Sleep Inside a Boeing 727 in the Costa Rican Jungle

Most hotel rooms come with a bed, a bathroom and perhaps a balcony if you’ve behaved yourself. At Hotel Costa Verde in Costa Rica, however, your room comes with wings, a cockpit and the lingering suspicion that someone has parked an entire passenger jet in the jungle.

That’s because they have.

Located in Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Hotel Costa Verde is home to the extraordinary **727 Fuselage Home** (opens in a new tab)—a retired 1965 Boeing 727 transformed into one of the world’s weirdest and most memorable hotel suites... and by the way, you would be completely forgiven to think you had just walked on to the set of a Romancing the Stone movie!

Welcome Aboard—You’re Not Going Anywhere

The aircraft sits among the rainforest canopy, giving guests the feeling that it has either landed in the trees or is preparing to take off over the Pacific. Thankfully, it won’t be doing either. There are no safety demonstrations, no seatbelt signs and absolutely no chance of the bloke in front reclining his seat into your lap.

Instead, the former passenger aircraft now contains two bedrooms, three queen-size beds, a full kitchen and enough room for a family or small group. Rich timber panelling gives the interior a surprisingly luxurious feel, while the aircraft windows and curved fuselage ensure you never forget that you’re sleeping inside something that once carried passengers through the sky.

Outside, a private balcony looks across the jungle towards Manuel Antonio National Park. There is even a large soaking tub on the balcony with room for up to six guests. Sitting in a tub, surrounded by rainforest, beside the fuselage of a Boeing 727 isn’t something you’ll experience at the local motel off the highway.

The aeroplane can accommodate families with children, making this more than a novelty room for couples. It’s effectively a spacious two-bedroom holiday home—only this particular holiday home has wings.

More Than One Aircraft in the Jungle

Just when you think Hotel Costa Verde has reached its permitted level of aviation-related madness, it produces another aeroplane.

The hotel also offers the Cockpit Cottage and adults-only Cockpit Cabana, providing further opportunities to sleep inside converted aircraft sections. Guests wanting something slightly less bonkers can choose from studios, bungalows, penthouses, villas and adults-only accommodation throughout the expansive tropical property.

The weirdness continues at **El Avión** (opens in a new tab), the hotel’s aircraft-themed restaurant and bar. Its centrepiece is a Fairchild C-123 military transport plane connected to the infamous Iran-Contra affair, now repurposed as one of Costa Rica’s most unusual places to eat.

Instead of carrying military cargo, the aircraft now serves drinks and meals accompanied by sweeping Pacific views. That’s quite the career change. Most old planes finish their working lives in a scrapyard; this one landed a retirement job serving cocktails in paradise.

Nearby El Wagon continues the transport theme, while Anaconda offers international dining and sunset views. La Cantina BBQ brings out the wood-fired grill, ribs, premium cuts, kebabs and live reggae and Latin music. In total, Costa Verde operates four restaurants, so there’s little danger of going hungry unless you become hopelessly lost somewhere between the cockpit and the barbecue.

Pools, Wildlife and Jungle Living

Hotel Costa Verde has three swimming pools. Two welcome guests of all ages, while the Costa Verde II pool is reserved for guests aged 17 and over. Its pool bar operates during the high season, meaning you can order a drink without wandering too far from the water—always a thoughtful piece of hotel planning.

The grounds are thick with tropical vegetation, and guests regularly spot monkeys, sloths, iguanas and exotic birds around the accommodation. A monkey appearing outside your aircraft window could be slightly alarming before your first coffee, but it’s all part of staying in the Costa Rican jungle.

This is not a polished airport hotel with an old propeller bolted above reception. The aircraft, rainforest, wildlife and Pacific views combine to make the entire stay feel gloriously strange.

When Should You Visit?

Manuel Antonio sits within Costa Rica’s Pacific region, where the dry season generally runs from December through March, with April acting as a transition month. This is the easiest period for pool time, outdoor dining and soaking up the views without regularly being soaked yourself.

The greener, wetter season usually runs from May through October, with November providing another transition. Rain is more likely during this period, particularly during the afternoon, but the rainforest is lush, the surroundings are beautifully green and accommodation demand may be lower.

For the best balance of generally pleasant weather and manageable crowds, consider visiting in December, January or April, avoiding the busiest Christmas, New Year and Easter periods where possible.

Our Verdict

Hotel Costa Verde isn’t merely unusual—it appears to have collected retired forms of transport and asked, “Could somebody sleep or eat inside that?”

The 727 Fuselage Home remains the star attraction: a genuine passenger aircraft transformed into spacious accommodation above the rainforest. It’s weird, surprisingly luxurious and completely unlike a conventional hotel stay.

After all, plenty of hotels promise to help you escape. This one lets you check into a Boeing 727 without ever leaving the ground.

Find out more - Costa Rica’s Hotel Costa Verde