Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection

My wife and I recently got away for a warm vacation during the cold winter in the US. We have gone to Riviera Maya, Mexico multiple times but grew tired of the eating/drinking/laying on the beach routine. So we decided to look for something that still had a luxurious feel,...

My wife and I recently got away for a warm vacation during the cold winter in the US. We have gone to Riviera Maya, Mexico multiple times but grew tired of the eating/drinking/laying on the beach routine. So we decided to look for something that still had a luxurious feel, great food, great service, safe and allowed us to be active. This resort kept coming up in Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast and it looked intriguing. One of the most amazing parts of the trip was before we got to the resort. We landed in San Jose and before we got into the customs line, we were greeted by an airport employee with a sign for the resort who swept us away into a private airport lounge to clear customs and relax before taking our small flight to the resort. The line to clear regular customs for the country was so long and when we asked, the employee said that everyone else probably had to wait about two hours to clear customs! When we got to the resort, there were several things that I noticed instantly. We have traveled to high end hotels throughout Europe, The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bora Bora, etc so we have a good feel for quality service and properties. The people were extremely warm and welcoming. They genuinely seemed happy that we were there at their resort. The grounds were beautiful and immaculately maintained. The property sits on the side of some rolling mountains and the general feel is that you are a personal guest at some Latin American billionaire’s private ranch. Our room was a Casa, which is a free standing “villa” with some great views of the valley. It has a large porch and sitting area, spacious and well-appointed living room, bedroom, closet and bathroom. The villa was so well designed and every single detail was thought through. There were gluten-free snacks already in the room (per our dietary requests) binoculars, steamer for clothes, a yoga mat, a Bang & Olufsen blue tooth speaker, stocked mini fridge, etc. The room is a perfect mix of luxury without feeling pretentious. It’s decorated in Costa Rican style so you get a feel for the people and culture but also extremely comfortable. My wife’s favorite part was every evening during turndown service, they would put hot water in two water bladders, inside of a sleeve and placed under the covers to warm the sheets. She would climb into the warm bed after dinner and immediately doze off. Because the resort is spaced out and has a lot of hills, you can message the staff and request a cart come pick you up and drop you anywhere on the property at any time. With all the meals being included, my wife and I barely used that and enjoyed walking after we ate. The property is at a little over 3,000ft elevation and walking on the hills could work up a sweat, which we really enjoyed. For horse lovers, the stables are a must. Even if you don’t want to ride, you should visit. We did ride and enjoyed a two hour ride up in the mountains and the views were amazing. The big difference is that the staff at the stables were happy to have us visit and just pet and spend time with the horses. Most of the time in the USA, they view us visiting the stables as a nuisance or some kind of liability. Here they take pride in the roughly 35 horses on property and my wife made me walk with her EVERY day to visit them. We also try to eat organic at home so visiting a property that served quality food was extremely important. No matter which restaurant we visited or which meal we ate, the quality of the ingredients and the detail and care that went into each dish was evident. One of our favorite people that week was Andrey. He was extremely friendly, personable and was happy to talk about the resort, his family, the town, Costa Rica, etc. Also his knowledge and level of service was the best! There was plenty of variety in the food as the dinner menu was different every night! The resort has plenty of classes that are included with your room rate as well as others available for additional cost. They are clearly marked so you know ahead of time if there is a charge. We took a coffee class with Tacho in Mercado which was really cool to see how using different coffee making techniques and equipment led the same coffee to taste differently. After the class was over, I explained to Tacho some of the issues I have with making espresso at home. He took me behind the counter and we experimented with grind size, amount of coffee, amount of water, etc so I knew what to look for when making adjustments to my machine. My wife love cappuccinos and all of the baristas make great designs with the foam on top. Sure enough, the next day, Tacho took me back behind the counter and worked with me on my technique for the froth so I could make better designs for my wife’s froth drinks. My point for going into so much detail, is that Tacho is a great example of the care and attention you’ll get if you engage with these warm people. Lastly, we had some great treatments at the spa but they also have a sauna and fantastic steam room in the men’s and women’s locker rooms. Those facilities were included in the room rate so even on the days we didn’t have a treatment, we could come use the facilities and then hang out by the large indoor pool and relax. Also included in your room rate is a clay treatment where they combine clay and a mix of your choice of herbs. You rub it all over your body and then lay on a heated stone table for about 15mins. It’s enough time for the clay to have some good benefits for your skin without getting dry and cracked. Then you get up and rinse off at the shower. This was one of the best vacations we have ever taken and would love to bring our kids back to experience the resort as well. If I could give this place six stars out of five, I would do it!

