Of all the places to sleep in Costa Rica, few are as memorable as spending the night inside a Boeing 727. Perched on a jungle hillside above Manuel Antonio, the airplane hotel Costa Rica is famous for, at Hotel Costa Verde, is a genuine retired airliner reborn as a two-bedroom suite, its wings jutting out over the treetops with the Pacific glittering beyond. We’ve stayed at Hotel Costa Verde and know the property and the staff well, so here’s our first-hand review of the famous 727 fuselage suite: what it’s actually like inside, how much it costs, how to book it, and whether Costa Rica’s airplane hotel lives up to the hype.
Key Takeaways
- The airplane hotel is a real retired Boeing 727 converted into a two-bedroom suite, mounted on a pedestal above the jungle at Hotel Costa Verde near Manuel Antonio.
- It sleeps up to six across two bedrooms, with air conditioning, two bathrooms and a private balcony built onto one wing, overlooking the rainforest and ocean.
- It’s a novelty splurge, not a value stay, priced well above the resort’s standard rooms, so it’s the experience you’re paying for.
- Wildlife is part of the deal, with monkeys, sloths and tropical birds regularly visiting the grounds and the neighbouring trees.
- It’s a short drive from Manuel Antonio National Park, making it easy to pair the stay with the area’s wildlife, beaches and the famous El Avion plane restaurant.
The Airplane Hotel at a Glance
| What it is | A converted 1965 Boeing 727 suite at Hotel Costa Verde |
| Location | Above Manuel Antonio, near Quepos on the central Pacific coast |
| Sleeps | Up to 6 in two bedrooms, two bathrooms |
| Price | A premium novelty rate, well above standard rooms (varies by season) |
| Best for | A bucket-list splurge, couples and families after something unique |
| Nearby | Manuel Antonio National Park, beaches, the El Avion restaurant |
Hotel Costa Verde is a long-standing eco-hotel spread across the rainforest ridge above Manuel Antonio, with a range of rooms and studios, but the 727 fuselage suite is what put it on the world’s radar. It regularly appears on lists of the planet’s most unusual hotels, and staying in it is a genuine one-of-a-kind experience. Here’s everything you need to know.
Inside the Boeing 727 Suite
From the outside, the suite is unmistakably an aircraft: a gleaming white fuselage, complete with wings and tail, cantilevered out from the hillside on a pedestal so that it appears to float above the canopy. You climb up through the structure to reach the entrance, and stepping inside is the moment the novelty really lands, because it’s far more comfortable and finished than you might expect.
Inside, the 727 has been converted into a proper two-bedroom suite that sleeps up to six, with hardwood panelling throughout, air conditioning, two bathrooms and a small kitchenette. The real showstopper is the private terrace built out onto one of the wings, where you can sit above the treetops with a drink and watch for monkeys and toucans in the branches, with the Pacific shimmering in the distance. It’s easily one of the most memorable hotel balconies anywhere. Little aircraft details survive the conversion, from the curved fuselage walls to the shape of the cabin, but the finish is warm and residential rather than industrial, with polished teak, tropical decor and big windows that pull the jungle inside. At night, with the air conditioning humming and the sounds of the rainforest outside, it’s a genuinely surreal and cosy place to fall asleep.
The Story Behind the 727
The aircraft is a 1965 Boeing 727 that once flew for South Africa Avianca and later Colombia’s Avianca airlines. Rather than let it end its days in a scrapyard, Hotel Costa Verde bought the retired fuselage, transported it in pieces from San Jose, and rebuilt it on the jungle ridge above Manuel Antonio, mounting it on a pedestal so guests could sleep among the treetops. The result is part hotel room, part sculpture, and a genuinely clever piece of upcycling that has become the hotel’s signature and a symbol of Costa Rica’s inventive, eco-minded approach to tourism.
The Grounds and Wildlife
One of the best things about Costa Verde is that the wildlife comes to you. The hotel sits in a wildlife corridor between the rainforest and the coast, and the grounds are alive with squirrel monkeys, white-faced capuchins, sloths, iguanas and a huge variety of birds. Early morning and late afternoon are prime viewing times, when troops of monkeys move through the trees around the rooms, so keep your balcony doors closed and never feed them. There are several swimming pools terraced into the hillside, some with sweeping ocean views, and the whole property leans into its eco-lodge setting.
Where to Eat at and near Costa Verde
Costa Verde has several on-site restaurants and bars, but the area’s most famous place to eat sits just up the road and is worth planning an evening around. Every venue below is a short walk or drive from the airplane suite.
