Hotel El Castillo — Hotel in Puerto Cortés

This is a real secret gem that I am almost afraid to give away.

For New Years we decided to stay in the South Pacific side of Costa Rica for its beauty and to get away from the resort crowds of Guanacaste. Based on a locals recommendation, I booked reservations at El Castillo Boutique Hotel.

The first sign that we had made a good choice came a few weeks before our trip when the manager, Steven, contacted me to verify our reservations and confirm that we would be dining with them for New Years Eve's special menu. They even offered wine pairings and a menu with lamb and local farm-to-table vegetables.

Steven assured us that this was an adult-only hotel (we wanted to be out of earshot of children for a change). And he put us into one of two “Spa” king rooms that were very private. Roxana booked very professional massages for us. We flew into Quepos and rented a car to make the beautiful hour-long drive south along the seaboard highway to Ojochal de Osa. So lovely, with miles of palm groves and remote shoreline.

Upon arrival we were greeted by Francisco and Donny who parked our electric car where it could charge and handled our luggage for us. We were even greeted on the veranda with complimentary drinks.

During the week we were there, we ate in the Hotel about half the meals and they were gourmet and perfect every time. There are several other fine restaurants in short driving range that we sampled.

I was truly impressed by the service and the beauty of the Hotel and location. The boutique hotel overlooks an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean from about 300 feet up the mountain. There are public beaches just below and various tours nearby that we will return to take advantage of in the future.

Most impressive was the way we were treated and pampered throughout our stay. The staff immediately knew our names and went out of their way to make everything special for us. The sort of elegance that is a bit rare in Latin America. For example, when we had car problems on New Years Eve, Francisco jumped into action and found us a chauffeur at the last minute to take us to our scheduled party. All the staff really went above and beyond the norm and clearly were working from an attitude of love as if we were actual family. I was significantly impressed. Steven, you have done a great job.

The only problem we encountered during our stay was that the jacuzzi heater was not working properly in the spa hot tub while we were there. It would have been nice to use this amenity.

If you are looking to be well taken care of and even pampered in a hidden paradise, I absolutely recommend this luxurious boutique hotel. Away from the crowds and completely at peace, you will love the beauty and service at...

Simply incredible: an experience of a lifetime!

Have you ever had one of those rare vacations where everything is so amazing that you almost cannot believe it’s real? And you definitely do not want to return home? That kind of experience is exceptionally rare, isn’t it!

And yet, in the fall of 2020 I was personally lucky enough to have had such an unforgettable experience at El Castillo - a paradise getaway which is as cozy and warm (in all senses of the word) as it is luxurious! Allow me to begin by saying that El Castillo has an incredible, prime location and the view from the hotel is among its highlights! However, its beauty and charm does not stop at the picturesque landscape surrounding it! Besides its advantageous location and stunning design and architecture (which goes without saying if you have already seen the photos!) the entire El Castillo team (from the kitchen staff to the cleaning staff to the bartenders and managers) are unforgettably kind and genuinely hospitable. The word “team” actually fails to describe the extent of the hospitality of the El Castillo staff - a more fitting term would be “family”, and this is not an exaggeration! After a 2-week stay on the premises of this absolute jem of a boutique resort, I began to feel like I was truly part of this "family"; I not only knew and remembered everyone’s name after just a few days, but I also developed a unique bond with the all of the individual members of the staff (a bond so special that it was unparalleled by most other resort experiences I have had in the past - at El Castillo I felt sincerely cared for!) The food at El Castillo is delicious and fresh - a selection of fresh squeezed juices are available on the daily; the breakfast (which is included) is filling and delicious whether you opt for something traditional Costa Rican or a more American option; custom freshly made sushi are available on special request, and, of course, a must-try are the delicious fried plantains that are a Costa Rican staple and my personal favourite! :D I can go on and on about how much I have loved my stay at El Castillo (I already cannot wait to be back!) and since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let my photos tell the rest of the story of how incredible this place is! But, lastly, coming back to the subject of the hotel’s energy and staff culture — regardless of whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, the sunny El Castillo staff will surely adapt to each guest’s unique personality and will make sure that your stay is warm and comfortable! Viva...

The manager and staff know what customer service is all about. After driving all day we showed up at the front door and the hotel did not have our booking from Expedia. The manager Steve greeted us and immediately saw the anxiety on our faces. He first offered us drink from the bar, on the house, then assured us he would get to the bottom of the matter. A few minutes later Steve told us Expedia had no record of our reservation but he would get to the bottom of things and all would be well.||Steve assured us he had made some changes and was able offer us a complementary upgrade to larger suite for the first two days of our stay and then he would be able to move us to the room we had reserved for the remainder of our trip. He didn't ask for a credit card or put any conditions our stay. Steve just did everything in his power to ease our stress and make us feel better. He then offered us dinner for two and a bottle of wine at his expense just make sure. What a masterful execution of customer service.||The next day I was able to contact Expedia, who immediately dumped me on their VRBO department. ( why I don't know since our reservation was for a hotel and not a vacation rental). I spent two hours with VRBO before they finally gave me their best offer - Cancel my reservation refund our money! Fortunately Steve was happy to accept the same rates Expedia had offered and our week at the El Castillo was set. What a great experience dealing with someone who knows people and can offer help the way it should be offered. Hats off toe Steve and his entire team. ||I would be remiss if I didn't actually review the hotel as well though. This is a charming hotel richly appointed in a blend of traditional Latin/Mediterranean style and contemporary design. The common areas are spacious and inviting complimented with books and games to occupy your relaxing time. The infinity pool is centerstage to look through the common areas to an open view of the pacific ocean. Breathtaking views. ||The food though a bit of a limited offering, was executed beautifully and the chef offered special interpretations on two of the nights we stayed in for dinner. The flavors were truly spectacular and left us with a lingering desire for more. ||The staff, Francisco, Donny and Roxy attend all our needs with grace and efficiency. Our only constructive comment might be they seemed understaffed during meal times when the hotel was full. Nonetheless we were extremely happy with our stay at El Castillo and would certainly stay...