Updated on June 16th, 2021
Hotel Punta Islita is located on the Nicoya Peninsula on the west coast of Costa Rica. It is a secluded resort with a focus on sustainability and
At the beginning of 2018, Andy asked me if I could do anything during the year what would it be? I said I wanted to spend a few days at a beachside resort. I wanted to swim, lounge in the sun, and read a few books. Hotel Punta Islita seemed like the perfect place to just sit back and slow down. It is remote, eco-friendly, and had one of the most beautiful pools I had ever seen. Not to mention that early December is shoulder season for Costa Rica and Hotel Punta Islita so we got a great deal and the resort was basically empty!
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The Views
To say the view at Hotel Punta Islita was stunning would be an understatement. The view from the pool, our room, the beach, basically anywhere on the property was gorgeous. Pacific sunsets, seaside cliffs, and jungle everywhere and it can all be enjoyed from your private balcony, the infinity pool, or a secluded beach? It makes Hotel Punta Islita feel like paradise.
The drive out to this secluded part of the Nicoya Peninsula had equally breathtaking views. Hills covered in cocoa and monkeys hanging from roadside trees were just some of the highlights. The hotel offers a shuttle service, but the drive, while not for the faint of heart, was one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip.
The Food
The food and drinks at Hotel Punta Islita were delicious. Our very first taste was a complimentary welcome beverage with mango juice and pineapple poolside while we were checked in. Both pools have
All of the dining is open air, some covered and some not. You can enjoy a pacific sunset while eating dinner or just enjoy being under the stars. Our favorite dinner dish was the Beef Tenderloin with blackberry sauce and cassava pie, but we also enjoyed a tropical chicken and fajitas.
Breakfast was equally as delicious. Andy enjoyed huevos rancheros and I had the traditional breakfast both mornings. There was
The Activities
Hotel Punta Islita offers many complimentary activities. They also have a few options that that have a slight charge. When I booked our stay at Hotel Punta Islita I had said we were going to relax and not do a ton of activities but it was so hard not to take advantage for all the great offerings.
I have always wanted to go horseback riding on the beach. After a pretty awful experience horseback riding on our honeymoon, Andy had said he would never ride a horse again. After six and a half years, I begged and pleaded and he agreed to give it one more try. I mentioned to our guide that Andy needed a really nice horse and he gave him the oldest and slowest horse I have ever seen. It was perfect. We went for a trail ride through the jungle, listening to howler monkeys, and then emerged onto the beach for a walk. It was so much fun and checked off a bucket list item for me!
The ziplines at Hotel Punta Islita would be a great first zip for anyone! After ziplining elsewhere in Costa Rica, we had so much more fun on these lines because they were slow enough and long enough to actually enjoy the scenery around you. The trees are so close at some points it feels like you’re in a tunnel! It was one of my favorite zips we’ve ever done.
On our last morning, we went for a hike to look for monkeys. We found a group that had seven or eight adults and four or five babies. It was so much fun to watch the babies playing and chasing each other through the trees! The guide brought a telescope so we could get an extra close-up look, and we were even able to snap a few pictures through the lens!
Some other activities that are offered by the hotel:
- Cooking Lessons
- Mixology Lessons
- Yoga
- Kayaking
- Golf
The Wildlife
We watched leaf cutter ants carrying their loads along the pool deck and had a huge iguana sunning itself on our balcony. We even had a band of raccoons break into our room and steal seven dollars worth of mini-bar chocolate. They were lucky they were so cute because the three am scare was not welcome. We had howler monkeys as alarm clocks and watched scarlet macaws primping and cleaning each other in a tree just outside our room.
Hotel Punta Islita is located next door to the Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve run by the Macaw Recovery Network. The Macaw Recovery Network (previously the Ara Project) is a sanctuary for Scarlet Macaws. Our first day at the hotel we were in the pool and I looked up to see seven scarlet macaws flying around the valley. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. They are stunning! To see wild macaws that close was incredible! They offer tours of their facilities and several couples we spoke with said the tour was very informative and the staff was lovely.
From July to November there is also a nearby beach where sea turtles lay eggs. We just missed it on our trip but I would love to go back to see baby turtles! The hotel offers special tours and uses techniques to keep the guest impact to a minimum.
Hotel Punta Islita was the most relaxing resort I’ve ever stayed. Where is your favorite place to rest and recharge?
For more on about our visit to Costa Rica visit out Costa Rica Page.
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