Iluminar Beachfront Suites
Location: Playa Guiones, Nosara, cr
Star Rating: 8.8 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
Sustainable Beachfront Accommodation
Iluminar Beachfront Suites offers guests a sustainable stay with stunning sea views. Recently renovated, the property boasts private parking and a year-round outdoor pool with a pool bar.
Fully Equipped Units
Each unit features a spacious seating and dining area, along with a fully equipped kitchen. Enjoy cooking with amenities like a fridge, stovetop, and kitchenware. Units also offer a private bathroom with a shower, hair dryer, and free WiFi. Some rooms even include a balcony for a picturesque view.
Relaxing Garden and Sun Terrace
Unwind in the aparthotel's garden or soak up the sun on the terrace. With a bar on-site, enjoy refreshing drinks without having to venture far.
Book now for a memorable beachfront experience at Iluminar Beachfront Suites!
Important Information
Please note that construction work is going on nearby from July the 12th to December 20th and some rooms may be affected by noiseThis property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 11:30 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Swimming pool
- Terrace
- Pets allowed
- Express check-in/check-out
- Safety deposit box
- Non-smoking throughout
- Private check-in/check-out
- Outdoor furniture
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Guest rooms disinfected between stays
- Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
- Physical distancing rules followed
- Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
- Cashless payment available
- First aid kit available
- Contactless check-in/check-out
- Invoice provided
- Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
- Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
- Guest room sealed after cleaning
- Property cleaned by professional cleaning companies
- Process in place to check health of guests
- Access to health care professionals
- Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
- 24-hour security
- Express check-in
- Free wired internet
- Scuba diving on site
- Snorkeling on site
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Housekeeping on request
- Japanese garden
- Fishing nearby
- Horse riding nearby
- Beach club nearby (surcharge)
- Beach toys
Rooms Available
-
Suite with Terrace
Featuring a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite is consisted of of a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. In the fully equipped kitchenette, guests will find a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite features a terrace with outdoor furniture and garden views to relax in after a busy day. The unit offers 2 beds.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
King Suite with Balcony
Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite features a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Guests can make meals in the kitchenette that features a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite has a terrace with outdoor furniture and garden views where you can relax. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
King Suite with Balcony
Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite features a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Guests can make meals in the kitchenette that has a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite has a terrace with outdoor furniture and garden views where you can relax. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
Two-Bedroom House
Featuring a private entrance, this air-conditioned holiday home consists of 1 living room, 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a shower and a hairdryer. Meals can be prepared in the kitchen, which comes with a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and an oven. The spacious holiday home provides a washing machine, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area as well as a terrace with garden views. The unit offers 4 beds.
Max Occupancy: 6 (5 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Washing machine
- Private bathroom
- Kitchen
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Tumble dryer
- Wardrobe or closet
- Oven
- Stovetop
- Toaster
- Cleaning products
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Books, DVDs, or music for children
- Sofa bed
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
King Suite with Balcony
Featuring a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite consists of a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Guests can make meals in the kitchenette that is equipped with a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite features a terrace with outdoor furniture and garden views for your convenience. The unit offers 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
Suite with Terrace
Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite comes with a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Guests can make meals in the kitchenette that features a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite is furnished with a desk and a seating area and features a dining area, a wardrobe and garden views. The unit has 2 beds.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
Caravan
Featuring a private entrance, this air-conditioned mobile home is consisted of of a kitchen, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. In the well-fitted kitchen, guests will find a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The mobile home features a seating area, a dining area, a wardrobe as well as a terrace with garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Kitchen
- Private entrance
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
-
Suite with Terrace
Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite features a kitchenette, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The fully equipped kitchenette has a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a tea and coffee maker. The suite is furnished with a desk and a seating area and features a dining area, a wardrobe and garden views. The unit has 2 beds.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Wardrobe or closet
- Stovetop
- Coffee machine
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Private apartment in building
- Clothes rack
- Drying rack for clothing
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Hypoallergenic pillow
Guest Reviews
- Eva (10/5): Wir hatten ursprünglich 7 Nächte gebucht dann aber um weitere 4 Nächte verlängert weil wir uns so in die Unterkunft und -
- Michael (10/5): I can’t wait to come back next year. - The location is perfect! Free breakfast at Copal is fantastic and access to the Guilded Iguana surf club is priceless. Nothing to complain about.
