Tamarindo, Costa RicaHacienda Pinilla
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa
Pacific ranch hacienda
Hacienda Pinilla Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Renovated
2025
Price
$$$
Rated for
Resort Design WellnessOutside the door
The house
MarriottPacific ranch hacienda
Open-air courtyards and breezy passageways shape the property like a traditional Costa Rican cattle ranch on the Pacific.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A 25,000-square-foot lagoon pool with pedestrian bridges, steps from Playa Mansita surf.
Notable
Ronald Zürcher shaped the estate in traditional Guanacaste ranch style with herringbone tilework.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Basalt and off-white stucco construction blends with the ranch surroundings, and sunny, hammock-lined courtyards bordered by breezy outdoor passageways divide this otherwise large hotel into intimate spaces.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Riding stables and dry forest border the estate, and the lively surf town of Tamarindo is a short drive north.
1 of 4
The rooms
Red herringbone tiles line the floors, and marble bathrooms have oversized soaking tubs.
The lagoon pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Flanked by two outdoor whirlpools, the winding infinity pool stretches past palm-studded lawns toward the beach.
The spa
A stone courtyard holds a private plunge pool, and treatment suites open onto patios with outdoor soaking tubs.
The gym
Technogym cardio equipment and free weights fill the fitness center, which runs daily yoga and Pilates classes.
At the table
Sabanero serves prime steaks in a hacienda dining room, and an open-air pavilion hosts Central American rum tastings.
The kids’ club provides organized daily adventures for children ages four to 12 while parents steal a few relaxing hours at the oceanfront infinity pool or indulging in beachside massages at the spa.
How it began
Builders avoided a modern high-rise, designing the low-slung estate to reflect the historic cattle ranch around it.
Tamarindo
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.