Gaia Hotel And Reserve – Adults Only
What We Love
- Rate includes a 20-minute massage, facial or reflexology treatment per person, per stay, plus one guided hike through the 14-acre nature reserve
- Arrival gifts: cool, lemon-scented towels and a tropical welcome drink
- Daily à la carte breakfast is included in the Jetsetter rate
- The open-air La Luna; don’t miss the panko-crusted tuna or the signature Gaia tenderloin
- Kind and professional staff
- READ MORE: Find your perfect Costa Rica vacation
What To Know
- Only the Suites, Deluxe Suites and Villas have Jacuzzi bathtubs
- The ocean is seven minutes away, and a free beach shuttle runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
- This is a certified green hotel, and the tap water is safe to drink
- Costa Rica’s dry season is December to May; during the rest of the year it can rain for several hours a day
- Free WiFi
Amenities
- Bar
- Eco-Friendly
- Free WiFi
- Gym
- Handicap Accessible
- Parking On Site
- Pet-friendly
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Spa
Overview
The Look
In honor of its namesake Greek goddess, Gaia Hotel & Suites exudes a reverence for the earth, with its panoramic coastal views, three pearly white buildings and 14 acres of twisting jungle. Upon entering the white-on-white digs, guests are served lemon-scented towels and cool tropical drinks. The walls display the owner’s personal Latin American art collection, including photos he took for National Geographic and works by Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Kingman.
Bed and Bath
In the 22 rooms, suites and villas there are beds with 500-thread-count Italian linens, flat-screen LCD TVs, expansive en suite tiled bathrooms (some with Jacuzzi tubs), all done in a calm palette of cream walls, hardwood floors and oversize windows that offer breathtaking jungle and ocean views at every turn.
Beyond
Equally impressive are the views from the three-tiered infinity pool, where sunbathers sip cocktails from a swim-up bar. And in the intimate Terra Spa, the free 20-minute mini-massages are made even more soothing by the lush jungle backdrop. At the five-star La Luna restaurant, such dishes as succulent Tico-style ceviche and thick tenderloin steak are accompanied by daily drink specials (from a Gaia sunset cocktail made from a myriad of juices to Costa Rica’s famous guaro liquor), all of it served alfresco against a technicolor sky. Come morning, a free breakfast spread of huevos rancheros, sweet mango juice and fresh coffee fuel reserve excursions led by an enthusiastic, certified nature guide, who spins tales of the jungle and its superlative wildlife.
In the Area
Once a center for orchid conservation and wildlife rehab, Gaia’s 14-acre nature reserve now has fantastic hiking trails; a free guided tour embarks Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7am. And Manuel Antonio is just over a mile away, offering some of the country’s best opportunities for spotting sloths, monkeys, toucans and more. For parasailing, snorkeling, dolphin encounters, fishing, water-skiing and boat excursions, the Gaia concierge can recommend a tour outfitter that fits guests needs.
How to Get There
Reviews
We stayed at Gaia for the last 2 nights of our CR trip. We wanted to end our trip with somewhere relaxing. And that it was! We spent a day at Manuel Antonio National Park, swimming and hanging out with monkeys. The hotel provided us free transportation to and from, every hour. It is about 15 minutes drive. The concierge was very friendly and helpful, eager and willing to assist us with anything we needed. They can also use whatsapp for any requests to make it fast and easy. We made dinner reservations that way! Speaking of which, wow... the food here was spectacular. Every single thing we ate was so delicious. Even the free breakfast was not a buffet like other hotels, you are able to order a la carte! They had the best huevos rancheros I’ve ever tried. And they also give each guest a complimentary cocktail and appetizer during happy hour one day. This was also amazingggg. The chicken wings! Yum! We also had the pleasure of being greeted by the owner himself, who can be reached directly on his cell phone any time you need. Although Gaia may be slightly further from the National Park than other places, it’s a very nice place to stay to relax and enjoy delicious food and clean, cozy accomodations, with excellent service.
This hotel charges the entire amount of your stay and if you cancel they do not give refunds. I wasn’t aware of this policy and couldn’t get there because of severe weather conditions. The hotel owner refused to give me a refund (keeping almost $1400) citing the policy.
We stayed 6 days at Gaia and it was all perfect from the staff, to the spa and restaurant quality. The grounds are beautiful but not so impersonal that you forget you are in Costa Rica! Normally, you dont stay for most meals in the hotel but Gaia restaurant is so good and the wait staff so fabulous, we had a majority of our meals there! The animals on site and the Scarlet Macaw Reserve along with the acres of protected jungle that belongs to the hotel illustrates the owners dedication to his city and land. A truly impressive hotel! We would go back for sure- we miss everyone!!
My husband and I loved our 4 night stay at Gaia, and our only regret was not being able to stay longer. The staff was so helpful when I booked the Easy Getaway package, and our trip was seamless from the time we landed in San Jose Airport. We loved our room at Gaia and the cascading pools, where we spent significant time relaxing. We also loved the restaurant at Gaia as well as the spa. All the Gaia staff, including the folks who picked us up and dropped us off in San Jose, the front office staff, our personal concierge, the golf cart drivers, housekeeper, and the owner Boris, were kind and generous. We cannot wait to return to Gaia, and we highly recommend this hotel and reserve.
The staff onsite is standout! Andres was helpful and accommodating throughout our entire stay. They really care about their service onsite and it shows. Everyday at 3:30 there is a nature trail tour around the property where you can see monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, and scarlet macaws. The dinner is delicious! Had some of our best meals there. The breakfast is good (not the best). Easy shuttle to and from the National Park and beach was very helpful on multiple occasions. Overall great property with amazing service!