Gaia Hotel & Reserve

I came from California with my daughter for her HS graduation trip. We were a bit anxious traveling just us girls to another country, but were treated with such warmth and welcome from the staff of Gaia Hotel and Nature Reserve we immediately felt at ease. I really cannot say enough praise for this incredible staff that Gaia Hotel has put together - from front desk, bellhop, kitchen staff, and especially our concierge Ada Martinez. Ada Martinez was available by Whatsapp to coordinated all of our reservations, setup drivers, even call the pharmacy at 8pm to coordinate an emergency antihistamine delivery for a nasty bug bite. The food was delicious at La Luna. Service was excellent. Anthony Lopez even set up a table for us in the corner for us to relax and charge devices (5 hours before our flight after check out). They really do want you to enjoy your stay here and take such good care of their guests. Hotel itself situated in the forest and there is a free guided tour (better than even the paid tours) to see Macaws and Sloths (we saw 3 up close): A fun and doable adventure hike through “jurassic park” (I would wear a mosquito net next time if I could). Spa - I have been to more than a handful. This is one of my favorites (vichy rain shower was unique). Room - it was perfect and very clean. The rainshower in the bathroom was heavenly. The hotel and surroundings felt peaceful and quiet (although it was off season). Definitely worth a visit - rejuvenating, luxurious, and so peaceful surrounded by incredible nature. Gaia exceeded expectations - a true boutique 5-star hotel and top tiered hospitality without being pretentious. We won’t remember all the details but we will remember that we were treated like family. :) Thank you Gaia and the incredible staff for making our time here so wonderful!!

Please be aware before booking that this resort does not feel like a five-star resort. We have stayed at many five-star resorts, as well as several other hotels and Airbnbs throughout Costa Rica on this trip, and all of them exceeded this “luxury resort.” We were immediately unimpressed with the rooms, which felt very outdated. The owner often describes them as a German Bauhaus design, but this is the same design the property opened with in 2009 and appears to have seen little updating since. Referencing a particular design style with rooms not meaningfully upgraded for 20 years feels like an excuse rather than a justification. The biggest issue was the amount of bugs and wildlife in the room. We understand Costa Rica is tropical, but we encountered numerous bugs, multiple lizards, and even found bugs in our bed on more than one occasion. We stayed at several other properties throughout Costa Rica and did not experience anything close to this. Many of the amenities were also unavailable. The advertised sky lounge is completely closed Which is not clearly noted when booking. The pool furniture was often not set up and remained wrapped in plastic for much of our stay, even on dry days. The swim-up bar was only open one day despite there being days without rain. The pool is also not clean and is covered in bugs, including wasps as well as leaves. From other reviews, the owner states they try and manage this, though I did not see a single person clean the pool and every other hotel we stayed at managed to keep a clean pool. The restaurant was excellent, and the staff were friendly, especially the restaurant staff. Unfortunately, the resort itself fell far short of expectations and that is what this review is for. What ultimately led to this review was how our concerns were handled. We politely asked about shortening our stay after explaining that we were on our honeymoon, that the resort was not meeting our expectations, and that we had even found bugs in our bed. The response was simply that we would still be charged. No one followed up, offered a remedy, or attempted to address our concerns. I had seen responses from ownership criticizing guests who simply left and posted negative reviews, so I thought it would be better to communicate directly and honestly. But no, this owner is simply concerned with collecting the money they receive when you check in before viewing their property. To make matters worse, despite notifying Gaia multiple times that we were celebrating our honeymoon, the only acknowledgment we received was a list of upgrades available for purchase. Not a single person congratulated us. In contrast, when we moved to Parador for our final night, staff immediately congratulated us, upgraded us to a room that normally costs around $1,000 per night as a surprise, left chocolate-covered strawberries in the room, and later surprised us with champagne and a handwritten note. The Airbnb and other hotels also left out a bottle of wine and snacks. Gaia was the most disappointing property we stayed at of all of our accommodations. Even sharing videos of the room with family and friends without comment, they joked whether we had skimped on our budget for this particular place. Many couples return to the place where they honeymoon, making it a valuable opportunity for a resort to create lifelong customers. Unfortunately, Gaia did the opposite. What is especially frustrating is that this experience could have been completely turned around had management shown any interest in addressing our concerns when we first raised them. Instead, we were met with a refusal to work with us and no meaningful attempt to remedy the situation. Because of that, I feel it’s important to share this experience here and with other travel groups so future travelers can make an informed decision before booking. If you are looking for a true luxury or five-star honeymoon experience, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

We stayed at Gaia Hotel in Manuel Antonio for 5 days. We had a great time at this hotel and very much enjoyed the beautiful setting in a nature preserve. The hotel is very different but in a good way and the service here is top notch! All the employees are extremely helpful, courteous and super welcoming and nice. The restaurant is really good and we ate an amazing breakfast every morning. The hotel rooms are also really nice as are the pools and the property overall. They have a very efficient system of coordinating your itinerary and the concierge is always available through WhatsApp to help with anything you need. I can tell you that this hotel has a great vibe and definitely is a place we would return to in the future. We saw wildlife while on the property including macaws, sloths and monkeys. It is truly a special place with amazing people working here! You will not be disappointed if you choose to stay at Gaia Hotel while visiting Costa Rica.

What an absolute pleasure! From the moment you check in and they ask you which fragrance is your preference for the shampoo and soap, you know you’re in for a great experience. Then they set up a WhatsApp chat with your concierge to assist you in anything that you require. The rooms were clean and nice. The staff was exceptional. Three nice pools to cool off. Great food. Even the owner, Boris, introduced himself and gave his personal extension if we needed anything. Just a super nice experience overall. Highly recommend.

This resort was nothing short of spectacular. We felt welcomed from the moment we stepped onto the property. They helped us park then shuttled us up to the lobby. We registered, met some of the staff and also met the owner Boris who welcomed us with a big smile. They gave us a tour of the property before showing us to our beautiful large studio room. The beds were so comfortable, the shower the best we have ever experience, the pool area fun to explore and La Luna restaurant top notch. Everything about the hotel is 5 star, but what makes it truly special is the staff. Everyone made us feel at home. Two of the tours (Macaw and Manuel Antonio) were hosted by Clarence who was an excellent guide, providing many interesting details and he had the sharpest eyes to find and share the various wildlife around us. Ada our concierge was responsive and attentive. Abraham and others at La Luna (sorry I forget names!) were always on point, the food was delicious and presented beautifully. We both had a spa massage with Teresa which was phenomenal, hiking in this area can be strenuous and our muscles enjoyed the deep relaxation. We had only booked 3 nights at this resort and wished we had booked more. It is definitely a place we would recommend and return to.