Alma del Pacífico

Top choice in Central Pacific Coast


Each individually designed villa at this remarkable resort encompasses intriguing bright and colorful design elements, including wooden-lattice ceilings, sheer walls of glass framing private gardens, concrete-poured furniture done up with custom leatherwork, and impossibly intricate mosaic tile work. There is also a spa and onsite restaurant specializing in healthy gourmet organic fare, and an immaculate palm-fringed infinity pool.

Look out for last-minute room deals on the Alma del Pacífico website.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central Pacific Coast attractions

1. Royal Butterflies

7.56 MILES

This local butterfly farm run by American expat Dan is set on 1.2 hectares with 70 kinds of fruit tree and 15 species of butterfly, including the enormous…

2. Jacó Walk

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This pleasant outdoor shopping square is where many of the town's good restaurants are located. It's adorned with multicolored bricks, potted plants and…

3. Pura Vida Gardens & Waterfalls

17.84 MILES

Just before the village of Bijagual, this private botanical garden offers great vistas of Manantial de Agua Viva cascading down the side of a cliff, and…

4. Catarata Manantial de Agua Viva

18.4 MILES

This 200m-high waterfall is claimed to be the highest in the country. From the entrance, it’s a steep 3km (45-minute) hike down into the valley (an hour…

5. Parque Nacional Carara

20.48 MILES

Carara is the famed home of one of Costa Rica’s most charismatic bird species, the scarlet macaw. While catching a glimpse of this tropical wonder is a…

6. La Playita

21.6 MILES

At the far western end of Playa Espadilla, beyond a rocky headland (wear sandals), this former nude beach remains one of Costa Rica's most famous gay…

7. Crocodile Bridge

21.6 MILES

If you’re driving from Puntarenas or San José, pull over by the Río Tárcoles bridge, also known as Crocodile Bridge running over the Tárcoles River where…

8. Greentique Wildlife Refuge

21.98 MILES

Biologist Jimmy Mata leads magical one- and two-hour sojourns through the Butterfly Atrium, Reptile & Amphibian Water Gardens and Crocodile Lagoon, as…