We looked long and hard for a place where we could take our 18-month-old and still enjoy ourselves. We are NOT the Beaches type and prefer something a bit more off the beaten path. We are willing to travel a little extra distance for a great vacation, but we also like a little luxury and a comfy and clean place is a must. Hotel Punta Islita had everything we needed. We stayed in a 2-bed casita (#208) with a plunge pool. It was on the end and was great for us and our little guy. During nap time we could relax in the hammock or take a dip in the pool.

The lower pool (by the beach) is both kid- and adult-friendly -- it has a very shallow end on one side and a swim up bar on the other! We ate lunch down there every day. It was a bit of a walk down from the casita but we brought a small umbrella stroller and used that to shuttle our son and toys and things back and forth. They also have a little jeep that runs up and down all day, but we preferred the walk.

We took a lot of dinners in our casita because of the little guy but one night we did use their babysitting service and had a dinner at 1492. The other nights they were very accommodating about delivering food to our casita.

If there was one thing I would say was a bit disappointing was the food. Living near Newport, RI, we are used to fantastic food when we dine out. It seems they tried a bit to hard to serve "American" cuisine. We traveled to Morgan's Rock, Nicaragua, in 2005 (before baby) and the food was amazing (as was the place).

My husband and I also took advantage of the spa. The massage was excellent and the facial one of the best I have had. The outdoor showers at the spa are incredible!

This resort more than delivered! It is in a beautiful setting, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The hotel provides a shuttle service to pick you up from the airport..pretty much a gravel strip. When you arrive, you see that this gem really embodies the Costa Rican culture. The staff are very attentive and pay close attention to detail. We stayed in a casita which worked out great. We were four people and had 2.5 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms with a nice living room and kitchen, as well as a plunge pool. The rooms were very clean and although a little sparse, it was still perfect. The staff really get to know you and if you are having a problem, they fix it very quickly and make sure that everything is running smoothly. There are two restaurants which can get a little boring if you are staying for about more than 5 days. However, there are two other restaurants outside of the hotel..one just down the road, and the other about 15 minutes away. The resort is literally in the middle of nowhere, but there is a tiny little community punta islita has helped sustain and is very involved with. the restaurant right down the road takes FOREVER to get your food, but is overall a pleasant experience..just nice to see a different menu. This hotel is very quiet and so relaxing..it was absolutely amazing!! They practice eco tourism and you will see how great punta islita is to its staff (providing housing in the town, etc.) i would definitely recommend the sunset horseback ride..it was gorgeous!! you will go up the mountain to watch the sun set..and then trot along the beach...just magnificent. There is also canopy tours and other activities. There are two pools..one at the top of the hotel..near the main area and one by the beach. There is also a nice golf course on the property too. In the morning, a nice breakfast is delivered to your room so you may not even have to go to the real breakfast area if that is sufficient for you. We had an amazing experience at punta islita, with unmatched service, amaznig views and setting, and just an overall relaxing and peaceful time.

My husband and I had an amazing time at this resort for our honeymoon in late August. Although it's the rainy time of year, we found the resort to be peaceful and romantic. Because it's the slower time of year, we received very personal attention and actually got to know several of the staff members. The staff in general was extremely friendly and helpful.

We stayed in a casita (28) with incredible views of the ocean and a very private feel. This was a perfect relaxing and restful getaway. It would be a disappointing place to stay if you're looking for night-life, but if you have an appreciation for nature and don't mind some rain, this is the place to go.

The horesback riding trip was awesome- we were the only two people along with the guide and our horses were obviously experts at the routine. We also recommend the spa, especially for the couple's packages.

If you're looking for a vacation to unwind, this is the spot for you! Pura vida!

At a rate of $550 per night, we were expecting paradise and that is what we got. There are so many positives that can be read in other reviews but the only things, which we extremely minor, were these:
Low water pressure in the bathrooms.
Showers weren't designed terrribly good- You got cold standing there in the open.
We took our 4 year old and you had to walk out of the mater bedroom into the outside and accross the outside porch while hoping not to step on any critters in the middle of the night.
The food was not very good. But it never made us sick or anything.
It was well worth it!