A real Boeing 727 converted into a hotel room above the Costa Rican jungle? Too wild to be true? But the 727 Fuselage Home is exactly what it sounds like – the actual fuselage of a retired commercial aircraft that’s been transformed into one of the most unique accommodations on the planet. Imagine sleeping where passengers once sat, looking out airplane windows at howler monkeys, and having breakfast on what used to be the wing of a plane.
Fasten your seat belts for the detailed review of Costa Rica’s coolest hotel room.
Getting There
The 727 Fuselage Home is located within Hotel Costa Verde, which sits right on the border of Manuel Antonio National Park. This prime location puts you in the heart of Costa Rica’s most famous beach and wildlife destination.
The nearest international airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica’s capital, which is about a 3-4 hour drive from Manuel Antonio. For those who’d rather skip the drive, Sansa Airlines offers 20-minute daily flights to Quepos Airstrip (XQP), just 20 minutes away.
Inside The Most Unusual Hotel Room
Step inside a vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe, which in its former life carried passengers for South African Airways and Colombia’s Avianca Airlines. This once-functioning aircraft now serves as a 2-bedroom suite that emerges from the jungle canopy, creating one of the most extraordinary accommodations you’ll ever experience.
The suite stretches across the full length of the plane. It can accommodate up to six people, making it perfect for a family getaway or two couples traveling together.
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Privacy was clearly a priority in the suite design. The two air-conditioned bedrooms are strategically located on opposite ends of the plane, each with its own private bathroom. Rooms have been thoughtfully designed with handcrafted teak furnishings and cool details, such as spirit bottle lighting.
The front bedroom features two queen beds and connects to a unique cockpit bathroom, while the rear bedroom offers one queen bed with a bathroom tucked away in the tail section.
The shower in the tail cone offers a view of exposed aircraft details visible through the ceiling above.
The middle section houses a cozy living area, complete with a flat-screen TV, as well as a small kitchen and dining area.
The suite features two terraces with stunning views of the forest and ocean, including one with an outdoor bathtub. It’s hard to beat sunset drinks on the terrace, especially when monkeys, toucans, and occasional sloths drop by to check out their new neighbors. Just don’t forget the mosquito repellent.
Hotel Costa Verde
Staying at the 727 Fuselage Home means you’re not just getting a unique accommodation – you’re also a guest of Hotel Costa Verde, which brings plenty of convenience and benefits. From daily cleaning and room service to access to the swimming pools and restaurants, you get the complete hotel experience with your one-of-a-kind room.
Property Overview
Costa Verde features separate family-friendly and adults-only areas, each with its own swimming pool. The family section is perfect if you’re traveling with kids, while the adults-only area offers a more peaceful setting.
The hotel is located within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park and Espadilla Norte Beach. However, we recommend taking a taxi or Uber to get there – the walk is doable, but not the most convenient option.
Food & Dining Options
The hotel offers a variety of restaurants to choose from.
- El Avión – This unique restaurant is built around a converted C-123 Fairchild cargo plane, now serving as a pub. It’s an excellent spot for wildlife watching during lunch or catching those spectacular sunset views that Costa Rica is famous for.
- El Wagon – Housed in a converted train wagon, this restaurant is known for its wood-fired pizza and offers another great place for spotting wildlife while you dine.
- Anaconda Cafe – Open for breakfast and lunch with spectacular views, where you’ll likely have some cheeky monkeys interested in your food. The restaurant thoughtfully provides water spray bottles for guests to keep these curious little visitors at bay.
- La Cantina BBQ – Specializes in wood-fired grilled meats and fish, with local musicians adding to the lively atmosphere in the evenings.
- Chiquita Cabana – Your go-to spot for Mexican cuisine and another prime location for watching the sunset paint the Costa Rican sky.
Nature Trails
One of the biggest perks of staying at Costa Verde is the incredible wildlife right on the grounds. Capuchin and howler monkeys regularly visit guest balconies, while squirrel monkeys, agoutis, squirrels, iguanas, toucans, and macaws are also frequently spotted throughout the property. Keep your eyes peeled for sloths too – they’re often hanging around pool areas.
The hotel offers a couple of short nature trails for guests wanting to explore the surrounding rainforest. Just a heads up though – we wouldn’t recommend tackling these after heavy rains when the paths can get pretty slippery.
Other Unique Rooms In The Hotel
The 727 Fuselage Home isn’t the only aviation-themed accommodation at Costa Verde. There are several other unique rooms, all housed in parts of aircraft.
- Cockpit Cabana – Located in the adults-only area of the hotel, this suite offers two queen beds, a spacious bathroom, a roomy kitchenette, and a large balcony with a bathtub and beach views. This would be our top choice if the 727 Fuselage weren’t available.
- Cockpit Cottage – Accessible via a hanging suspension bridge that cuts through the jungle, this room features a king-sized bed, one bathroom, a small kitchenette, and a 2-person bathtub on the balcony with sweeping views of the Pacific. This room provides the most privacy of all the unique accommodations in the hotel.
- Sky Loft – Offering the best ocean views at Hotel Costa Verde, this accommodation is housed inside the tail section of a vintage 1982 McDonald Douglas MD-82 airframe. Two large bedrooms offer a total of four queen-sized beds, accommodating up to 8 people. Located right next to Anaconda Cafe, so privacy might be an issue during busy meal times.
Activities
Manuel Antonio is a paradise for nature lovers, offering countless activities to choose from. We won’t list all of them here, but just highlight a few to give you an idea of what you can do in the area. Our advice: don’t overpack your schedule – leave time for spontaneous wildlife encounters and leisurely beach walks.
Manuel Antonio National Park
This is one of Costa Rica’s most famous national parks, renowned for its wildlife viewing. The downside? It gets packed even during the quieter Green season. Book the first time slot for a more peaceful experience, and reserve it online well in advance.
Bird Watching Tours
The pristine mountains around Quepos offer some of the best birdwatching in the country. We took a private tour to the Esquipulas mountains and spotted some rare endemic species like the King vulture.
Manuel Antonio Beaches
In Manuel Antonio, you can combine wildlife watching with relaxing beach time. Espadilla Norte Beach is Manuel Antonio’s main beach, which sits just outside the national park. It’s so long that you can surely find more secluded parts even during high season.
Nauyaca Waterfall
This could be Costa Rica’s most stunning waterfall, and it’s absolutely worth a day trip from Manuel Antonio. Two massive waterfalls cascade down different levels, creating natural swimming pools below. It’s one of those places that looks as if it has come straight out of a movie scene.
