Punta Islita was the first stop on our honeymoon. We stayed there from 06/30 to 7/3. The resort is located in a secluded part of the Nicoya Peninsula. It is about a 3 to 4 hour drive from the airport in Liberia, along some rough roads. However, in my opinion getting there is part of the charm (My wife differs with me on this). We stayed in a suite that included a private jacuzzi which overlooked the Pacific.

Most Memorable Aspects:
- Amazing views of the Pacific
- Private Jacuzzi
- Incredible service & hospitality provided by staff
- Being able to learn about and take part in some of the sustainable work the hotel does with the local community and environment
- Infinity pool overlooking the Pacific

Negative aspects:
- Beach is not the best as it is located between two streams that flow into the Pacific. The beaches nearby are much better for sunbathing, swimming, etc
- Unless your version of nightlife is related to wildlife, this is not the place to stay if you are looking to party it up


What we remembered most about this location is the warmth of the staff there and the beauty of the local community of Islita which the hotel works closely with. More specifically if you travel there be sure to go on a guided tour with Eduardo. He is a great guide and goes out of his way to ensure that you that every question is answered. The general manager Alonso, took the time to give me a presentation on the sustainability work the hotel does with the local community and environment. There are many places that talk alot about sustainability but very few that actually do the work towards sustainability that Punta Islita does. We look forward to returning to Punta Islita!

My sister, and 3 friends and I stayed at the Hotel Punta Islita for 2 nights, loved it so much, we added another night. From the GORGEOUS private villa which was in pristine condition, well decorated and super comfortable, to the most beautiful infinity pool, the private infinity pool and the private hammock, to the amazing staff that remembered us and our villa name it was a dream vacation. We even learned how to surf on their beach! What a great memory that I cannot wait to return to.

My husband and I spent several nights of our honeymoon at the Punta Islita hotel and resort, following our stay at the Gaia Hotel and Reserve in Manuel Antonio. Overall I would rate the total experience at the Punta Islita hotel as only average.

For the positive aspects of the trip I have to say the views at the hotel are among the most beautiful in the world. The upper (infinity) pool provides an ideal location for sunbathing, and an amazing view of Costa Rica. We also enjoyed getting to know the staff at Punta Islita-we found them kind, warm, and helpful throughout our stay. The hotel is also unique in that the rooms are separate from the main lodge, and each suite is a building unto itself-this provides a unique, private experience. We also enjoyed the kayaking tour, which was a leisure kayaking experience on one of the neighboring rivers-our hotel appointed guide was wonderful. The town of Punta Islita is very quaint, and has one church, a corner store, and an art museum that also sells some of their pieces-if you stay at the hotel it is worth the several minute trip into town to see the sweet gallery.

There are several reasons we have reviewed this hotel as only average. First, I had an allergic reaction to the bedding on our first night at the hotel-I was itching and unable to sleep to the point of hives. I should mention that I have no known allergies, and my skin is not sensitive. We requested the sheets be changed the next morning and I didn't have the problem again which only made me wonder if the bedding was in fact clean the first night. Second, the food is mediocre at best.The hotel provides two different restaurant options, the first being up at the main lodge-this is open throughout the day. The second restaurant option is a three minute shuttle ride down to the beach and is open for lunch only. The food offered at the main restaurant was awful nearly every meal, and at about $30 per plate we were beyond disappointed. The second restaurant at the beach provided far better meals, so by the end of the trip we were eating larger lunches and only ordering appetizers for dinner to save ourselves the disappointment of another terrible meal. I should have prefaced this review by noting we are the least picky eaters, and enjoy food of all types and kinds. Be prepared that if you stay at Punta Islita the only option is to eat at one of these two restaurants. There is one very small restaurant in town open limited hours, but for the most part the hotel is your only food option. Also disappointing was our concierge experience-our concierge was Mervin and we found him slightly off-putting. When we arrived and checked in he told us we had been upgraded, when in reality we simply received the suite we had paid for. This got things off to a weird start because it made us feel as if he was trying to pull one over on us. Other guests staying at the hotel told us they had the same experience upon check-in. In addition, he was very smug and sarcastic-it was definitely not a language barrier because he spoke perfect English. There was an attitude that was demeaning and quite rude. The other staff at the hotel was delightful but we found Mervin far from welcoming. Also disappointing was the beach at the hotel. The sand is less sand and more jagged black rocks. If you want to spend time enjoying the beach this probably isn't the resort for you-even our guides suggested going elsewhere (a short 20 minute ride) to another beach to swim.

Most importantly we just found the hotel was a poor value-at this price you are far better off staying at another resort in Costa Rica. Our first few days in the country were spent in Manuel Antonio at the Gaia Hotel and Reserve and we absolutely loved it. In general, everything at Islita was just "okay"-nothing special.

We just returned from one week at Punta Islita. We were two couples travelling together, and we had an amazing vacation. We travel twice a year to upscale beach resorts -- all over the carribean and central and south america -- and this was -- maybe -- our best trip yet. if you are looking for a beach location with sugar-white sand and turquoise water, this is not it. The beach is a black volcanic beach and very rugged and natural. It's a wide, long curving beach with beautiful rock formations and -- sometimes -- a white mist over the rocks. We thought that the beach was stunning because it was uncrowded and simply beautiful. There are sandy parts of the beach and peebly parts, but it is extremely clean. After a big rain, lots of driftwood washes up, so maybe that's what one reviewer thought was messy. The owners at Punta Islita are VERY environment-conscious, and they have left as much as possible untouched. We rode horses on the beach with Eduardo, and it seemed like a setting from a film. Gorgeous.

The staff at Punta Islita are incredibly friendly -- they are always bringing you extra treats and trying to make you as comfortable as possible. The vibe is very positive -- you can tell that the staff are well-treated and happy to be there. I know that the resort pays for staff education and allows them to take the adventure tours with their families sometimes. This is really nice because the staff can talk to you about your turtle-watching adventure, or whatever.

Our villa was amazing and, yes, the power went down once or twice and the water was not as hot as we have here, but the resort is in an isolated spot. For reviewers who have zero tolerance for that sort of thing, really, why do you choose a place that's off the beaten path? We loved the huge downpours in the late afternoon, the 5-minute power outages, and the iguanas walking through our palapa.

We are foodies and usually expect to be underwhelmed with the food at resorts like this. This was not the case at Punta Islita. The food was foodie-friendly and light and healthy. If you want huge American-sized portions of fat-laden food, go somewhere else. Our meals were just right -- the portions were regular-sized and, in some cases, quite large. All of the food is fresh and most is grown or caught on the premises.

There were some kids at the resort, but it seems more like a couples resort. There are not many kid-specific activities. Most is geared to adults, relaxation and complete chill.

Do get 4-wheel drive. You won't regret it. The drive was under 3 hours.