Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

Four hours from San José, on a lush hillside overlooking Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline, Punta Islita is a tropical idyll, unspoiled and secluded, cut off from the mainland by dense jungle and difficult terrain. It’s a truly unique location, with the curving black sand beach a few hundred feet below, and the protected ecosystem of the tropical dry forest above.

Punta Islita is dedicated to environmental conservation, and yet the accommodations are as luxurious as can be. Standard rooms come with hammocks out front, looking down at the beach, and the better ones have private terraces and Jacuzzis with an ocean view. A handful of casitas dot the hillside, many with private plunge pools, and for large parties or privacy fanatics there are the three-bedroom villas, each complete with its own private swimming pool.

What’s to do here, besides escape into splendid idleness? Though it hardly qualifies as an activity, the Casa Spa offers a range of massage and beauty treatments. The more outdoorsy among us can explore nature walks and more challenging hikes, or horseback rides and even deep-sea fishing expeditions, while more traditional sporting types can make use of the tennis courts and the driving range.

No Costa Rican eco-adventure would be complete without a canopy tour, of course, and Punta Islita is happy to oblige. And when it’s over it’s back to the 1492 restaurant, serving local produce and seafood beneath a fifty-foot thatched palm ceiling.

How to get there:
Convenient to both Liberia and San José international airports, reaching Hotel Punta Islita takes under 40 minutes by air and about four hours by land. Self-driving guests, be advised: a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required, and a daytime arrival is strongly recommended.