Oceano Boutique Hotel & Gallery

The concept behind Ocean Boutique Hotel is to provide guests with the home-away-from-home qualities of a condo along with the amenities of a boutique hotel. Unlike many condo complexes, Oceano’s amenities aren’t limited to in-room features, with the property offering a restaurant, a spa, and a fitness center. The property is stylish and simple rather than luxurious, with bold artwork and inspirational wall decals in common areas adding character to its airy, off-white palette. The hotel’s upmarket ambiance attracts couples of all ages, while the roomy suites with sofa beds draw families. The atmosphere is lively but not overly party-hardy, making it easy for kids to play in the pool while adults sip drinks in lounge chairs. However, the small pool area can get a bit crowded during the high season. The location is ideal for guests who want to be close to Jaco’s restaurants, shops, and beach, but also have a quiet base removed from downtown’s rowdy nightlife.

Oceano Boutique Hotel is located along a bland road that bridges the gap between the highway and Playa Jaco beach. While the area immediately around the hotel isn’t particularly appealing, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Playa Jaco, a popular beach known for its great surfing conditions. The thoroughfare set just east of the beach -- Avenida Pastor Diaz -- is packed with lively restaurants, bars, and shops. There’s also a supermarket about 10 minutes away by foot.The quieter beaches of Playa Herradura and Los Suenos Marina, the latter of which is a good jumping-off point for sailing and fishing excursions, are 15 minutes away by car. For guests interested in wildlife-spotting, Carara National Park is a 25-minute drive away, or Manual Antonio National Park can be reached in about 90 minutes by car, and it takes about the same amount of time to drive to Juan Santamaria Airport.

Suites at Oceano Boutique Hotel are minimalist and contemporary, with white walls and tiled flooring contrasting against dark wooden furniture. Walls are decorated with impressionist artwork, while beds have white linens and taupe bed runners with subtle feather patterns. The blinds don’t block out all light, which can be an issue for guests who like to sleep-in. All but one room category include wrought-iron accented balconies, most of which are furnished with a small table and chairs. Pool views are the most attractive, with other rooms facing toward the surrounding countryside or city street. Flat-screen TVs are standard in all units. Double Rooms have coffeemakers and mini-fridges, while all the higher room categories offer washers and dryers, small living areas with charcoal-colored sofa beds, and kitchens with full-sized fridges, four-burner hot plates, microwaves, dishwashers, and a decent range of cookware and cutlery. Marble bathrooms have vessel sinks and glass-walled, walk-in rainfall showers. Pleasantly scented bath products by Archive are provided. Many room categories have multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, with some featuring whirlpools. 

Oceano offers a thoughtful lineup of on-site features not often included in apartment-style properties. The smallish pool is set in a sunny courtyard and surrounded by a concrete deck and includes an attached whirlpool. It has some traditional lounge chairs and beach umbrellas, along with cool, oversized loungers.The hotel’s restaurant, Aquamarina Cafe, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, and room service is available. Sharing space with the lobby, the indoor section of the restaurant features a cafe-style counter with displays of pastries and cold drinks, along with a well-stocked bar. More seating is found on a handsome wooden deck fringed with greenery, which overlooks the pool. Note that breakfast is not included in room rates. The tiny, serene spa offers massages and aromatherapy and has a pale color scheme, with light-wood furniture and pretty artificial flowers. The compact fitness center is bright and well maintained, featuring a good selection of cardio machines and weights. Floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall offer views of the pool. Other amenities include a few PCs for guest use in the lobby, an outdoor barbecue, and a large herb garden. Bikes can be rented for a fee and shuttle service is available for a surcharge. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and free parking is offered in a small lot at the front of the property. An on-site art gallery was under construction during our visit.