Eating at and around Costa Verde
| Spot | Type | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| El Avion Restaurant | Restaurant & bar | A converted C-123 cargo plane; legendary sunsets |
| Anaconda Restaurant Costa Verde | On-site dining | Rainforest-view meals at the hotel |
| La Cantina Costa Verde | On-site bar & grill | Casual bites and drinks by the pool |
El Avion: the other airplane
If the 727 is where you sleep, El Avion is where you should watch the sunset. Built around a Fairchild C-123 cargo plane with a Cold War history of its own, El Avion is a restaurant and bar perched on the ridge with one of the best sunset views in Manuel Antonio. It’s run by our friend Alan, whom we know personally, and it’s a local institution for good reason: grab a table on the terrace or a drink in the fuselage bar as the sun drops into the Pacific. It’s the perfect complement to a stay in the airplane suite.
Dining at the hotel
Back at Costa Verde, the on-site Anaconda restaurant serves meals with rainforest and ocean views, and there are casual bar-and-grill options by the pools, handy after a day in the national park when you don’t feel like driving. The food is convenient and scenic rather than a destination in itself, so mix a night in with a sunset at El Avion and a meal down in Manuel Antonio or Quepos.
How Much It Costs and How to Book
The 727 suite is a premium novelty rate, and the price reflects the experience rather than the square footage: expect it to sit well above Costa Verde’s standard rooms and studios, with rates rising further over the December-to-April high season and holidays. Because there’s only one airplane suite, it books up far in advance, so if a specific date matters, reserve as early as you can. Rates and availability for the fuselage suite are managed by the hotel directly, so check them on the official Hotel Costa Verde site, and browse the resort’s other rooms and nearby stays on Booking.com.
Is the Airplane Hotel Worth It?
Honestly? If you’ve ever wanted to sleep in a plane surrounded by jungle and wildlife, yes. This is not the place to come looking for value, and if all you want is a comfortable room near Manuel Antonio, the resort’s standard rooms cost a fraction of the price. But that misses the point. You’re paying for a genuine one-of-a-kind experience: a night in a real Boeing 727 with monkeys in the trees, a wing for a balcony and the Pacific on the horizon. As a bucket-list splurge for a special occasion, an anniversary, a honeymoon or simply a trip you’ll never forget, it more than delivers.
Things to Do Near Costa Verde
The airplane suite is a destination in itself, but its location above Manuel Antonio puts you close to some of Costa Rica’s best wildlife and beaches. Manuel Antonio National Park, a few minutes down the road, is the easiest place in the country to spot sloths and monkeys on rainforest trails that end at swimmable coves. The area’s beaches, from busy Playa Espadilla to quieter coves, are worth a morning, and the town of Quepos, a few minutes north, is the hub for sportfishing, catamaran sunset cruises and a wider choice of restaurants. Getting here is straightforward: Costa Verde is about a three-hour drive from San Jose down the coast, or a short hop by domestic flight into Quepos, and a rental car makes it easy to combine with the rest of the central Pacific. For the wider region, see our guide to the best things to do in Costa Rica, and for the story of our own Costa Rica celebration nearby, our behind-the-scenes Costa Rica wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to stay in the airplane hotel in Costa Rica?
The Boeing 727 suite at Hotel Costa Verde is a premium novelty rate that varies by season, sitting well above the resort’s standard rooms and climbing over the December-to-April high season. Check the hotel directly for current pricing.
Where is the airplane hotel in Costa Rica?
It’s at Hotel Costa Verde, on the rainforest ridge above Manuel Antonio near Quepos on the central Pacific coast, roughly a three-hour drive from San Jose.
What airplane is the Costa Verde suite made from?
A refurbished 1965 Boeing 727 that once flew for Avianca, salvaged and rebuilt on a jungle-view pedestal as a two-bedroom suite.
Can you actually sleep in the Boeing 727 at Hotel Costa Verde?
Yes, the fuselage is a fully fitted two-bedroom suite that sleeps up to six, with air conditioning, two bathrooms and a private balcony built onto one of the wings.
Is the airplane suite good for families?
Yes, with two bedrooms sleeping up to six and monkeys regularly visiting the grounds, it’s a hit with kids, though the elevated structure and wildlife mean keeping an eye on little ones.
Is Hotel Costa Verde’s airplane suite worth it?
For a once-in-a-lifetime, wildlife-surrounded novelty stay near Manuel Antonio, yes. It’s the experience you’re paying for, not the value, as standard rooms cost far less.
Final Thoughts
Costa Rica’s airplane hotel is exactly the kind of inventive, slightly wild idea the country does so well: a retired jetliner given a second life as a treetop suite where you fall asleep to the sound of the jungle. It’s a splurge, but as a one-of-a-kind experience near one of Costa Rica’s best national parks, it’s one we’d happily do again, ideally with a sunset at El Avion to bookend the trip. Anyone planning the rest of the trip can browse our guide to the best places to stay in Costa Rica, the best beaches in the country and our two-week Costa Rica itinerary. Would you spend the night in a Boeing 727?
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