Finca Rosa Blanca

Rooms

Each suite is completely unique. Most are in the Gaudí-esque main house: all white walls and arched windows. Suites lead off a stunning central galleried atrium filled with plants, paintings and intriguing ornaments collected from around the world.

There are Junior Suites with quaint bathrooms looking directly onto the view. One of them, Los Aves, has its own private garden with outdoor hot tub (the ensuite is just as stunning, with a mural of Costa Rican birds and a Jacuzzi). The remaining Junior Suites are shared between 2 villas, which may be hired as whole entities. Every inch of these spaces has been carefully considered and they're filled with little touches to delight the eye. The result is enchanting. Luxurious details include the softest bamboo sheets, fresh flowers and delicious organic toiletries, along with well-stocked minibars, ceiling fans, hairdryers and bathrobes.

There are also four Suites: Ranchito has an interior landscape of hills and coffee farms while the stunning split-level Rosa Blanca has a bathroom overrun by a painted forest, and a breathtakingly romantic bedroom with 360-degree views from its wraparound tower windows. The Jacuzzi is fed by a little stream and the whole suite is utterly romantic. El Cielo is split level with panoramic views while El Guarumo has a romantic lagoon-style outdoor bathtub.

There are phones and WiFi but no TVs in the suites - however there’s a television on the landing in a cosy little library for guests to use, along with a fine collection of art books.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Cots available
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Radio
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Food is taken seriously here - owner Teri Jampol was once a chef and works with her Costa Rican staff to make delicious fusions of local and international cuisine from locally sourced organic ingredients - some grown in the Finca’s kitchen garden.

Breakfast starts with a choice of fresh juices and a plate of fresh fruit, followed by a cooked breakfast - either international or Costa Rican in style - all enjoyed out on the terrace, with its uplifting views of the landscape. The coffee is particularly good, grown organically on Rosa Blanca’s estate.

Lunch can be prepared for you to take on your excursions, or eaten on the terrace. The style is distinctly Costa Rican, and our salads and papusas (corn tortillas stuffed with beans) were very good.

Dinner is a real occasion, eaten in the elegant surroundings of the Tigre Vestido restaurant, with charming and attentive staff who really look after you. Sophisticated flavours are reflected in the stylish design of the restaurant, with its polished wood floors, lofty rafters and elegant seating (dark high-backed chairs and comfortable couches) arranged around a traditional tiled fireplace. Tables are beautifully dressed and lit by candles - it's a romantic place for couples and a relaxing environment for friends. Start or finish with a cocktail or a glass of fine wine in the bar - Rosa Blanca’s list of Latin American wines is well-chosen.

The food is among the country’s finest. Delicious concoctions of Pacific fish and organic vegetables introduce new ingredients and complex sauces. We had delicate smoked fish on a bed of fresh greens and sweet potatoes, tiger prawns in lemon couscous, exquisite salads with fresh herbs, and local fish or organic meat in the most subtle sauces with surprising ingredients. A perfect last dinner before you leave Costa Rica.

Features include:

• Bar
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take the sustainability tour to discover Finca Rosa Blanca’s impressive efforts to protect the environment and contribute to the local community. Explore nearby villages, with visits to the local school (sustained partly by profits from the hotel) and the senior citizens centre, which produces rag rugs for the hotel
  
• A tour around the Finca’s organic coffee farm is fascinating; alternatively, you can take a more commercial tour around the famous Café Britt, with tastings included
  
• Early morning bird-watching with Manolo, the Finca’s incredibly knowledgeable resident naturalist guide, is amazing
  
• Hike in Braulio Carillo National Park amongst stunning pristine rainforest; Manolo can accompany you if you want a guided walk. The park includes the Barva volcano, where you can do a wonderful hike to the crater, seeing wildlife along the way
  
• Head to the Poás volcano and call in at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens on the way - a great day out for children
  
• Visit the handicraft workshops that produce the famous painted ox-cart wheels at nearby Sarchí - and wonderful wooden items too. Complete the trip with a walk in the lovely Else Kientzler Botanical Garden
  
• The Finca arranges day trips to San José for museums and sights, including the National Theatre, the Central Market, the Gold Museum and the Jade Museum of pre-Columbian artefacts
  
• Go on a river rafting expedition on the Pacuare river (grade III and IV), the Reventazón river (grade II and III), or the more gentle Sarapiqui river (grade I and II), which is more of a float trip. Manolo takes the latter trip as the wildlife is amazing
  
• Book an organic spa treatment - there's a whole range to choose from including hot stone rubdowns, Reiki, volcanic mud wraps and a decadent chocolate exfoliation. Afterwards, swim in the pool - ionised, solar-heated and beautifully situated on a rise, with wonderful views from its loungers and outdoor Jacuzzi

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Hot air ballooning
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Rafting
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Wildlife
• Zip-wiring

Kids

Children are welcome at Finca Rosa Blanca, though the hushed atmosphere might suit older kids better. The villas each house 2 Junior Suites and can be hired as whole entities, and the Suites have additional beds. Children would enjoy splashing about in the pool, going horse-riding and taking trips to the local volcanoes and waterfalls.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Finca Rosa Blanca is in Heredia, just 20 minutes from the international airport at San José (SJO), and only 45 minutes’ drive from the domestic terminal at Pavas.

By Air:
San José Juan Santamaria International (8km away) is the closest airport, and is the arrival point for most international flights to Costa Rica as well as almost all the internal flights. Some charter flights land at Liberia (210km away), from where there are domestic flights to San José. A few flights from within Costa Rica land at the Tobías Bolaños (Pavas) Airport (19km).

From the Airport
Finca Rosa Blanca can arrange transfers with a reliable driver. You can also take a taxi from San José.

By Car:
If you're driving yourself around Costa Rica, the short trip between the airport and the Finca will be an easy start - see our car rental recommendations. Choose a 4-wheel drive if you're doing subsequent journeys, which might not be as straightforward as the one to Finca Rosa Blanca.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Costa Rica and getting around