Hotel Experiences: Golden Pineapple Villas Uvita, Costa Rica
Usually during my travels I try to stay in a place thats closer to the city center. However, I noticed that whenever I do travel off the beaten path I am never disappointed. So for my solo trip to Costa Rica I did just that and I did not regret it. Nestled in the southern region of the island, the beautiful oasis Golden Pineapple Villas is a place of peace, serenity and tranquility. Before continuing, check out my one minute recap of my solo trip to Costa Rica.
Getting Here:
I arrived in Costa Rica by flying into San Jose from New York City. From here, I arranged a private taxi to pick me up from the airport and we were on our way. You can also opt to take the bus but the timing didn’t sync up with my flight. It was a bit of a journey but it was a very scenic drive. After three hours driving we stopped at what looked like the wilderness. My driver then switches gears on his car and we head up a very steep and bumpy hill. At this point I’m confused and wondering where exactly am I. After about 10-12 minutes of rocking back and forth and feeling like we were driving on nothing but rocks, we finally reached what looked like an entrance. Little did I know, on the other side of this would be one of the best hotels I’ve ever seen.
The Villas:
I was greeted very warmly by the staff and the owner with a pineapple mimosa which I thought was was a great touch before heading to my private villa. As soon as I opened my door, I immediately fell in love. The colors in the villa are vibrant and everything looked extremely modern and up to date. To be greeted with floor to ceiling glass doors and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean was nothing close than a slice of heaven. Each villa has its own private plunge pool and outdoor bathtub and shower. I could not get over the intricate details and colors from the paintings to the matching linens. Being a New Yorker, I have such a great appreciation for waking up to the sounds of nature and the light of the sunrise. I stayed in 2 different villas: The Sunset Villa and the Water Villa. Each one had its own individual touches.. Although the sunset villa was larger, the water villa was just as beautiful and didn’t feel much different than the sunset villa aside from the color scheme. Both villas have their own private pools and outdoor showers.
The Pool:
I have some pretty high standards when it comes to pools because who doesn’t love a good pool? And an infinity pool at that?!. It was hard to get me away from the private pool in my villa, but when I went to the main pool, I could not believe how serene it was. This outdoor pool was one of the best I’ve ever seen thus far. I came to the pool area about three times daily. In the morning for breakfast, in the afternoon for a swim, and of course to watch the sunset. Another unique touch was the different color lights in the pool that changed from shades of blue, green and purple.
The Food:
Usually when I visit a country I tend to go out and find local restaurants. This was the only time I did not do this because I was so blown away by the food and service. I got so comfortable here that I did not want to leave until it was time to go home. My personal favorite dish here was actually an appetizer which was brie cheese, apples, pecans and honey. Prior to visiting here, I would have never put these together as one dish. I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised. The contrasting flavors of the cheese with the honey was so great that I ended up having it every day as either an appetizer or a snack. I also enjoyed the breakfast wrap and vegetable medley for dinner.
The Activities:
It’s very easy to get wrapped up in how tranquil this resort is. I love how they offer their own services to take people around the island for different activities. Each villa comes with a tablet that has several activities for everyone to enjoy. I chose to do one day trip to the “Whale’s Tail”. A beach located at Marino Ballena National park where from an aerial angle, looks like the tail of a whale. This beach is the only one that actually splits in half and when visiting during low tide, its quite interesting to walk on the sand and see water on both your left and right. The next trip organized was to Nauyaca waterfall. There are two options to get to these waterfalls when you arrive. You can either hike for about 30-40 minutes or you can take a truck. Normally I’m the adventurous traveler but this trip was about taking things easy so I opted to take the truck. After a 15 minute ride, from here you can then take one of two trails to either the first or second waterfall. The second waterfall is not meant for swimming because it’s surrounded by rocks. The first waterfall is the most popular and its very clear why. It’s stunning! Take some time here and enjoy the view then go for a swim. If you have time left (which you should), take a light hike to the second waterfall.
Going Green:
As I expand my brand, a new initiative I have taken this year is to collaborate with more sustainable hotels that help save the environment. Golden Pineapple Villas uses fresh ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. Their soaps and lotions are hand crafted in Costa Rica using all natural local products. Although the property is rather large, they have committed to only developing a portion of the property and have designated the majority as protected area for the natural wildlife. The resort conserves water and invests in solar energy while using cleaning supplies with less environmental impact wherever possible. As if the hotel wasn’t already mind blowing, it’s great to know they are taking the proper steps to preserve the environment and natural habitat of the animals in the area.
All in all, my visit at Golden Pineapple Villas was absolutely flawless. I couldn’t have asked for a better space to bask in amazing views and just simply breathe and reboot. It gave me exactly what I needed to clear my head and really appreciate lifes blessings. It was indeed the perfect getaway.
I was welcomed as a guest of Golden Pineapple Villas but all words, opinions and photography are my own.
PIN IT!
