You’re driving up a winding, humid road in Manuel Antonio, dodging the occasional iguana, and suddenly, there is a giant Boeing 727 sticking out of the jungle canopy. It’s not a crash site. It’s actually one of the most famous hotel suites on the planet. Honestly, the aeroplane hotel Costa Rica—specifically the 727 Fuselage Home at Hotel Costa Verde—is the kind of place that looks like a Photoshop fail until you’re standing right under its rusted-but-restored wings.
Most people see the viral photos and think it’s just a gimmick. A roadside attraction. But staying here is a strange, architectural fever dream that balances vintage aviation geekery with high-end tropical luxury.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the 727 Fuselage Home
It isn't a mock-up. This is a legitimate 1965 Boeing 727 airframe that used to fly for South Africa Air and Avianca Airlines. It didn't crash here, obviously. The team at Costa Verde actually salvaged the body from the San Jose airport, disassembled it into five massive pieces, and hauled it on trucks through the mountains to its current perch on a 50-foot stone pedestal.
Why go through the trouble? Because the view is unbeatable. Since the "room" is elevated so high, you’re literally eye-to-eye with the sloths and toucans.
The interior is where things get weirdly beautiful. You might expect cramped airline seats and overhead bins. Instead, the entire inside is lined with local Costa Rican teak wood. It feels more like a luxury yacht than a commercial jet. You have two air-conditioned bedrooms, a flat-screen TV, and a kitchenette. But the real flex is the terrace built over the wings. You can sit out there with a drink and look straight across the Pacific Ocean while monkeys scream in the trees next to your "cockpit."
The Logistics of Staying at the Aeroplane Hotel Costa Rica
If you’re planning to book this, you need to know that there isn't just one plane. While the 727 Fuselage Home is the flagship, the Costa Verde property has expanded. They also have the "Cockpit Cottage," which was built from an A310. It’s a bit more secluded and designed specifically for couples.
Getting there isn't too complicated, but it requires some legwork. You’ll fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. From there, you have three real options:
- A 20-minute domestic "puddle jumper" flight to Quepos.
- A three-hour private shuttle (highly recommended if you want to see the crocodile bridge at Tarcoles).
- Renting a 4x4 and brave the mountain roads yourself.
Once you’re in Manuel Antonio, the aeroplane hotel Costa Rica sits right on the main road heading down to the National Park. You can walk to the beach from the hotel, but the hike back up is a brutal incline. Take the local bus for about 400 colones. It’s easier on the legs.
The Cost of Sleeping in the Sky
This isn't a budget hostel. Depending on the season, the 727 Fuselage Home can run anywhere from $400 to over $1,200 per night. Green season (the rainy months from May to November) is significantly cheaper. If you want the experience without the four-figure price tag, go to El Avion. It's the hotel's sister restaurant right across the street. It’s housed in a Fairchild C-123 Provider—a plane with a shady history involving the Iran-Contra affair—and you can have a beer in the cockpit for the price of a standard dinner.
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Why This Place Actually Lives Up to the Hype
A lot of "novelty" hotels are uncomfortable. They’re cold, or they smell like old fuel, or the beds are thin. Costa Verde avoids this by treating the plane as a frame for a high-end cabin.
The master bedroom is located in the rear of the plane, and the second bedroom is near the front. There are a total of 12 windows on each side, so the natural light is intense. You wake up because the jungle wakes up. The howler monkeys in Manuel Antonio are louder than a jet engine at 5:00 AM.
It’s also surprisingly private. Even though it’s a landmark, the foliage is so dense around the 727 that you don't feel like you’re on display. You’re tucked into the treeline. The hand-carved furniture and the hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms remind you that you're in the tropics, even if the curved walls remind you that you're in a Boeing.
Beyond the Plane: Manuel Antonio National Park
You don't come all the way to the aeroplane hotel Costa Rica just to sit in a fuselage. The hotel is located on the edge of Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s the smallest national park in the country but also the most visited.
Pro tip: Hire a certified guide. You will see three times as many animals. These guys have high-powered scopes and can spot a well-camouflaged sloth or a tiny glass frog from fifty yards away. If you go alone, you'll probably just see some raccoons trying to steal your backpack on the beach.
Wait, let's talk about the raccoons. They are fearless. If you leave your bag unattended on Playa Manuel Antonio for even thirty seconds to take a dip, they will zip open your pockets. They don't want your passport; they want your granola bars. Seriously.
Other Strange Accommodations Nearby
If the plane is booked, or if you just like weird architecture, the area is full of "different" spots.
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- The Carriage House: A converted 19th-century railway car.
- Nature Observation Suites: Rooms built with massive glass walls that basically put you inside the jungle.
- The Over-the-Water Bungalows: Though rarer in Costa Rica than the Maldives, some spots near Bocas del Toro (over the border) offer this if you're doing a multi-country trip.
Final Practical Advice for Travelers
The aeroplane hotel Costa Rica is a bucket-list item, but it requires timing. If you go in October, it will rain. A lot. But the jungle will be neon green and the prices will be low. If you go in January, the weather is perfect, but you’ll be sharing the town with thousands of other tourists.
Steps to take right now:
- Check the official Costa Verde website for "Green Season" specials. They often drop prices by 40% between September and November.
- Book your Manuel Antonio National Park tickets in advance online. They no longer sell tickets at the gate and they do sell out.
- Pack a pair of decent binoculars. You’re on a 50-foot pedestal; use it to see the wildlife in the canopy before the crowds arrive.
- Don't just stay in the plane. Eat at El Avion across the street to see the "other" plane and get a sense of the history of aviation in the region.
Staying in a Boeing 727 in the middle of a rainforest sounds like the start of a "Lost" episode, but in reality, it's one of the most meticulously maintained and unique lodging experiences in Central America. Just watch out for the monkeys—they’ve been known to hang out on the wings and watch you eat breakfast.