- Akio (10/5): Highly recommend, great service, rooms. etc. - Fantastic place! So close to the beach. Perfect for surfers looking for convenience. I stayed in one of the suites - really nice and new accommodations. The indoor + outdoor showers were such a luxury. The included breakfast at Norte cafe was fantastic, and the Gilded Iguana club membership was fantastic (when the waves got too big and I needed to switch up the boards). 10/10 would recommend None
- david (10/5): Perfect place, tremendous value for the area - close to everything and extremely tranquil - Everything Nothing
- Andrea (9/5): -
- Isadora (10/5): - We had a perfect stay at Iluminar! We stayed in the beachfront suite. It was spacious, very clean, the balcony was a great plus. It’s perfectly located in Guiones. The path to walk directly to the beach is so convenient. If you surf you can leave your board in a designed area by the property. We will definitely come back!!
- Martin (10/5): -
- Rachel (10/5): Beautiful beach, beautiful surroundings, peaceful and relaxing - Breakfast at Norte Nosara was delicious and the owner is so friendly. Nice pool there and we took yoga classes there as well!
- Shirani (7/5): Ok for a night, Pricey for what they offer. - Stayed in the Surf Shack, the place was clean. Bed was comfy. Staff was courteous and nice, the ones I meet the next morning, cuz upon check-in there was no-one around but that's ok given the self check-in option.
Breakfast at Copal was ok. Quite pricey for what they offer.
Bathroom is outside which makes it a bit uncomfortable, it didn't even have hand soap to wash your hands and the dispenser in the shower "kinda works".
- Alexandra (10/5): Exceptional location with clean and comfortable rooms. Prettiest beach we saw in Costa Rica. - Nosara is beautiful. It’s in an exceptional spot. Clean and comfortable. Ryan is a great host and answers all questions in a timely manner.
- Amalia (7/5): Perfect location. Breakfast and boogie boards included from neighbouring locations - Location. Room is spacious The property is a little claustrophobic, it’s only a few apartments in a little leafy area and then fenced off . No reception
- Howard (6/5): - There was no breakfast!! Everything was closed!! Naked Food was not available at 7:30 in the morning!! You don’t have a dependable bed and breakfast!!
- Vargas Fallas (7/5): Nunca nos habíamos hospedado en un contenedor, por lo menos contaba con todo el menaje. - Contar con Menaje La ubicación del apto, baño fuera de la habitación, sin TV y piscina lejos.
- Alexandra (9/5): -
- Marianela (9/5): Agradable - Su ubicación El baño está manchado
- yasmin (10/5): - Beautiful room, lovely staff
- Jason (9/5): -
- Simon (10/5): -
- THAYSA (10/5): - Localização excelente, com trilha que dá diretamente na praia. Quarto grande, confortável e charmoso. Café da manhã oferecido num restaurante ao lado muito bom e ainda podíamos usar a piscina de outra pousada. Check in online que funcionou perfeitamente, enfim, tudo super agradável e prático.
- Nicoenz (9/5): -
- Alexander Martin (10/5): Beautiful quiet hotel next to the beach - Beautiful suites, we loved the shower with an indoor and outdoor part. The terrace was nice and comfortable. The kitchenette had everything we needed. The host and the staff were incredibly friendly, the complimentary breakfast at Naked Foods next door was delicious. Access to the beach directly from the hotel was easy (there is a short walk through a strip of forest but that is the case for all hotels there). Overall a great experience and we would definitely return. There really wasn’t anything we didn’t like.
- Debbie Worldseeker (10/5): Lovely self catering units right on the beach! - The rooms are really large with a kitchen that has all the necessities if you'd like to self cater. The breakfast across the road at the Naked Foods was delicious and large. Included coffee, fruit, rice and beans, salad, plantain, avo or egg. Was super filling for a day on the beach. The staff assisted me with laundry at a small additional cost which was super helpful. The Shampoo and Conditioner in the bathroom is the best I've ever used! Wish i had gotten the name of the product! It's only missing a communal area/pool for socialisation. I am travelling alone so missed the opportunity to chat to fellow hotel stayers.
