Neoclassical clifftop estate
The estate runs like a private European manor in the rainforest, trading beachside palapas for classical stone above the Pacific.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in AFAR.
tucked away as it is on a clifftop a thousand feet above the Pacific coast.
“Interior designer and owner Denis Roy eschewed the palapa-inspired elegance employed by so many Costa Rican resorts in favor of a tropical take on European influences—Victorian architecture, French colonial touches, and Grecian columns among them—creating a resort like no other on the country’s west coast.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
On a clifftop above the Gulf of Nicoya, surrounded by rainforest between Jaco and Playa Herradura.
1 of 5
The rooms
Selected suites and villas add private plunge pools and ocean-facing terraces, while main-building rooms remain compact and simple.
The infinity pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Rock waterfalls and a landscaped island garden sit within the infinity pool, curving high over the Pacific.
Gym and hot tub
Cardio machines sit on an open-air terrace facing the rainforest. Nearby, timber sundecks hold hot tubs overlooking the ocean.
At the table
Mirador serves French and Central American dishes on elevated terraces, and candlelit tables fill garden courtyards beneath neoclassical pavilions.
How it began
Designer Denis Roy bought an eroded cattle ridge in the early 1990s, building an access road and planting 1,500 trees.
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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.