Top 10 Costa Rica

The hotels in the group are located throughout the country, on beach, mountain, and city terrain — and some are a combination of these settings. In selecting hotels to join the group, a primary objective is to offer guests access to all the memorable locations that wait in Costa Rica. Small Distinctive Hotels offers four beach hotels that are moments away from the ocean — a very special and exotic characteristic that very few hotels in the country can offer: Arenas Del Mar, a resort with 38 guest rooms and suites, is the only hotel in Manuel Antonio area that has direct access to the beach and is minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park. Capitán Suizo, an ideal beach retreat, is located on Tamarindo beach and offers eight thatched-roof bungalows and 22 rooms to choose from that are surrounded by an exotic garden, where sightings of monkeys, birds, iguanas, raccoons and more is not uncommon. Florblanca Resort is located on a secluded beach front at Santa Teresa beach, and relaxation is a priority. Guests are welcome to enjoy yoga and Pilates classes, offered every day, and the food is both delicious and nutritious. The 10 extravagant villas here can host at most 30 people. Finally, The Villas at Playa Dominical is a world-class beachfront spa resort uniquely situated at the crossroad between Costa Rica’s central and southern Pacific coasts. These 26 beachfront villas are scheduled to open in 2009. Guests who enjoy the hustle and bustle of a capital city will feel at home staying at Hotel Grano de Oro, considered one of the best hotels in Central America and Mexico by the readers of Conde Nast and recently named one of the best 500 hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure. This oasis in the city has forty rooms as well as three signature suites and is located in the heart of Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose. Those looking for seclusion and inspiration will find solace in the hotels located in some of the country’s most breathtaking natural environments: Hotel Casa Turire is located in the agricultural Turrialba valley, and the landscaped gardens recall the gracious charm of a colonial plantation home. The twelve rooms and four suites are surrounded by the sounds of nature (including toucans!) and a beautiful view of La Angostura Lake and offer some of the best lodging in Turrialba; while Peace Lodge is minutes away from Poas Volcano and a vibrant rainforests of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Guests may choose from villa, deluxe or standard rooms – even the “standard” rooms are a massive 650 square feet, and all guests of the lodge have unlimited access to the Nature Park, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which features five magical waterfalls and other attractions. The final hotel is a special combination of mountain and beach hotel – Villa Caletas Hotel – has 37 rooms located on top of a mountain and possesses many of Costa Rica’s “firsts” – including a Greek amphitheater that allows for stunning sunsets, and an infinity pool where the edge of the pool and the beginning of the ocean’s horizon blend seamlessly together.

Guests at Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica can count one thing: they will be treated as friends. A stay at one of the member hotels will live up to even the highest expectations, because the staff at each hotel understands that the definition of quality depends on perceptions, and the most important opinion is the one of our guests. The same level of quality that is expected of the hotel staff also extends to the on-site restaurants, the design and comfort of the guestrooms, and the wide variety of activities available. The network is also committed to a sustainable and responsible tourism through implementing best practices at each member hotel to combine luxury lodging with environmental and social responsibility.