Just back and we (me and my partner) had the time of our lives!!! Beauty, Adventure, Movement, Healing, Art, Incredible food, Incredible service and warmth. We are vegan and vegetarian which can be challenging at times but we ate like a king & queen!!! The food was spectacular! The staff...

Just back and we (me and my partner) had the time of our lives!!! Beauty, Adventure, Movement, Healing, Art, Incredible food, Incredible service and warmth. We are vegan and vegetarian which can be challenging at times but we ate like a king & queen!!! The food was spectacular! The staff was equally spectacular and special!! We recommend taking full advantage of the Experiences. We stepped outside of our comfort zones and we both feel so grateful that we did. Thank you to the wonderful family at Auberge- we so appreciate all the warmth and kindness we received!! You set such a high standard that our travel will forever look different!! With so much gratitude, nadia & richard

Outstanding service! Just the right amount of attention, not overbearing (take note Jade Mountain). Interesting location in that it's not near the beach or rainforest. But they do a great job with what they have. Great hikes to waterfalls, horses, excellent dining and a wonderful spa. Best of all you...

Outstanding service! Just the right amount of attention, not overbearing (take note Jade Mountain). Interesting location in that it's not near the beach or rainforest. But they do a great job with what they have. Great hikes to waterfalls, horses, excellent dining and a wonderful spa. Best of all you fly in. Everywhere else we looked would have taken hours by car from airport. Highly recommend.

It’s hard to put into words how exceptional our stay at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection truly was. The property itself is absolutely stunning, but what sets this resort apart from other 5-star destinations is the unparalleled personal service from the staff. From the moment we booked, every detail—from communication...

It’s hard to put into words how exceptional our stay at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection truly was. The property itself is absolutely stunning, but what sets this resort apart from other 5-star destinations is the unparalleled personal service from the staff. From the moment we booked, every detail—from communication to activity planning, treatments, meals, and excursions—was handled with care and precision. Melissa was incredibly attentive and responsive throughout our stay, making sure every aspect of our experience was seamless. We also had a personal wellness consultation to create a tailored wellness plan. The resort’s focus on wellness, culinary experiences, and adventure is evident in everything they do, and I encourage you to participate in all three areas. Highlights of our trip: • A full-day adventure with Pabro Sanchez. If you do anything at all, spend a day with him! His knowledge and passion for Costa Rica made our adventure unforgettable—we’d happily spend a week exploring the country with him. • The Well (Spa) is world-class. The staff is incredibly caring, and the treatments are among the best we’ve experienced in a lifetime of spa visits. Be sure to grab some golden berries from the main area—they’re a delightful touch. • The activity program is incredible. Yoga, Pilates, breath work, hypnosis, and more are all offered with exceptional instructors. Manjit’s session was truly life-changing for us. • The personalized service from our assigned staff members, Kevin and Solome, made our trip even more special. They were available 24/7 and felt like dear friends from the moment we met them. • Coffee at the Mercado was unforgettable—the baristas are truly coffee magicians. • The horse experiences are a must! On one trail ride, we saw monkeys and falcons, which made the experience even more magical. • The culinary experience was fresh, creative, and infused with a little magic. Special thanks to Jairo, our bartender, who made every moment at the bar memorable. Take the margarita and mezcal class with him or simply ask for the “Arronos” or “Arrontini” cocktails. He’ll remember! We also loved the butterfly garden, the edible garden dinner, and the horse show dinner (pro tip: bring enthusiasm to the horse show for the best experience!). The attention to detail from the housekeeping staff ensured that our hacienda was always pristine and welcoming. A private pool is a must—it added so much to the experience. Finally, we want to give a special thank you to the General Manager, Keon Masschelein, who was constantly present, ensuring every guest felt cared for. We even had the chance to fly with him on a charter to San José—a true testament to how much he values his guests. Auberge Resorts is lucky to have such a dedicated leader. This resort is flawless in every way. From the breathtaking haciendas to the world-class staff and unforgettable experiences, Hacienda AltaGracia exceeded every expectation. We will absolutely be back. It was a magical experience for us. Pura Vida!