Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive Reviews, Deals & Photos 2023 - Expedia (2023)

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Overview of Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive

  • Overview
  • Rooms
  • Location
  • Amenities
  • Policies

4.5 star property

8.2/10 Very Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • All inclusive
  • Air conditioning

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive Reviews, Deals & Photos 2023 - Expedia (6)

Playa Matapalo- Sardinal, Carrillo, Sardinal, Guanacaste

Explore the area

  • Diamante Eco Adventure Park1 min walk
  • Playa Matapalo5 min drive
  • Haras del Mar Equestrian Center8 min drive
  • Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)49 min drive

Room options

About this area

El Ocotal

Located in Sardinal, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive is on the beach. Coco Beach and Nicoya Peninsula reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Diamante Eco Adventure Park and Haras del Mar Equestrian Center. Traveling with kids? Consider Rocio's Kitchen and Ericka's Fruit Stand. Take an opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as scuba diving.

Visit our El Ocotal travel guideOpens in a new window
Map

What's nearby

  • Diamante Eco Adventure Park

    - 1 min walk

  • Playa Matapalo

    - 5 min drive

  • Haras del Mar Equestrian Center

    - 8 min drive

  • Ocotal Beach

    - 38 min drive

  • Bahia Pez Vela Beach

    - 40 min drive

Getting around

  • Daniel Oduber Intl. Airport (LIR) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • Monkey's Bar - 18 min walk

  • La Flor Delys - 21 min drive

  • Nonna Rina - 24 min drive

  • Soda Jardin Tropical - 24 min drive

  • Donde Johann - 24 min drive

About this property

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive

4.5-star luxury property

At Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive, you can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, free water park access, and a nightclub. With a beachfront location, sun loungers, and beach towels, this property is the perfect place to soak up some sun. Indulge in a massage, a body scrub, and a facial at Renova Spa, the onsite spa. Be sure to enjoy a meal at any of the 4 onsite restaurants. Enjoy the 24-hour gym, as well as activities like beach volleyball, kayaking, and snorkeling. In addition to a swim-up bar and a poolside bar, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Additional perks include:

  • 4 outdoor pools and a children's pool, with a waterslide, sun loungers, and pool umbrellas
  • Free self parking
  • Tennis courts, limo/town car service, and a porter/bellhop
  • Luggage storage, a gift shop, and a 24-hour front desk
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff

Room features

All 538 rooms feature comforts such as 24-hour room service and laptop-compatible safes, as well as perks like free WiFi and air conditioning. Guest reviews say good things about the clean, comfortable rooms at the property.

More amenities include:

  • Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations and free toiletries
  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
  • Balconies, LED light bulbs, and coffee/tea makers

All inclusive details

This property is all-inclusive. Onsite food and beverages are included in the room price (some restrictions may apply).

Food and beverages

All buffet and à la carte meals, snacks, and beverages included

In-room minibar (all beverages included)

In-room liquor dispensers

Water activities

Kayaking

Rowing/canoeing

Surfing/body boarding

Languages

English, Spanish

Cleaning and safety practices

Enhanced cleanliness measures

Disinfectant is used to clean the property

High-touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected

Property is disinfected using an electrostatic sprayer

Follows standard cleaning and disinfection practices of Covid-19 Health Protocol (RIU)

Social distancing

Protective shields in place at main contact areas

Social distancing measures in place

Safety measures

Personal protective equipment worn by staff

Temperature checks given to staff

Temperature checks available for guests

Masks available

Masks are required at the property

Hand sanitizer provided

Enhanced food service safety measures are in place

Individually-wrapped food options available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

This information is provided by our partners.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

  • Limo/town car service

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily

  • 4 restaurants and 1 coffee shop/cafe

  • 1 swim-up bar, 1 poolside bar and 1 bar

  • 24-hour room service

  • Coffee/tea in common area(s)