- Harrison (10/5): Awesome stay and a great host - Location was awesome, right near the beach and room was very clean :)
The host communicated very well and was easy to reach if we needed to ask anything.
It was a plus that surfboard rental was included.
- Yan (9/5): My family had a very relaxing and pleasant time! - Great location, very comfortable beds, fantastic outdoor rain-shower, nice air conditioner, speedy WiFi, convenient parking, organic and delicious breakfast within 5 minutes of walk. No TV
- Marco (10/5): Great location, walking distance to Guiones beach - Amazing and large room. Very close to the beach at walking distance The topside terrace needs some maintenance
- Christiane (7/5): Despair between the ones that have and the ones that don’t was not ok. - The proximity to the beach. The natural beauty is magnificent. This little greedy dirt town is way overpriced. Quite sad really.
- Yulia (10/5): Fantastic - Everything was amazing! The room was very clean, the bed and the pillows were EXCELLENT.
The beach is super close, and very beautiful plus you have direct path/access from the property.
The staff were super friendly and attentive. I also extended for an additional night and ended up getting upgraded which was very thoughtful of the owner.
The location is walkable, you’ve got many Resturant options right outside your door step plus if you wanted to go somewhere else there are always tuk tusks around.
Lastly, it’s also dog friendly.
- Camilo (10/5): Exceptional -
- Ronald (5/5): Passable -
- Neysa (9/5): Nice room and also one of our most expensive stays so we expected it to be nice. - It wasn't clear until after your stay that we got free breakfast so we never took advantage of it. Darn! Some details about the free breakfast in our room would have been helpful. The housekeepers came too early to clean the room and it would have been nice if they had come back later and cleaned after we went to the beach.
- Dawn (9/5): Great stay staff pleasant great breakfast. - Great location Would have loved access to a pool
- Nick (10/5): Exceptional - Excellent spot Easy and close to what we wanted
- Laura (9/5): Superb - Property and location were great. If it had a pool!
- Elad (8/5): Very good -
- Ethan (10/5): Incredible room in a chill surf town- included free surfboards right next door ! - Room was incredible! We got a terrace with a rooftop. Everything was super clean and lovely. They have a partnership with the Guilded Iguana surf club so we were able to walk next door to get surf boards everyday for free. They were nice surf boards too. As part of the partnership we also got access to a rec area with games, beach towels, rash guards, and lockers all for free. The hotel itself is super close to the beach. Plus the town was pretty nice with all the shops and eateries. Definitely a great place to stay at and explore! Absolutely nothing, we will be back!
- Pete (8/5): Very good -
- Eve (10/5): I will be back for sure!!! - I love the location!!! A few minutes to the beac thru beautiful walking path. my villa was very comfortable and well set for guests No reception desk , however the owner always available and efficient in answering any questions
- Erin (10/5): Relaxing, comfortable beautiful stay close by the beach. - The breakfast was healthy. I really felt great eating this food for a week. I loved the cafe vibe. The food was very filling and it felt very very healthy, I made me eat better when I got home
The staff were very kind. My room was extremely comfortable and clean. Traveling alone, I felt safe there. My favorite thing about the hotel was the outdoor shower. It was amazing.
I loved the location. So close to the beach and a fun walk through the jungle. I loved the monkeys that lived nearby. I could hear them throughout the day. I really can't think of anything that would make the property better. I really enjoyed my stay and felt very lucky to be there. I loved the plants and trees on the property, it was well maintained. I loved all of the little creatures like the lizards running around.
- Jose (10/5): Thanks Ryan, your place is well mantained and your service is awsome! - The room is clean, the bed is comfortable and their customer service is excellent. Breakfast is quite good also! Complementary coffee could do the trick!
- Patrick (10/5): Exceptional -
- Scherle (10/5): A must stay - as close to the beach as it gets! - The location is easy to find and so close to the beach. The room had beautiful high ceilings, a comfy bed, comfy couch, double sink bathroom, and lovely outdoor balcony. The AC and WiFi was great for remote working.
