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The Hotel Resort Cristal Ballena is located in the midst of its own 12-hectare grounds, very close to the unique "Marino Ballena" Marine National Park and mountains covered in rainforest. The hotel features 14 Junior Suites, 3 Master Suites, along with 2 Family suites. Due to its excellent location, our guests can enjoy breathtaking ocean views from the big balcony. Our stylish, spacious Suites are equipped with four-poster bed, AC, ceiling fan, WLan, TV, telephone, minibar, safe, coffee maker and hairdryer.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Business
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, German
Location
7 Km Al Sur de Uvita Playa Ballena, Uvita 60504 Costa Rica
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Top notch place to stay in Uvita, Costa Rica My wife and I travelled to Uvita for our daughters wedding Getting to this location was challenging, 6am flight from PHL to Mia Mia to San Jose Costa Rica and the... small plane on Sansa a local carrier on a 20 minute flight that was delayed four times and more than three hours to Quepos which was an hour from the hotel. You could rent a car as our other daughter did for a 3 1/2 hour drive that turned into 7 1/2 hours When we got to the hotel it was pitch dark on the roads and beautiful ambient lighting at the hotel which we were too tired to appreciate. We had a lite meal at the restaurant which is next to the beautifully lit pool an then off to bed, The next morning we went back to the restaurant for a delightful buffet breakfast which is included for all guests daily The staff is great, the ambiance of the hotel is terrific The grounds are fantastic with Toucans and other exotic birds flying about and singing My wife and I met the owner, Angelica, as we were dining at the table next to her and she was delightful Our two daughters stayed at two other hotels within 10-15 minutes of this one. WE visited both an resolutely I can say this was by far the best. We strongly recommend this property
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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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted that despite the challenging journey, your stay at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa made it all worthwhile. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed the warm ambiance, fantastic service, and beautiful natural surroundings that make our hotel such a special place in Uvita. We’re so glad you could relax by the beautifully lit pool, enjoy a delightful breakfast buffet, and experience the incredible wildlife, including toucans and exotic birds, right from our grounds. Meeting our owner, Angelica, and connecting with fellow guests is always a cherished part of the experience here, and we’re happy you had that opportunity. Your kind recommendation means the world to us, and we truly appreciate you choosing Cristal Ballena for such a memorable occasion. We hope to welcome you back for another Pura Vida experience in the future!
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This is a very charming place with absolutely stunning grounds and a very large pool. Staff is attentive and very friendly, the restaurant offers very nice food and reasonable prices (compared to some other places we stayed at in Costa Rica). Some of the facilities may need some updating cosmetically, but that did not diminish our stay at all. The rooms were clean, very spacious and the views are enchanting. Really recommend this hotel - it is a relaxing, heart warming place.
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Date of stay: February 2025
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Location
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Service
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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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa! We’re delighted to hear that you found our hotel charming and welcoming, and that you enjoyed our stunning grounds, large pool, and attentive staff. It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated our delicious cuisine at reasonable prices and that your spacious, clean room with enchanting views added to your relaxing stay. We truly value your feedback regarding cosmetic updates and are always looking for ways to enhance our guests' experience. We’re so grateful for your recommendation and thrilled that you found our hotel to be a heartwarming and relaxing retreat. We would love to welcome you back for another Pura Vida getaway soon!
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The hotel is in a fantastic location on a hill in a large property with a view of the sea. We had the master suite, which is also fantastic. The investment backlog that other commentators had complained about has been pretty much resolved. Sure, some warm water in the shower would be nice (who needs that in this climate anyway). But the old-fashioned look of the rooms and the hotel is charming. Air conditioning is new and quiet. Why the cleaners turn it off is a good question. The large pool with a depth of 2.20m is great. The parents of the current owners have laid out the complex generously. Unfortunately, we couldn't walk the rainforest path because of the rainy season. At the entrance to the complex there is a run-down fitness trail (certainly unique in Costa Rica), which could almost be described as a lost place. It could use some maintenance. The food is very good, but expensive - which is typical for hotels in this price range in Costa Rica. The Austrian owners should rethink pork Wiener Schnitzel :-) The complex is pretty dark in the evenings. Some light for animal observation would be nice. Everything is black when you look out of the windows and the balcony. But I would go back any time, especially in May when it is low season.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was our last stop in Costa Rica and meant for some R&R before returning home. It is a very nice 4-star hotel with some great facilities (pool, spa/massage, bar), great rooms (size, bed, balcony, storage, etc.), wonderful views/outlook (wildlife in the grounds, and they have their own jungle hike). However, some of the facilites let it down - cold water most of the time, noisy air con for 2 nights out of 4 (which was supposedly fixed after 1 night) which meant we had 2 sleepless nights when we were meant to be relaxing... Drinks are also very expensive (CRC4k for a beer which is CRC2k elsewhere) and Happy Hour is 2 drinks for the price of 1 and a half, whereas it was 2 for 1 in every other hotel we stayed in...!
