Firsthand Insights & Itinerary Strategy from UJV’s Costa Rica Specialists
The spirit of Costa Rica is best captured in its mantra: Pura Vida. Literally “pure life,” lived out in the small details: monkeys swinging through the trees, beaches catching the sun in shades of gold, and volcanoes breathing in the distance. This isn’t a marketing spin on sustainability. It’s a culture of care that shows up in how you eat, how you move, and how you rest.
In our latest UJV Insider Deep Dive, the Reservations and Product teams returned from the field with fresh intel—what’s booking fast, what’s truly exceptional on the ground, and how to build rainforest-to-coast journeys that feel effortless for clients (and profitable for you).
Why Costa Rica, Why Now
The message was clear: Costa Rica is surging. Travelers are asking for experiences with meaning: coffee at a family finca, naturalist-led waterfall hikes, thermal springs at dusk. They want wellness with a point of view and eco-luxury that’s actually lived. The good news: Costa Rica is year-round, wildly diverse, and ready to meet that brief—from family escapes and honeymoons to design-forward retreats.
Meet The Experts
Advisors also met the team who know Costa Rica by heart. Ana Hubble, Andrea Silva, Carolina Fernandez, Daniela Gutierrez, and Liz Gary each brought perspectives shaped by decades of journeys and a shared commitment to seamless travel.
Alongside new faces from UJV Sales (Marybeth Rubinacci, Vail Rainey, Brianna Fuller, Natalia Acosta, Alexandra Farrington, Carlos Garcia, and Grant Olsen). Together, they’re your frontline support: the details that don’t live in brochures, the pairings that turn curiosity into confirmed trips.
Rainforest + Coast: The Winning Formula
Costa Rica tells its best story in two chapters.
Rainforest (Arenal / La Fortuna, Central Highlands, Osa): wildlife mornings, volcano vistas, hot springs, and the kind of guided hikes that turn clients into lifelong fans.
Coast (Papagayo, Guanacaste, Nicoya, Southern Pacific): cliff-framed coves, design-driven resorts, sunset rituals, and sea days that actually restore.
Advisor tip: Three nights in the rainforest followed by two or three on the coast—this, our specialists emphasized, is the winning combination.
Beyond the Expected
Arranged through UJV’s trusted partners—no crowds, no guesswork.
Think coffee tastings at family-owned fincas, naturalist hikes to secret waterfalls, white-water rafting that thrills without overwhelming, natural hot springs, Pura Vida cooking classes that feel like family dinners, and yoga in open-air pavilions.
On the Ground: Costa Rica’s Signature Properties
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica, Punta Cacique
Liberia Airport → 25 minutes. A new standard on this coastline: 148 rooms (including 40 suites and 22 with private plunge pools), multi-level pools that terrace toward a calm, golden-sand bay, and monkeys in the treeline like a daily cameo. Dining spans La Finca and Tico Tita; Buena Nota delivers a barista-led coffee tasting worth planning around.
Wellness anchors at The Spa—17,000 sq. ft., 11 treatment rooms, sauna/steam, and a serene relaxation space aptly named the Moon Room, designed for unwinding post-treatment. Families are covered (Kids and Teens Clubs), and connecting rooms/rollaways don’t incur extra fees.
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Papagayo Peninsula → ~40 minutes from Liberia. Arrival feels like stepping into a “village”: guests are first welcomed into a hacienda-style casita, intimate in scale with traditional décor. From there, the space opens into a courtyard shaded by a Ceiba tree and flows into La Casona—a bright, airy living room framed with Latin American artwork and coastal views. The courtyard becomes the natural meeting point between casita and casona, evoking the feel of a village square.
Beyond this, 107 rooms follow the same style, each with a dedicated butler; even the smallest begins at 850 sq. ft. Seven dining venues keep the palate engaged (the beach club’s Mediterranean dishes were standouts).
The spa holds the largest hydrotherapy pool in Latin America, and views are theater-level. Guests share a clubhouse ecosystem with Four Seasons and Andaz—golf, tennis, pickleball in one orbit.
Nayara Costa Rica
Arenal / La Fortuna → A rainforest sanctuary that feels both sensory and soulful. The sound of rain on leaves, birdsong at dawn, the sight of the volcano rising through the mist. Service is as detailed as the setting—attentive, warm, and intuitive—making Nayara the country’s most emblematic rainforest escape.
The complex spans three distinct properties, each with its own personality:
Nayara Gardens
Lush, colorful, full of life. Accommodations include Arenal Pool Casitas, each with a garden deck and plunge pool framed by rainforest, plus dual indoor/outdoor rain showers. The Rainforest Pool Villas, octagonal in design, draw natural light from every angle and add wraparound balconies, plunge pools, and views of Arenal Volcano.
