Gaia Hotel and Reserve

Rooms

There’s a good spectrum of accommodation within Gaia to suit a range of budgets. Studios are the most compact and have a shared terrace. The newer (and cheaper) Jungle Studios, up in the hilltop clubhouse, lack outdoor space but are a good option for bargain boutique. A clutch of Loft Suites have been added since our visit. Their layouts appear spacious and they have direct access to a dedicated pool.

We were lucky enough to stay in a Suite, which was twice the size of the Studios, with an open-plan living-dining room and its own private terrace. The suites' layout is better, and if you're staying a while we think it’s worth the extra price for the sense of space. Jungle Suites (in the clubhouse) overlook the hotel’s nature reserve rather than the ocean. Deluxe Suites feature their own private rooftop terrace, adorned with little shallow pools for cooling effect (though you can’t get into them), with fantastic views of the rainforest and ocean beyond. There's also a pair of Two-Bedroom Villas which have two kingsize bedrooms plus living-dining space for six, spread over three levels.

Wherever you stay, expect slick slate-tiled bathrooms with power showers, slippers, bathrobes and hairdryers. Beds have high-quality bamboo or Egyptian cotton linens, and there are smart wicker and cotton sofas. All rooms have carefully chosen, locally created paintings and impeccable standards of design.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The restaurant, La Luna, is a truly inspired place (open for all meals). Firstly, it has the prime position in Gaia’s hilltop site: a real king of the castle feel, with panoramic views out over the Pacific coast and Manuel Antonio’s jungle-covered peninsula from its long open sides. The design is cool and modern, with a faintly Japanese touch: tables are black-lacquered, with wooden-slatted table mats, luxurious white linens, abundant glassware and straight linen-covered chairs.

The adjoining elegant bar continues the black lacquer and wicker theme, with tall swivelling stools, and there’s an area of tall palms and squishy sofas to sink into while enjoying sunset cocktails and tapas.

The food is world-class and service impeccable. The style is modern Pacific Rim, with lots of typical Costa Rican ingredients like yucca and plantain. We had the best ceviche we have ever eaten here (and we ate a lot of ceviche on this trip): generous strips of succulent fish with plenty of citrus flavour but not at all bitter, and served with homemade tortillas and cayenne aioli. Vegetarians won’t be disappointed either; we really enjoyed our sweet roasted squash and papaya soup. Note the restaurant is open to non-guests in the evening so can get busy in high season.

Breakfast is the usual buffet array: cereals, yoghurt, granola, cold meat and cheese, and a fruit platter (expect great tranches of mango, pineapple and papaya). You can also order a dish from the hot menu (also included) such as Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros or a cooked breakfast with all the trimmings. If you’re setting off on an 8am trip, you could always opt to have breakfast in your room or on your terrace (extra cost).

You can also order drinks and snacks down at the vertiginous pool bar, which serves light lunches, there's a wet bar section, too - all with magnificent views. Gourmet platters can be prepared to serve in your room on request; you can order items to be ready for your arrival such as fresh fruit and cheese, cold cuts and crackers.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Popular Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s smallest but most visited, with lots of wildlife to see. Gaia’s own guides take guests on a modest 2-hour visit, which is entertaining, if a little perfunctory. Howler monkeys roar and there are tree sloths in abundance, as well as the famous red-eyed tree frog. The tour leaves early in the morning but you can choose when to return, with the shuttle bus making regular trips to the park entrance. Note that the reserve is closed on Tuesdays
  
• Be sure to explore Gaia’s own nature reserve - there are free tours for hotel guests or you can go solo. Our guide, Saul, pointed out birds, lizards and the stunning indigenous plants. We loved that he could instantly recognise birds from their calls. Open daily
  
• Gaia’s best asset is its compact but superb Terra Spa, it's one of the best in the country, and its main treatment room has a huge panoramic window with views over the rainforest - a reason to stay a day longer. All treatments make the most of organic Costa Rican ingredients
  
• Yoga classes are available on request in the yoga studio. There’s a mixture of hatha, ashtanga and restorative poses, ideal for beginners
  
• A motor-boat trip along the mangrove swamps offers a different range of wildlife, and while it’s a pretty touristy experience, you'll see capuchin monkeys at close quarters
  
• Pacific Ocean pleasures include dolphin and whale tours, deep-sea fishing and sea kayaking; scuba diving is very popular, too - Gaia can arrange tuition
  
• Adrenalized entertainment can be found through zip lining, parasailing, river rafting or by taking a mountain-bike tour
  
• Horse riding along the cliff tops to hidden waterfalls can also be organised

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Rafting
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Trekking
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga
• Zip-wiring

Kids

The property is squarely aimed at adults and only allows guests over the age of 13 (although we’d recommend it to those over 16s).

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

We suggest families with teens take the Loft Suites which sleep up to 4. They're located in the clubhouse on top of Gaia Mountain and have direct access to the pool.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 10 minutes (Quepos)
• Hospital: On call ambulance service
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Gaia Hotel and Reserve is on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, about 3km from the port of Quepos (7km), in Manuel Antonio.

By Air:
Quepos is the nearest airport for domestic flights, but international airlines fly into San José Juan Santamaría International (165km). Or fly to the smaller Liberia airport (263km), which is served by seasonal charter flights from Europe and North America. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport:
Most guests take an internal flight from San José to Quepos, then take a hotel-arranged transfer. However, if you'd prefer to travel overland, Gaia can arrange a transfer from San José, or you can catch a Gray Line coach to Manuel Antonio and from there book a hotel transfer.

By Car:
It’s just 3 hours’ beautiful drive to reach Manuel Antonio from San José. But consider carefully if you really want to drive around Costa Rica. The roads can be awful and the signage is hopeless. In Manuel Antonio you really won’t need a car, and you might prefer to arrange transfers if you’re travelling to 2 or 3 destinations within the country. If you do decide to go it alone, make sure you hire a 4-wheel drive - see our car rental recommendations.

By Public Transport:
The public bus (no air-con) goes from San José to Quepos. Once in Quepos, take another bus or get a taxi direct to the hotel.

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

More on getting to Costa Rica and getting around