Los Altos Resort (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica)

By Admin

September 28, 2022

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Wednesday newsletters all the time function a resort or flight overview.

Final April, I loved an excellent vacation in Miami & Costa Rica. You may learn my journey experiences right here:

Overview: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class from Frankfurt to Miami
Overview: Acqualina Resort on the Seaside, Miami, USA
Overview: Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
Overview: Nayara Springs & Backyard, Arenal Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
Overview: Lapa Rios Lodge, Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
Overview: Andaz Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Overview: 4 Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Overview: Los Altos Resort, Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park, Costa Rica (right now)
Overview: Edelweiss Air Airbus A340 Enterprise Class from Liberia to Zurich

At the moment: Overview of Los Altos Resort (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica)

Tucked into the rainforest cover, Los Altos Resort gives a calming ambiance within the pristine eco-wilderness close to Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park. Wake to the sounds of howler monkeys, glimpse toucans among the many bushes, and breakfast with hummingbirds – you’ll be surrounded by restorative nature right here. Rooms at Los Altos differ from spacious to very large. Every has an immersed-in-nature really feel, with sweeping outlooks over rainforest, sea or each. And all are suites providing kitchens and opulent lounging areas – particularly nice for teams or households. Youngsters are welcome right here, however there are many moments for grown-up rest too. Sip your fruit cocktail by the infinity pool with views over the ocean, wander down by way of the bushes (or hop aboard the shuttle) for a day on the resort’s personal non-public seaside, and even higher, take pleasure in a chef-hosted dinner in your non-public balcony.

Los Altos Resort options in my prime 10 record of the finest motels & lodges in Costa Rica.

Have you ever ever stayed at Los Altos Resort? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra data and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Los Altos Resort is positioned on Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast, a 10-minute drive from the doorway of Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park. Though it’s the nation’s smallest Nationwide Park, the gorgeous magnificence and variety of wildlife in its 683 hectares is gorgeous. Manuel Antonio boasts a mixture of rain forest, seashores, and coral reefs. Its most well-known seaside is Playa Manuel Antonio, a half-mile lengthy, white sand crescent bisecting deep inexperienced foliage to at least one aspect and a non-public, secluded cove to the opposite. This seaside is taken into account essentially the most lovely within the nation and the snorkeling is great too. The forest is house to sloths, iguanas, the uncommon and lovely squirrel monkeys, white-faced monkeys, and hundreds of thousands of colourful little crabs. Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park may be very crowded (as a result of it’s really easy to entry) however there are a number of quick trails that supply a extra tranquil expertise.

Los Altos Resort is positioned on a hill close to the doorway of Manuel Antonio village, inside strolling distance of a number of outlets, bars and eating places. The resort amenities solely occupy a small space on prime of the hill, which supplies option to a big nature reserve – referred to as Protect at Los Altos – that tumbles down the hill in direction of the Pacific Ocean. The surroundings and trails contained in the resort’s reserve present a close to non-public mountain climbing expertise that rivals the very best of what the close by Nationwide Park has to supply. With only a fast stroll from the suites, friends have the chance to select from a lot of trails and to watch all kinds of wildlife, together with capuchin monkeys, sloths and toucans. A number of the steeper trails go down all the best way to a secluded gray sand seaside – referred to as Playa Tulemar – the place the resort has positioned some loungers below the bushes for its friends (towels are supplied). For friends that don’t wish to stroll, the property additionally gives complimentary shuttle service between the resort and the seaside.

Los Altos Resort is the finest resort within the Manuel Antonio space (though it feels extra like a superb 4-star property than a real 5-star resort). The resort is comprised of two 7-story towers in entrance of a safe and gated parking zone (free self-parking is obtainable). Each towers are related by a communal floor ground. The latter homes a small open-air foyer, comprised of a concierge & reception desk and some sitting areas on the aspect, the place friends can wait for his or her excursions. Behind the foyer is a hall with the elevators that take friends as much as the suites. One finish of the bottom ground additionally incorporates a recreation room with a pool desk, pingpong desk and extra – a enjoyable place for kids and youngsters to hang around. On the opposite finish of the bottom ground is a store (promoting some snacks, drinks, toiletries and medicines) and a spacious and properly geared up health middle. The general decor – easy and colourful – feels very Costa Rican.

