Set on a hillside, where it catched the breezes and offers sweeping vistas over Tamarindo and the Pacific surf, this upscale resort has been raised to one of the region's most sophisticated and delightful properties since coming into the hands of a young and energetic French entrepreneur.
Approached via a bumpy unpaved road from which a driveway drops to a small gravel forecourt, this luscious property is entered through a small walk-through reception lounge with a veranda overlooking verdant gardens surrounding a thatched restaurant
and bar surrounded by bougainvillea.
With its combination of colonial tilework, terra-cotta flooring, and elegant place settings, the open-air eatery exudes romance, luring patrons from competing hotels. Fresh croissants are served at breakfast, and exquisite seafood is a highlight on the Mediterranean-inspired dinner menu.
Beyond the bar, a split-level free-form pool and a whirlpool show colonial tiling 
and spacious sundecks ensconced in romantic gardens evocatively lit at night. A path leads downhill 400 m to the beach. The small open-air gym helps guests shed calories, and a 29-foot boat offers excursions along the coast for a fee. Accommodations are in five salmon-pink villas with individually and gracefully styled rooms providing air conditioning and ceiling fans, phones, TVs, radio clocks, minibars, safes, spacious combination baths and balconies with sea views. Floral prints in tropical colors have been replaced by more sophisticated contemporary fabrics and schemes, such as whites with silver and blues, while king beds are now adorned with silk cushions. Two fully equipped apartments are also available. The owner-manager is congenial, and the staff is gracious and capable. No longer a second-tier player locally, this hotel now competes with Cala Luna and Capitan Suizo, and though a 10-minute walk from the beach, has the advantage of fine views, but clients will still do better by upping the ante to stay at the larger, more stylish competition. Renovations at the time of writing are intended to enhance the public walkways and complete upgrades to accommodations.
