Pacific Kalokairi - Adults Only

Pacific Kalokairi is a magnificent sparkling gem of a hotel perched in the hills just outside of Tamarindo in the Guanacaste Region overlooking the ocean to the west and the jungle to the east. This was my first trip to Costa Rica and our anniversary celebration, we chose this hotel because in the photos online the architecture looked very elegant and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. We were not disappointed. The hotel is stunning, every inch is thoughtfully designed, open airy doors and windows, clean lines, attention to detail, beautiful woodwork, high quality sheets, spacious bed, double sinks, powerful shower heads, perfect balconies with comfortable furniture for morning coffee and evening sunset viewing and a fabulous infinity pool in the shape of a coffee bean for swims. The structures are beautiful but the heart of the hotel is really the tight knit family from Spain that owns and operates the property on a daily basis. Virginia the daughter is the concierge and has a wealth of hospitality experience from her time in Europe and Miami, her mother Maria prepares breakfast every morning for guests, her father Santi methodically cleans the pool EVERY morning at 6am. Carlos, originally from CR is the bartender/waiter, he was sweet and fun and made us feel welcome everyday. Danny the chef from Bilbao prepared Michelin star quality dishes every night. The Pacific Kalokairi team has a perfect combination of professionalism and warmth. I highly recommend Pacific Kalokairi. A bit more about how wonderful Viginia is........ Initially our flight was postposed due to tropical storm Sara, I called Virginia on WhatsApp and she was very open and flexible, she immediately let us cancel and reschedule the trip for 5 days later when the airport in Liberia reopened after the storm had passed. When we arrived Virginia continued to offer advice that hit the mark with us every time. She has excellent taste and insight into local places of interest, we particularly enjoyed her recommendations for La Leona Waterfall, Poza Los Coyotes and Playa Minas. Thank you and your amazing hardworking team!

Preface: This review is from a 25 y/o US based, moderately active couple visiting Costa Rica for their first time. My partner found this resort through our Chase travel portal and we wanted to ensure we left a very thorough review to help others understand our stay and what theirs could look like as well. Location: The resort is roughly an hour and a half from the airport, so make sure you get snacks and drinks at the airport before you leave. The ride to the resort is simple. Slow, but simple. Costa Rica has lots of motorcycles and drivers passing around each other, so if you pick up a car, be mindful of this. When you arrive at the resort, the first thing you will notice is the dirt road that leads up to the main entrance. This road is bumpy and difficult for smaller cars, so if you rent a vehicle, be sure it has 4X4 and get the insurance due to rocks and potholes along the way. The resort is beautifully nestled at the top of a considerable hill, and some drivers will get frustrated about it, but every ride made it up without having any issues. The views are immaculate, with the infinity pool overlooking the scenery and ocean, allowing for wonderful nights swimming or eating at the resort while watching the sunset. Rooms: We stayed on the left side of the property in a jungle facing room. From what I understand, all rooms are the same except for the view. Our room was absolutely perfect. It’s a well sized, modern bungalow that is perfectly designed for virtually any style of couple. It’s romantic, comfortable, clean, and well air-conditioned. The cleaning staff is outstanding about knowing when you clean your room and they don’t interrupt if you want to have a relaxing morning or a chill day indoors. When they do clean your room, you have options for new sheets and towels or they ask you to consider reusing them, which we didn’t mind doing. The balcony is spacious and there’s nice chairs for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. We saw monkeys (they howl, so be mindful of this) and lots of cool birds. They provide a safe and we had absolutely no issues feeling safe to leave our stuff out since it was such a small and well staffed resort. Staff: The best part of Pacific Kalokairi is by far the staff. Virginia, Carlos, Carmen, the chefs, and cleaning staff, and everyone else who helps maintain the immaculate experience are some of the best people I’ve ever met while on a vacation or even in general. They make you feel like family. They’re always looking to help, they want to get to know you, and they communicate as a team better than most high-functioning organizations could ever dream of. They even remembered my partner’s nut allergy seven days after she told them and made sure not to include any on a desert platter they prepared for us on our last night. It was an excellent touch. They offer a shuttle into downtown and often provide helpful recommendations and share stories of the resort, their lives, and Costa Rica. Every time we left and we

We just got back from a week here. From the moment you get there until the day you leave you know that you have experienced something special. Every morning you are greeted with a friendly Good Morning from Charlie. He makes you feel like you are the only ones there. The staff is very attentive and it starts with Virginia and and flows from the bartender (Carlos), waiter (Herman), and the remaining staff. Can't say enough about the staff. This place is a little gem! Thanks for a perfect vacation Jim/Christine

What a great time! Small lodge with individual expansive and modern villas overlooking the ocean. Virginia and staff treated us like family and took care of anything you needed. If you are looking for a quiet place to chill, this is it. Chef Dan was top notch, we had dinner and lunch here pretty much every day (and I'm a picky American eater). The ride to town is short so all options are available for alternative meals. Mom made us breakfast every day, Carlos is always ready to make a drink or "eliminate" a grasshopper, Herman is the cool Argentinian we got to chat with every day and don't forget to give Charley some watermelon at breakfast when you go. If you like being treated like family, awesome views, clean, modern rooms and a quiet place to relax, this is your place. We'll be back to see our friends again...Pura Vida!

A quiet retreat like setting in the hills above Tamarindo. Excellent meals with attentive but not intrusive service, well appointed cabins and shuttle service back and forth to central Tamarindo. Overall a very pleasant stay. The unfailing courtesy shown by the staff exudes the Costa Rican national ethos of Pura Vida.

I had one of my most favorite trips while staying at the Pacific Kalokairi Ecohotel. First and foremost the rooms are truly luxurious, which is only amplified by the stunning view of the ocean and jungle. By being further from Tamarindo and higher in the forest, the view is even more impressive. This scene was equally impressive from the beautiful infinity pool! Perhaps the best part of this vacation was the hotel staff and restaurant. They worked with our party to help us formulate our daily plans, and to help decide which excursions were most appropriate for our diverse group. They also arranged transportation for us which was much appreciated, since we didn’t have rental car. On top of all of the help they provided our party, they were so welcoming! Our time in Costa Rica would not have been nearly as relaxing and enjoyable without the staff at the Pacific Kalokairi. Throughout the trip, the best meals we had were prepared by chef Daniel. We dined at the hotel restaurant multiple times as the menu changed everyday and was always excellent. I highly recommend a stay at the Pacific Kalokairi, and I will definitely be back in the future!