- Carla (10/5): Highly recommend staying here for people interested in spending time at the beach! - The property is in the perfect location, only a few minutes walk from the beach. The rooms were comfortable and loved the option of the balconies even if there is no clear view to the beach from them. Cleaning staff was very sweet and loved the town!
- Flore (1/5): Bad - The hotel globally is comfortable, even if no reception at the arrival. Why this grade then? Because we've been robbed in our room, very likely by another guest, while door was double locked. We got 500 $ stolen in total and 2 credit cards robbed, which had to be cancelled and had a massive impact on the rest of our trip.
The hotel manager accepts his full responsibility, he even suggested us to manage everything for us and go to the police for us, but he never followed up. We never received any police report from him, and his only answer is that we need to go to the police ourself... While he did the complaint himself.
After announcing he will take care of us in the first place, he now refuses to take any responsibility, and refuses to reimburse anything stolen on the room.
Don't go to this hotel if you don't want to be stolen, security seems very poor, and the manager is really not helping. The hotel manager and lack of security.
- Amie (9/5): Superb - Great location, that's steps from the beach and beautiful rooms. Second time staying here. Building outside, so a lot of noise and guys walking around working. Seriously thick pillows.
- Russ (10/5): Best location. Clean rooms. Friendly staff. Excellent breakfast. Communication is a 10/10. The best! - The location is best in Guiones and the customer service is amazing. The property is clean and well taken care of. Nothing. It was perfect!
- Robert (10/5): Exceptional -
- Katey (10/5): I definitely want to come back!! - The space was perfect! Great size, has everything you need, love the touches of the beautifully folded towels. It was awesome to be able to use the surfboards for free and so close to the beach! The private outdoor shower was amazing, too!
- Benjamin (9/5): Awesome location, awesome rooms and outdoor shower, fantastic location. - The breakfast was amazing.
- Jose (10/5): Awsome place!!! - Awsome place, will book it from now on whenever I need to the Nosara area. Happy camper, no need for improvements.
- Rebecca (10/5): Classy property in a great beach location in Nosara, CR - Very nicely designed and maintained property with easy beach access. Quick responses from the owner regarding our stay. Beautiful, clean, uncrowded beach. Excellent breakfast included at a restaurant across the street. Highly recommend! Nothing negative whatsoever.
- Mackenzie (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing breakfast across the street, very beautiful and comfy room. The staff on site were so kind and went above and beyond. Thanks for an amazing stay!
- Dylan (10/5): Exceptional - Epic location, walking distance to everything!
- Andrew (10/5): Excellent location, access to yoga club and naked food breakfast was huge bonus - Location, breakfast, on-site staff, communication, amenities
- Ann (9/5): Fabulous place. Thank you! - Breakfast was amazing! Needs somewhere to hang clothes
- Adrian (10/5): Perfect place to stay for surfing & others activities, plus a private entrance to access the beach - Breakfast was a lovely traditional costa rica eggs rice beans bananas salad love it, they also let us change up a bit at the last couple of days to pancakes, the location was just 20 yards up the road fantastic'o Nothing it was a lovely location and great food
- Alejandro (3/5): Not worth it at all - Good location. We arrived at 5pm and there was only a guy who had no idea of our room and reservation. He just picked a random room and guide us there. It said that breakfast was included and that they had a joint agreement with a restaurant right in front to get the breakfast but it didnt even open that day. Also they said we supposedly had access to a pool in a little hotel right in front called Norte but an Israeli that was managing the place said that they had no deal with Iluminari so they didnt let us in. We love Nosara and have been there so many times but first time in this place and with such a terrible experience. It is better to pay more and guarantee a good experience than wasting your time and money here.
- Debs (10/5): Loved it. - Excellent location. Beautiful well-maintained gardens, sparkling clean comfortable room and beds. We loved the nature path to the beach. We appreciated the compost pail in kitchenette and recycling bins, the absence of trash and plastic on the beach and in town. Encouraging sign to do #5minutebeachcleanup to keep the gorgeous beach and water pristine. Helpful advice from owner Ryan, friendly staff. Great breakfast and lovely shaded pool for when it was too hot at beach. Nice water cooler for filling water bottles. Nosara is expensive but sunset swims in Pacific priceless! A couple of times water was turned off due to rationing because of overdevelopment and big hotels using up too many resources, but good reminder to conserve and not waste water.
