This luxurious modern resort is nestled around a secluded bay on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and offers cascading pools, exceptional spa facilities and a tranquil escape.
Location
A 35-minute drive west from Liberia International Airport through lush hills and fields of sugar cane brings you to Punta Cacique, a verdant headland on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. The Waldorf Astoria sits near the tip of the promontory, curled around the small but idyllic Playa Penca.
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The sleepy beach town of Playa Hermosa is a short distance away, while the Rincón de la Vieja volcano and its surrounding national park are a couple of hours drive to the north. Public transport options are minimal and Uber is unreliable so it’s worth hiring a car or arranging transport through the hotel if that’s an area you want to explore. At least traffic won’t be an issue: the northwestern province of Guanacaste is the most sparsely populated area in the country.
Read more: Costa Rica travel guide: Everything you need to know before you go
The vibe
Having only recently opened in April 2025, the first Waldorf Astoria in Costa Rica pulls off a smart trick by feeling both completely modern and like it has been there for decades. The property’s many buildings are neatly terraced within the natural contours of the bay, so although there are 148 rooms and 40 suites here the hotel never feels imposing or like it overwhelms the natural beauty of its setting.
At the centre of the complex are no less than 10 separate pools, spread across various levels so you often feel as if you’re swimming alone. There are adults-only areas as well as a kid-friendly pool complete with a water slide (okay, adults may well enjoy this too). As pristine as the pools are however, none can really compare to the welcoming warmth of a dip in the ocean off Playa Penca. The hotel can provide snorkels, and within moments of setting out from shore you’ll likely find yourself surrounded by inquisitive pufferfish and angelfish.
Service
The Costa Rican greeting “pura vida”, which translates literally as “pure life” and more loosely to mean a generally easygoing,…
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