Every morning, you wake to the sounds of the ocean. That sound will be with you the entire time you're at Horizon, which is one of the many benefits of not being at sea level! (Another is not dealing with the dust, which is ubiquitous down in the town during dry season.) Perched up on the hillside, you look out into the clear sky, over green trees and blue water. It's the perfect place to rest, relax, reset.

The rooms are clean and minimal - it's kind of like staying in a grown-up tree house, actually. There's running water, a kitchen with a fridge, air conditioning (grown-up) but there's also a hammock, the sounds of nature all around you (and sometimes in your room, don't worry, it's harmless), and a rustic aspect (tree house), which makes it truly unique. The owners are lovely people and a big part of what will make your stay so wonderful. They provide helpful notes in the rooms, but they are also available throughout the day, whether to teach one of the top notch yoga classes in the most amazing place I've ever practiced yoga (in an open pavilion overlooking the ocean, wow), whip up a delicious smoothie, or to answer any questions about the many things to do in the lively surf town of Santa Teresa.

This review is actually depressing me, because I'm sitting behind a computer in San Francisco and not laying in a hammock at Horizon ... Hmmm. Go. Leave now. You'll have to fly into San Jose, take a commuter plane to Tambor, and then take a cab to Santa Teresa, but it is worth it. You will get there and you will instantly understand - it is worth it. Take me with you!

Notes:
- You have to pay the balance of your bill in cash or you can pay by credit card but there is a 10% fee.
- For the beauty of the view and the peace of being above it all, there is a slight trek to the beach (down a hill, to the right on a dusty road, across a little bridge, to a path leading to the sand - about 7 minutes).
- Other reviews reference a pool you can swim in, but I only saw the dipping pool beneath the Tea Pavilion. If you're interested in the grounds, be sure to ask!

This was the first of two stops for us on our first visit to Costa Rica, and we couldn't have asked for a better place to call home for 3 days.

Service-Fantastic. We were want for nothing. They set up our cab to and from the airport, our stand-up paddleboarding excursion (with transportation), and our ATV rental. No question went unanswered.

Accomodations-Slightly rustic, but extremely clean and comfortable. Great views. Fairly quiet, although not sound-proof, by any means. But we were never disturbed.

Location-Central to everything in Santa Teresa. You are up a steep hill, and the property has many stairs, so be forewarned.

Food-Great. The fruit juices are worth the trip alone. We only sampled the breakfasts, and they were really well done. Go with the wheat bagel. Their teas are made from herbs grown on the property, and are perfect.

Negatives-This would be nitpicking, really. We stayed in Cabin 1, and the WiFi was spotty. But if that's the only complaint, you're doing okay. I mentioned the steep hill, and you're a 5-10 minute walk to the beach, but like I said, if you know that going in, you should have nothing to worry about.

(Also be forewarned-like most places we went, you don't flush your toilet paper. It's really not a big deal, and is never noticable here.)

Overall, a fantastic place to stay, especially for the rates they charge. You'd have a hard time doing better in Santa Teresa, or anywhere else in Nicoya Peninsula.

If you want to feel better with your body and soul, this is the place! the rooms are great, you have privacy and everything is green, the view is amazing, the food is delicious and healthy, a jeep is recommended for going up the heel a few times a day...

My wife and I stayed at the Horizon for 11 nights in January 2013.
Everthing about our stay was fabulous. The accomodations were very nice. The food was outstanding~!!! The yoga was excellent. Yoav and his wife are beautiful people and they run a first class hotel.
Santa Teresa has some of the best beaches in Costa Rica- a great place to vacation.

Barry Debbie Culkin