Things to do

  • 24-hour fitness center

  • 4 outdoor pools

  • Beach volleyball

  • Children's pool

  • Free water park access

  • Full-service spa

  • Kayaking

  • Nightclub

  • Playground

  • Sauna

  • Snorkeling

  • Tennis

  • Volleyball

  • Windsurfing

Family friendly

  • 4 outdoor pools

  • Children's pool

  • Free supervised childcare

  • Free water park access

  • Grocery/convenience store

  • Playground

  • Waterslide

Conveniences

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  • ATM/banking services

  • Banquet hall

  • Elevator

  • Gift shop/newsstand

  • Grocery/convenience store

Guest services

  • 24-hour front desk

  • Concierge services

  • Daily housekeeping

  • Dry cleaning service

  • Free grocery shopping service

  • Hair salon

  • Luggage storage

  • Porter/bellhop

  • Tour/ticket assistance

  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers

  • Beachfront location

  • Pool sun loungers

  • Pool umbrellas

  • Terrace

Spa

  • Body scrubs

  • Facials

  • Massages

  • Spa tub

  • Steam room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.

  • Accessible bathroom (select rooms)

  • Elevator

  • In-room accessibility (select rooms)

More

  • Beach towels

  • Designated smoking areas

  • TV in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)

  • Bed sheets

  • Blackout drapes/curtains

  • Ceiling fan

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries

  • Hair dryer

  • Private bathroom

  • Shower/tub combination

  • Towels

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

  • Satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

  • Free bottled water

  • Minibar

Outdoor space

  • Balcony

More

  • Desk

  • Iron/ironing board

  • Laptop-compatible safe

  • LED light bulbs

  • Phone

  • Turndown service

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El Ocotal

El Ocotal

4 star

4 star

Business friendly

Business friendly

Guest rating 4+

Guest rating 4+

Air conditioned

Air conditioned

Free WiFi

Free WiFi

All-Inclusive Resort

All-Inclusive Resort

Policies

Check-in

Check-in from 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Late check-in subject to availability

Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival

This property does not permit name changes on reservations. The name on the booking must match the name of the guest who is checking in and staying at the property; photo ID is required.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

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Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 21 years old

This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

Be prepared: check the latest COVID-19 travel requirements and measures in place for this destination before you travel.

Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Guests under 17 years old are not allowed in the spa

Property is also known as

Costa Rica Hotel Riu

Costa Rica Hotel Riu Palace

Costa Rica Palace

Hotel Riu

Hotel Riu Costa Rica

Hotel Riu Costa Rica All Inclusive

Hotel Riu Palace

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica All Inclusive

Palace Costa Rica

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica All Inclusive El Ocotal

Riu Palace Costa Rica El Ocotal

Riu Palace Costa Rica

Riu Palace Costa Rica All Inclusive El Ocotal

Riu Costa Rica Inclusive Ocot

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica All Inclusive

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive Sardinal

8.2

Very Good

We verify reviews to ensure the traveler booked with Expedia Group. Travelers may receive a savings voucher when they submit a review. We publish all reviews, positive or negative, that meet our guidelines.More informationOpens in a new window

Rating 10 - Excellent. 478 out of 1037 reviews" "

10 - Excellent

478

" "10 - Excellent 46%

Rating 8 - Good. 297 out of 1037 reviews" "

8 - Good

297

" "8 - Good 29%

Rating 6 - Okay. 152 out of 1037 reviews" "

6 - Okay

152

" "6 - Okay 15%

Rating 4 - Poor. 61 out of 1037 reviews" "

4 - Poor

61

" "4 - Poor 6%

Rating 2 - Terrible. 49 out of 1037 reviews" "

2 - Terrible

49

" "2 - Terrible 5%

8.5/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.1/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Arkadiusz

Feb 5, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Food was excellent.The cold blue flourescent lights through out the building is a big eye sore

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Marletta

Traveled with partner

Jan 16, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Close to beach, sea turtle nursery, gym, seafood

8/10 Good

Kirby

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with family

Jan 15, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica. In regards to the hotel, I should start with the fact that I’m not an all inclusive kind of person. We booked this hotel on a whim days before our trip. The location was excellent. The grounds are beautiful. The pools are nice and there is lots of action and entertainment happening. So many things to do around this part of Guanacaste. They also had live entertainment each night. The food is so so (but this is typical of all inclusive and we had that expectation going in). We ate at the buffet in the mornings only (my go to was the fresh fruit and oats) and ventured out for dinner for almost all meals. We went to father roosters a few nights and Coraline (up the street from the hotel) most nights (we also had reservations). Coraline was absolutely amazing, so we ate well the entire trip. I would also encourage their brunch on the weekends, yum! We rented a car which I also highly recommend, as the hotel offers free self parking. It gives you so much more flexibility for meals and exploring. The beds are not comfortable whatsoever. The pillows are extremely small. Ask for additional pillows. Overall, I’m still not an all inclusive person, but this hotel was great with the right plan in place. I do think it was fairly priced as well.

