Hotel Villa Caletas

Set 1,150 feet above the Central Pacific coastline, Hotel Villa Caletas is a boutique hotel built around views, open air and a distinctly theatrical sense of place. The architecture leans towards a Greek amphitheatre rather than a standard beach resort, while the surrounding rainforest keeps the setting firmly in Costa Rica.

You will find polished rooms, ocean views, a private beach and a choice of ways to slow down when your day is done. Couples have the setting for a sunset drink and a long dinner; families can use the family rooms, babysitting service and accommodation for up to six guests in the largest suite. English and Spanish are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the practicalities without resorting to underwater hand signals.

The hotel is in Jacó, Costa Rica, in the Central Pacific region rather than in Puntarenas itself. It sits between jungle and coast, with the sea about 1 mile away and views towards the Gulf of Nicoya and the crescent beaches around Jacó.

Caletas Beach is also about 1 mile from the hotel. It is a private pebble beach reached by the hotel’s free shuttle, with sun loungers, showers and changing rooms. Playa Herradura is about 1.5 miles away by road, while Jacó’s parks and cafés are roughly 6 miles away; this is a place for a car, a taxi or a planned excursion rather than spontaneous pavement wandering.

The surrounding options are properly Costa Rican: Punta Leona Wildlife Refuge lies about 2 miles away, Rainforest Adventures Jacó about 4.5 miles away, and Parque de Jacó about 6 miles away. You can also reach the nearest airport, La Managua, in about 48 miles by road, or Juan Santamaría International Airport in about 50 miles by road.

The room design is more Victorian than minimalist, with black wooden furniture, mosaic floors and grand four-poster beds. That gives the accommodation a strong personality; if you prefer hotel rooms that look as though someone made an actual decision, this is worth noting. Air conditioning and a fan are available for the humid Pacific nights, while a minibar and tea and coffee-making facilities help with the return from a hot day outside.

For two people, the standard double rooms keep things straightforward, while the honeymoon suite is the obvious choice when the room itself is part of the occasion. Travelling with three or four? The junior suites and superior junior suites give you more room to spread out, and the largest accommodation, El Barco Suite, sleeps up to six. The accommodation cards show the measurements and bed arrangements, so the useful question here is less “how many square metres?” and more “how much space do you want between the wet bag and your evening clothes?”

Some rooms have a terrace with a hydromassage tub, and private bathrooms include a bath or shower, toiletries and a hairdryer. Seating areas and terraces give you somewhere to sit without balancing a drink on the bedside table. Room service is available, and free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

Breakfast is included and comes in continental and American styles. The main daytime-to-evening option is the Anfiteatro Bar Restaurant, open from breakfast through dinner, with international cooking given a local accent and served in the open air. Its Greek-amphitheatre setting looks towards the Pacific and rainforest, which is a rather more useful view than the television while you wait for lunch.

Dinner has a second address at Mirador Restaurant, where international dishes are served on a terrace with ocean views. The kitchen combines French and Central American influences, with desserts built around pies, cakes and local fruit sauces. Dinner service runs from 18:00 to 22:00, and Mirador is the place for a slower evening rather than a quick plate between transfers.

There is one named bar: Anfiteatro Bar, a sunset bar specialising in cocktails, including its Martini Bar service. The Anfiteatro Bar Restaurant also covers lunch and dinner, while Caletas Beach has cocktails and à la carte dishes available on the beach. Room service is available, with limited hours, so the sensible move is to check the evening arrangement before retreating to your room in full post-dive silence.

The infinity pool is the centrepiece for a day with no timetable. It looks towards the Pacific, with a small tropical island and waterfalls built into the pool area; sun loungers, umbrellas and pool towels make it easy to settle in properly. The private beach offers a different rhythm, with the hotel shuttle taking you through the jungle to a quieter pebble shore equipped with loungers, showers and changing rooms.

Serenity Spa is the more convincing option when your shoulders have had enough of carrying your kit. Its treatments include massages, facials, body wraps and body treatments, using Sesderma products alongside organic, indigenous and European ingredients. There is also a spa lounge, foot bath, hot tub and relaxation area, while the mountain-top setting brings ocean views and the background noise of tropical birds rather than piped music.

If sitting still becomes medically impossible, the hotel has a fitness centre and offers yoga. You can also arrange kayaking, snorkelling, fishing and boat excursions, or head out for golf, wildlife observation and cultural trips. The excursion programme includes Tortuga Island, Manuel Antonio National Park, Carara Biological Reserve, canopy tours, white-water rafting, crocodile safaris, whale watching and horse riding. In other words, you can keep the day gentle or make it complicated; both are available.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. The front desk operates around the clock, with private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, concierge service, a tour desk and currency exchange. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed.

Juan Santamaría International Airport is about 50 miles from the hotel by road, taking around 1 hour 25 minutes by car. La Managua Airport is about 48 miles away by road, with a drive of around 1 hour 29 minutes. An airport shuttle is available through the hotel; arrange it directly with the property before travelling. Car hire is also available.

Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted. You will need valid identification and the same credit or debit card used to guarantee the booking when checking in. Children of any age are welcome, and extra beds and cots can be requested according to the accommodation selected. The hotel’s New Year’s Eve party is mandatory and included in the booking during that period, so check the dates if you would rather hear the rainforest than a party soundtrack. Pets are not allowed.

Hotel Villa Caletas holds CST certification. Its stated environmental work includes avoiding chemical pesticides, reforestation and maintaining its own green garden.

The property also supports nearby communities through social initiatives and uses solar panels for energy. The approach is practical rather than decorative: rainforest around the hotel, a garden on site and measures aimed at reducing the impact of running the place.