Iguana
Reviews
69 total reviews
94% Excellent
69 reviews
4.93
2018–2026
Cleanliness 4.8
Accuracy 4.9
Communication 5.0
Location 5.0
Check-in 5.0
Value 5.0
69 reviews

Spencer
Excellent, 3 months ago
The Iguana Surf Hotel is a great place to stay in Tamarindo. It's very affordable for the surf dorms, the rooftop pool is incredibly beautiful, the location is fantastic for surfers, and the staff is active, friendly and accommodating. They were very on top of scheduling excursions or any questions I had during my stay. They went out of their way to ensure I was extremely satisfied, which I was. A great place for those visiting Tamarindo and Costa Rica. This was also my first time visiting the country and I can't think of a better place for me to stay. Highly recommend

Kristen
Excellent, 3 months ago
Such a great clean place to stay! Directly across from the beach and the rooftop pool is such an amazing added bonus!

Emilio
Excellent, 3 months ago
Everything was great and comfortable, good location, nice place, very good view, the sunset looks beautiful from the rooftop and pool, and the fact that it has a water dispenser is also very helpful.
Cassidy
Excellent, 5 months ago
It’s in such a good part of town and directly across the street from the beach!! I had such a good time here:-)

Mackenzie
Excellent, 5 months ago
Great

Connor
Excellent, 8 months ago
Great host. Would recommend to anyone.

Cesar
OK, 1 year ago
It has everything a hostel offers! The location is great, the receptionist very polite, comfortable bed. They need more electrical outlets and the breakfast on site is quite expensive compared to other nearby options. The air conditioning in the rooms is unique, ours had problems and we spent the night in a huge heat, with no one to complain to or ask for help, since there is no 24-hour receptionist. But it's worth the cost-benefit for those who want to get to know Tamarindo in a more economical way!

Lisa
Repeat guest
Excellent, 1 year ago
I can’t thank Oscar, Yoss and Marcela for how amazing they were!! They were beyond accommodating, so helpful, always responsive. They really care about the people who are there and even though my original plan was to stay two nights I ended up there for 10 nights! Would highly recommend!!

Lisa
Repeat guest
Excellent, 1 year ago
This hostel is absolutely amazing ! The people here are so friendly and helpful. It’s very clean and they have a water station that gives out hot, cold and carbonated water!!! Amazing! Additionally they have accommodated alll my requests and it’s been great staying here! I was only booked in for two nights but have extended my stay to over a week!

Luis Fernando
Excellent, 1 year ago
An excellent place, a very good location and comfortable I'd be happy to come back

Karlee
Excellent, 1 year ago
I love how close this place was to the beach! And the people that work here are so lovely :)

Maryal
Excellent, 2 years ago
Excellent place to stay if you travel alone

Catherine
Excellent, 2 years ago
The host Oscar is an angel, made me feel super comfortable since the moment I got there, always easy to reach and so friendly. It was my first time going to an hostel so it was scary for me, but they were so friendly it made me feel right at home. The location is absolutely perfect, it's a 10 seconds walk to the beach with lots of restaurants and shops around. Overall my experience was just the absolute best and if you're skeptical about hostels, try this one and you'll see how amazing they are.

Caubert
Excellent, 2 years ago
Unbeatable value for money. Impeccable room.

Jocelyn
Excellent, 2 years ago
It is definitely a hostel! The location cannot be beat. Right across the street from the beach and among all the best eateries. It was full the whole time I was there, and they managed to keep it clean and relatively quiet! There aren’t many common areas but that is what the beach is for.

Michael
Excellent, 2 years ago
The place is very nice, the location is exelente and for the price it is more than excellent, the most remarkable was also the reception by the host, he was attentive and was always attentive to us.

Dhruv
Excellent, 2 years ago
Great location, right at the beach. The people running the hostel are really nice and the rooms are incredibly modern.

Kalen
Excellent, 2 years ago
A very nice alternative to going to a hostel while also being everything that is great about shared living in hostels. My experience here was great. There is a nice rooftop bar attached to this rental that was perfect for morning coffee and drinks at night. Great local option in Tamarindo

Mateo
Excellent, 2 years ago
Amazing time at Iguana. Location is perfect. Common area and kitchen are great for hanging out. Great WiFi, great staff, great AC. 10/10 🤘

Stephanie
Excellent, 2 years ago
Such a great hostel. So clean and modern. Large lockers with hangers and cupboards. Comfy bed and air conditioning was perfect in the room. Felt very safe and welcomed.

