Riu Palace Costa Rica, Matapalo (Guanacaste) ~ Discover room options, reviews & pricing

Get

up to 10% off

by reserving directly on our site

Key details

About the Hotel

Playa Matapalo - Sardinal, Matapalo (Guanacaste), Costa Rica, 0000

“The fine beach views at Riu Palace Costa Rica are lovely.”view full review

The 5-star Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica offers distinctive white domes on Matapalo Beach, featuring four outdoor pools and a Greek-style whirlpool under a domed ceiling.

Modern Room Amenities

All guestrooms at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica-All Inclusive include laptop-compatible safes, 24-hour room service, air conditioning, and wireless internet access. Each room features a balcony or terrace, mini-bar, and in-room safe.

Diverse Dining Options

Four themed restaurants require advance reservations, serving a variety of classic to exotic dishes prepared by exceptional chefs. Capuchino lobby cafe offers ice cream, pastries, and coffee, while Lounge 24 provides round-the-clock snacks with sea views.

Extensive Recreation Facilities

The property features a two-part activity pool, relaxation pool, and pool with swim-up bar, all with submerged lounge chairs. The massive fitness center provides cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights, while RiuLand kids' club includes an indoor activity area and outdoor playground.

Location and Business Center

Riu Palace Costa Rica sits 21.5 miles from Liberia, with The Monkey Farm 2 miles away and Los Almendros de Ocotal 2 miles from the property. Five conference rooms accommodate up to 730 people for business events.

View all

Price and Room Availability Calendar

Check availability and prices for your dates now!

Getting around

Check out the full range of transport modes

City Centre

Matapalo (Guanacaste)1000 ft

Airports

Liberia (LIR) 18.8 mi

Tamarindo (TNO) 23.1 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Variety and Taste

“I was really surprised by the variety and quality of food at the resort. The dining options included several restaurants with distinct cuisines. I found the Steak House and Fusion restaurant to be particularly excellent, with dishes that were cooked to perfection. The buffet also offered a diverse range of options, and I appreciated the attentive service throughout my dining experiences.” view full review

Lively Pool Activities

“The pools were vibrant and lively, with plenty of activities to keep guests entertained. I enjoyed participating in water volleyball and water polo, organized without any pressure from the entertainment staff. This self-sufficiency in activities allowed guests to have fun and bond with each other while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.” view full review

Kid-friendly Fun

“Traveling with two small kids, I loved the kid-friendly amenities available at the resort. There was a pool specifically designed for children, complete with slides, which my kids absolutely adored. They had a fantastic time at Riuland, the kids' club, and it provided them with a safe and engaging environment while allowing me to relax.” view full review

Comfortable and Aesthetic

“We stayed in a junior ocean view suite, and it was beautifully designed and well-equipped for our family needs. The room was spacious and aesthetically pleasing, providing a comfortable retreat after a day of activities. Room service was prompt, easy for us to enjoy meals without any hassle.” view full review

General

Smoking allowed in designated areas
Free Wi-Fi
Parking
24-hour reception
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Luggage storage
Lift
ATM/Cash machine
Sundry/Convenience shop
Gift/Newsstand
Beauty salon
Coffee shop

Sports & Fitness

Fitness centre
Kayaking
Tennis
Fitness studio

Services

Paid airport shuttle
24-hour room service
Laundry
Dry cleaning
Tours/Ticket assistance
Grocery shopping service
Bell staff/Porter

Dining

Continental breakfast
Restaurant
Poolside snack bar
Coffee/Tea in lobby
Free breakfast
Buffet breakfast

Business

Meeting/ Banquet facilities

Children

Paid babysitting/ Child services
Children's pool

Facilities for people with disabilities

Bathroom for disabled

Spa & Leisure

Outdoor swimming pool
Beach umbrellas
Beach towels
Sun loungers
Casino
Night club
Garden area
Television in lobby
Spa & wellness centre
Sauna
Turkish bath
Jacuzzi

Room features

Air conditioning
In-room safe
Mini-bar
Terrace
Balcony

Media

Television
Telephone
AM/FM alarm clock

Location

Playa Matapalo - Sardinal, Matapalo (Guanacaste), Costa Rica, 0000

Map view

Playa Matapalo - Sardinal, Matapalo (Guanacaste), Costa Rica, 0000

City landmarks

Farm

The Monkey Farm

1.9 mi

Landmark

Los Almendros de Ocotal

2.2 mi

Beach

Ocotal Beach Club

2.1 mi

Landmark

The Congo Trail

2.5 mi

Landmark

Cementerio Nuevo Colon

2.3 mi

Landmark

Iglesia de Nuevo Colon

2.5 mi

Landmark

Guacamaya Beach

3.0 mi

Church

Iglesia Catolica de Playas del Coco

3.7 mi

Gallery

Rojas Bros Boruca Indigenous Arts

3.8 mi

Landmark

Alessandra Cola Art

3.8 mi

Restaurants

Langosta Feliz Marisqueria

2800 ft

Restaurant

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

88%

were satisfied with the hotel and would gladly return

8.8/10

Great

Rooms

8.0

Location

7.8

Service

8.4

Dining

8.2

Charles

United States, March 2025

7.0/10

I recently enjoyed an 8-night stay at Riu Palace Costa Rica, which was beautifully designed and kept in great condition. The staff were friendly, especially Cristina at breakfast and Luis at the pool activities. However, the hotel layout was a bit awkward with some areas far apart, and there could have been more beachside amenities.

