Gaia

We spent a week here and loved every minute. First, the views are incomparable. We loved the sunsets and bird watching on the 3rd floor happy hour lounge. There, we saw a family of Toucans close up. The infinity pool deck also boasted beautiful views of the jungle side.

Second, the service, the service, the service. We had our own personal concierge, who was always there to help with anything we needed. The rest of the staff were delightful and I loved the golf cart shuttle service they used to escort you around the compound.

Third, the reserve and Macaw nursery. We went on an hour hike where we stopped by to see where Gaia was trying to help make macaw population more resilient to fight extinction. We also did a really interesting nature walk with a climb up to another beautiful view of the pacific...all on the property.

All in all, Gaia is a view beautiful and classy hotel for couples that want to relax and connect with the stunning natural beauty of the region.

Just finished a three night stay at Gaia hotel. I must say the service was top notch! 10/10
From the front desk, to the golf cart drivers, front entrance, breakfast server, and housekeeping. Everyone deserves praise. The views are gorgeous from restaurant, and even our room had its own balcony and deck. It’s a small hotel, only 22 rooms, so you really are treated special. Thank you Gaia staff for the courtesy shuttle to Manuel Antonio park and for the special breakfast service early and gluten free, catering for allergies.

I stayed for four nights the week before Christmas. One of the most enjoyable trips of my life. The staff are all exceptional and make you feel like family. If you are staying here, take advantage of the walking tour on the property - that hike with Clarence, the in-house guide, was a highlight of the trip. We had wonderful meals on the property throughout the trip. The complimentary breakfast every morning set us up well for our adventures throughout the day.

Staying at Gaia made us feel really special :) being greeted with drinks at the reception and getting a little lunch/ snack bag when we left the hotel was amazing. The staff is exceptionally caring and nice. They booked a guided tour for the national park during the check-in process which was really comfortable. Clarance, our guide in the park and for the hiking tour, was very funny and helpful. He really made sure everyone got some nice photos of the animals and even sent us the ones he took with the help of his telescope. Greetings to Gustavo who was so sweet and kind and really impressed us with the amount of bags he could carry all at once!

We have chosen the hotel ‚Gaia‘ for our last two nights in Costa Rica. The hotel is located in between a small little forest and very well maintained. Also the sunset views were just amazing. They even have a free shuttle to the beach which runs on an hourly basis and organise some beach towels, deckchairs and sunshade directly at the beach. The service is super friendly and the breakfast was delicious and freshly made. Our room was quite spacious and clean.

My husband surprised me with a trip to Costa Rica as I love sloths. We stayed for about 5 days at Gaia Hotel and it was amazing!

First, the grounds and hotel are amazing. Everything is lush and beautiful. There are other reviews about things being "run down" but I have no idea where these people were staying. The grounds are well maintained, all the carts taking you around the property were new, the pool (multi-level) was beautiful, and our room was meticulously clean. We stayed in the jungle suite and it was spacious and lovely. I could live in that shower - after long days of hikes/tours I adored that shower!

Second, the staff. Michael, our concierge, made our stay. When we first arrived we had traveled the entire day so we were exhausted and hungry. We just had a 3+ hour drive from the airport so we probably looked rough! Lol. Michael greeted us with drinks, set up room service, and had us taken to our rooms quickly. He really set the tone for our trip. He was always available for any questions, even calling us a cab when we were away at dinner one night and stuck at a restaurant! He set up multiple tours and moved heaven and earth for a few of them (everything was booked for the new year holiday).

Besides Michael EVERY staff member we met was kind and courteous. Multiple staff members greeted us by name and went above and beyond. Clarence (I hope I spelled that correctly) was our tour guide for two tours: one at Manuel Antonio and the other at the preserve on grounds. Clarence was a wealth of knowledge. He hiked with us in the rain for 5 hours hunting for sloths at Manuel Antonio - he refused to give up for me! On the hotel ground tour he showed us a variety of plants, reptiles, monkeys, and birds. The hike up to the peak was no joke - he warned it would be tough and he was NOT kidding. Please heed his warnings if you are not in good shape - I was sweating! But he made sure we were safe and really made every tour amazing.

I only wish we had more time. I never did get to enjoy the spa - just not enough time with all the tours we wanted to do. I can not stress enough the amazing service at this hotel. Where I live, hotels are expensive. I have stayed at hotels that cost more and the service is no where NEAR this level. Highly recommend Gaia!