Kyle
Excellent, 2 years ago
Great staff and very on top of communication. Recommendations and accommodations were great! Highly recommend this place! Thanks

Elizabeth
Good, 2 years ago
By far the most comfortable hostel that I’ve ever stayed at! You’ll definitely get a good night sleep, but honestly what makes this experience the best is the people and the location! It’s absolutely IDEAL, especially if you’re interested on learning how to surf! However, if you are working remotely, I wouldn’t recommend staying here due to their inconsistent wifi connection. That is the ONLY downside.

Justin
Excellent, 3 years ago
enjoyable stay, close to the beach, comfortable everything! would stay again

Mateo
Excellent, 3 years ago
Super clean, easy, close to everything. Great value. i’ll be back

Colton
Excellent, 3 years ago
Had a great stay! Best value in town and super convenient location!

Mirana
Excellent, 3 years ago
Really nice hostel with nice accomodation I liked my stay there

Andrew
Excellent, 3 years ago
Great place to be close to the best of Tamarindo and meet cool people

Usama
Excellent, 3 years ago
The hostal was great. Clean and the location was great.

Juan Cruz
Excellent, 3 years ago
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Elena
Excellent, 3 years ago
Thank you so much for the great stay. Loved he place, great location, comfortable bed. And the guys at reception very helpful and nice. Gracias!

Alberto
Excellent, 3 years ago
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Christopher
Excellent, 3 years ago
Good location. really comfort beds. Good sanitary. calm. I didnt have a lot of room mates so sometimes it felt a bit lonely which can be a good thing if you want to take a bit of time for you. can't tell how social it is if there are more people.

Rikka
Excellent, 3 years ago
The best hostel I've ever stayed in. Ice cold AC, beautiful hot shower, 2 private bathrooms in the dorm and more public ones in main lobby, large and easy to use locker cabinet, and simple code lock for doors to allow for self checkin.

Fernando
Excellent, 3 years ago
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Stephanie
Excellent, 3 years ago
Truly loved staying here! I even extended my stay. I will definitely be back soon. The whole staff was really friendly and was always willing to help with my inquiries. The place was modern, the bed was really comfy and the warm water was great.

Michaela
Excellent, 3 years ago
It was such an amazing stay in Iguana hostel ! I loved it! Hope to come back soon :) Thank you so much guys!
Host Response
We are super happy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us , we will be waiting for you next time. : ) Pura Vida!!

Brittany
Excellent, 3 years ago
This was my first hostel, I was really nervous! As soon as I got there, the host (Douglas) greeted me with a big smile and quickly put me at ease. He showed me around and helped me figure out what to do/where to put with my things. He gave me a lot of tips/advice about the area and things to do. The place is kept really clean and tidy! Everyone I spoke to (Douglas) and anyone at the surf shop/school were super nice and willing to help! I purchased an excursion through them to see turtles lay eggs on the beach and it was so amazing! The location is amazing too! Right across from the beach, walkable to all the main attractions/places in Tamarindo - loved it!
Host Response
We are super happy to know that you had a great time with us and enojoyed your stay and time at Iguana , it was a pleasure for us and our staff to help you with this amazing vacations you are having in Costa Rica. We hope you continue enjoying our beautiful country and we´ll be waiting for you next time!! Pura vida !! ; )

Jannik
Excellent, 3 years ago
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David
Excellent, 6 years ago
Best place to stay location wise and if you wanna meet fellow travellers.

Kristin
Excellent, 6 years ago
Excellent location. Friendly people. Clean and tidy space. Access to the outdoor kitchen and cold drinking water was a big plus. For a bunkroom with so many people, it was clean, organized and had a really friendly aura. The price was also very affordable. I will be back!

Emma
Excellent, 6 years ago
The stay was wonderful! Mike, Paris & Gilbert were awesome! We’ll definitely be back :-)

Erica
Excellent, 6 years ago
Great place, extremely clean and comfortable. Everyone that works for Iguana was amazing, I would definitely come back!