- Mike (9/5): Awesome! - Great accommodation and location with direct access to the Beach! First morning we tried to get the free breakfast across the street we were told that we could only select between two items from the menu. But our host reacted immediately upon being contacted by us and arranged with the restaurant for more choices. To avoid this in the future we would recommend to provide a $10 breakfast voucher per person to be utilized for any menu items across the street at Naked Foods
- Dildeep (10/5): Exceptional - loved the location and the vibes!! so cute and right by the beach. only thing was we originally were in the surf shack, great room but since the bathroom was outside there was a lot of mosquitos. we upgraded to another room tho and it was BEAUTIFUL. two terraces, huge space, cute decor, gorgeous sunsets, loved it!
- Thomas (10/5): Exceptional -
- Josie (8/5): Very good - Wonderful location! Easy check in. Filtered water available. Use of pool at another property, no pool here. No screens on doors.
- Barbara (8/5): Very good -
- Patrick (9/5): Superb -
- Chris (7/5): Good experience - Norte pool area across the street was lovely and comfortable with limited hours. Naked cafe breakfast was healthy. Private sitting area at surf shack. Small kitchen had the basics. Easy walk to most of Playa Guiones. Howler monkeys visited. Bed was double size not queen as listed on Booking. Beachfront is true but read the fine print on what this really means as u may expect different. Hours of access to Norte pool are ok but not 24/7. Naked cafe breakfast choice limited vs cafe menu.
- Joe (8/5): Absolute gem, loved our stay and would go back. Listing accuracy needs a look. - We absolutley loved our time at Iluminar....the location was fantastic and the suite a really lovely place to be. Strolling out from the garden gate down to the beach was a pleasure. Use of the pool over the road was a treat and breakfast at the neaby cafe delicious.
Nosara had a great vibe and we would love to go back and stay at Iluminar. The booking.com listing states "The property features a year-round outdoor pool with a pool bar" and "A bar can be found on-site.". These are actually over the road in the Norte Hotel - it was nice going over there but it would be good to have the listing accurate to ensure the facilities aren't oversold.
Breakfast was in a lovely cafe round the corner. The youngest member of our group didn't want the 'tipica' plate (which was delicious) and it would be nice to have the inclusive breakfast allow other their options such as pancakes to cater to other tastes. The cafe initially wanted to charge the full price but then agreed to us paying the additional 1000 Colones.
The breakfast cafe was also closed on New Years Day - we mentioned this to the owners but there was no offer to cover our expense of buying breakfast elsewhere. Not a big deal but elsewhere we have found more hospitality at this price point.
These small points are the only reason we put an 8 rather than 10 for our stay.
- Julie (10/5): Exceptional -
- Carl (10/5): Exceptional -
- Danny (10/5): Exceptional -
- Susy (10/5): Great location, cozy clean suites! -
- Carl (10/5): Exceptional -
- Brandon (10/5): Exceptional -
- Roy (9/5): Calm and relaxing - The place is really close to the beach with a really cool and natural trail that you need to cross to get to the beach. The place was really clean and big. The personal was very cool Just be aware that the parking is not private, it is safe but it is next to the street
- Jennifer (10/5): A beautiful place to stay right near Guiones beach in Nosara - The location was perfect - close to the beach and nearby cafes, restaurants, yoga, etc.. The room and balcony was beautiful and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious. Check-in was straightforward and easy; Ryan was super friendly and helpful. Staff incredibly kind.
- Joseph (7/5): Good - Location and showers Ac didn't work so I couldn't sleep
- Hannah (10/5): Magical Affordable Location and Amazing Stay! - Absolutely perfect for us! Magical location. The town is not too touristy, anything you need is in a walkable distance. Very chill location, not too fancy. We stayed in the surf shack out back and it was our own little affordable studio oasis. 10 out of 10 would stay here every time!