Rooms

7.0

The room was spacious but needed better cleaning attention. I found the jacuzzi in the middle of the bedroom to be a unique touch.

Service

8.0

Service was generally good, with friendly staff available. The only downside was some inconsistencies in attentiveness during peak times.

Location

6.0

The resort is situated next to the ocean, allowing me to enjoy beautiful walks on the beach. However, the distance from the beach and lack of local excursions nearby was a letdown.

Dining

7.0

Dining options were plentiful, although they leaned heavily towards American fare, which was a bit disappointing. The buffet was my preferred choice.

Facilities

6.0

The facilities were well-maintained, with a solid selection of amenities available. I did feel the need for more accessible bathroom facilities throughout the resort.

Malcolm

United States, January 2025

5.4/10

I had a fantastic time at the Riu Palace Costa Rica, enjoying the beautiful resort and really good service. The friendly Costa Rican staff made me feel welcomed throughout my stay. While the beach wasn't the pristine white sand I was used to, it was still enjoyable. However, the food was hit or miss and I wished there had been more variety in the dining options.

Rooms

9.0

My room with two queen beds and a balcony overlooking the rainforest was cleaned daily and was truly wonderful. The balcony was amazing.

Service

10.0

The service was great, with everyone from the front desk staff to the waiters being friendly and eager to help. I really appreciated their attentiveness.

Location

8.0

Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the resort was in a beautifully landscaped area with iguanas roaming around. I recommend wearing sandals on the beach due to the hot black volcanic sand.

Dining

7.0

While I enjoyed the food, with some highlights being the steakhouse and fusion dining options, there were a lot of deep-fried items and not as much variety as I hoped for. The buffet had many choices but repeated some dishes.

Facilities

8.0

The resort offered great facilities like room service, dry cleaning, and tour assistance, making our stay very comfortable.

Raymond

United States, December 2024

5.0/10

I recently stayed at the Riu Palace Costa Rica and it was an lovely experience! The hotel was stunning and well-maintained, and I loved the variety of food options available. The service was generally excellent, though there were a few hiccups with room service. Overall, this was the perfect getaway, and I can't wait to return!

Rooms

9.0

The room was beautifully decorated with an very nice ocean view. I loved the large whirlpool tub and the king bed was super comfy! However, the cleaning schedule wasn't consistent as my room wasn't cleaned every day.

Service

8.0

The service was mostly fantastic, with friendly staff who always seemed happy. They even sent wine and champagne to my room when I mentioned it was my honeymoon, which was a lovely touch! I did experience some disappointment with room service, as the clubhouse sandwiches were soggy.

Location

10.0

The hotel is located on a clean, beautiful beach that felt fairly secluded. I appreciated that there weren't too many sellers bothering me, and I enjoyed nice walks along the shore. There are activities nearby, and I loved the proximity to Coco Beach for some local culture!

Dining

9.0

Dining options were plentiful, with a variety of restaurants to choose from. I really enjoyed the themed buffet and my favorite was the Kristal restaurant. The steakhouse had awesome steaks, though I did wish the knives were sharper to make cutting easier!

Facilities

9.0

The facilities were impressive, with multiple pools and bars. The Coconut pool bar was my personal fave for drinks, and there was even 24-hour snack service, which was a huge plus. I found the entertainment options engaging, especially the Crazy Show featuring the staff!

Frances

United States, December 2024

5.0/10

I had an enjoyable stay overall at Riu Palace Costa Rica, but there were significant drawbacks. The food options were excellent, with a great buffet and themed restaurants like Krystal and Tokio standing out. However, my room had quite a few issues, including a broken shower head and general wear and tear that should be addressed. The staff were friendly, but I encountered inconsistent service throughout my time there.

Rooms

5.0

My room was clean but had several maintenance issues, like a broken shower head and rust in places. It definitely needs some updates.

Service

6.0

While some staff were friendly, I experienced lack of empathy from others, especially during room issues. It varied throughout my stay.

Location

9.0

The resort is situated in a stunning location on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, which adds to its charm.

Dining

8.0

Dining options were impressive, with a diverse buffet and specialized restaurants. I really enjoyed the meals at Krystal and Tokio.

Facilities

7.0

The pool area had good availability, and I enjoyed the activities like foam parties, but the few washrooms were inconveniently located.

John

United States, November 2024

7.4/10

I had an amazing stay at Riu Palace Costa Rica, enjoying beautiful weather, delicious food, and stunning wildlife right at my doorstep. The facilities were great with various pools to choose from, though the hotel layout could be more convenient as everything felt a bit far apart. Overall, I'd absolutely return for the very nice experience and warm service!

Rooms

10.0

My room was spacious with a luxurious jet bath and a big shower. I loved the peaceful garden view, away from the noise of the entertainment.

Service

10.0

The staff were friendly and worked hard, always making sure my needs were met. They added a personal touch that made my stay even better.

Location

6.0

The hotel is on a quiet, volcanic beach which I appreciated. However, it's a bit isolated with limited shopping or local activities nearby.

Dining

10.0

The buffet food was delicious, with plenty of options that catered to various tastes. I especially enjoyed the steak and lobster at the specialty restaurant.

Facilities

7.0

There were lovely pools to relax in, but I wish the pool bar was a bit bigger and that the beach bar was closer.