Pros
- Lush, remote location with phenomenal ocean views
- Ruggedly beautiful (if rocky) beach
- Stunning infinity pool, plus a beach pool, both with swim-up bars
- Tasty cuisine at 1492 Restaurant (including free breakfast option)
- Rooms have terraces with comfy hammocks and great views
- 9-hole golf course
- Tranquil, beautiful spa
Cons
- Bugs and other critters can find their way into the rooms
- Bumpy, 2.5-hour drive from Liberia Airport
- Waves at the beach are a little rough
Bottom Line
This ultra-remote, rustic luxe hideaway is worth the bumpy, two-and-a-half hour drive from Liberia Airport. The rooms aren't as impressive as those at larger luxury resorts in the region, but the unparalleled views, stunning infinity pool, and ruggedly beautiful (if rocky) beach more than compensate. Plus, this is a hotel with a heart: Punta Islita is environmentally friendly, and gives back to the local community.
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
- Spa
Location
In a remote, rural area of southwestern Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula
Hotel Punta Islita is located in a lush area of southwestern Guanacaste with long, beautiful beaches and extremely rough roads.
Guanacaste is a dry, sparsely populated area of the country that's known for its beautiful beaches (including ones where sea turtles nest), surfing, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, and its string of large resorts. The region is home to seven national parks, including Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, where visitors can hike past boiling mud pots and smoking fissures. Guanacaste has a lower elevation than other areas of the country and an arid climate, so there are no rain forests here, but the dry tropical forests are still wildlife rich: Visitors can spot howler monkeys, sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and iguanas.
- 15-minute drive to Camaronal Beach and Corozal Beach
- 40-minute drive to Carrillo Beach
- 50-minute drive to Samara Beach
- 2.5-hour, $170 taxi or hotel shuttle from Liberia International Airport
- 3-hour-45-minute, $245 taxi from San Jose International Airport
This Hotel Also Featured In
The 16 Most Beautiful Resorts in Costa Rica
Costa Rica features a diverse landscape that includes tropical rainforests and rugged beaches. Its steep cliffs, good surfing conditions, stunning volcanoes, rich wildlife, and gorgeous sunsets are just a few factors that make it a top travel destination. Luckily, that natural beauty also extends to the country’s hotels. The beautiful properties stretch from the Guanacaste…
11 Top Hotel Pool Bars With Gorgeous Views
For many warm-weather vacation planners, the pool is a major factor in deciding on a destination. And what makes a pool even better for many adults? A bar! But the setting is a crucial factor as well; no one wants to sip pina coladas while facing a concrete wall. So we searched the globe for…
The 10 Best Cities for First-Time International Travelers
The first step is always the hardest. This little nugget of wisdom is applicable to so much of life, but it’s also a helpful way to think about traveling abroad for the first time. Here at Oyster.com, we firmly believe that international travel is crucial toward broadening one’s world view and enjoying life. Understandably, though,…
How to Score Good Weather (While Paying Rainy Season Rates) in Costa Rica
There’s something about low-season rates that makes any traveler want to snag a good deal. Don’t click that book button yet, though! First, do a little research into the why of low season. In Costa Rica, the answer is simple: the low season is green season, AKA the rainy season. Stop. Do not google it.…
These 10 Warm Weather Getaways Will Save You This Winter (No Joke)
Winter is coming. While we all (or most of us) enjoy the first snowfall and twinkling holiday lights of the season, after sloshing in snow and donning our puffy jacket for a couple of months, we’re over it — and ready for summer weather. If you’re like us and need a mid-winter, post-holiday break to…
19 Reasons You'll Hate Costa Rica
1. The Ocean Views Are Really Unimpressive. Hotel Punta Islita, Playa Samara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
I Think We Can All Agree That This Water is Blue.
No one can agree on whether this dress is blue and black or white and gold, and the Internet was destroyed last night as celebrities and regular humans alike debated the topic furiously. Whether or not you are on the side of science and team #blueandblack, I think we all can agree that the water…
8 Gorgeous Rustic-Luxe Beach Escapes
When many of us dream of the beach, we’re not just dreaming of fine white sand and clear blue waters. (Well, sure, we are dreaming about that part quite a bit.) But we’re also imagining thatched roof bars, decks with hammocks, and rooms with lots of wood or stone. Resorts that blend modern luxuries with…
9 Uber-Artsy Hotels That Offer Arts & Crafts (For Kids -- And Adults, Too!)
Free breakfast and yoga classes are some nice perks, but when we’re on vacation and feeling creative (or the weather’s not ideal for sight-seeing), taking a hotel’s art class is a fun way to spend the day. A good handful of hotels we’ve visited offer free or inexpensive classes for their guests –some as part…
Hidden Hotels: A Half Dozen Hard-to-Reach Spots
This post originally appeared on Yahoo! Travel. Just getting to a destination can be part of the thrill of a vacation. And even if winding roads, long boat rides, and flights on tiny planes aren’t necessarily your idea of fun, the rewards of all that travel — i.e., tranquil, relaxing locales, far removed from the…
Things You Should Know About Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
Also Known As
- Hotel Punta Islita
Room Types
- Casita
- Colibrí Three-Bedroom Villa
- Deluxe Room
- Golf Two-Bedroom Villa
- Higuerón Two-Bedroom Villa
- Ilan Ilan Three-Bedroom Villa
- Pochote Three-Bedroom Villa
- Suite
- Three Bedroom Villa
- Two Bedroom Casita
- Two Bedroom Villa
Address
Punta Islita, Province of Guanacaste 50201, Costa Rica
Phone
(866) 446-4053
Website
Location
In a remote, rural area of southwestern Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula
Hotel Punta Islita is located in a lush area of southwestern Guanacaste with long, beautiful beaches and extremely rough roads.
Guanacaste is a dry, sparsely populated area of the country that's known for its beautiful beaches (including ones where sea turtles nest), surfing, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, and its string of large resorts. The region is home to seven national parks, including Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, where visitors can hike past boiling mud pots and smoking fissures. Guanacaste has a lower elevation than other areas of the country and an arid climate, so there are no rain forests here, but the dry tropical forests are still wildlife rich: Visitors can spot howler monkeys, sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and iguanas.
- 15-minute drive to Camaronal Beach and Corozal Beach
- 40-minute drive to Carrillo Beach
- 50-minute drive to Samara Beach
- 2.5-hour, $170 taxi or hotel shuttle from Liberia International Airport
- 3-hour-45-minute, $245 taxi from San Jose International Airport
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Air Conditioner
-
Airport Transportation
-
Babysitting Services
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Beach
-
Business Center
-
Cable
-
Children's Pool
-
Concierge
-
Cribs
-
Fitness Center
-
Full Kitchen
-
Golf Course
-
Internet
-
Jacuzzi
-
Kids Allowed
-
Laundry
-
Meeting / Conference Rooms
-
Mini Bar (with liquor)
-
Pool
-
Poolside Drink Service
-
Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
-
Room Service
-
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
-
Spa
-
Supervised Kids Activities
-
Swim-Up Bar
-
Tennis Court
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.