Well-appointed hotel in lush surroundings with friendly staff & fine cuisine:

The three of us (family with a teen) chose Gaia Hotel & Reserve as our last stop of a round trip in Costa Rica. And it was a great choice! We very much enjoyed our two-day stay at this small and beautifully located property. I recommend it for travelers who not seek beach holidays as it is not situated by the sea. Instead it is set atop a hill with its own reserve of a rich wild and plant life. 

There is a shuttle providing transport to the beaches, to town and to Manuel Antonio National Park, A great asset is their very nice although small pool. It is on different levels with a wet bar which is open 24 hours a day. Pity that there was not a “normal” bar by the pool too.



The hotel makes sure that its guests feel well at ease. One of the owners (Thomas) welcomed us upon arrival and talked to us for some time, nice. Then we were shown around the property including all the public spaces and the spa. And we got drinks and snacks too. Then we were ushered to our room, a Deluxe Suite with a private roof terrace just by the pool. The suite had a large, contemporarily furnished living room with a balcony. There was a bedroom with a comfortable king bed and a spacious bathroom with a jacuzzi bath. We were very satisfied with the suite. The only complaints were that you had to pass the bedroom in order to reach the bathroom. And we had some problems with the light switches (light flickered long after turned off).



There was a restaurant on the top floor of the main building serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. As far as the breakfast is concerned, it was really delicious. You could help yourself from a tray with fruits and from one with pastries brought by a server and order a main course from a menu. Also fresh fruit juices were available, a treat! We did not have lunch, but once we ordered some tapas and drinks during happy hour (I think as from 4.00 p.m.), which we enjoyed. On both evenings, we had dinner at Gaia’s restaurant, which features international and local cuisine. And we were happy with the ordered food. The dishes were inventively prepared, nicely presented and tasty. Although both fish dishes that I ordered as main courses were a bit on the dry side. But this is the only issue I had. 

With regard to service, all the employees we met were friendly and helpful. However sometimes we would have liked them to be more efficient. I give you an example. When we wanted to attend the Gaia reserve’s tour we were told that the regular one was already complete but that there would be another one hour later. Once we arrived on time, there was no guide and we were told at the front desk that the first group had not returned yet. When we asked again 15 minutes later, they contacted the guide. He informed them that the first group had not shown up for the tour. They finally ushered us to the reserve’s entrance where the guide already had been waiting for us for some time. Regarding other tours, we also made the guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park It was expertly run and offered interesting insights. 

In terms of others facilities apart from spa and pool, there is also a gym on site. Our son used it once and was satisfied with the equipment. Overall, I would recommend Gaia when you appreciate a stay in an intimate, well-appointed hotel in quiet, lush surroundings with friendly staff and fine cuisine.

Date of stay: April 2012