- Chad (9/5): Superb - Very nice room and location The neighboring house late night parties
- Sarah (10/5): we had a great time staying at Iluminar Suites! The location is hard to beat and it was a very relaxing atmosphere. Woul -
- Gregory (8/5): Very good -
- Giangi (5/5): over priced for what it was and loud construction non stop during the day - good breakfast separate bathroom outside of room and full of mosquitoes and not air-conditioned
- Nancy (7/5): Not a great experience - The locaywas good and the breakfast was very good. There was a lot of communication from the facilities and Nacho (on site) was very helpful and friendly. The kitchen had everything we needed. The a/c cooled the room completely and quickly. The room was so small that we had to keep our suitcases in the car. There was absolutely no room for them in the container (we were in the container cabina). The bathroom was outside and the room had only sheer curtains. Here's the issue, if you needed to use the bathroom at night, turning on the light outside would wake up my husband. Also there are many nocturnal ants who also enjoy the bathroom at night. Speaking of the sheer curtains, the container is right next to the chain link fence that separates the container from the road so at night when you turn on the light you can be seen from the road even with the curtains closed.
Next issue. We went across the street to use the pool. The bartender approached us and told us that since we were staying at the Iluminar, we had to buy something from the bar to use the pool. What! We continued to use the pool and didn't buy anything.
- Cordelia (10/5): Exceptional -
- Sally (7/5): overall location is good is good. great use of hotel next doors pool. some clarity needed on booking sites - liked the use of pool at hotel
next door. beach relatively close. the gardens and yoga area nice. staff very sweet and helpful our particular room nwas a container wedged between a building site (albeit temporary) and a car park- perhaps I mis judged their photos for this room?? you had to exit the room to use the bathroom. terrace for this room was not somewhere you could sit and relax as it was facing a car park? curtains were transparent especially at night- lack of privacy ! for the price this room needs to be upgraded or advertised accordingly. I must stress that I relate only to this room - the surf shack. cannot comment on other rooms here but they looked nice. breakfast was off site and they only offered one meal which was breakfast tipico? no choice as to what you have
- Michael (10/5): Clean and artistic. Great location. Safe and friendly. - Breakfast was great and the location was perfect. Most importantly I ran into a bit of a jam w/ a check out time in the place I was staying previously vs check in at the iluminar. I had my 2 year old daughter w/ me. I asked if it was possible if we could check in a few hours early, and they went above and beyond to help me. They didn’t have to, but they did. I will always be grateful for their help. I don’t have any negative feedback.
- Stephen (7/5): Good - Close proximity to the beach There’s a lot of construction noise next door and there was no pool.
- Margarita (9/5): Beautiful room, great location, comfortable bed. - There was construction but the noise was not to bad The construction
- Anna (10/5): Exceptional -
- Paul (8/5): come to this excact locale often, everything is accessible with many improvements since reopening after the pandemic - improvements yoga shala garden construction is finishing up next door, lil behind schedule, imagine this.
- Ariane (9/5): Really nice cosy place to stay, own access to the beach. Close to shops and bars. - This was my second time at Iluminar. It's small, there is no reception, you get a code to get into your room. The rooms are really specious, with a nice outdoor area with a hammock.
- Brian (7/5): Great Property, except for the very loud construction noise from the building next door. - Basic breakfast The offsite breakfast restaurant was closed one day.
- Rogelio (4/5): Good location, bad service. - External shower is amazing and the location is unbeatable, with direct access to the beach. There was a construction site next door and the hotel didn't tell us until we were there, terrible noise from 6 to 6; they were evan making noise inside the hotel. Hot water was unavailable during the whole length of our stay.
Too strict checkout policy at 11, they only allowed us to stay 45 minutes longer.
First day they didn't clean our room arguing that they thought we were asleep, but we were not even in the room.
Wouldn't return to stay here.
- Lisa (8/5): A perfect spot to take in the Nosara beach vibe. - Gorgeous, well-appointed boutique hotel nestled on the north end of Playa Guiones, Illuminar is perfectly situated and you can’t beat the private walk to the beach.
- Charlotte (5/5): Passable -
- Erika (10/5): Exceptional -
- Patricia (6/5): Pleasant -
- Lea (1/5): Bad - RUN AWAY - Check out their Google Review for videos of what's going on over there.
