PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Several individual and duplex villas are spread around the grounds here, which command an impressive view over the Río Grande and its steep-walled canyon. The architecture has a strong Japanese influence, from the open and airy villas to the comfortable wraparound decks. My favorite rooms are the Mona Lisa and Ilan-Ilan suites, which are octagonal affairs set on the edge of the bluff with great views and private outdoor showers. The grounds are wonderfully landscaped, with several inviting seating areas among a wealth of flowering tropical plants. There are stunning views from the restaurant, which features a regularly changing menu of fine international cuisine prepared with local ingredients. The hotel is 20 minutes north of the Juan Santamaría Airport, and staying here can cut as much as an hour off your travel time if you're heading out to the Pacific coast beaches, Arenal Volcano, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Costa Rica 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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