Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin
Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica
Hacienda Guachipelin enjoys a rare location in a truly pristine setting surrounded by Rincon de la Vieja National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects thousands of acres of Central America's last remaining dry tropical forest. This part of Guanacaste has been largely untouched by development and deforestation, and the hotel is one of very few commercial ventures in the area. Befitting this special status, Hacienda Guachipelin has taken exceptional strides to reduce its effect on the environment by pursuing sustainable management of waste, pollution and noise. The hacienda runs on power generated by hydro and geothermal electricity, and a natural spring supplies the entire resort with fresh, drinkable pure water.
Accommodations strike the optimal balance between a high standard of comfort and being totally immersed in nature. Guests feel a sense of staying deep in the living, breathing jungle among a plethora of wildlife, which is the real luxury here. Warm wood finishes and local art reflect the traditional heritage of Guanacaste. Room categories range include standard, superior and suites, including superior family rooms. All have private bathrooms with eco-friendly solar water heater. Moderate your climate by leaving the large screened-in windows open, switch on the ceiling fan, or use the air conditioning for extra cool comfort. Rooms have a security box, cable TV, telephone and coffee maker. A full buffet breakfast is included, as well as access to the on-site Rio Negro Hot Springs and mud baths.
Enjoy farm-to-table homemade meals at the hacienda's open-air terrace restaurant, featuring many items sourced from the property's own ranch: vegetables from the hydroponic greenhouse and gardens, eggs from more than 350 free-range chickens, milk that comes fresh daily from the ranch's cows (plus homemade cheese), meat from cattle, pigs and turkeys raised on site, and honey from the hacienda's bee colony. What isn't grown or raised on the premises comes from sustainable local vendors. Both a la carte and buffet menus feature traditional Costa Rican fare and international dishes.