Recommend July 2014 - (Page 40)

A lm A del pAcifico Costa Rica deserae del campo The road to Alma del Paciﬁco Beach Hotel & Spa, located on Costa Rica's Central Paciﬁc coast and built in 2007, is paved with a lush Costa Rican rainforest landscape, not to mention a few intimidating crocodiles. Recommend visited this area of Costa Rica last year, and before arriving at Alma Del Paciﬁco from Juan Santamaria International Airport, we made a quick stop to see the infamous basking crocodiles at the Tarcoles River Bridge-a famous bridge where dozens of crocodiles can be seen lounging in the murky river waters below. The side trip was a necessary break from the 2.5-hour car ride from the airport to the resort, but en-route to Alma there was no denying that the drive was well worth it; not only is it a beautiful commute, but it's made for quick stops on the roadside for picture taking, especially once the Paciﬁc Ocean comes into full view. DESERAE DEL CAMPO (2) alma, at a glance This photo: White cattle spotted while horseback riding. Top: Getting ready for the surfing lesson at Alma del Pacifico. Bottom: Beachfront Villa accommodations. 40 july 2014 40-41 LA CostaRicaOnsite.indd 40 We arrived in the early afternoon, via a dirt road that led us from the main highway to the property, which is made up of 20 beachfront villas painted in pastel colors of blue, purple, and teal (the interior decor is a mixture of beige with explosions of red, blue, green, and yellow furniture accents and eclectic artwork). Once night fell, the resort was enveloped in a natural blanket of darkness that many city dwellers forget exists, but the resort staff provides guests with a ﬂashlight so they can make their way back to their rooms without walking aimlessly around the grounds. Alma del Paciﬁco is set on a stretch of beach known as Playa Esterillos. General manager and part owner of Alma, Fernando Alfaro, points out that "Alma is located right in the middle of the 'hotspot,' between Jaco and Manuel Antonio. When travelers stay at our hotel, they enjoy a private beach to themselves, but still have the chance to visit the national park and all the other attractions within a 20-minute car ride." Accommodations range from the 455-sq.-ft. Garden Bungalow to the 800-sq.-ft. Deluxe Beachfront Villa. During our stay, we were shacked up in a Beachfront Villa-a spacious 745-sq.-ft. room with a private terrace facing the ocean, a large bathroom with dual sinks and a mosaic-tiled shower facing a private garden, adjoining living space with a comfy sofa and a TV that was rarely turned on. Three-bedroom condos and private homes are also available for nightly and weekly rentals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner takes place at the resort's only onsite restaurant, Pavilion, a thatched-roof, open-air seating dining area serving fresh produce and seafood. Produce and herbs like basil, lettuce, and tomatoes are grown at the resort in its greenhouse. Signature dishes are the fresh pan-fried red snapper (cooked whole) and presented with Caribbean-style rice and beans, while the hummus and tuna tartar are served as savory appetizers. Adjacent to the restaurant is the Beach Bar, which was added to the resort in 2011. General manager Alfaro slyly slipped behind the bar and served the group a selection of cocktails with the ﬁnesse of a skilled bartender. Alma is the kind of resort where staff remembers your clients' names in only a few days. "We have a very loyal clientele," says Alfaro. "Everybody who visits Alma wants to come back. Being a small, boutique hotel enables us to provide personalized service and develop close relationships (you could even say develop a friendship) with all the guests." recommend.com 6/24/14 11:13 AM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2014

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: EVEN Hotels
Tour Talk: Back-Roads Touring
Pick a Theme...Any Theme on the High Seas
Jamaica & the USVI: Not the Jimi Hendrix Experience
Guadeloupe: Culture, Rum, the Sea, & That Volcano
5 Active Trips in the States
Ski Adventures Across North America
Argentina & Uruguay: A Traditional Feast
Alma del Pacifico, Costa Rica
Rwanda & Uganda: In the Footsteps of Gorillas
Dreamy Puerto Vallarta
Borneo, the Bountiful

Recommend July 2014