San Mateo is a quiet, rural canton in Alajuela Province, perched in the hills above Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. What was once a sleepy agricultural town has become one of the most significant hubs for intentional, off-grid, and community-based living in Central America — home to four distinct ecovillages and a growing number of eco-stays welcoming travellers who want more than a hotel.
The landscape is lush and tropical, with rolling hills, river valleys, and sweeping views toward the Pacific. Temperatures are warm by day — typically 27–32°C (80–90°F) — and cool pleasantly at night, making the area comfortable year-round without air conditioning. The town itself remains authentically Tico: a central park, a local soda or two, a football pitch, and a pace that reminds you why you came.
San Mateo’s eco-community scene is unmatched in Costa Rica. La Ecovilla is a 200-hectare permaculture-based development with 43 resident families from 29 countries, built on a former cattle farm now transformed into an edible forest and shared habitat. Alegría Village spans 170 acres of regenerative farmland, with food forests, coworking facilities, a community pool, and a school — designed as a modern eco-neighbourhood for remote workers and families. Collectivo Tacotal, founded in 2008, is a 25-family consensus-based ecovillage rooted in permaculture and non-violence, set along the Río Machuca. Ecovilla San Mateo rounds out a cluster of intentional communities that makes this canton genuinely unique on the global eco-living map.
For guests, this translates into an unusually rich range of stays — from glamping and camping on working permaculture fincas, to handcrafted eco-homes with valley views, riverside casitas, and private eco-villas with outdoor jacuzzis. Stays in San Mateo typically come with direct access to the community that built them: food from the land, events, workshops, and neighbours living the same values.
Practically, San Mateo sits in a strategic sweet spot: SJO International Airport is about one hour away, the Pacific beaches of Jacó and Caldera are 45–60 minutes by car, and San José is reachable in under 90 minutes via Route 27. The nearby town of Orotina, just 10 minutes away, provides clinics, pharmacies, and everyday supplies.
Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend, seriously exploring a lifestyle shift, or simply looking to spend time in a place where sustainability is lived rather than marketed, San Mateo offers a depth of experience that’s rare anywhere in the world.
Before enquiring, confirm road access, parking, internet, water, power setup, distance to town or beach, current pricing, cancellation terms, and whether the stay suits your comfort level, group size, and travel plans.
San Mateo is a rural canton in Alajuela Province, about one hour from San José's SJO Airport and 45–60 minutes from the Pacific beaches of Jacó. It sits in the hills above Costa Rica's central Pacific corridor, close to the town of Orotina.
San Mateo is home to four established intentional communities: La Ecovilla (a 200-hectare permaculture development with 43 families from 29 countries), Alegría Village (a 170-acre regenerative eco-neighbourhood with coworking and shared facilities), Collectivo Tacotal (a 25-family permaculture ecovillage along the Río Machuca, founded in 2008), and Ecovilla San Mateo.
Stays in San Mateo range from eco-camping and glamping on working fincas, to handcrafted natural homes, riverside casitas, compact eco-studios, and private eco-villas with outdoor jacuzzis. Most are embedded in or adjacent to one of the area's intentional communities.
San Mateo has a warm tropical climate, with daytime temperatures typically between 27–32°C (80–90°F) and cooler nights around 21–23°C (70–71°F). The hills moderate the heat compared to the coast, and the area is comfortable year-round.
Yes — San Mateo has become a strong base for remote workers and longer-term visitors. Alegría Village in particular has dedicated coworking facilities, reliable internet, and flexible accommodation. Several stays in the area offer monthly enquiry options for extended visits.