Los Altos Resort options 26 spacious condo-style suites, that are the most important within the Manuel Antonio space. Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a Treetop Ocean View Suite on the third ground, that was being accessed by a non-public elevator opening straight into the suite’s massive hallway. The fashionable suite featured an enormous lounge, spacious eating space and its personal kitchen space. There have been 3 bedrooms, accommodating a most of 6 friends: one massive master suite with kingsize mattress, and two smaller rooms (one with a queensize mattress and one with twin beds). The main bedroom got here with its personal open-plan rest room (geared up with one sink, a bathe and a rest room), whereas the opposite rooms shared a small rest room (additionally geared up with a bathe, sink, and bathroom). Complimentary toiletries had been supplied in each bogs. There have been additionally two balconies, one hooked up to the dwelling space overlooking the rainforest cover and the Pacific Ocean within the distance, whereas the opposite balcony was shared by the 2 smaller bedrooms and neglected Manuel Antonio’s principal avenue.

Los Altos Resort options extra facilities than most different motels within the Manuel Antonio space, which makes it an ideal base for staying a couple of days on this a part of Costa Rica. It’s principal attraction is the pool space, positioned a brief stroll from the principle constructing. The out of doors pool deck is about excessive above sea degree and utterly surrounded by lush rainforest, apart from one aspect, which stays open, providing terrific views of the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean. A bar close by serves poolside drinks, plus there are additionally two scorching tubs and a shallow wading space offering devoted areas for adults and smaller youngsters respectively. The pool space is particularly good within the late afternoon: pleased hour is obtainable by the pool bar and sunsets are spectacular right here, with the low solar splashing its radiant colours over the Pacific Ocean. General, the pool space is a good place to retreat to after day full of actions within the Manuel Antonio space (however don’t anticipate a serene ambiance right here as it might probably get very crowded, particularly throughout faculty holidays).

Positioned beneath the infinity pool is the resort’s wellness middle, which is house to a few of Costa Rica’s most skilled therapeutic massage therapists and aestheticians. Known as Orquieda, the power is the premier spa within the bigger Manuel Antonio space and the proper place to go to any time of day, whether or not to get your morning began off to really feel refreshed or after getting back from one an out of doors tour. Completely located to maximise the views of the resort’s tropical protect and the Pacific Ocean, Orquieda – like its floral namesake – blooms with a colourful design. There are three therapy rooms, all of them positioned alongside a big reception space. The spa gives a compelling menu of therapies, facials, and coverings, as properly manicures and pedicures. In every of the menu choices, solely natural, all pure components are used to make sure an all pure expertise, all while surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

Los Altos Resort options one restaurant on web site, though its administration additionally operates two different eating places inside strolling distance of the property:
- Set above the pool deck and having fun with nice views is Karola, which has the popularity of being the premier connoisseur restaurant on the town (I didn’t attempt all eating places in fact, however the meals was nice certainly). The venue serves worldwide delicacies with a tasty vary of meat, pasta, seafood and vegetarian choices. Every morning, Karola additionally gives a (reasonably restricted) breakfast buffet.
- A brief stroll from the resort is Samui Thai, a energetic and extremely advisable Thai restaurant, serving genuine Thai delicacies.
- Additionally not removed from the resort is Enso Japenese Sushi Restaurant, providing Japanese delicacies, curated by up-and-coming Chef Daniel Isea.
- Los Altos Resort additionally gives its friends the chance to schedule non-public, chef-hosted dinners that may happen both in Karolas or inside in a visitor’s suite.

