stay at Luna Azul. The property is a gem, maintained like a botanical garden. The rooms are spatious and tastefully furnished, but the main attraction for us was the outdoor shower with views over the forest and with the noise from the Pacific. The lodge provides the privacy you need, but it's also no problem to socialize with other guests in the pool area or the restaurant. Besides, the food is extraordinary. Rolf and Andreas are really great hosts and make you feel like you are visiting friends. It was always a pleasure talking to them and to hear how it is to live in Costa Rica. If you stay at Luna Azul it is definitely recommandable to have your own car as it is right in the middle of nowwhere, which of course is one of the main attractions. The closest beach, breathtaking San Juanillo, is a 10min drive away. It takes about an hour to Samara. But its even not a waste of time just to relax at the pool or relax at your private porch and enjoy the traquility of Luna Azul.

It's really a pity that it is so far away from Austria, as we feel like coming again

Our stay at the hotel Luna Azul was my favorite stop during our trip to Costa Rica. The owners were warm, courteous, professional, and work nonstop serving their guests (I don't know how they do it). As requested, our room had a scenic view of the Pacific. Everything at Luna Azul (bungalow, food, service, and outdoor shower) was better than advertised. The only thing between our room and the Pacific, was the forest, birds, and monkeys. Make sure you have at least 3-4 days to spend at Luna Azul - you will want to stay longer. Playa Ostional and Playa San Juanillo were very scenic, deserted, void of tourists, yet easy for public to access.

It's hard to add anything to the superlative reviews the Hotel Luna Azul has already received -- simply put, this is a wonderful hotel made truly unique for two reasons -- the hospitality of the owners/hosts, Rolf and Andreas; and the incredible beauty of the Ostional region. Perhaps I can add something to the other excellent reviews by elaborating a bit on the area. To get to the hotel, you need to be good at route finding and be willing to drive an hour on gravel roads. The roads are not really that bad (I'm from New Mexico, so I love rough roads!), and you don't really need four wheel drive, although it makes sense to rent one anytime you go to Costa Rica. The nearby beach in San Juanillo is our favorite anywhere, and the nesting turtles are truly one of the wonders of the world. If you want bars and nightlife, go somewhere else. If you don't like getting lost once in awhile and exploring backroads, go somewhere else. If all you want to do is drink mai tais and lay out by the pool, go somewhere else. If you want to see one of the most special places in the world before it changes, in a setting of grace and beauty, go to Hotel Luna Azul.

We have visited this charming hotel on three occasions and look forward to many more visits. The owners,Rolf and Andreas , will do everything they can to assure that your visit meets your expectations. Nestled in a dry rainforest the property offers individual casitas for couples as well as for families. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and there is plenty of opportunity for wildlife viewing. The hotel also features an infinity pool and a four star restaurant,where the meals are consistently excellent. Often the Olive Ridley Turtles are nesting at near by Playa Ostional. If you are fortunate , you may see thousands of turtles nesting en mass. Contact Rolf through the hotel's website and he will be happy to advise when to visit,to best see the turtles.

The hotel is off the beaten track and requires a bit of an effort to get to but this is part of its charm. Every time we visit Hotel Luna Azul we are amazed that Rolf and Andreas have created this wonderful hotel in such a remote location.

Visit Hotel Luna Azul,you won't be disappointed.