Hacienda AltaGracia, an Auberge Resort

We just returned from a wonderful stay at Hacienda AltaGracia with our 2.5- and 4-year-old boys. Before arriving, I was a little nervous that the property might feel too adult-focused, but it ended up being one of the most family-friendly luxury resorts we’ve visited. The setting is spectacular, and our boys loved exploring the property, hiking the trails, spotting animals, swimming, and simply having space to run around. We initially booked both the trapiche farm adventure and the cacao tour, but after doing the farm experience (which was fantastic for young children), we actually canceled the cacao tour so we could spend more time enjoying the property itself. There was far more to do than we expected. A couple of notes for families with young children: * If baths are important for your kids, pay attention to room selection. Our casita did not have a bathtub, which wasn’t a problem for us but may matter for some families. * We stayed in a one-bedroom casita with the kids sleeping in the living room. While the setup worked well overall, the living room did not have blackout shades, so early mornings could be challenging for light-sensitive sleepers. Overall, AltaGracia exceeded our expectations as a family destination. The combination of luxury, nature, outdoor activities, and the incredibly warm staff made for a truly memorable stay. We wouldn’t hesitate to return with young kids. We also loved the low season visit - the weather was beautiful in the morning and would get stormy by evenings, but made for mostly empty hotel amenities (where we didn’t have to worry about kids being kids) and lots of cozy moments by the fire as we ended our days.

We arrived with very high expectations for this trip, and somehow every aspect of our stay exceeded them. Every excursion was thoughtfully curated, and the guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled at personalizing each experience to make it feel special and meaningful. The resort itinerary offered an incredible balance of adventure, relaxation, restoration, and education. The cacao and coffee sessions were especially memorable; we left with a much deeper appreciation for these products, along with practical knowledge about how to select and enjoy them once we returned home. The ritual at Casa de Agua was the perfect complement to days filled with hiking and exploration. It left us feeling completely renewed, with relaxed minds and glowing skin. The culinary experience was exceptional from start to finish. The attention to detail in every dish was impeccable, and the quality of the ingredients truly shined through. The food felt authentic to the region while maintaining a strong focus on wellness and nourishment. The desserts were creative and delicious, and the horse show dinner was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip-absolutely unforgettable. WOW. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who made our stay so special. The warmth, care, and dedication of the entire team created memories we will cherish forever. It was truly a magical experience, and we cannot wait to return.

Absolute perfection. This resort is set in the prettiest landscape I’ve ever been to - lush green mountains and vegetation all around. The property is gorgeous and the staff is warm and kind. Plenty of activities - I only wish I had more time to do more! Really unique experiences like the horse show dinner. The spa is perfection - it was so still and relaxing.

The property is charming with a wide range of experiences and great hiking trails. Not many surprises but everything feels perfectly managed. The compa replied to our message on WhatsApp really fast and satisfied almost whatever we need. And since we are traveling in may and it is not the high season, we are the only one there in most of the public experiences and the shared charter between SJO and the hotel. The only thing they may need to improve is the food. For people expecting exotic experiences it can be perfect but it might be little tough for those from east Asia who just want flavors they are familiar to. Maybe they should consider adding more options while keeping the current ones. Another small complaint is that they didn’t ask what sugar level I wanted before making my coffee, so for everyone who’s going and don’t want much sugar you have to remember mentioning it yourself. Oh and I have to say the pineapples are so good. We had a unique and wonderful experience with sapoa adventure named the quest for quetzals. Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. And to increase the chance of finding the quetzals, we have 2 more guys looking for them before we depart from the hotel. We ended up seeing the chick of the quetzal, which is rare and only visible near May. We had some dishes at the local restaurant featuring the rainbow trouts for lunch before getting back to the hotel and we loved it.

Everything is perfect. Attention to detail, gracious and happy hosts, incredible spa and activities and great food. Oh…and the casitas are amazing! The plunge pool and the hanging day bed, it’s all spectacular!