Los Altos Resort is a part of Small Luxurious Lodges of the World (“SLH”), which is a set of small, unbiased motels in additional than 80 nations. These motels pay to be a part of the SLH portfolio and to be marketed as a SLH property. Earlier than they’re welcomed into SLH assortment, the SLH improvement group go to each, checking them towards an extended record of must-haves. SLH has a strategic alliance with Hyatt, giving World of Hyatt members the chance to earn and redeem factors and obtain unique on-property advantages at any collaborating SLH resort, together with Los Altos. This implies World of Hyatt members can keep at no cost at Los Altos Resort on factors.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Though Los Altos Resort has the all of the facilities of a 5-star resort, its general décor feels dated nor luxurious and it lacks the sophistication & class of a real 5 star property. I might describe Los Altos as a stable 4-star condo-style resort (reasonably than a captivating 5-star boutique resort because it describes itself). There’s a lot room for enchancment (particularly in the case of finishes and esthetics) and to show the spot in a real luxurious house. Nonetheless, regardless of its lack of a wow issue, it’s by far the most suitable choice on the town and price a keep while you wish to go to close by Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park. Simply set your expectations proper and benefit from the resort highlights reminiscent of its setting in a beautiful jungle reserve, the spectacular (sundown) views from the pool deck, and the surprisingly good meals on the eating places (apart from breakfast). However if in case you have a 4 Seasons or Ritz-Carlton high quality resort in thoughts, don’t stay right here or you can be dissatisfied.

The elevators within the resort open straight into the suites (with a keycard). This may really feel non-public and fancy at first, however it’s not, because it might occur {that a} visitor could unintentionally step off the elevator into the flawed house. Additionally, if separate friends are driving on the elevator collectively, the elevator door will open at every ground that was requested by these within the elevator or those that could have referred to as the elevator from their room to then head downstairs.

Solely the suites on the resort’s prime flooring will take pleasure in a view of the rainforest cover and the Pacific Ocean within the distance. The decrease suites don’t include a view in any respect: they overlook both the parking zone in entrance of the resort or the principle avenue of Manuel Antonio which runs across the again of the property. To be honest, the items on the bottom two flooring of the resort are essentially the most cheap prized rooms within the resort, however if you would like a view, be certain that to ebook a collection on one of many prime flooring.

The secluded seaside of the resort is a beautiful, lovely spot, with wildlife usually flying by or passing by way of the bushes. However a number of components of the seaside are coated in very sharp rocks, additionally underwater, which makes swimming right here a little bit of a problem, if not inconceivable. Additionally understand that the amenities on the seaside are restricted to a couple solar loungers and that getting from/to the seaside requires a steep stroll (or a complimentary switch by shuttle), so I might not think about Los Altos to be a seaside resort. For many who choose sandy seashores with extra amenities, the general public seashores of Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park are a simple automobile, taxi or bus experience away (however an entry charge must be paid).

Breakfast gives a good vary of things (e.g. eggs and omelets made to order, pancakes, French toast, recent fruit, freshy baked bread, yogurt, cereal, gallo pinto, various aspect dishes, wonderful espresso and freshly made fruit smoothies). However the best way the breakfast buffet is offered feels reasonably poor and low cost (apart from the egg/pancake station): the gadgets are positioned in some plastic, poorly sealed containers on some tables in a nook of the semi-outdoor restaurant (attracting many bugs). General, the breakfast expertise is lower than par with the breakfast buffets of different 4- and 5-star motels within the nation .

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 7/10
Pool: 8/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 7/10
Spa: 7/10
Service: 9/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
General expertise: good 7,5/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: learn right here my ideas for getting the very best deal at a resort like Los Altos Resort (and/or obtain many free perks).

Get monetary savings: World of Hyatt members can keep at no cost at Los Altos Resort on factors.

Room tip: if you would like a view, be certain that to ebook a collection on one of many prime flooring.

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

There are two major seasons in Manuel Antonio: the wet season and the dry season. The dry season (or excessive season) is from mid-December to mid-April and it’s the finest time to go to as there’s a smaller likelihood of being drenched within the rain. The wet season (or “inexperienced” season) is mostly from Might to November: it could rain for a number of days in a row (and torrential rains are frequent) however on a constructive word, resort charges and tour costs are considerably decrease and the nation turns a beautiful deep inexperienced.

HOW TO GET THERE

Los Altos Resort is positioned in Manuel Antonio, which is a 3 hour drive from Jose Airport (SJO) and a 5 hour drive from Guanacaste Airport (LIR). There’s additionally a small airstrip in Manuel Antonio and several other every day flights to/from San Jose or Liberia are scheduled. Click on right here for an up to date record of airways that supply direct flights to San Jose and right here for an up to date record of airways that supply direct flights to Liberia.