8/10 Good

Melissa, New York

Traveled with partner

Jan 14, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

The property itself is beautiful. Very picturesque. Pool areas clean and maintained well by the staff. Lou he chairs could use a good cleaning but that is nothing major. System for specialty dining restaurants could be organized differently perhaps reservations as opposed to first come first serve. Buffet dining room offers many options so you’re sure to find something to enjoy as I did. Entertainment each night was good. Staff seems to be really into making sure everyone is enjoying themselves at the show and the performers really get into it. Rooms are nice, modern however they could use a little updating and maintenance. Bed was comfortable enough. The staff is truly what makes this place from front desk, to servers etc…it is a beautiful property as I already mentioned. 45 minutes from the airport so a little remote but there are many options for tours/excursions if you want to venture off. The beach is ok, I just walked along did not go swimming but you certainly can.Overall, I had a nice time at the RIU Palace, I would recommend a stay there, it’s not perfect but what hotel really is? I’m already planning my return to the RIU Palace Costa Rica.

8/10 Good

Wyatt

Traveled with partner, Traveled with family

Jan 12, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

The property and the staff were wonderful! Only small disappointment was that I expected a little higher quality of food at the evening restaurants. I’ve stayed at a lower end Riu before that was half the price of the Palace and had heard the food at the palace was amazing, but it was very similar to the other resort.

4/10 Poor

Will

Traveled with partner

Jan 10, 2023

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Just came back from RIU Palace in Guanacaste and had to post. The rooms need to be updated as the property. Our room and others had mold in A/C unit and affected my wife and got sick which I was told by another guest them too. Wi-Fi is terrible and extremely spotty. We had to check out one day early after finding out we had a pipe burst at home and the front desk after showing pictures of our home taken by our daughter would not credit us a day. My wife did not feel good and asked for an extra hour for checkout wanted to charge us an extra $20.00 per person per hour. They already are getting one day paid when we are not there. The only thing that made our trip positive were staff members like Valeria, Joaquin and Ezekiel at the bars who were wonderful. I would recommend Costa Rica but not the RIU Palace.

2/10 Terrible

Alan W

Traveled with family

Jan 9, 2023

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Terrible customer service. Room smelled awful and we found mold all over the mattress. Tried two different rooms, same result. My wife is asthmatic so any mold at all can be very dangerous. They would not refund our stay. I would not let me worst enemy stay here.

Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Traveled with family

Jan 7, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

The entertainment staff and activity staff are terrific. The shows each evening were entertaining. The Grease tribute show was outstanding. Our teens enjoyed beach volleyball and the jet ski activity and zip line. Beautiful resort. Very friendly staff. Hard working. Food was plentiful and tasty. Very family oriented. We had a wonderful time.

10/10 Excellent

Marlene

Traveled with family

Jan 6, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities

The workers make everything ten times better! They are beyond friendly and make you feel so comfortable being there

6/10 Okay

Teresa

Traveled with family and small children

Jan 3, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Disliked: Amenities

Grounds taken care of, multiple pools, convenience of all inclusive, spa services

FAQs

What is the difference between the Riu and the Riu Palace in Costa Rica? ›

The "Palace" resorts are a slight upgrade to the normal RIUs. The liquor is slightly better and the Palace tends to be larger. Stayed at RIU Guanacaste and it was stunning and quite large for not being a Palace resort. They share the same beach and it is not very large.

How far is Riu Palace Costa Rica from airport? ›

The Riu Palace Costa Rica is 20.5 miles (approximately 35 minutes) from the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste.