Chris
Excellent, 6 years ago
Great option on a budget. Friendly and accommodating staff.

Kyle
Excellent, 6 years ago
The staff at the Iguana Surf Camp Hostel were great! They made me feel at home and really gave me my first great hostel experience! 10 out of 10 stars!

Angela
Excellent, 6 years ago
This place is the best! The entire staff were so accommodating and friendly! I had a rough start to my trip (delayed baggage, long bus ride) but as soon as I reached the hotel my mood was completely flipped. The location is right across the street from the beach and there's a chill and delicious restaurant/bar (shout out to Francisco!) that you will pass through to get to the hotel. My host, Mike was such a breathe of fresh air, making me feel welcomed and comfortable immediately! The rooms have AC and the place is new and well kept (thanks to Miriam and crew!) - I stayed in the dorms, which really helped me get to know the other guests and surf instructors (Tomas and Sabinka are awesome!) and lastly, when I wanted to stay longer Paris and Ale went out of there way to help me sort things out! I truly felt at home here, I hope you have the same experience... now what are you waiting for, get to booking!
Host Response
Angela... Thank you so much for your kind review. We are all about making people happy, and helping our guests feel like in their own homes. I am beyond stoked that you loved staying with us. Reading your review, and sharing it with the staff totally makes my day. A pleased guest makes every single effort worth the while. Have fun traveling the next few weeks, and please visit us when you come back to Tamarindo.

Christine
Excellent, 6 years ago
Absolutely loved this spot. I am traveling to rythmia and this is literally 20 mins away right on the beach has access to everything you need and the people staying here were so nice even the surf teachers. Only stayed here one night but I would come back. Also the hostel is very modern loved the decor

Deb
Excellent, 6 years ago
What an amazing place. Just like the pictures. So comfortable and clean and stylish. If only all dorms were like this. Amazing location too. I cannot think of one thing I'd improve.

Lulu
Excellent, 6 years ago
The accommodations are well kept. Clean, inviting a nice place to rest and relax from the hustle of Tamarindo. Well it’s Green season so there wasn’t a lot of hustle. Highly recommend this place for a comfortable rest. The lockers are great for unpacking your bag and getting ready with ease. The showers are sublime with a nice touch of providing soap, shampoo and conditioner. Hannah the hostess was super friendly and welcoming!

John
Excellent, 6 years ago
Great spot at a great price - room was awesome- staff was better than awesome! (hi Hannahs and Ale! ; ) My trip turned into a super fun time from the moment I arrived ....a friendly, comfortable, convenient place to stay - will stay again for sure.

Sophie
Excellent, 7 years ago
This is THE place to stay in Tamarindo. I stayed in the shared room but there are also private ones. The pictures are 100% accurate. It is a very clean and trendy place. There is a kitchen at the back that is very handy. There is a grocery store on the first floor of the building so it is easy to buy things. The beach is super close, you just have to cross the street. The service I had was excellent!! Since I booked it until I arrived they did an extremely thorough job to be sure my stay will be enjoyable. The shop to book surfing classes or tours is at the shop downstairs. The surfing classes were awesome and if you stay at the rooms you have a discount. The people working there are extremely kind and helpful. I definitely recommend this place. :)
Host Response
Hey Sophie!! we are so happy you had a good time while staying with us! You are always welcome to come back! so please let us know if you ever plan on coming back to Tamarindo, PURA VIDA!

Michael
Excellent, 7 years ago
A nice staff, well kept, prompt, close to beach and safe.
Host Response
Hey Mike: Thanks so much for your review! It was an honor having you here, and having you extend your stay meant a lot to us. Please fell welcome to visit us any time;) Pura vida!

Robert
Excellent, 7 years ago
Awesome place! Perfect for learning how to Surf, right above the surf shop, right across the road from the waves, and within walking distance of anything you need!
Host Response
Hey Robert :) Thank you for writ us a review! We loved to have you with us and above all that you join our Surf Camp!! Welcome to the Iguana Family and we hope to see you again! Pura Vida!

