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Hotel Ballena Rey was created to offer a warm and welcoming experience. In 2018, my family and I searched for a quiet and relaxing place to stay in Costa Rica. That's when we discovered a fantastic place called Uvita Bahía Ballena. We fell in love with its natural beauty, stunning beaches like Parque Marino Ballena, Playa Ventana, Playa Hermosa, its waterfalls, and mountains, and we couldn't resist having our own space here. We launched Hotel Ballena Rey three years later, emphasizing our 20 years of experience in the tourism industry to provide excellent service. We welcome you to Hotel Ballena Rey, where you'll experience a comfortable and peaceful environment surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and friendly people! Pura Vida.
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This hotel is run beautifully - so clean and organized. We really appreciated the manager, Gilberto, who shared great information about things to do in the area. The free breakfast is delicious with several options, so multiple day stays don’t get tedious. The pool is clean and refreshing. They also just started serving dinner and cocktails. One night we ordered room service for dinner and it was very flavorful and tasty! I really appreciated the laundry service - they wash and dry a nice size bag of laundry for a reasonable price. Will definitely return to Ballena Del Rey should we visit Uvita again! 🙏💕🍾
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 13 Jan 2025
Dear Mary K, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of Ballena del Rey! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. We are delighted that you found our rooms clean and comfortable, and that our staff, especially Gilberto, provided you with helpful information about the area. Furthermore, we strive to create a welcoming and informative environment for all our guests. We are also glad to hear that you enjoyed our complimentary breakfast and our newly introduced dinner and cocktail service. We are constantly investigating how to enhance our offerings and appreciate your feedback. Furthermore, we are grateful for your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Ballena del Rey in the future. Sincerely, The Team at Ballena del Rey
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Very clean safe hotel. Perfect for our family. The pool was cleaned daily and our 4 kids enjoyed cooling off every night in it. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It is a smaller hotel and the staff made sure that we all were respectful of each other. I liked the mix of locals and international tourists at the hotel. It is about a 20 min walk to the beach but it was hot. We got snow cones for the walk back to the hotel. Would definitely stay here again, and would recommend it to others.
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Date of stay: March 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:It’s a long walk to the beach not impossible and you save the trouble of having to park near the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 7 Sept 2024
¡Gracias, Jason, por tu reseña! Nos alegra que tu familia haya disfrutado de su estancia en nuestro hotel seguro y limpio, y que hayan aprovechado la piscina. ¡Esperamos recibirlos nuevamente pronto!
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Firstly, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I had the pleasure on multiple occasions to interact with the owner who is an extremely friendly man that has a fantastic vision for the property, and how important it is to him for his guest to very much enjoy their stay. If you do not have a vehicle and do not mind a bit of walking, this facility is very well located between the beach, two little shops, and a few restaurants. The bus depot is approximately a 15+ minute walk ( it would be longer if carrying luggage ). I arranged a taxi that drove us to the bus station for a few thousand colòn, very reasonable. The room was extremely comfortable, as was the bed. What was wonderful is there was a safe in the room for passports, cash, electronics, etc., as well as a clothing drying rack. If you had been to the beach or took advantage of the pool, just put it out on the patio and let your clothing dry in the sun. Everything was clean with good water pressure. The pool is quite nice & enjoyable as well. The room had a small stove with plates, cups, utensils, pots & pans, a little refrigerator. If you want to shops at the local stores, you can certainly prepare meals and enjoy them in room!!!! I absolutely do not hesitate to recommend this facility to all. We are already planning a return stay next year.
Cheers Sas
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Always back a few travel grocery bags, procure a few supplies at the 2 local small shops for your...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 7 Sept 2024
¡Thank you, Sasmo17, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you had such a positive experience and appreciated our staff, amenities, and location. We look forward to welcoming you back anytime!
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We had a wonderful 2 nights stay at Ballena Rey Hotel. We were greeted with a warm welcome by Gilberto who made us feel at home instantly. The customer service provided by Gilberto and his team was excellent. The units are spacious, the beds comfortable, a kitchenette fully equipped for meal preparation including microwave, fridge and hot plate. The entire unit was extremely clean. The property is beautifully landscaped with a pool to relax and unwind. The breakfast was plentiful with fruit, juice, tea/coffee, toast, eggs, rice & beans etc. The restaurant offers dinner and we enjoyed the local cuisine prepared by their staff. It is located a few minutes drive from the National Park. There are a few restaurants within walking distance to the hotel and many within a few minutes drive. It is a great location to stay when visiting Uvita or surrounding area.