How old is Riu Palace Costa Rica? ›

In 2012, RIU opened the sophisticated Riu Palace Costa Rica hotel. With over 500 rooms, five restaurants and seven bars, it shares common areas with its neighbor, the Riu Guanacaste hotel, like the casino and spa, in addition to various shops.

How much is a taxi from Liberia airport to Riu Guanacaste? ›

Any Riu Guanacaste shuttle from Liberia ranges from $60-$70. While an Airport taxi from San Jose is about $275-$295. Transportation from Arenal ranges from $215-$225.

Is the beach swimmable at Riu Palace? ›

Hotel Riu Palace is perhaps one of Cabo's most modern resorts with swimmable beaches. It is perfect for families and couples who want to spend a memorable getaway in Mexico.

What is the best RIU hotel? ›

Check out the Top 10 RIU Hotels & Resorts For Vacations:
  • #1 RIU SANTA FE – CABO SAN LUCAS. ...
  • #3 HOTEL RIU PALACE – PUNTA CANA, MX. ...
  • #4 HOTEL RIU PALACE LAS AMERICAS – CANCUN, MX. ...
  • #5 HOTEL RIU PALACE CABO SAN LUCAS. ...
  • #6 HOTEL RIU PALACE JAMAICA. ...
  • #7 HOTEL RIU PALACE MEXIO. ...
  • #8 HOTEL RIU PALACE RIVIERA MAYA.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Costa Rica? ›

High season is considered to be November and December. The cheapest month to fly to Costa Rica is February. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Costa Rica flight deals.

Is Riu Palace nice? ›

The Riu Palace is an upscale all-inclusive in the Playacar area of Playa del Carmen. We also stayed at the Riu Tequila across the street and this hotel is much nice in many regards, but also more expensive. The hotel is right on the beach, which is very nice.

What airline flies nonstop to Costa Rica? ›

Which airlines offer direct flights to Costa Rica? United, American Airlines, KLM, Air Canada, jetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Delta and Spirit Airlines all fly non-stop to Costa Rica.

Is RIU a luxury? ›

Riu Palace is the most elegant category in the RIU hotel chain, with hotels that meet the highest standards in terms of luxury, excellence and sophistication, creating a unique experience.

What is the newest Riu Palace? ›

New opening

The Hotel Riu Palace Kukulkan is located in front of the most beautiful beaches in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, Mexico, within walking distance of the main shopping center, restaurants, and local attractions of the area. It's the perfect paradise for a dream vacation in the Caribbean.

What rank is RIU? ›

What rank was Riu? In 2021, the chain welcomed 4,2 million guests and provided jobs for a total of 28,004 employees. RIU is currently the world's 32nd ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, the second largest in Spain in terms of revenue and the fourth largest in number of rooms.

How long is the transfer from Liberia Airport to Riu Palace Costa Rica? ›

The Riu Palace Costa Rica is located 20.5 miles (approximately 40 minutes) from the Liberia International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste. This is an all-inclusive resort, located directly on Matapalo beach, right next to the Riu Guanacaste.

What is the cheapest way to get around in Costa Rica? ›

Costa Rica Public Transportation

Taking the bus is the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica. Costa Rica public transportation is actually very good if you're going to popular tourist destinations and major areas. It's a great way to save money on your trip to Costa Rica!

Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Costa Rica? ›

Generally, Ubers are 10-15% cheaper than taxi fare. For example, say you're staying at Hotel Costa Verde in Escazu and want to go for dinner. A 3.5 km (2.17 mi) ride to Mirador Tiquicia would cost CRC 1,750, which is about USD $3. The same ride in a taxi would be CRC 4,579 or USD $7.15.

Is alcohol included in all-inclusive Riu? ›

And the answer is yes, everything is included. From the mojito you sip at the pool bar while enjoying the sunset, to the croissantyou have for breakfast in the morning at the buffet. Our top tip is to plan your routine at the hotel and try out all the restaurants and bars on offer.

Is room service free at Riu all-inclusive? ›

Amenities include free Wi-Fi, room service 24 hours a day, infinity pools and an endless array of sports and activities which will make your vacation unforgettable.

