Gaia Hotel & Reserve

We jumped around to multiple places on our trip to Costa Rica.. Our 3 days in Manuel Antonio could not have been any better due to the amazing stay at Gaia. We only stayed one day (wish we had much longer) but you would have thought we were there for weeks the way the staff treated us. They were truly personal, caring and above most, genuine. Dylan was our personal concierge and I can only imagine they are all great their but Dylan was spectacular and I highly recommend him and the wonderful hotel and reserve. FYI - We were not paid to say any of this.. I sit here on their terrace looking over the amazing sights and hate to leave..

We probably never would have stayed at a place this nice, but got a great deal through Trip Advisor during the wet season, which worked out great for our honeymoon. We felt very catered to on every need, with one of the best rated restaurants in the area on the grounds (surprisingly affordable too!), and even a small refuge which serves for a macaw breeding program. The staff were all very kind and friendly, the room was beautiful, and the views were fantastic, as it is built up onto a hill. Poolside bar with a view was a plus, as was a personal concierge who helped us set up reservations for local activities. The hotel has shuttles that go to Manuel Antonio and another local spot or two, and everything else is just a short cab ride away (not many sidewalks on a busy, narrow road with blind curves, so best not to walk). Keep an eye out for good deals, and enjoy your stay at Gaia!

The rating scale only goes up to five on Tripadvisor, but Gaia has a way of making reviewers like me want to break the rules around that limit. First and foremost, ALL of the reviews that have been submitted about the service are very true. You quickly feel as though you have entered another world of service which seems to be an extension of the physical beauty of this tropical mountain garden top. In a five day stay one of the owners spoke to us personally three times (the new IPad he was excited to get, did not distract from keeping all his guests pampered...only the scarlet macaws checked in with us more often :). From the people at the gate, to our pool attendant, to Johannes our concierge and everyone of the cleaning staff who would greet us every day on our walks, you quickly feel like you've been welcomed into a new family. For us, the moment we knew we'd found that sixth star was when the front desk staff were suggesting activities that might be of interest. We were given the option of going to work with the chef of the Luna Restaurant (the food and views are incredible) and jumped at this suggestion. Octavio (much thanks again for translating) introduced us to Chef Pablo to make ceviche and papillote. What fun! With pictures taken, and recipes forwarded, we were smitten...and could not help but sing the praises of this wonderful place. Six stars should require $$$$$$ prices, but we felt that the value at this time of year was very reasonable. And the authentic personal touches every day of your stay cannot be underestimated...next time we will be extending our stay. Thank you again to everyone in the Gaia "family"...you made us feel loved! P.S. Even after you have long left the property and the country, you still feel like you have family in Costa Rica!

We wanted to go on a relaxing getaway to unwind and recharge. Were thinking of Costa Rica and a friend recommended Gaia, having gone there himself a while back, and we went for it. Before getting to Costa Rica, the hotel staff helped us make travel arrangements from the airport to the hotel, which helped make the whole vacation more relaxing. San Jose airport is about two and a half hours away, it's long but it is beautiful. The driver stopped to show us the Croc Bridge, with giant...you guessed it crocodiles...below. We were given a tour of the hotel property when we arrived and there were cold drinks waiting for us; there were also fruit in our room which was delicious. Our room was spectacular with a private rooftop and balcony, with amazing views. We booked a couples massage to help us relax and begin unwinding, it was one of the best massages I've ever had. There was a great breakfast included with the room and it was delicious, we couldn't get enough. I still think about the breakfast pancakes! The food for breakfast, lunch and dinner was amazing, no matter what time we went the food was great. There are beautiful views with Scarlet Macaws flying close to the property and you can eat dinner watching the sunset at the restaurant without having to leave the reserve. All of the staff are so welcoming, friendly and helpful. We had a concierge that helped us with any questions, Candy, she was great! We were able to arrange to go to the beach or the marina very easily, about a 10-15 minute drive to each, as well as being picked up to go back. When we didn't have transportation, it was very easy to get a car back, local drivers know the hotel. We had to leave at 6am to catch our flight home on the last day and the staff sent us to the airport with some pastries and chocolate for the drive. Overall, this was an amazing experience from beginning to end. I could go on forever about it. A must go, if you get a chance.

We went in the rainy season, so it wasn't very crowded. If you're more of an introvert like me - that's a lovely thing. Had a massage at the spa - it was super professional and relaxing. Octavio was our concierge and his suggestions were right on and he was highly available. Adrain, Carlos, Daniel, and others - all great servers and bartenders. The food was fantastic - best ceviche and churros of the trip. All the cocktails were yummy and plenty strong. The coffee....mmm. The owner Boris came by to check on us multiple times and was often on property. Guests were mostly mid-30s to late-50s and weren't rowdy or annoying. The pool was beautiful and we never had issues getting a great spot. Saw lizards, geckos, monkeys, macaws, toucans (I think) - just never saw the sloth. The two French bulldogs that's stay in the security booth were cute and friendly as heck. I felt safe and pampered the whole time I was there. Great job, Gaia.