Utterly appalled by the lack of professionalism of this place.
Now, this place doesn't have a pool. It doesn't have breakfast either. You need to walk to other places for each of them. Why don't you disclose that information ? I don't pay $150 a night to have to walk around a destroyed area to get the services you "offer" but don't provide.
There is no reception, we were left at the door without any indication since I never received the instructions that the agency said they so nicely sent through iMessage. Why would you assume someone has an iPhone ? Why wouldn't you use e-mails as a better way of communicating with travelers that most likely won't have phone reception in a foreign country ?
We used my boyfriend's treasured iPhone to finally be able to communicate and were told check-in doesn't start until 4pm. Booking.com, where we made the booking, clearly displays 3pm.
We were then told we shouldn't leave the hotel premises until someone came to properly "welcome" us. We were handed an iPad to tick off boxes that were mostly irrelevant and given no additional info.
We travelled to Nosara to be able to spot the turtles but didn't hire a car, since the location is remote from everything, we were looking for a way of getting around and booking a tour. The PDF they send you informs the guests they can contact the managing agency for any needs they might have, so we did, but never received an answer after asking to book the tour, besides a quote for 3 times what we end up booking on our own (Contact Gilbert, a true turtle passionate +506 6123 9003, for only $30 pp). When confronted about it the next day, we were first told that we were lying and that they did respond, to then simply apologizing, realizing they had, indeed, not responded.
The construction starts at 5.30 every morning, it isn't just the building next door, it's the whole street. The Yoga Shala is closed and also under renovation which creates dust and more noise. That doesn't fall under "the construction next door"; it is your own property and you should disclose that.
There is no direct beachfront access, again, it is a walk on a dirt path that's not kept and dangerous at night.
There is even a tip box inside the room. If that fact alone doesn't shock you, let me ask, FOR WHAT ? There's 0 service nor cleaning done during your stay.
By this time, all of you reading might think I'm just another Karen that's never satisfied and complains about everything but let me assure you, that is not the case. I have traveled all around the world and never have experienced this level of unprofessionalism.
The whole area is a complete dirt hole with developments and new businesses popping out of the ground but the streets are completely unsafe with potholes everywhere. Our driver got his car stuck right in front of Iluminar when we were dropped off. All that foreign investors money couldn't save Nosara, as most businesses are closed anyway. We walked past a good 10 shops before being able to buy 2 coffees, all of them closed, out of business already or with technical issues. Past 9pm nothing - at all - is open, so if you are returning from a night walk to spot the turtles you will be left with no other option than going to bed starving, since again, there is 0 service at the "hotel".
I urge you to spend your hard earned $ somewhere else and for the Booking team to come down and enquire about who runs this place.
- Paul (5/5): Fair - Great room and amazing indoor/outdoor shower. The owner of this property needs to disclose the truth about what to expect while staying there. The pool is not on site, there is no breakfast included, and the construction noise immediately next to the property is insane. All day and every day, including Sunday.
- David (9/5): Superb - clean no pool or restaurant on
premise
- Caroline (8/5): Lovely dog-friendly beach stay - Location so close to the beach was amazing - and in the quiet part of Nosara (not “downtown”) though Nosara is so quiet regardless! Loved the little porch and outdoor area especially as I had my dog with me and not many places are dog friendly in Nosara! Construction next door from 6AM to 5PM. They do warn you.
- Lynne (5/5): Great staff & location, but not yoga hotel. More like air b&b - Staff were wonderful! Room was very clean. Hammocks are not with every room. Really recommend getting one with, it was very comfy! Loved the little 'tree house' on the upper rooms.There are plenty of places around to eat and small grocery. The quick walk to the beach was great. Do bring a flashlight there were not lights on the path. The pictures are not all from the property. The pictures of yoga, pool, bar are across the street.
One description of the property said it included a morning yoga session. The back of the property is under construction. There was no yoga. Yoga is across the street for a fee. The description also said it was a yoga hotel. It is not a hotel. There is no lobby, sraff on site, food, drinks etc.
- Øystein (10/5): Highly recommended - Spacious nice rooms with everything you need. Access to beach path directly from the property. Nosiy hotel construction nearby September 22’
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