Can you eat at any Riu hotel? ›

All our hotels have a Main Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Which Riu Palace is adults only? ›

The Riu Palace Antillas Hotel, a 24h All Inclusive resort, is located on the shores of Palm Beach, Aruba, immersed in the most selective Caribbean atmosphere. Its Adults Only service, exclusively for over 18 years old, is ideal for a fantastic and romantic vacation.

Are the RIU resorts good? ›

Conclusion. Overall, the Riu Palace Mexico is great value for the money. It has high quality all around (food, service, rooms, beach) and great reviews. It is one of the only resorts in the area that does not have timeshare on site, so you will never get hassled by sales reps.

What does RIU stand for? ›

From Vulgar Latin rius (“river”) or Latin rīvus (“brook; small stream”).

How much money do you need for 2 weeks in Costa Rica? ›

A 2-week Costa Rica itinerary will cost you anywhere between 2000 – 3000 USD. For example, this includes going out for lunch and dinner, accommodation, attraction tickets, and your rental car. However, if you travel with two or more people, you can split accommodation and transport costs.

How much should I budget for a week in Costa Rica? ›

A week of vacation in Costa Rica costs between $850 and $1,450 for an average traveler in mid-priced hotels, lodges or rental houses and doing standard tours (assuming double occupancy). Beachfront accommodations and high dollar activities like deep sea fishing will quickly push the budget over $2,500.

How much cash should I bring to Costa Rica for a week? ›

For a one week Costa Rica trip, I recommend to bring a round $300 dollars in US dollars cash per person. Then, exchange about $100 USD to Costa Rican colones when you first arrive at the bank or supermarket.

Which is better RIU or dreams? ›

If you like being able to walk a long ways on the beach, the RIU would be your best bet. If you like the idea of a small, private beach, then someplace like Dreams PV is the better choice. The food at both places is decent.

Does Riu Palace Costa Rica have a casino? ›

The casino is small but they offer free drinks for anybody who's gambling . What's nice about this resort is that you're in a gated community there's a whole street it's entirely just for use by the two hotels that are in that area one being the palace and the other one Riu Guanacaste.

Do you still need a Covid test to fly to Costa Rica? ›

Are COVID-19 tests required to travel to Costa Rica? COVID test is not required to enter Costa Rica.

What is the best part of Costa Rica to fly into? ›

San Jose International Airport (Juan Santamaría International Airport) The San Jose International Airport is the biggest airport in Costa Rica. It has the most international and domestic flights in and out. The airport code for San Jose International Airport is SJO.

What is the best time of year to visit Costa Rica? ›

The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, when the weather is at its driest and brightest. We'd also recommend traveling in the country's green season, from May to June or in November. This is when you catch the seasons in transition, and the national parks are quieter.

Does Riu Palace have access to other RIU? ›

RIU Exchange Privileges in Punta Cana:

Guests staying at all 3 of Palace properties can now enjoy the facilities across all properties in the complex (Riu Palace Bavaro, Riu Palace Macao, Riu Bambu, Riu Naiboa).

Which RIU in costa rica has the water park? ›

Guests staying at Riu Guanacaste or Riu Palace Costa Rica can take advantage of free and unlimited access to Splash Water World. Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica are located on Matapalo Beach, and both offer accommodation, dining and activities.

Is alcohol included in all-inclusive RIU? ›

And the answer is yes, everything is included. From the mojito you sip at the pool bar while enjoying the sunset, to the croissantyou have for breakfast in the morning at the buffet. Our top tip is to plan your routine at the hotel and try out all the restaurants and bars on offer.

Which RIU is the biggest? ›

With 1007 rooms, this hotel is at the moment the biggest hotel that RIU have ever build. The Hotel Riu Republica, will be located on Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic, and the guest staying there will enjoy a fabulous location on first line of the beach, with two infinity pools and various open air Jacuzzis.

Do you need a passport to go to Costa Rica? ›

Do I need a passport to travel to Costa Rica? Yes, U.S. citizens must have a current valid passport and evidence of onward travel to exit Costa Rica (either to return to the U.S. or travel to another country).

Does Riu Palace have a private beach? ›

At the Riu Palace Zanzibar you can enjoy a refreshing dip in one of the three pools, relax under the sun in a lounge chair, or go to the beach and enjoy the private area for hotel guests.

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