Tristan
Excellent, 7 years ago
This is a very clean, new, and nice hostel/hotel. Fantastic location with the beach a stones throw away and a grocery/liquor store right beneath it and a nice restaurant out front. Almost anything you could need you could get barefoot in 10 seconds. Awesome place and AC was ice cold. I would definitely recommend.

Jordan
Excellent, 7 years ago
The dorms are beautiful and filled with lovely people. The location is unbeatable. The Iguana Dorms are a phenomenal value

Carolina
Excellent, 7 years ago
Awesome place to stay! Clean, beautiful, good vibes! Pura vida!
Host Response
Gracias, Carolina!!!! We are so happy that you liked it. Come back and visit any time... We will be here for you;)

Matylda
Excellent, 7 years ago
I was really really happy with the iguana experience, I strongly recommend it if you want to have good memories and meet new people !

Tanner
Excellent, 7 years ago
Absolutley incredible service, so friendly and helpful. Unbeatable location. Clean, comfy and stylish.

Carolyn
Excellent, 7 years ago
Stylish and clean hostel with a super comfortable bed and great showers. I also really appreciated the large lockers.

Gabriel
Excellent, 7 years ago
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Frances
Good, 7 years ago
Good location right in front of the beach. Nice a/c, big lockers, clean dorm! Thank you!

Scott
Good, 7 years ago
I loved staying at the Iguana! Staying in the shared dorm room was cost effective and the quality of the room for the price was perfect. Just know that if you stay in the dorm room, there are other guests that stay there too and you will have to share space with them as well.
Host Response
Thanks for the good review. You are always welcome to stay with us! You are now part of the Iguana Surf Family;) Pura vida!

Richard
Excellent, 7 years ago
Iguana Crew's staff Paris and Ale were both amazing in sharing their knowledge of the area and made me feel at home. Iguana common room has dynamic bulletin boards and binders that showed all the best clubs and bar nights, places to eat, and of course best surf times. The place was clean and well maintained. All questions were answered promptly. I would definitely recommend everyone I know to stay there.
Host Response
Hey Richard! thank you so much for your kind words, our goal is to have happy guests so your satisfaction means absolutely everything to us and makes all efforts worth it! Hope to see you back soon!

Argenis
Excellent, 7 years ago
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Host Response
Gracias, Argenis!

Olivia
Excellent, 7 years ago
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Amber
Excellent, 7 years ago
Such an amazing place to stay at an unbelievable price! I think I slept better in my bed in the shared room than in my own bed at home. The staff and crew at Iguana were always super helpful and friendly and very prompt when responding to my emails. I really liked the huge lockers in the room with hangers and many different shelves, as well as the charger inside the locker. Everything I brought with me fit inside and I was able to unpack a bit with the extra shelves so I didn't feel like I was living out of my backpack quite as much. If I'm ever back in Tamarindo, I'll definitely check there first for lodging as I can't wait to come back and stay (and visit everyone)! Thanks for a wonderful time!
Host Response
Hey Amber! Thank you for such an amazing and detailed review;) We were honerd to have you here and trully miss you. You are always welcome back. You are now part of the Iguana Family! Pura vida!

Rosa
Excellent, 7 years ago
This place is perfect. You cannot beat the price. There are hostels that are more expensive that are not nearly as nice. This is the place to go to. The staff was incredible, extremely helpful. The beach is across the front door. There is everything you need around it. The guys at the surf shop were super friendly and helpful. Special thanks to June for making the stay extra special. I will be returning for sure.
Host Response
Thanks for your great review, Rosa... happy guests like you make every single effort on our side worth the while. Please feel welcome to come back and visit us anytime! Pura Vida!

Laura
Excellent, 7 years ago
Beautiful accommodations and incredible hospitality in a perfect location across from the beach. Highly recommend!
Host Response
Hey Laura!!!! thank you so much for the amazing review. Knowing that you felt happy, welcomed and well taken care of means the world to us. It actually makes every effort worth the while. See you soon;) Pura Vida!

Sandra Marie
Excellent, 7 years ago
Really cool spot. Clean and quiet. Bed is comfy. I would totally stay longer next time. Free filtered water 🙌
Host Response
Hey Sandi... thank you so much for the great review. Yes, please come back an stay longer with us;) Pura Vida!

Cassandra
Excellent, 7 years ago
Good times, cool people.