The Latitude 10 Resort in Santa Teresa did not only make me keenly aware of the global positioning of the nation of Costa Rica, it also gave me a bit of insight into the life of the rich and famous.

Costa Rica Hotel Review – Latitude 10

The beachfront resort, set on 2 hectares of land concessions on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, is unique and private. A total of six luxury suites on the property are designed to fully incorporate the natural surroundings. In our Master Suite, two of the four walls were composed of folding doors that could be opened to provide views of the Pacific Ocean, only slightly obstructed by tropical plant life. Instead of watching cable television, we were able to sit on our King size bed watching high-definition nature pass by all around us.

The Latitude 10 property includes two Master Suites with ocean views, two Junior Suites set back a bit with either a Queen or King-sized bed, and one Deluxe Room adjacent to the clubhouse, which is the only room that includes air-conditioning and glass windows. The other rooms enjoy fresh ocean breezes and strong ceiling fans that make the warm climate in the area more than bearable.

My party arrived at 8pm on our first night due to missing the earlier ferry, and immediately plopped down at the restaurant after leaving our bags in our respective rooms. The main restaurant is set in the center of the property overlooking the infinity pool and ocean. The reputation of the head chef, Sebastian, who hails from France, preceded him through online Trip Advisor reviews and comments from co-workers.

From the three-part menu my boyfriend and I chose the shrimp-filled pastry appetizer and pesto pasta as well as the drink of the night, watermelon caipirinhas. The appetizers were around $12 each, while the pasta was $15, and the main fish dish of the night $24. The quality of the food was quite good, but nothing out of the ordinary or daring.

For breakfast, which is included in the room price, guests choose between omelets, eggs, French toast, gallo pinto and a bagel sandwich with cream cheese, gouda, onions and tomato. We ate in the town of Santa Teresa the rest of our meals, excluding breakfast which was delicious!

Santa Teresa and neighboring Mal Pais are popular destinations for surfers and have a hippie vibe. Each night a different bar hosts a party, and the entire town seems to gather there. The local restaurants are quite varied offering anything from a typical casado, to buffalo wings, to argentinian meat, to israeli falafels.

The entire atmosphere of the resort blends perfectly with the beach town vibe. It is not pretentious, but comfortable, fresh and friendly. Animal guests abound, and human guests are warned not to eat in the rooms to avoid attracting the outside visitors indoors. Our first morning we saw a family of howler monkeys crossing the trees above us from the hotel’s small parking lot. The next morning I watched a huge iguana sprint up a tree while I was taking a shower in our outdoor bathroom.

The bathrooms are more like back patios, walled in by lush plants and jungle. The waterfall shower heads are about 12’’ in diameter and feel like you are in a rain shower. The toilet and sink are both set against the back wall of the cabin and look onto the large shower and garden area. This is the main feature that might make the hotel inappropriate for families with children.

Other subtle reminders exist throughout that the hotel is an adult destination for a romantic getaway or quiet retreat. The Master Suites and Junior Suite A, all with King sized beds are perfect for honeymooners or an anniversary celebration. One special touch that the hotel adds to up the anticipation for your stay is sending out a one-page questionnaire requesting your preferred scent, pillow thickness, beverages and meals. The personalized service included a staff member putting incense around our cabin and lighting all the candles each evening. This also seemed to be a great way to keep the bugs out.

The only issue I had with nature was an odd mating scene that went on between large black ants each night around our toilet. They darted around in circles so quickly I couldn’t avoid stomping a few and feeling horrible about my contribution to the beautiful balance of luxury and nature. At least they cleaned up their dead loved ones leaving no trace of the gory scene come morning.

Overall, our experience at the Latitude 10 Resort was extremely pleasant. Guests pay more for the personal service and privacy that the property offers. Johnny, the hotel manager, was extremely friendly from the moment we got there up through the check-out. The staff seems to have a laissez-faire policy and leaves guests to themselves until they are needed and then magically appear out of nowhere to attend to your needs.

From celebrity guests such as Mel Gibson, who has visited the resort three times, to newly-weds, or your average vacationing couple, everyone gets the same quality service and privacy at Latitude 10.

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Filed under: Hotel Reviews on December 10th, 2007