Pura Vida!

Gaia helped make our trip to Costa Rica in April 2023 an amazing experience and a huge part of that was the hospitality and effort of our concierge, Carlos.
When we had a small issue with our shower, Carlos dispatched someone immediately to fix it.
While enjoying drinks on the roof-top terrace for my wife's birthday, Carlos appeared with a slice of delicious birthday cake for her.
Carlos recommended Morpho, the *perfect* restaurant for a magical, romantic dinner, and made us reservations.
Carlos called taxis, arranged shuttles, and helped us with every step of our itinerary.
When we were unceremoniously abandoned by our horseback riding tour (who were unaffiliated with Gaia, but were supposed to pick us up there for the tour), Carlos stepped in and stepped up! He showed us around town in Quepos instead. He took us to the local farmer's market and introduced us to local jewelry artists and bought any fruits and vegetables we had never tried and shared them with us. He took us to the best place in town to watch the sunset and sat with us and told us about anything we asked about. Then he showed us where a local dance troupe was putting on a small show in the square where they were telling the story of Costa Rica through dance. Finally, we said we wanted to eat somewhere low-key away from the hotels, and he showed us to a local place where we all had great food.
I never expected to receive such personal attention and extraordinary effort. Carlos and the entire staff at Gaia are incredible and our time at Gaia was both much too short and also absolutely nonpareil.
Juan, our guide on the nature tours at Gaia and Manuel Antonio, knew everything. He helped us get once-in-a-lifetime pictures and video of wildlife including sloths, capuchins, howlers, macaws, and many others. And he knew everyone! You can't do any better than Juan.
The folks at the beach were jovial and friendly. I loved those guys. They let me know what to expect from the surf, when things would pick up and die down, and where to get a board. I had two great days at the beach because of them.
I can't say enough nice things about this resort. The beds were comfy, the room was clean, the grounds were gorgeous, and the rooftop here is, even more than the steps at the marina, the best place to catch the sunset in the area.
Cheers, Gaia.

I very rarely write reviews but I need to tell everyone about this amazing place! The location is amazing, the property is incredible, but the real reason I am writing this 5 star review is the staff! I have never been treated so well on vacation! From the minute we walked in until the hugs and goodbyes at the end of our vacation, the staff were kind, caring, and always ready to make sure you were taken care of. Nelson was extraordinary and I almost cried saying goodbye to him. He made sure we were happy and taken care of. All the staff call you by name, and they all knew that my daughter had a nut allergy and pointed out the nuts on the menu. They also are always on alert for the wildlife and will point out the monkeys, sloths, iquanas, macaws etc. Yes - you will see all that from the pool or the restaurant!

Food was amazing as well. You will never be hungry here.

Highly recommend and am hoping to go back someday!

We stayed at Gaia for a few nights and got the “You and Me” package which included private romantic dinner, couples massage and more. We loved the reserve walk, the tour to the national park, the food, the service, and the pool!

We were very impressed with the service at Gaia. The staff were always looking out for us and anticipating our needs. The guys driving the golf cart up and down the steep road from the hotel entrance/parking lot to the reception, restaurant, and hotel rooms were very nice and friendly. They were alsoso prompt every time we entered the resort to park our car, and they seemed to recognize us (it wasn’t like other resorts where they would ask us every time for our name and room number like they had never seen us before). Our concierge, Michael, was helpful and reliable.

When I first saw the room, I thought it didn’t look as fancy as the other resorts we stayed at in Costa Rica (and it was priced accordingly), but it was comfortable and clean and had amenities such as a robe and slippers. There were no issues with the room.

We enjoyed the free hike on the hotel’s private reserve, where we saw macaws and a beautiful view of the sunset. We also saw an iguana by the hotel pool. And it was so convenient that the hotel offered a shuttle to and from the national park, since parking there seems a bit complicated (lots of pushy guys at the park trying to scam tourists).

The breakfast was delicious (even for vegetarians - the huevos rancheros were excellent), and the guy staffing that area was very nice as well. We felt so taken care of by the team at Gaia and would love to come back.

I had an extraordinary stay at Gaia Resort in Costa Rica. The service was unparalleled, the food was exceptional, and the breakfast was heavenly. The abundant wildlife, including macaws, monkeys, sloths, and iguanas, added a unique touch to the trip. The breathtaking views of the island and ocean were unforgettable, and the resort's privacy, despite its capacity, made it an incredibly peaceful and relaxing experience. A solid 10/10 for an unforgettable vacation.

