Where to stay in Cabuya: villas, jungle lodges and retreats

Cabuya has no big hotels, just a handful of small places to stay. Villas Cabuya suits families and self-caterers near the beach, the jungle lodge at Wild Sun Rescue Center is the pick for wildlife lovers by Cabo Blanco, and The Sanctuary at Two Rivers is for booked yoga retreats. If you'd rather be near restaurants, Hotel Amor de Mar sits at the Cabuya end of Montezuma.

How staying in Cabuya works

Cabuya is a fishing village of a few dirt streets, a school, a couple of small supermarkets and a beach that looks out at the island cemetery. There are no resorts here and no strip of hotels. What you get instead is a small mix of villas, cabins and jungle lodges, most of them family run, plus rental houses scattered along the coast and up the hills.

That shapes how you should book. Choose Cabuya if you want quiet evenings, early starts at Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve and low-tide walks to Cabuya Island. Choose Montezuma, 15 to 20 minutes up the road, if you want a choice of restaurants and some nightlife within walking distance. Many visitors split the difference: they sleep in Cabuya and drive to Montezuma for dinner once or twice.

A car or at least a rented bike makes life easier here. Buses between Montezuma and Cabuya run only a few times a day, and places to stay are spread out.

Villas Cabuya Beach & Jungle

Villas Cabuya is a small group of private villas between the jungle and the beach, in the village itself. The villas come in a few styles: a studio, a larger villa with a full kitchen that sleeps up to 6, a mezzanine unit and a "jungle" villa set up on the second floor among the trees. There's a pool with a shallow beach-style area that works well for small children, plus a pool bar.

It's a good fit for families, friends sharing and anyone who wants to cook some of their own meals. The owners say the beach is a few steps away, restaurants are about 50 m off and a supermarket about 100 m away, so you can live here without driving much.

The jungle lodge at Wild Sun Rescue Center

The lodge at Wild Sun Rescue Center sits on land that borders Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, at the back of the village. It's tied to a licensed non-profit that rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife, and the rescue center says stays at the lodge help fund that work.

Rooms have air conditioning and private bathrooms, with balconies or patios over an infinity pool that looks toward the ocean. There's a yoga deck and a pool bar. Guests often mention seeing macaws, monkeys and parrots from the pool. It suits nature lovers, couples and anyone who likes the idea of their room supporting animal care. Note that public walk-in tours of the rescue center aren't advertised, so contact Wild Sun before you go if you want to see its work.

The Sanctuary at Two Rivers

The Sanctuary at Two Rivers is a yoga and wellness retreat center on about 40 acres of jungle where two rivers meet near Cabuya. It isn't a hotel you can drop into for a night: it hosts scheduled retreats and group rentals, with its own calendar of retreats running through 2026.

Guests stay in jungle lofts and studio houses and reach the main buildings by a short nature walk. There's a pool, a spa, open-air yoga spaces, plant-based meals and access to the rivers, waterfalls and swimming holes on the land. If you're planning a group retreat or want to join one in a quiet setting, it's worth a look. If you just need a room, pick somewhere else.

Hotel Amor de Mar, at the edge of Montezuma

Hotel Amor de Mar sits at the south end of Montezuma, opposite the entrance to the Montezuma waterfall, on the road toward Cabuya. It's small, with 9 rooms and 2 villas, and family run. There's a natural tide pool on the property and a restaurant known for its breakfasts.

Stay here if you want to walk into Montezuma for dinner but still be on the Cabuya side of town. It's an easy drive south to Cabo Blanco and the island.

Other options: cabins, rental houses and camping

A few more places show up on booking sites but don't have an official website we could check, so we haven't profiled them. Cabuya Lodge, about 200 m west of the school, has cabins and a house around a pool and also hosts yoga retreats. Feeling Trees Lodge rents cabins and houses with kitchens and a shared pool, a few hundred meters from the sea. Both appear to be operating, but read recent reviews and confirm directly before you book.

Beachfront and jungle houses. Cabuya is one of the few places on this coast where you can still rent a simple house close to the water. Most are listed on the big rental platforms rather than on their own sites. Look for recent reviews, ask about the road in the rainy season, and check whether the house has air conditioning or just fans, since the village gets hot.

Camping. Camping Fernando Morales, by the beach next to the Río Lajas, has long been the village campground, with shaded sites, water, electricity and shared showers. We couldn't confirm it's open for 2026, so check its Facebook page or ask in the village before you count on it.

Choosing where to stay

For families: Villas Cabuya, for the kitchens and shallow pool.
For wildlife: the Wild Sun lodge, on the edge of the reserve.
For a yoga retreat: The Sanctuary at Two Rivers, if its dates fit.
For restaurants nearby: Hotel Amor de Mar, or anywhere in Montezuma.
For longer stays: a rental house, with a car.

Wherever you stay, read getting to Cabuya before you book a car, and check the best time to visit if you're coming in September or October, when rain can make the back roads hard going.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to stay in Cabuya or Montezuma?

Stay in Cabuya for quiet, nature and easy access to Cabo Blanco and the island cemetery. Stay in Montezuma for more restaurants and nightlife. They're only 15 to 20 minutes apart by car.

Are there beachfront hotels in Cabuya?

There are no large beachfront hotels. A few villas and rental houses are close to the beach, and some lodges are a short walk from it.

Do I need a car if I stay in Cabuya?

It helps a lot. Buses to Montezuma run only a few times a day, and places to stay and eat are spread out. A bike works for getting around the village.

Can I camp in Cabuya?

There's a long-running family campground by the Río Lajas, Camping Fernando Morales, but we couldn't confirm it for 2026. Contact it before you go. Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve has no overnight facilities.