Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

We had a wonderful stay at the hotel over the Christmas holidays. Our bungalow included an outdoor seating area with hammock and plunge pool which we thoughtly enjoyed. The infinity pool and swim up bar near the main restaurant got lots of use as well! There is so many activites at the hotel, we saw baby turtles heading to the beach, visited/learned about the hotel’s incredible garden, saw the macaw sactuary (as well as them flying around the hotel grounds) rode horses, and saw many other animals. Yes the walk to the beach is long and down a hill. However there are plenty of benches to stop and enjoy the incrediable view. I’m 61 and had no problem going back and forth every day. However there is a shuttle for those that are not as mobile. Our room was near the main building of the hotel so that part of the walking was minimal. I have to give a huge shout out to the following team memembers that made our stay even more memorable : Arturo at the restaurent & beach club. The most excellent infinity pool bartender. Marcelino at the pool bar, Joseph who did an outstanding job organizing the excurstions, Luis at the front desk, Jorge who conducted a wonderful bird watching tour as well as the garden/blue zone. A huge shout to Anna at the garden who took so much extra time with us. Last but absolutlely not least, Mo who lead the turtle tours and horses. There are others…It was a magical experience so if you are thinking of visiting, go for it! ** I would suggest if you are visiting to pack closed toed shoes and long pants, many of the activities require them.**

Celebrating our 10-year anniversary in Costa Rica was an unforgettable blessing, and staying at Hotel Punta Islita made it truly magical. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles, “Pura Vida,” and an incredible level of care. The entire staff treats every guest with love and attention, going above and beyond to ensure your stay is comfortable and memorable. You even get the chance to meet the hotel manager and chef, who, like everyone else, are friendly and focused on making sure you have the best time possible. The hotel offers transportation to and from the airport, making travel stress-free, and a shuttle to the beach and the charming town of Islita ensures you can explore with ease. The beach is clean, stunning, and perfect for relaxation or adventure. Whether you want to sit back and enjoy a delicious drink while listening to the waves or dive into a wide range of activities, there’s something for everyone. The hotel provides incredible cultural experiences and fun activities, including ATV rides, turtle-watching, and more. You’ll be completely immersed in the beauty of Costa Rica’s nature. For relaxation, the spa is fantastic, with skilled massage therapists who will leave you feeling refreshed and pampered. Every aspect of this place feels safe and welcoming, from the lush surroundings to the friendly staff. And the food? Absolutely incredible! Every meal is fresh, authentic, and mouthwatering—worth every bite (even if it means gaining a few pounds). Whether you want an adventure-filled trip or a peaceful retreat by the beach, Hotel Punta Islita has it all. I highly recommend booking a trip to Costa Rica and staying here. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, and I’m already counting down the days until I can go back!

I loved staying here. I especially loved taking sunset yoga classes daily with Sarah. As a beginner yoga student, Sarah gave me specialized attention and made me feel special. She instilled in me a love for yoga! Thank you to Sarah and the whole staff at Punta Islita.

Punta Islita is a beautiful hotel perched up on large hill overlooking the ocean. There’s a lot of activities offered by the hotel which makes up for being in a secluded area. Unfortunately we didn’t see the wildlife we expected which were monkeys, the place was still teeming with many birds. The hotel did end up reversing a suite upgrade last minute on us and didn’t really make up for it in anyway which is disappointing and hardly acknowledged the problem. Also the rooms need a refresh as they are outdated for this price class of a hotel.

If you are looking for a complete refresh, this is the spot. Designed to make you catch your breath, it is tucked away, naturally beautiful and offers experiences that immerse you in the natural world. The staff is amazing - our second visit and we felt like we were visiting family on our return. We enjoyed the turtle hatching, local crafts, cooking lessons, spa, howler monkey families and of course, the scarlet macaws. Meals are beautifully crafted, unique dishes using local ingredients and often grown on property.

Joe was amazing!!! The general manager was amazing!! Viales was amazing!!! The room was amazing!! Every single thing was amazing!! My wife and I went here on our honeymoon. This was an amazing honeymoon for us.

Fantastic. Highly recommend

I have traveled worldwide for 70+ years and stayed at some of the finest resorts - and I have to say that Punta Islita now tops the list. EVERYTHING was truly five-star: ambience, food, service, rooms, views, activities. Absolutely ideal for a romantic vacation. We were there in "rainy season" so occupancy was low, but it's warm tropical rain that had little affect on our enjoyment of the resort. It is a little remote - a rough three hour drive from Liberia airport, or a local small plane hop (the better option) to an air strip a few miles from Punta Islita. I'm hoping to return!

