El Castillo Boutique Luxury Hotel

El Castillo is rare combination of a luxury boutique hotel with a warm and dedicated staff. We spent six wonderful nights there. Our spa room and the public areas are beautifully furnished, but comfortable and not at all stuffy. The hotel is situated so that there are beautiful views of the Pacific from almost every place we found ourselves on the property. The biggest surprise was the quality of food at the hotel’s restaurant. Our room rate included breakfast daily which was wonderful, with fresh fruits and juices, and delicious choices from an extensive menu. We were so full from breakfast that we did not sample their lunch offerings. However, the restaurant dining was so extraordinary, that we ate dinner there on four of the six nights. We were particularly excited about Chef Justin’s creations. His blends of textures and flavors were a mix of Central American, Asian and European cuisines, providing wonderful unique dishes. And each plate was a visual work of art. None of what I mentioned would have been as great, were it not for the three staff members with whom guests interact. Roxy was warm and helpful, whether it was when she was in the restaurant or offering suggestions about things to do in the area. We had more contact with Donny and Francisco during the week due to their work schedules. These two guys were amazing. Both are authentically warm and generously spirited human beings. It felt like both genuinely cared about the quality of our experience and did whatever they could to meet our needs. If I owned a small hotel, I would want them on my staff! Even Stephen, the manager, made a point to introduce himself to us early during our stay. This was our third visit to Costa Rica, and, by far, our favorite one!

This hotel was beautiful, the room was large with a lovely king size 4 poster bed. We had a great view of the sunset every night from our patio or from the spectacular infiniti pool. We also enjoyed dinner at the hotel one night and the food was very good. The included breakfast was prepared fresh to order. The staff were friendly and provided excellent service. I wish we would have stayed longer!

This hotel was beautiful, the room was large with a lovely king size 4 poster bed. We had a great view of the sunset every night from our patio or from the spectacular infiniti pool. We also enjoyed dinner at the hotel one night and the food was very good. The included breakfast was prepared fresh to order. The staff were friendly and provided excellent service. I wish we would have stayed longer!

For New Years we decided to stay in the South Pacific side of Costa Rica for its beauty and to get away from the resort crowds of Guanacaste. Based on a locals recommendation, I booked reservations at El Castillo Boutique Hotel. The first sign that we had made a good choice came a few weeks before our trip when the manager, Steven, contacted me to verify our reservations and confirm that we would be dining with them for New Years Eve's special menu. They even offered wine pairings and a menu with lamb and local farm-to-table vegetables. Steven assured us that this was an adult-only hotel (we wanted to be out of earshot of children for a change). And he put us into one of two “Spa” king rooms that were very private. Roxana booked very professional massages for us. We flew into Quepos and rented a car to make the beautiful hour-long drive south along the seaboard highway to Ojochal de Osa. So lovely, with miles of palm groves and remote shoreline. Upon arrival we were greeted by Francisco and Donny who parked our electric car where it could charge and handled our luggage for us. We were even greeted on the veranda with complimentary drinks. During the week we were there, we ate in the Hotel about half the meals and they were gourmet and perfect every time. There are several other fine restaurants in short driving range that we sampled. I was truly impressed by the service and the beauty of the Hotel and location. The boutique hotel overlooks an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean from about 300 feet up the mountain. There are public beaches just below and various tours nearby that we will return to take advantage of in the future. Most impressive was the way we were treated and pampered throughout our stay. The staff immediately knew our names and went out of their way to make everything special for us. The sort of elegance that is a bit rare in Latin America. For example, when we had car problems on New Years Eve, Francisco jumped into action and found us a chauffeur at the last minute to take us to our scheduled party. All the staff really went above and beyond the norm and clearly were working from an attitude of love as if we were actual family. I was significantly impressed. Steven, you have done a great job! The only problem we encountered during our stay was that the jacuzzi heater was not working properly in the spa hot tub while we were there. It would have been nice to use this amenity. If you are looking to be well taken care of and even pampered in a hidden paradise, I absolutely recommend this luxurious boutique hotel. Away from the crowds and completely at peace, you will love the beauty and service at El Castillo.

The view is fantastic, the swimming pool perfect and the bedroom calm and clean. Around the hotel, on the ground or in the sky, you can come across iguanas, white faced monkeys, toucans and macaws. The food and the drinks are delicious. The staff is particularly kind, helpful and efficient.

El Castillo is a beautiful, small, boutique hotel. The location is secluded and you feel tucked away in the jungle, yet it is only minutes from great restaurants, beaches, and activities. The spa suite was comfortable, clean and spacious. It was nice to be in our own area. The pool provided an amazing spot for watching the sunset and just relaxing. The food was beautifully presented and delicious. We enjoyed breakfast each morning and had a wonderful dinner and lunch there as well. It was clear that the menu was designed and executed by talented hands. The members of the staff were so welcoming. Francisco, Donny, and Roxy were always there for anything we needed or wanted. We booked massages in the spa room and they were excellent. It was very hard to leave such a beautiful and welcoming place!

A perfect place to hide out and recharge. Amazing and restful place. It’s small and quiet and with most of the guests out touring we had the pool practically to ourselves most of the time. The food was amazing and service was excellent. Since we were there a week, we had some ask we normally wouldn’t of made. A yoga mat? Saran wrap? The staff came through on everything. They even learned our names. Our room was beautiful. Great linens and a fluffy quilt. An amazing view of the ocean. Lots of space, including adequate drawers. We saw monkeys, Cody, iguanas, Macaws and toucans without leaving the property.

15 days at the Hotel El Castillo felt like a holiday with friends. The location of the hotel is very good, the view sensational. My morning swims in the infinity pool were simply a dream. A big THANK YOU to Steven, the GM, and his team, especially to Roxy, Dony and Francisco as well as the kitchen crew!! Steven helped us with all organisational matters quickly, always in a friendly and uncomplicated manner. His team is highly motivated, very friendly and just as helpful, the food excellent. The beach and a somewhat challenging jogging route are right next to the hotel or easy to reach, and the bus stop is only a few minutes away. If we could wish for something, it would be to have cereal and/or porridge as part of the breakfast selection. All in all, highly recommended - especially since some renovation work is now planned under the new management.

This place is amazing and wow what a view! Staff is extremely friendly and beds are comfy. We come here every 4 months or so

Small and cozy hotel - nice design. Breakfast was great! The staff were friendly but not anything special. We arrived after 10pm and check-in was still possible. The pool is nice. There is not much more to say because we only stayed one night.