Gaia Hotel & Reserve

From arrival to departure, the experience that my wife Lizzie and I had at Gaia was simply incredible. We’d booked Gaia for our honeymoon to Costa Rica, and rather uniquely, we decided to stay there for the full 2 weeks of our stay. We wanted luxury, we wanted links to the wildlife Costa Rica had on offer, and we wanted a central location that allowed us to travel around the Pacific coast, down to Uvita and up into the Cordillera de Talamanca; Gaia fulfilled all three. In advance of travelling, communication with Gaia was seamless, with quick responses, providing clear information that helped guide our stay. On arrival, we were transported up to reception via golf cart and greeted with a welcome drink and Johansy (our personal concierge) made sure to say hello. To our amazement, we’d received an upgrade for our stay and we can only express our eternal gratitude to Gaia for it. Arriving late, and following a long 24 hours of travel, we were offered room service without the usual charge. The room and amenities were superb. Clean, comfortable, and beyond anything we had hoped for. The balcony in Room 211 quickly became our favourite place on Earth - the amount of wildlife we spotted just from that balcony was incredible, and the terrace was simply a bonus. The hotel itself has plenty of pool space and is set in lovely grounds that cater for a relaxing break. The staff at Gaia are so attentive, and so friendly, it made it feel like a home away from home. I want to pay particular thanks to Ricardo, Jackneil, Tony, Antony and especially Abraham, who were so lovely, kind and helpful during our two weeks at Gaia. Extra special thanks go to Johansy, who was always there on WhatsApp if needed, providing live wildlife reports from reception, asking if we needed anything else during our stay, and who helped arranging guided tours of Manuel Antonio and of the Gaia reserve, as well as our catamaran sunset tour. I cannot express how truly thankful we are to Johansy for your constant friendly presence during our stay. Across the board, the food is excellent; it is well priced for lunch and dinner, of good quality and the menu is varied, meaning that you can eat there multiple times during an extended stay. Breakfasts are fresh and tasty, providing enough sustenance for a long day out in the heat/humidity. I highly recommend using the sunset bar on at least one occasion, because the 360 views are phenomenal. To be honest, the whole setting of Gaia is spectacular, with extensive views along to coast beyond Isla Damas, and Parrita and beyond. The shuttle service to Playa Espadilla is an excellent addition to Gaia, as it is set a good distance away from the beach itself (which is a positive in my opinion). Generally, Gaia is very well located for day-tripping to the likes of Rainmaker (35/40 mins), Uvita (1 hour), and we even squeezed in a drive to San Isidro/Perez Zeledon and San Gerardo de Rivas in order to visit the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve (2.5 hours each way). Whilst in Quepos/Manuel Antonio I would absolutely recommend staying at Gaia Hotel & Reserve, in fact I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. When we return to Costa Rica, we will be returning for at least a couple of nights whilst seeing what else Costa Rica has on offer. Thank you all again for such a wonderful two weeks, you made our honeymoon so incredibly memorable.

A little late on placing my review but it has been bothering me so I'm doing it now. I stayed at this place as a guest of a friend and on a busy Tuesday night as we were leaving their terrace restaurant, I walked passed one of their waiters as he was trying to walk back to the kitchen carrying empty dishes. Apparently he got upset that he had to stop for 3 seconds to let me pass, and after I walked by he continued on his way to the kitchen but not before he mumbled "Maricon" (Faggot) as he walked away. He was clearly irritated that I didn't let him go first. I just wanted to get out of the way. I don't see how this is acceptable behavior anywhere, especially for a so called "5 star resort". I am LGBT and thought this place would be a safe place. Guess not. Mind you, one of the owners is openly gay. Being non confrontational as I am, I do regret not addressing it on the spot or telling him off or telling Boris (owner) about it. Instead I internalized it and moved on, and that's on me. But I wanted to address it now as it continues to bother me and it's simply not acceptable under any circumstances to call a hotel guest a homophobic slur and try to presenting this place as a luxury establishment. That behavior doesn't seem so 5 star to me.

My stay at Gaia Hotel & Reserve was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome—warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in creating a memorable experience. I have never stayed anywhere where the staff gives you a tour of the grounds so you know where to find everything. The property itself is absolutely stunning. Nestled in the rainforest, it offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean (view from the restaurant is amazing, rooftop bar even better), with lush wildlife all around. We saw two species of monkeys (howlers & squirrel), tons of birds (including the gorgeous scarlet macaws), and other incredible species right from the hotel grounds, which made it feel like a true Costa Rican escape. Another highlight of the Gaia was the free guided tours of their private reserve. Clarence brought us out and went above and beyond locating wildlife. Their scarlet macaw program, in particular, stands out—supporting the protection, reintroduction (through rehabilitation) and awareness of these incredible birds and helping ensure their presence in the region for years to come. Seeing scarlet macaws in the surrounding area felt even more special knowing the hotel plays an essential role in their conservation. The rooms were nice—spacious, and immaculately clean. Waking up to the sounds of the birds singing and to an incredible view was unforgettable. The food was another highlight. Every meal was delicious, fresh, and creatively prepared, with a great balance of local flavours and international cuisine. Dining with that panoramic view made it even more special. The pool and common areas were serene and luxurious, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. The hotel also offers easy access to nearby beaches and excursions, making it a great base for adventure as well. The is a daily hourly shuttle to and from the beach which was really nice. What truly sets Gaia apart is the level of service—every interaction felt personal and sincere. It’s rare to find a place that combines luxury, nature, and hospitality so seamlessly. If you have WhatsApp they will provide you with a concierge you can message to book whatever you need, beach chairs, taxis, tours, room service, etc. We had Ada, and she was absolutely fantastic! I would (and will) return in a heartbeat, and highly recommend Gaia Hotel & Reserve to anyone looking for an unforgettable stay in Costa Rica (especially if you love wildlife).

Stephanie was our concierge and she was amazing and made us a fabulous trip The bedroom was spacious and the shower amazing The upstairs bar is very disappointing as is the swimming pool (just a bath really)

What a beautiful property! Spacious rooms! Wonderfully welcoming and engaged staff! My husband and I, along with our 16 year old son, stayed for a week and really enjoyed our visit. The restaurant was top notch - as beautifully presented as it was delicious. The ambiance was casually elegant. I enjoyed a spa journey and we all loved the hike in the reserve. Just a spectacular stay.