Hotel Xandari

Allow 20 minutes by car from San José international airport, Xandari is located 4 mi from Alajuela and 14 mi from the famous Paos volcano.

The villas are not equipped with a television, however, the small main building has a television room with a few videos.

Between 1994 and 1996, the owners of Xandari were realising their dreams in stone, and designing, as they went along, their visions of a Costa Rican paradise. On its opening, holidaymakers discover in the heart of a vast, elevated 74 acre estate, 22 villas which are rounded in shape and painted in deep colours which contrast strikingly with the lush green vegetation surrounding them. The villas' exterior is the work of Sherill Broudy, a Californian architect. Their interior decoration, however, is the work of his wife Charlene, an artist and designer.You arrive at the hotel by a little tarmacked road which is lost in the lush and flower-filled vegetation. The main building is comprised of a small reception area, a television room and the only restaurant in the resort. Although it is a beautiful place, its maximum capacity is not very high. By following a series of small footpaths, you will discover all the site's attractions: the orchid house, in flower between March and February; the two terraces attached to the long and narrow main swimming pool and another smaller pool; the painting workshop where the paintings by Charlene Broudy are displayed; the lovely organic garden; the coffee plants which yield between the months of October and February and the goats and the chickens. However, the biggest attraction on the site is the stretch of land that covers the forest and its 5 waterfalls, in which you can sometimes take a dip, (the fourth waterfall being the largest one of them all). Allow 2 hours and 30 minutes to make the grand tour!In 2002, a little spa village opened its doors. In 2004, it received the WorldTravel Award as the Leading Spa Resort in Costa Rica. 7 small structures topped with palm leaf roofs offer a view of the lush green vegetation. They are all fitted with a jacuzzi and massage tables, and offer a host of treatments.

Surrounded by tropical vegetation, the 22 spacious and luxury villas possess a superb panoramic view which can be seen from the rooms and even better from the large furnished terraces. Every villa is decorated with multi-coloured paintings by Charlene Broudy, a lot of wooden furniture, finely wrought panels in coconut wood or cedar wood, rugs and mosquito nets. The overall effect is one of harmony, relaxation and originality. For ecological reasons, air-conditioning has not been installed, however, you will find a free safe, a ventilator, a mini-bar with tea and coffee facilities, a telephone and a radio with a CD player. Room service is available from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. The large bathrooms, which have a separate toilet, are very pretty. They have Italian style showers encrusted with blue mosaic tiles, a hair-dryer, bathrobes, slippers and hospitality products. Thanks to the patio doors, the bathroom also benefits from the natural light coming from the veranda. However, there is not a lot of privacy.

The only restaurant in the resort enjoys a pleasant open-air setting on a terrace. The sheltered area offers a panoramic view over the city of Alajuela. At night time, it's a magical sight. The staff are always on hand and seeking to satisfy the needs of all the guests (down to the smallest detail) when they are seated around the restaurant tables. The menu offers a good variety of fish and meat. Vegetarians and children will also find dishes that they like. If it is your first visit to Costa Rica, do not hesitate to ask for "Casados de mi tierra" a typical mix of local dishes! The wine menu consists of bottles from Argentina, Chile, Italy, France and Spain. Between 6:00 am and 9:00 am, there is a varied breakfast buffet of fruit, homemade cakes and cereals for holidaymakers to enjoy. An a la carte menu is also available. The only downer is that the restaurant is quite small and there is not enough space to move around the room. Another restaurant should be opening in 2009.