It's been a few months since our magical visit to this amazing place and my wife and I are still in awe of our time there. The term "resort" doesn't even fit when I try to put a label on Punta Islita, Autograph Collection. Its an oasis where you can have an amazing time with tours on site, or simply rejuvenate your soul with the one you love which is what my wife and I chose to do. The view of the Pacific and surrounding jungle from the upper infinity pool is breathtaking. The walk to the lower pool was fun and different each time as it meandered between mango and papaya trees with parakeets in the branches and macaws flying overhead. The lower pool is a gorgeous resort unto itself and we enjoyed walking to the rock formation down the black beach during various tides. Our room had a plunge pool so every morning we had coffee in it while the clouds went through the valley to our left and we heard the distant call of howler monkeys. Even now I'm speechless to describe how surreal of an experience it was. On one such morning we even adjusted when we would retire because, if you allow it, this place will re-calibrate what's important in life. Amazing and healthy food, incredibly nice and kind people, and Joe was super helpful setting up tours and he really cared that we were having a nice time - even having a bottle of champagne delivered to our room for our anniversary. As another reviewer said, "just go," so just go and we'll see you there as we're planning our next visit already.

This may be a long review but you should get all the details you require here. Overview: My wife and I stayed at this location for 4 days in the very beginning of August, which should be noted IS the very center of the rainy season. True to form it rained every day and was cloudy when not raining so be aware of when you book the trip as there is very little indoor area when it's a monsoon-ish type rain. The hotel is off the beaten path to be sure and I would recommend having 4x4 when driving there but it probably isn't strictly required. You will traverse significant dirt road driving that is about 1 1/2 lane wide roads. Almost all locals drive motorcycles so not a big deal. Outings/Excursions: We did mixology which was super fun and held at the beach yielding a couple of stout and delicious drinks. We took the ATV's out with a guide to see even better views and explore the area. It was 2.5 hours but I could have easily stayed out for 4 or more, definitely a must do. We took a self guided tour of the turtles laying eggs on the beach. You need a red light flashlight (not a regular white light) and the access to Corozalito is blocked for motorized traffic at night so heads up. The GOOD: The location is absolutely beautiful and the views are indeed breathtaking especially from the main restaurant/pool area. The beach provides access to this point at low tide that is worth the trek, make sure you are wearing either water shoes or shoes that can get wet also some of the rocks can be slippery so be careful. While I've been to Costa Rica before, I have never seen so much wildlife. The Macaw reserve located behind the property means you're going to see some of the most awe inspiring birds flying around while you enjoy your meal or dip in the infinity pool. We saw Macaws, 2 troops of howler monkeys, a couple grey foxes, a cute little coati or 3, a spotted skunk that didn't spray anyone, a turtle that was laying eggs on nearby Corozalito Beach and a run of the mill racoon trolling the turtle beach looking for a meal. The staff is exceptionally nice, friendly and very accommodating especially Joe and my man Viales who is crazy comfortable on the ATVs! The BAD: Being so remote means that even with a car you're probably going to eat on site for each meal and there's a little shop in town which is actually walking distance away so grab booze and cervezas there. We spent well over $1000 for meals and modest bar tab, like hardly any bar since we had bought some vodka in town, over the course of 3 full days and 4 nights which was a bit of a shock when combined with the booking price we already spent. Another thing to be aware of is the infinity edge pool while amazing from a view perspective it off the main dining area. You will be swimming, enjoying yourself/partner time, while those who are eating are about 10 feet away. Making early or late pool time a bit awkward. The walk to the beach is 242 steps plus some decent incline that isn't steps and when it's humid you will sweat your face off walking back from the beach especially in the rainy season. At the beach you will walk across pebbles/small stones to reach the sand and this will hurt, just know this. The OK: Our room was a King Suite without the plunge pool and it was very basic. No chair to sit in so being in there means you will sit on the bed or stand. The shower/toilet room is small and the walk-in shower means most of the floor will be covered in water when you're shower is done. Pool at the beach is pretty gross and seems to be a lot of effort to keep clean. We enjoyed our time there and the lack of options is why I took a star away but I'd tell the right type of person to stay there. That person enjoys being off the beaten path, doesn't care about everything priced a la carte and is solo or with a partner who also enjoys nature.