Nayara Springs
Adults-only and intimate. The Springs Villas feature private plunge pools fed by natural mineral springs, expansive gardens with dual rain showers, oversized bathrooms, and four-poster beds. Indigenous wood and stone anchor the design. Every corner—romantic, unmistakably Costa Rica.
Nayara Tented Camp
The crown jewel of the collection.
Inspired by African safari camps yet rooted in the volcanic landscape of Arenal, the tents sit on stilts above the canopy—spacious sanctuaries with four-poster beds, open-air decks, and private plunge pools fed by natural hot springs.
Families can opt for two connected tents with a shared outdoor lounge, while larger groups retreat to a private residence complete with kitchen, fire pit, and oversized mineral-fed pool.
Dining spans all three Nayara properties: Relais & Châteaux fine dining at Amor Loco, Asian–Latin fusion, northern Italian favorites, and an outdoor terrace alive with local flavors.
A stay can weave from rainforest walks to dawn birdwatching and, after dark, night frog tours—while those chasing more adrenaline find ziplining, waterfall rappelling, and white-water rafting just minutes away. The spa, tucked quietly into the trees, feels deeply connected to its setting—treatments draw on volcanic mud, local cacao, and coffee. And if it rains during a massage, you’re lucky: the sound becomes part of the experience, a natural soundtrack few spas can match.
Nayara is a rare mix: jungle theater, eco-integrity, and luxury dialed to detail. Three to four nights is the sweet spot to balance Arenal’s signature adventures with restorative hot spring downtime, offering both the most elemental and purest side of Costa Rica.
Las Catalinas (Village + Stays)
A car-free coastal village: cobblestone roads, rooftop sunsets, a marketplace you can actually walk to—lined with multiple restaurants and alive with activities for all.
Choose Santarena Hotel (chic, seaside, rooftop pool), Casa Chameleon (adults-only, hillside, infinity-pool views), or Las Catalinas Doorways Villas (1–5 bedrooms) with light housekeeping, and the thousand small details that make everything elevated.
Trails for mountain biking, kayaking just offshore, a wood-carved “Flintstone-style” gym that’s as charming as it is functional, and a wellness center offering UV/ red-light therapy and ice plunges.
Beaches here carry a sun-kissed golden tone, true to the Pacific coast. At times, the ocean greets you with lively waves, adding a playful touch. Just beyond the surf, the waters settle—calm and inviting for kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply floating. The scenery is striking; the food scene a genuine surprise—epicurean without pretense.
Advisor Q&A: Your Questions Answered
Construction at Las Catalinas? Generally located across the street, away from the heart of the village. If proximity is a concern, UJV can check directly with the property before confirming a villa.
Families + Kids: Waldorf has robust Kids & Teens Clubs; Nekajui offers creative programming; Las Catalinas runs crafts/sandcastle sessions (plus a small animal farm); Nayara Gardens has playgrounds and nature walks, frog and sloth spotting.
Rainforest vs. Coast First? Truly up to preference. Adventure up front can be nice; coast at the end is a natural cooldown.
Pools & Beach Club (Las Catalinas): Villas have private pools; a beach club is accessible to all (Bon Vivant villas include it, others for a fee). The club features multiple pools, poolside service, a fire pit, and a gym.
Safest beach for little ones? Waldorf Astoria’s bay—calmer water, softer sand, gentler wave action.
Rain patterns? Guanacaste tends to see less rain; “rainy season” often means afternoon showers with mornings open for activities.
Flights + Touring Logistics? UJV’s air desk books flights (non-commissionable). Tours/adventures arranged via vetted DMCs and are typically 10% commissionable.
Nayara access: Guests of Nayara Gardens can access Nayara Springs/Tented Camp (note: Springs’ pools/restaurants are adults-only).
How UJV Simplifies Costa Rica (and Protects Your Brand)
From first idea to final farewell: private transfers, curated excursions, restaurant and spa holds, complete trip logistics, and 24/7 support—all white-labeled to you. Your client gets a Costa Rica narrative they’ll tell for years. You get a partner that anticipates issues before they appear and keeps your commission protected.
Final Advisor Takeaway
Costa Rica isn’t a single-note escape; it’s harmony—adventure and rest, rainforest and sea, indulgence and integrity. Space is tightening at top properties, but the opportunity is wide open for advisors who lead with insight and pairings that feel intentional.
With UJV’s specialists and trusted partners, every moment—down to the house-made gallo pinto at breakfast—can be dialed to your client.
Ready to curate Costa Rica?
Message your UJV contact or email the team—and let’s get space on hold now. From rainforest thrills to coastal calm, we’ll help you design the kind of journey that turns first-timers into lifelong Costa Rica travelers.
Missed the live session?
Catch the replay below and hear directly from our specialists on what’s booking fast, which properties are setting new standards, and how to position Costa Rica as your clients’ next unforgettable story.