I never feel the need to leave reviews, but after staying at Gaia for 5 days I feel like I must.

Gaia hotel was one unlike any other. From the moment I arrived, late at night since our flight had landed late, we were greeted with open arms and eagerness to help. Immediately one of the young men in the front of security, Gustavo, checked us in since it was too late to go check in upstairs as well as helped us carry our luggage to our room. Once at our rooms, he asked us if we had already eaten dinner and if we would like for him to order us delivery. This was just the beginning of his great service and it continued to get better. One night when me and my daughter arrived late, since we were out all day sight seeing, Gustavo was quick to check in with us as he had been waiting for us to arrive because he was worried he hadn't seen us. This was great to hear, Gaia truly treats you like family.

Boris, the owner was also a great individually who I was suprised to see daily throughout my stay, especially every morning for breakfast upstairs. He was quick to introduce himself and offer to better improve our stay in any way he could. It was nice to see an owner who is not only so involved in his business, but also the environment in which it is in. This was evident through the reservation that he has personally funded just behind the hotel. You have the opporuntity to take a tour of it and see the animals as well as learn about the history with a tour guide, Juan.

Juan is also another amazing individual! I took two tours with him, where I ended up spending a total of about 6 hours with him and I could not be more impressed. He has a vast amount of knowledge on the animals, land and just the overall history. Often on our tours, tour guides from other hotels would go and ask Juan for help or verification because he is just that knowledgeable!

While the people made my stay a great one, the location and hotel itself was also amazing. The room was great and very comfortable, the hotel was surrounded by greenery and beautiful and the food was always amazing! The included breakfast was delicious, and the drinks at La Luna and the pool bar were also great. I was enjoying great food with great views and amazing wildlife constantly. I even got to see some monkeys and sloths right by the pool!!

Overall, my stay at Gaia couldn't have been better. This hotel was truly the best one I have been to, both location and service wise. It has made me want to visit Costa Rica again soon just to come back! I will recommend it to all who are traveling to Costa Rica because I know how great it is. 5/5 stars!!

Michael and the team at Gaia went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful stay at the resort! Beautiful location close to the beach and Manuel Antonio Park while still perched high enough up in the rainforest for beautiful sunset views. Thank you team for a wonderful stay!

This was my second time at Gaïa. They stepped up their game and let me tell you, if you enjoy a personal concierge that goes above and beyond for you, this is the place to stay in Manuel Antonio.

Private infinity pools, insanely delicious cocktails, the spa treatments are well worth the experience, the private reserve tour is awesome and the pink Macaw and giant blue Morphos are magical.

Highly recommended 👌

We stayed 3 nights in Gaia and what a stay! We enjoyed every second of it. The view from the terrace, the restaurant and the pool is breathtaking. The staff is so welcoming and they are there for your every need. Special mention to Marco who was so nice to us and showed us a mama sloth and her baby. Animals were so close to us, while staying in their natural habitat. The golf cart system to climb up the hill is super efficient. I cannot recommand you enough a stay at Gaia Hotel! You won’t regret it. I will come back for my next trip to Costa Rica!

My family and I stayed at Gaia a couple weeks ago. We had the most amazing time! From the pools, amazing restaurant, and stunning views, you will have a great time. The staff is wonderful and very kind. We had the chance to meet the owner Boris, he has a wonderful property. The hotel has its own Nature Reserve and it brought me to tears how much amazing work Boris and his team do for the animals and community. Overall the property was incredible.

Carlos was our concierge and from the moment we booked our trip last year until our very last day he was so kind and helpful. The staff is incredible and I have a horrible memory with names but everyone was great, Dennis is a standout too and was very friendly.

Some notes: I do think that it can use some tlc in the rooms and common areas but is beautiful overall. I do think for the price it would be nice if it was all inclusive. However, that being said we live in Las Vegas and in some hotels here for the price we spent on Gaia per night, you would only get a basic room. So I think it is still more than worth it when you factor in that our price included a mini spa treatment per person, nature reserve tour, and breakfast daily. I also didn't like that for room service there was a $10 fee. But everyone will have different opinions. I think you are paying for the amazing location, incredible staff, and overall experience.

We would definitely recommend Gaia and would love to stay again if we are ever in Costa Rica. Thank you for a great time 😊

Such a beautiful and interesting place to stay. Everyone there is friendly and very helpful. The animals around this place are awesome. You are sure to love the monkeys and a wide varied of birds, a few sloths as well and the macaws! All of the tours we went on were well prepared and worth every penny. Loved the zip lining and the fishing boat!

