Where the rainforest meets the Pacific: a stay at Rancho Pacifico, Costa Rica
There are some places that stay with you long after you’ve left. Rancho Pacifico is one of them. Tucked away high in the hills above Uvita on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, this adults-only hideout offers something rare: proper, grown-up escapism with the raw beauty of the jungle on your doorstep and the ocean unfurling far below.
Getting there is half the adventure – a bumpy ride up into the clouds, past sleepy villages and thick tangles of rainforest. But the reward is a boutique hotel that feels utterly secluded and deeply connected to the landscape. The 50-acre private reserve is part of a UNESCO-protected area, rich in wildlife – you’re likely to spot toucans, sloths and monkeys before you’ve unpacked your suitcase.
The design is low-key and considered: contemporary treehouses, villas and suites built from sustainable materials, with vast glass windows and open-air showers that make the most of the forest setting. My room came with a four-poster bed, a freestanding tub with a view, and a deck where I could watch hummingbirds dart between heliconia flowers.
Days here can be as slow or as active as you like. I hiked to waterfalls with a naturalist guide, listened to howler monkeys at dawn, and took a boat trip from nearby Marino Ballena National Park, where we spotted humpback whales breaching dramatically against the horizon. Back at the hotel, the infinity pool was my go-to for an afternoon soak with a jungle soundtrack and a cold guava juice in hand.
Food is a highlight. Everything is local, fresh, and full of flavour – from just-caught red snapper to plantain pancakes with wild honey. Dinner is served under the stars, with candlelight and a breeze rolling in from the Pacific. Service is warm and relaxed, the kind that makes you feel like you’re staying with friends who just happen to have excellent taste.
Rancho Pacifico is not glossy or overstyled – and that’s exactly the point. It’s refined, authentic, and quietly luxurious. A place to unplug, reset, and tune into the rhythm of the rainforest.
Words by Lulu Townsend