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Date of stay: February 2025
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Holidays KD, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of your stay at Hotel Ballena Rey! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic 2-night experience with us. It's truly heartwarming to know that you felt welcomed and at home from the moment you arrived, thanks to Gilberto's warm greeting. We are very proud of Gilberto and our entire team for their dedication to providing excellent customer service. We are delighted that you found our units spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped for your needs. We strive to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and ensure our guests have everything they need for a relaxing stay. We're also glad you enjoyed our beautifully landscaped property and the pool. Your compliments on our plentiful breakfast and the delicious local cuisine served at our restaurant are greatly appreciated. We believe in providing our guests with a taste of the authentic flavors of our region. We're also pleased that you found our location convenient for visiting the National Park and exploring the surrounding area, with its variety of dining options. Thank you again for choosing Hotel Ballena Rey and for taking the time to share your positive experience. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future! Warm regards
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Small size , because few rooms with a beautiful garden and swimming pool, this hotel is very nice and it is not visible from the road. The staff is really nice. The rooms located upstairs have steps high enough to access them, if motor problems consider asking for a room on the ground floor.
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Date of stay: February 2025
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Si souci de motricité, demander les chambres en rez-de-chaussée de jardin.petit déjeuner inclus
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is well located, close to the main road to go to different places in Costa Rica, but also on the main road that leads to different activities in Uvita. But this hotel, I recommend to everyone for its staff who are always caring for its guests, always warm. The restaurant also offers excellent dishes, we eat very well, as does the bar! Other services are offered such as laundry, has a very affordable price! Cleanliness of the premises, rooms Everything was perfect!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I visit Uvita for business. Over the last year, I have stayed at this hotel at least 6 times. It is a really nice place with over 20 full rooms, similar to apartments with a living, dining area, work table, small kitchen and a separate bedroom and a separate bathroom. One cozy unit. There is a garden, pool and a breakfast area. It is very close to the main highway and about 2 kms from the beach. It is close to restaurants. For solo business travelers or for a couple, this place is ideal. I have seen families with kids hanging by the pool. All in all, a very good place.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 22 Sept 2024
Dear ZaikaUvita, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with us! We're truly delighted to hear that our hotel has become your go-to choice for business trips to Uvita. It's wonderful to know that you appreciate the comfort and practicality of our units, as well as our convenient location near the main highway, the beach, and various dining options. We strive to create a welcoming and functional environment for all types of travelers, whether they're solo adventurers, couples, or families. Your kind words and recommendation mean the world to us. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back on your next visit to Uvita. It will be our pleasure to serve you again! Pura vida!
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The hotel is very welcoming, with large and very comfortable rooms, and the common areas and pool are excellent. The staff, especially Gilberto, were super friendly and attentive to us. Breakfast is typical of Costa Rica, very rich and with quality products. The stay was wonderful. Thank you very much for everything, you have an excellent country. Gracias Gilberto
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A welcoming and well equipped apartment resort. The owner, Gilbert, is so friendly and helpful. He arranged a tour for us, made sure we had everything we needed and provided a very warm welcome every time we saw him.
The pool area is lovely with plenty of seating and not many people.
Having self catering facilities made a great alternative to eating out, especially for breakfast and lunch, although there are some decent restaurants and a supermarket within a 2 minute walk. And then there’s breakfast served on site for when you fancy it.
I wish we could stay longer.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gilberto Reyes, Owner at Ballena Rey Hotel
Responded 7 Sept 2024
¡Thank you, ChurchBelas, for your kind words! We're so glad you felt welcomed and appreciated the amenities in our apartment resort. We look forward to hosting you again in the future!
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I had a fantastic experience at Hotel Ballena Rey. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly, always willing to help and make our stay as comfortable as possible. The rooms are spacious, well decorated and offer stunning views.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Uvita area.
PRICE RANGE
$171 - $241 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasUvita
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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