening right onto the beautiful beach and bay. Also, the upstairs lounge facing the water was very pleasant at dusk. Sunset was at 5:50pm, with the resort closing up by 9pm and lights out at 10. This helped with a good night's sleep and there was dull light in the morn by 5 am. This was the time for monkeys to howl and birds to greet the day. We enjoyed the two special meal days, the BBQ and the Taco and all the meals really; we also ventured to Marisco restaurant, 5 minutes to the right for a nice change and aqua sport, 5 to the left for happy hour and sunset watch. There were a few vendors around, but not annoying and there was shade on the beach - and it is this beach, with its long curling wave, that makes this spot such a pleasant place to stay. Beautiful sand and clear water, no rocks, wood, weed or jellyfish to contend with and it was easy to spot the fish in the clear water. One time i watched 4 dolphins riding the curl of the surf right in front of the hotel and soon thereafter saw a ray shoot into the air. One frequently saw schools of small fish lifting into the air, soon to be followed by diving pelicans. That was the most fun to me, floating out in the water with pelicans flying low over the water within feet of me, eyeball to eyeball with audible wing beats- or diving close and gulping the fish right next to me. That was ultimate fun for myself on this healthy beach and more fun than a 'party beach' like the nearby Coco could offer. Great place to start and end a trip. Pleasantville Hope to be back in a year. ps, tried the bar across the back lane and regretted it, as bothered by a couple of sketchy characters...better to stick to the hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff here are all amazing and very helpful. It is an older hotel and in need of some updating, especially the bathrooms, however the proximity to the beach just cannot be beat. If you reserve an upstairs room make sure to be away from the back metal stairway, the stairs vibrate and will wake you up when used.
You can use the hotel's lounge chairs and even pull them out onto the beach and one of the staff will serve you drinks there as well!
Make sure to bring your hydro flask from home as the bar will fill it daily with filtered water and ice!
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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My husband and I had a king room with an ocean front view. We loved our room and our stay. The hotel is small and personable. If you want a large resort, this is not for you. But if you want a small, comfortable hotel with a friendly staff, nice location on a beautiful beach and a lovely restaurant, then come here! The best part is that you can walk off the property right onto a wonderful beach. The beach is shaped like a small cove, so the water is very calm. The staff at the front desk will give you beach towels and they provide beach chairs as well. There is also a nice, shady terrace above the restaurant, so you can sit and look at the beach all day and night. There are also a couple restaurants and a mini-mart within walking distance. We particularly liked the restaurant called Verde located up the street at the corner to the main road, and we enjoyed dinner one night at Ginger which is walking distance across the street on the main road. We also ate at the hotel restaurant which is right on the beach and has a delicious menu.
Everyone on the staff from the front desk to the housekeepers to the waiters were so nice and friendly. English is spoken by everyone. I especially want to say that Jenny with the staff was so friendly. Every morning she saw me sitting on the deck outside our room and she came over and gave me a hug and smiled and told me good morning. She was so sweet and kind. I have never had a vacation where I felt so relaxed and easy going and treated so kindly.
The only negative that I have about our room is that it was right above the kitchen and there is a window in the bathroom above the kitchen so you will get kitchen noises in your room until 9 or 10pm. You can close the bathroom door but there is no A/C in the bathroom so it will get stuffy and warm. The other issue was that during the night there was a garbage smell from the kitchen that entered our room. They can probably fix both issues by adding a window A/C unit to the bathroom, and also removing the food waste/garbage from that area in the kitchen at the end of the day. But that small issue would not stop me from coming back, I would still come here and stay in the same room for another vacation because it was so welcoming and friendly and right on such a nice beach.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I second what many reviewers have previously stated regarding the cleanliness of the hotel, the good food and tasty beverages in the restaurant, the location of the hotel to the airport, being steps away from the beach, the live music, and the amazing staff throughout the hotel. We had several nights reserved, but ended up leaving early for a couple of reasons, but nothing directly related to the hotel. I don't fault them but I will point them out so others are aware. And I realize that what bothers me, may very well not bother most, so take it for what you will. First, during the day, there are lots of flies so you must be on guard constantly to protect your fruity drinks and food. Second, the vendors selling merchandise are constantly blowing whistles, even while you are in the restaurant, to get your attention. We found that very annoying, to the point it prevented us from being able to relax, which ultimately led to our decision to leave early, even though we knew we would lost several hundred dollars due to the cancellation policy.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I hesitate to write this review. I would prefer to keep this gem all to myself.
