I told my travel agent I wanted places with personality and Aguas Claras certainly has that. Very clean and comfortable with a helpful staff and great breakfasts (their oatmeal was the best I have ever had and I am not an oatmeal person. The hotel has beautiful grounds and individual cottages with a unique kind of bohemian flair. We loved it
Expedia.comExpedia.com
Taking safety measuresExpedia.comTaking safety measures
The place is beautiful and very well cared for. You can really tell the owners put a lot of effort on designing every little detail (loved the hand made plates and mugs).
But what really shines is the service, even if the place wasn’t as beautiful as it is... I would still visit them for their hospitality, kindness, thoughtfulness and overall superb service.
I’ll hope to visit this amassing place as soon as possible.
I highly recommend them!
Thank you for your wonderful review. Yes, the owners, who are local artists thought through every little detail of the design of the hotel and it shows in every corner. We are very thankful for the great comments on the service. This means a lot to us. Please come back soon.
Aguas Claras is a beautiful boutique hotel surrounded by a lush tropical garden full of bromeliads, heliconias, sloths, macaws and more! It has access to a beach club where you can have lunch on the beach or at the restaurant. We loved our stay and kept extending it more days.
The hotel:
Tropical Chic decorated lobby, swimming pool area and restaurant. The swimming pool is very refreshing and beautifully landscaped. There is a wonderful open room to do yoga surrounded by lush vegetation. Very relaxing!
The food:
The food was very tasty and meticulously plated on stoneware. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus were varied and great for vegetarians and foodies. Ask for their homemade hot sauce... they also have homemade bread, granola, jellies and much more.
The beach:
The beach is accessed easily by a very short walk. It is a white sand beach with coral reefs great for snorkeling (when the sea is calm). If you didn’t bring your own snorkeling gear, you can get it at the lobby. The beaches are long and great for walking. You can also get bicycles to stroll around.
The rooms:
We stayed in the Pavlova Suites. Beds are cozy with down duvet. It has a sitting area where you can relax from the days adventures or sip a cup of coffee. I loved that they had a French press and delicious coffee. There is a mini fridge. Amenities were very nice (lemongrass scented shampoo and conditioner). We also got a great cream/balm of coconut and cacao oil.
The bathroom is in the open air. It boasts a rain shower that doubles up as a sitting area. The only problem is that there is not much privacy because rooms are next to each other and everything can be heard. Our neighbor was playing music early in the morning and it was a bit of a downer because we wanted to hear the wildlife.
Midway through our stay we switched to Cacao bungalow. The bungalows are great because you get to enjoy a small outdoor terrace and they have a more tropical vibe. The only negative part is that they have magnetic locks so you have to carry your key at all times. If not, you are at risk of getting locked out.
The Staff:
Staff is very attentive always addressing us by name, attentive to all our needs and eager to help.
Covid protocols:
As for Covid protocols, all staff is wearing masks and there are alcohol dispensers everywhere. The restaurant is wide open so there is plenty of circulating air and plenty of space for social distancing.
Dear TicaEye,
thank you for this detailed review of your recent stay with us. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our stay with us. Your comments will be very helpful for other travelers considering a visit to Puerto Viejo. We hope you come back soon. All the best from the Aguas Claras Team.
The rooms were special, especially the bungalows--rarely do you find a hotel in the middle of the rainforest, with the sounds of the jungle all around you (yes, you will will hear howler monkeys morning and evening). The staff were all very caring and focused on giving the best service possible. This hotel met my needs to explore (a visit to the Bribri people was a highlight of the entire vacation) and my sons' desire for a relaxing getaway where they could just hang out on the beach.
Thank you for your visit to Aguas Claras. For many of our guests, it is their first visit to the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. And many tell us, just like you, that it really exceeded their expectations. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the bungalows and your trip to visit the native Bribri. And of course, hanging out at Playa Chiquita with the calm and warm waters this time of the year is a wonderful experience. Please come back soon.
The hotel is an architectural jewel, full of details. Lush gardens surround the property which is steps away from the beach. Wereserved a Pavlova Suite. The bed was comfortable, amazing décor and the outdoor shower was a pleasure. i would have add body lotion to the ammenities, and maybe a pitcher with cold water. The hotel does not use plastic and all the walter is filtered.
Dinier, our server, was great. He showed me around and we could even see up close some sloths. Breakfast was a la carte but it was beautifully served, nice portions and fresh ingredients. We also had lunch and the I ordered a salad with a delicious passion fruit dressing. I almost cried when I left the hotel. It is really a jewel and can't wait to go back again.
Regarding Covid19, although the Puerto Viejo are has very few cases, the whole staff wore mask. Alcohol was available everywhere, and your temperature was checked at your arrival.
We enjoyed a wonderful 3 night stay at this great boutique hotel in the funky town of Puerto Viejo. As it was during the pandemic, the town was much less crowded than it is usually. The beaches were very empty. The hotel had a few guests but everyone stayed socially distant. The staff all wore masks and it felt very safe. We stayed in a lovely Cacao bungalow - which was perfect for us as a couple. The staff were all very friendly and service was great. It was a very short walk to a lovely beach area which was lovely. The hotel is walking distance to the Jaguar Rescue Center and we had a great tour there. The beach town of Puerto Viejo has some interesting restaurants and some great little shops. Back at the hotel I had a fabulous massage in their beautiful spa area. We didn't do it, but there was an option for private yoga classes as well. Would definitely like to come back when more of the tours are available but it was great to get away and a great place to stay.
Dear Barbara,
thank you for your visit and this wonderful review. We are happy that you had a great time but especially pleased to hear that you felt safe due to our COVID Protocols. Little by little things are opening up again and it would be great to have you back in September or October which is our dry season in Puerto Viejo. Or come visit any of the other Cayuga Collection Hotels and Lodges that are open in Costa Rica. All the best from all of us at Aguas Claras.
