Otro Lado Lodge and Restaurant

Otro Lado opened in 2008 and is run by a friendly Italian couple who bring their inner Zen ethos to this tranquil hotel. Decor is predictably, but attractively, rustic, matching that vibe. The lodge’s restaurant has gorgeous teak floors and lots of live-edge tables and furniture, while the Asian-inspired floor-level tables with plush cushion seats and Buddha statues are a nice touch. The lush grounds are full of blossoming ixora and ginger flowers, plus palm trees and coconut palms. It feels a little overgrown and if you’re tall, you’ll be ducking underneath a few low-hanging plants from time to time. Beyond the restaurant, guest rooms with balconies and patios with live-edge railings frame the freshwater pool. There are also lots of bamboo lounge chairs with plush cushions for relaxing post-adventure. The hotel’s open-air yoga studio is built with locally sourced teak and is framed by hammocks, making it a great place to relax after the daily yoga and Tai Chi classes. Hotel guests are mostly Americans and Swedes, but Otro Lado also draws Europeans and Canadians during the low season. In general, expect couples 25 and older. It’s also a family spot, and the otherwise calm vibe can get a little overrun by splashing kids on occasion. 

Otro Lado is located in the center of Santa Teresa and a quick two-minute walk to Santa Teresa Beach, a beautiful surfer beach with perfect rolling breaks. Within a four-minute walk of the hotel are a grocery store, nightclub, multiple shops, and a pizza restaurant. Restaurants serving international, seafood, burgers, salads, and local cuisine are all within a 10-minute walk, though the closest ATM, bank, and pharmacy take eight minutes to reach by car. The fishing village of Mal Pais is a great spot to purchase fresh fish directly from the fishermen and is a 17-minute drive from Otro Lado. Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Costa Rica’s first national park and a great place for hiking, is a 30-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 45-minute drive to Montezuma, a backpacker town with gorgeous beaches, a pretty waterfall, and tasty restaurants. The nearest airport is Tambor Airport, which is a 55-minute drive from the lodge. Traveling to Liberia requires either a 25-minute flight from Tambor Airport or a four-hour-and-15-minute drive from the hotel. San Jose is a 20-minute flight from Tambor Airport or a five-hour-and-20-minute drive from Otro Lado. 

There are rooms, lodges, and apartments to choose from here, all of which can accommodate a range of group configurations. Design-wise they’re all similar, with white walls, Buddha statues, and live-edge tables and shelves plus pops of green and purple in the soft furnishings. The big difference is the size. The Standard Rooms have either one king or two single beds plus mini-fridges, while Lodges are two-floor villas with open floor plans and a stunning, live-edge wood spiral staircase. The top floors in these units have queen beds and full bathrooms. Meanwhile, the lower floors have two twin daybeds, a full-bath, and a kitchen stocked with a full-size refrigerator, gas range, and a coffeemaker with free coffee and sugar. The House is similar to the Lodges, but bigger, with two bedrooms featuring queen beds, as well as full kitchens. It's set apart from the other units, giving it a bit more privacy. Bathrooms are a mixed bag, but expect stand-up rainfall showers (some with stone walls), hardwood countertops, shower gel, shampoo, and hand soap. All units have small book libraries, private balconies or patios overlooking the pool or garden -- we like the ones with hammocks the best. Air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi come standard, while hairdryers, irons, and ironing boards are available to borrow from the front desk. There are no TVs.

The hotel has just a handful of features, though they're on par with most of the mid-range properties in and around Santa Teresa. The highlight is the restaurant, though it’s only open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfasts are included with all stays and the lunch menu includes tasty Italian specialties (like the not-to-be-missed homemade gnocchi). The hotel’s freshwater pool is surrounded by bamboo lounge chairs with plush cushions and is usually a great spot to relax. Keep in mind that this is a family friendly hotel, and the pool can get a bit loud when lots of kids are staying here. The open-air yoga studio is another big draw. It’s a gorgeous spot for the daily yoga and Tai Chi classes (for a fee), and is surrounded by hammocks tailor-made for kicking back. Yoga mats are free to borrow. Massages and other holistic treatments are available in the small treatment area. The hotel can arrange surf lessons, tours, car and ATV rentals, taxis, shuttles, and book domestic flights. There are games like Uno, backgammon, and Jenga to borrow in the library. Laundry service is available for a fee. Parking and Wi-Fi are both free.