We were happy at The El Velero for 12 glorious days in November. Their recently renovated rooms are gorgeous. The food is the best we've had in Costa Rica. The setting is stunning at this beachfront restaurant and hotel. Although it was still rainy season, one day it rained 6", we had a great time. Set on a small bay about a mile long the view is spectacular. Playa Hermosa itself is a sleepy little town with amazing people. Many are expats living the dream in Costa Rica. Most of them are regulars at The El Velero restaurant. If you are looking for night life then this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing vacation this is it, located 30 min from Liberia airport. Our driver Rory Hoffman picked us up in a very clean van. He also does tours to many destinations. Look him up on Facebook. What made our trip so amazing was the staff at The El Velero. Check in and account management are always easy with Gabby and Ana on the front desk. Jenny and Elizabeth keep everything spotless. Genaro, Luis and Joshua are incredible in the restaurant. The chef is an artist. There is security on site at night, a gardener and maintenance person keeping everything beautiful and functioning. Vero does an amazing job at managing the hotel. My hat goes off to her. Chris and Genevieve recently purchased The El Velero and they are doing a great job. We thank them very much for their hospitality. We have already booked a return visit in March
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Another amazing visit at El Velero! The staff is very welcoming and helpful. You just can’t beat sipping your Costa Rican coffee from the beachside restaurant in the morning and then watching a gorgeous sunset in the evening from the same location. The rooms, pool, and restaurant are all literally steps from the beach!
We were able to get a sneak peek at the rooms being remodeled….which meant there was a little construction noise but they were very careful to keep it to only certain hours of the day. The ocean waves covered most of the sound anyway. I can’t wait to see the finished product! Our favorite getaway location will be even better!
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:I appreciate the level of security offered. There are small in-room safes and secured parking....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were looking for a reasonably priced accommodation a short drive from Liberia airport and close to the beach to relax for 2 nights after a long travel day. For us this was the perfect find- and right on the beach. The property is very clean, our room ample size (but small bathroom), comfortable king bed, with a small fridge and microwave. Because we are such early risers it would have been great to have a coffee maker in the room, but the restaurant opens at 7am which is plenty early fo most people. We were there for BBQ night and had the grilled tuna, outstanding meal. Delicious breakfast as well. Every staff person from the owner to housekeeping were warm and friendly. The restaurant/bar staff provided efficient and professional service. Masking was followed by all staff. If you are looking for 5 star luxury lodging this is not for you But if you want a clean, safe, and friendly spot on a clean swimmable beach this is it.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is in great location, right on the beach in a beautiful cove and only 25 minutes from the airport which was great since we had an 8 am flight and had to return the car rental. The pool was unimpressive and right beside the eating area so didn’t bother especially with the ocean right there. The room was adequate except for the scratching coming from the roof which we hope was a bird lol. It was amazing to wake up early for our flight and hear the howler monkeys. Our room was on the second floor and getting our luggage up the winding staircase was a little difficult so if can get main floor. Overall a nice quaint hotel reasonably priced with amazing access to the beach.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a room on the second floor for 2 nights. Room was airy , tall ceilings, and clean. Bathroom was a bit tight in space but everything functioned well. The AC was fabulous and the ceiling fan was good to have. Screens on the bathroom window were helpful in keeping the mosquitos out. The hotel is conveniently located - close to Liberia airport and it’s right on the Hermosa beach. The ocean is great, calm water, and the beach had lots of locals on the weekend creating a really nice atmosphere. The restaurant has great good and the drinks are good. The staff is very friendly and helped me rent a car , when most rentals had sold out. We even returned to stay one additionally night on the way out of CR, We decided to spend one last night on the beach before catching our flight in the morning rather than stay at an airport hotel !
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I were thankful, during our first visit to Playa Hermosa last month, to lodge at the beautiful Hotel El Velero. Our Ocean View Room had a splendid view, indeed, and we were very comfortable in it; we appreciated the fine job that the housekeepers did, tidying it daily. We enjoyed very much relaxing and walking on the gray sand beach and playing in the pool. (The ocean waves and currents were too strong for us, but we saw a number of other people having fun in them.) All of the members of the staff with whom we interacted - reservations, front desk, dining, housekeeping, and maintenance - were friendly and helpful.
We enjoyed the three breakfasts, one dinner, and three desserts (!) that we ate at Hotel El Velero during our stay. The food was delicious and the service superb: for the latter, we are grateful to Cristian, Francinie, Jenaro, and Joshua. We recommend: the excellent Costa Rican breakfast - eggs, Gallo Pinto, plantains, tortilla, local cheese, sour cream, and coffee; for dinner, the fish with rice and wonderful cooked vegetables; and, for dessert, the scrumptious brownie with ice cream. Our enjoyment of the food was, of course, enhanced by the surroundings of our beachfront table and the sound of Pacific Ocean waves.
My wife and I are planning already, for next year, another Costa Rica visit, and we have been fortunate to make a reservation, to enjoy once again Hotel El Velero’s hospitality.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Playa Hermosa area.
PRICE RANGE
C$201 - C$217 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
el velero hotel, el velero playa hermosa
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacastePlaya Hermosa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
22
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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