Punta Islita Resort and Spa
Plaza Mayor, Playa Samara, Islita, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
Four hours from San José, on a lush hillside overlooking Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline, Punta Islita is a tropical idyll, unspoiled and secluded, cut off from the mainland by dense jungle and difficult terrain. It’s a truly unique location, with the curving black sand beach a few hundred feet below, and the protected ecosystem of the tropical dry forest above.
Punta Islita is dedicated to environmental conservation, and yet the accommodations are as luxurious as can be. Standard rooms come with hammocks out front, looking down at the beach, and the better ones have private terraces and Jacuzzis with an ocean view. A handful of casitas dot the hillside, many with private plunge pools, and for large parties or privacy fanatics there are the three-bedroom villas, each complete with its own private swimming pool.
What’s to do here, besides escape into splendid idleness? Though it hardly qualifies as an activity, the Casa Spa offers a range of massage and beauty treatments. The more outdoorsy among us can explore nature walks and more challenging hikes, or horseback rides and even deep-sea fishing expeditions, while more traditional sporting types can make use of the tennis courts and the driving range.
No Costa Rican eco-adventure would be complete without a canopy tour, of course, and Punta Islita is happy to oblige. And when it’s over it’s back to the 1492 restaurant, serving local produce and seafood beneath a fifty-foot thatched palm ceiling.
How to get there:
Convenient to both Liberia and San José international airports, reaching Hotel Punta Islita takes under 40 minutes by air and about four hours by land. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.
- 37 Rooms
- Style: Contemporary Classic
- Atmosphere: Secluded
- 8 Guest Reviews
- Punta Islita Resort and Spa
- Plaza Mayor, Playa Samara
- Islita, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Hotel amenities and services
- 100% non-smoking hotel
- 24 hour gym
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Boardroom
- Central air conditioning
- Free parking
- Free wi-fi
- Golf nearby
- Jacuzzi
- Lounge
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Sauna
- Shopping area nearby
- Spa
- Spa treatments (on request)
Other Nicoya Peninsula hotels
8 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Hannah
- Stayed January 2013
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
Infinity pool. Concierge services for different activities.
What the hotel could do better:
Upgrade facilities (rooms and golf course especially). Improve food options (more moderately priced food options).
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- Edgar
- Stayed March 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Great service, good facilities.
What the hotel could do better:
The breakfast was average. They could add more options.
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- Charles
- Stayed February 2012
- Rating: Poor
What I liked:
The secluded location and views were lovely.
What the hotel could do better:
The rooms need a major update, we encountered many maintenance issues: drains that don't drain, sliding glass doors that don't lock, etc.
The service was strange. It seemed that the vast majority of the staff seemed not overly thrilled to be there.
The gym was in poor condition. No treadmill and only 1 eliptical machine that was malfunctioning. This wouldn't normally be an issue for us, but we'd driven 5 hours on unpaved roads to get there and needed a quick workout upon our arrival.
The public space was strangely lacking. They have one of the biggest iguanas I've ever seen living on their property, which is cool. But they let the turds sit in the grass around their lovely infinity pool, baking in the sun for days. Odd. The main dining room is in a stunning spot, but the food was tasteless and extremely overpriced for the quality. We were there 3 nights and never have I eaten more iceberg lettuce and smelly shrimp. The music in the dining room was either completely absent or piped in spa/meditation music. Neither option made for an interesting dining experience. And the coffee was bad. How they managed that in Costa Rica, I'll never know.
We love this country too much and know of too many other beautiful and special spots to return to Punta Islita. Had we paid their retail rates for our stay, we would have left after the first night.
