Most of our travelers come through San José. Liberia is an option too — but if the capital is your way in, whether it’s a night’s layover or a slow morning before the coast, here’s our curated map, and someone to ask if you need it. The extra step it takes to reach us is the point. It’s worth it.
Getting Here
STAY
Near the airport — for early flights and late arrivals
Xandari Resort & Spa
Hillside gardens above Alajuela, minutes from the airport. A soft landing after a long flight.
Marriott Hacienda Belén
Coffee-plantation grounds, effortless in-and-out. Reliable when the schedule is tight.
InterContinental Real Cariari
Full-service, close to both the airport and Escazú.
In the city & Escazú — for a longer stay
Grano de Oro
A restored mansion hotel — the city’s most beloved address, and its finest courtyard dinner.
Alta Las Palomas
Boutique and quiet, overlooking the Escazú hills.
Casa 41
Intimate and design-forward, tucked into the Escazú corridor.
EAT
Fine dining
Silvestre
The country’s most celebrated table — a tasting menu of Costa Rican terroir. Reserve well ahead.
Sikwa
Indigenous ingredients and rescued traditions, told across a considered menu.
Casual, upscale
Isolina
Warm, produce-driven, easy all day.
Product C
Seafood and oysters — clean, bright, unfussy.
Doris
Home-style Costa Rican cooking, done properly.
Esquina Buenos Aires
Argentine grill and a San José institution.
Alacena
Seasonal, market-driven plates.
Pescatore
Italian seafood in a quiet setting.
MOVE
Decompress
LUM Wellness · Escazú
A calm, considered space to slow down and unwind — a good place to decompress between the flight in and the drive to the coast.
CARE
Women’s health & pelvic floor
Clínica Trana
The most advanced pelvic floor care we’ve found in Costa Rica — where we’d send someone we love. Especially for women navigating endometriosis, PCOS, or chronic pelvic pain. Tell us and we’ll help you arrange a visit.
DO
A few hours between flights
Hacienda Alsacia
Starbucks’ global coffee farm — a working estate with tours and a beautiful café. Close to the airport.
Doka Estate
A working coffee plantation tour on the slopes of Poás. An easy, grounding few hours.
Half a day free
Pico Blanco · Escazú
A steep, rewarding climb above the city — the valley below, volcanoes on a clear day. Best with a guide and a dry morning.
