Hotel Casa Azul - Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa

After seven years in business and many conversations with our clients, ‘closer to the waves’ has become our theme.  Hotel Casa Azul is truly on the beach, in the center of Playa Carmen, in the town of Santa Teresa. 

The sand and waves are literally right in front of you.  

Playa Carmen is famous as one of the most consistent beach breaks in Costa Rica. It is popular with all level of surfers, from beginner to advanced.

Hotel Casa Azul is a small, private, beachfront hotel on a large property of two and half acres.  We offer three rooms on the first floor, a second floor two bedroom luxurious suite, and a casita or small house.

Many of our clients will return the following season with friends or family and rent the entire two story building which functions very comfortably as a five bedroom, four bathroom top quality beachfront home. Some of our popular amenities include A/C, ceiling fans, screens, hot water, private bathrooms, lockup boxes, kitchens, private patios and hammocks.   

Hotel Casa Azul offers a private, intimate setting with eight to twelve guests at a time.  From all our rooms (except the small rear room), the suite, the patios, the hammocks, the pool and the casita, you can see and hear the ocean and waves.  We offer private beach access, a seductive 50 foot swimming pool and extensive gardens with abundant wildlife.

Our entrance is 100 yards from the crossroads of town, Malpais/Santa Teresa.  

You are literally between a thirty second and a five minute walk to over twelve restaurants, seven board shops, three bars, two grocery and liquor stores, two banks, tour operators, vehicle rentals, a taxi stand, and a ten minute walk to two yoga studios/spas. 

There is not a more centrally located beachfront hotel on Playa Carmen.  And here is the kicker, the bonus.  We charge the same rates as do eight non-beachfront hotels of similar quality.  Hotel Casa Azul, by far, offers the best value in our market.

Hotel Casa Azul – Reviews

“A great place to stay in St. Teresa/Mal Pais”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Casa Azul is located right on the beach -- you pass through the pool area and a beautifully maintained lawn in the back yard, and you are right on the beach. The beach is great for surfing -- i took most of my lessons (begginer) there, and also watched experienced surfers come out and enjoy the ocean.

There are three rooms downstairs -- one small one and two bigger ones, i stayed in a bigger room and could see the waves right from my bed. My room was clean and well taken care of -- daily maid service, and towels were changed every other day and linens every third day. The room had a/c with a remote control. I also had a small patio where i could have a coffee in the morning and read. There is also a hammock in the back yard by the pool.

Guests are allowed to use the fridge and make coffee or snacks in the kitchen area. There was no cooking in the main house.

Caza Azul is located very close to places to eat and shop. I didnt have a car while i was there and got around town by walking.

The owner of the hotel, Richard, was very helpful during my stay and before i arrivied -- he helped me arrange my surfing lessons with a great instructor, answered many of my questions by email and gave me useful information about town while i was there.

I would come back and stay at Casa Azul!

“Right on the beach”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Do yourself a big favour and book this hotel. It just about ticks every box. It's centrally located (you can get away with not having any transport as there are plenty of shops, places to eat and the bank within a few minutes walk). Clean rooms with a great view. Amazing garden - you can pick your own mango for breakfast. Big swimming pool to cool off, if it gets a bit hot - which it does. It's also a great place to watch the sunset.

And best of all it is just a few steps from the pounding surf.

Richard, the owner, is a great guy and he has built a superb place to stay and relax in this little corner of Costa Rica.

If you go - you won't be disappointed.

“you can hear the ocean as you fall asleep”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Casa Azul, is basically a big, blue house with 3 guest rooms downstairs (2 facing the ocean, one in the rear) and a 2 BR apartment upstairs. They also had a another unit (like a granny/nanny unit) separate from the main house where a family of 3 from the US was staying for a month. Things to note:

-Warm water, private baths - only thing provided is 2 small towels (no shampoo, toiletries, etc)

-One hammock by the pool

-The housekeeper did not speak hardly any English, which was unfortunate because we couldn't ask her for help with the local area restaurants, attractions

-Rooms are clean and nice, very bare except for the 2 beds and nightstand. (no alarm clock, reading light, TV, etc)

-A/C - although we just used the ceiling fan

-Pool is very nice

-Grounds are very well kept.

-Property is set far back from the road which is nice - feels more private and you avoid the dust.

-Beach is literally right out the back door, with good surf right there

-It's right near the main (only) intersection of Malpais/Santa Teresa which was nice because we didn't have to walk far for food and the bank is practically next door.

I was a little surprised that during our 3 night stay (at $125 a night) the sheets were never changed, the housekeeper did make the bed and empty the trash each day (that was it). There is a kitchen with a fridge and coffee pot. There is no stove or microwave though so you couldn't really prepare a meal there, only store stuff in the fridge.

In all, I didn't quite feel like it was worth the $125 a night cost, and I believe we essentially were paying for the location. The hotel we stayed the last 3 nights of our trip was at Casa Zen, for only $30 and it was only about 50 meters from the ocean - which I thought (besides the lack of hot water) was more worth the cost than Casa Azul.

P.S. The property is owned by gentleman who lives half the time in Wisconsin (the states) and the other half in Costa Rica. You make reservations with him by email. He was not there during our stay.

“Great Place”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

A really nice place to stay in Mal Pais. It is as described, right on the beach. Richard and his staff made our stay easy and wonderful. Just know that the beach is great for surfing, but at least during our stay not good for general swimming. Hotel Casa Azul is right in the middle of Santa Teresa/Mal Pais but yet feels remote and private. If you're travelling to this area you can't go wrong.

“Loved It”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

A good friend and myself decided to finally put together a 2 week trip driving throughout Costa Rica this August after we had threatened to do it for at least two years. Over a 2 week period staying at numerous places Richard's little gem was by far the nicest place we stayed. The proximity to the beach, the gorgeous pool, the design of the hotel, the colors and of course the hospitality. We loved everything about it. This hotel sits on a very large, peaceful, piece of land that may just give you the best nights sleep you have had in a long time. We are already talking about returning this winter.

“Great place on the beach!”

Hotel Casa Azul – Santa Teresa Costa Rica

We stayed at Casa Azul during our honeymoon in June. We rented the guest cottage as opposed to staying in one of the rooms in the main house. It was amazing! The house is 50 yards from the beach and has a great backyard and beautiful swimming pool. We spent our days reading in the hammock, surfing, and just relaxing. It is paradise in all senses of the word. The cottage was very comfortable, but as in all of Costa Rica, the bugs were a little annoying. The cottage has its own kitchen which was great for saving some money. We loved the Mal Pais area because it was out of the touristy hustle and bustle of places like Manuel Antonio. Be sure to eat at Mary's down the road. Yum!