After 5 nights, I am just rating it 5 due to obvious advantages this hotel provides, but would also point to weak spots and improvements needed.

First of all the staff is incredibly friendly and service is outstanding. Waiters, cleaners and reception workers are very welcoming.

Swimming pool and rooms in jungle surroundings make you want to spend most of your time in the hotel. We saw parrots, monkeys and iguanas right by the pool.

The restaurant has a decent selection of seafood and meats and definitely the best wines in Manuel Antonio.

Our room was spacious with balcony facing the jungle. Do check out rooftops of your apartments, as each has secluded area with sunbeds, umbrellas and even showers. A great place to do star-gazing

There were a few negatives too: the hotel should not charge $60 for the 30min session in the sauna or charge you extras for breakfast options if breakfast is included. Some furniture in the room is tired.

However, on a balance, it is still 5* for me due to the level of service and surreal jungle setting.

Gaia was our first stop in Costa Rica. The staff were funny, nice and accommodating. They made us feel right at home! The resort is tucked into the jungle, so you will most likely get a visit from monkeys, Macaw’s and other creatures! The pool was an amazing; it has a swim up bar and amazing views. Luna restaurant was delicious. Be sure to try the zip line tour while there. We had such a blast!

Let me start by saying I don’t often leave reviews. So the fact that I felt the necessity to write such a long and detailed review of Gaia Hotel speaks volumes. But here it goes… If you are visiting Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, then Gaia Hotel and Natural Reserve is the perfect choice. Surrounded by lush tropical forest, the facilities are simply breathtaking. We were fortunate enough to spot sloths, monkeys, and macaws in the trees right outside our room (see pictures below). The multilevel pool is perfectly positioned for enjoying the sunset, and the service is top-notch. The staff goes out of their way to ensure that you have everything you need, and they truly make a lasting impact.

Our experience at Gaia was truly amazing, and it was the staff that made the most significant difference. We had a terrible start to our trip to Manuel Antonio National Park due to a tour company's irresponsible behavior. They ditched us without explanation or apology, and they didn't even bother to get us the tickets required to enter the park. However, the kindness and generosity of the staff at Gaia turned it into an unforgettable and happy memory.

We went to the hotel lobby hoping to get some advice on obtaining same-day tickets to the Manuel Antonio National Park, which typically sell out several days in advance. Jose at the front desk immediately started making phone calls to see what could be done. At that moment, Boris, the owner of Gaia Hotel, walked in and learned about our situation. He dropped everything he was doing and personally intervened. He called the director of Manuel Antonio National Park and secured tickets to the park for us. He then arranged for Juan, the hotel's dedicated tour guide, to take us on a private guided tour of the park.

Juan is an incredible guide with a contagious enthusiasm for the park's wildlife. We saw an array of animals we would have never spotted on our own, including sloths, monkeys, iguanas, snakes, and crabs. He was entertaining and informative, and we were impressed by his vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna. As we made our way through the park, we noticed groups of 10-20 people stopped at various points with their respective guides, taking 20-30 minutes to get a 10 second view through the lens of a scope to see an animal. However, since our tour was limited to just my wife and I with our own personal guide, we were able to take our time and see many more animals while having all our questions answered. The trail lead to a picturesque beach where we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery and crystal-clear waters. If you decide to stay in Gaia, please do yourself a favor and book the Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour directly through the hotel (if I had known better I would have done this from the start).

What impressed me the most about Gaia was their willingness to make our day special. They did not charge us for the tickets or the tour and made us feel like valued guests. Boris and his team truly cared about our experience and did everything they could to ensure we had a great time. Another personal touch was Alejandro, the hotel concierge, who checked in with us daily to see how he could make our stay more pleasant. He always made sure to learn our plans, whether we wanted to have breakfast at the restaurant, or if we were leaving before the restaurant opened, he made sure to get us a box of sandwiches, fruits, and pastries along with coffee for our early morning. It is this type of attention to detail and personal touch that is intangible and makes the difference.

I highly recommend Hotel Gaia to anyone visiting Manuel Antonio. The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating, and the facilities are top-notch. What sets Gaia apart from other hotels is their commitment to their guests' happiness. They truly care about providing the best possible experience, and I cannot thank them enough for making our day so special.