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Date of stay: June 2024
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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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 26 Jul 2024
Thankyou for your great review of your stay with us. The generous pool area and rooms with those amazing views of wildlife and over the Pacific Ocean. We are sorry to hear about the noisy A/C. We pride ourselves on a comfortable stay and your review will be passed onto our maintenance crew for followup.
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Hotel in the heights of Uvita nestled in nature where you can observe many birds early in the morning or evening (toucans, parrots, etc.). Very very beautiful gardens with a large swimming pool. The catering and breakfast, however, are very average and the rooms need a little facelift and all at very high prices. Better to go downstairs and eat at the Balzan bistro where the prices are normal and the quality is there.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip 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.
We stayed at the hotel for 3 nights in May. The location and views are stunning, but the hotel is far from a 4-star hotel now. The room and bathroom look dated. The bed cover was dusty and after 7pm there was nobody to find at the reception. One day the hotel had people from the local government do life-saving training at the hotel pool so we couldn't use it the whole morning. When we asked the manager about when this would be over, he said we could use a small corner of the pool. The bathroom towels were old and scrubby. I do have to say the food and attention the restaurant was very good. Sorry to say, but I don't think we will come back.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 24 Oct 2024
Thankyou for your review of the hotel and your stay. We are delighted that you enjoyed the dining experience as well as this privileged location with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. We appreciate your comments regarding the hotel amenities that we have noted for our ongoing maintenance and upgrading team. We are active members in the community and thanks to the size of the pool, it is our way of supporting the local authorities with their initiatives although we do understand that it may inconvenience our guests temporarily.
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My gf and I booked a last minute stay at Cristal Ballena while visiting Costa Rica and could not be happier with our entire experience. We had decided to extend our stay in Costa Rica an additional 7 days to enjoy the costal area, choosing this boutique hotel from the reviews, which turned out to be an excellent choice. Everything from the location, the property, the Staff, the food and the overall amenities were absolutely excellent. The Staff and owners made us feel very comfortable and were very personable the entire time. The bartenders and wait staff were amazing and always very attentive, even remembered our names, which is always a nice touch. We had the privilege of meeting and getting to know the owners, enjoyed hearing the stories of their long time ownership and pride in the experience they were providing for people from all over the world for so many years. The room was very clean and had an excellent view from the balcony of the pool, the jungles below and all the way to the ocean. My gf was actually able to see a whale from our balcony! The Food was absolutely 5 star meals every night, such amazing flavors and professional presentation. The location was perfect for visiting the beach/ocean, waterfalls and several small towns within driving distance. We had a rental car, which I highly recommend. Needless to say, we will definitely be returning some day to revisit Cristal Ballena!!!
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
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Trip 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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 15 May 2024
Thankyou for your stunning review of your stay at Cristal Ballena. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us and so happy to hear that you were even able to spot a whale from the pool balcony. We do our very best to make sure the Cristal Ballena dining experience exceeds expectations just as all the other amenities in the hotel. We hope to see you again!
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This is a very belated review. Our family are frequent world traveler and took a 2-week trip to Costa Rica to see birds and wild life at the end of 2019. Cristal Ballena was booked for us by our birding travel agency. We stayed there for 3 days. It is located on a forested hill overlooking the ocean. The view from the hotel was fantastic. It is not right on the beach, but the hotel provided shuttles to a nearby local beach ( 5-8 minutes away), which was not crowded at all. (We never want to stay at all-inclusive resorts and prefer to get to know the locals and their culture.) The room was spacious for our family of 4 (our boys were 5 and 8 then). The patio area was large. We enjoyed sitting there, sipping our coffee and watching toucans, and other birds flying by with our binoculars in the moring. The services were excellent. The staff members were super nice and accommodating. On it property, there is a rainforest trail in the hill, which we hiked with our boys and enjoyed it. There is also a beautifully decorated meditation and yoga room up in the hill. Special thanks to Mrs. Angelica Steiner from the owner family. We were able to extend our stay with her help. Angelica was a gracious host and has a great taste in local arts.
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Date of stay: December 2020
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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 Guest Services, Guest Services / Front Office at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 13 Dec 2021
We are so happy your stay at Cristal Ballena was such a success and we appreciate your review. It is great to know that the property was accommodating for you, the adults, and your adventurous boys too. What a fantastic combination; enjoying a Costa Rican coffee while watching some toucans. Very Costa Rican to say the least. I will let Angelica know about your review. Is it time for a trip back to Costa Rica? We hope to see you and the boys again soon.
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It is a boutique hotel set in beautiful gardens with a fabulous pool and views of the Pacific. The sunset from the hotel was one of the best we have seen across the world!
The food was delicious and the bartenders and wait staff were amazing and always very attentive, offering personalised service.
Only thing, the bathrooms were small and a bit dated .
The restaurant ‘BALLENA BISTRO’ 2 minutes walk from property was absolutely phenomenal offering delicious, fresh, flavoursome dishes with plenty of vegetarian/vegan options.
Overall the hotel views were stunning, the food great , and the staff were incredibly welcoming. Definitely recommend!
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Date of stay: January 2024
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Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:The pool was excellent !
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 Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Atención al cliente/recepción at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa
Responded 15 May 2024
Thankyou for your wonderful review of Cristal Ballena. We are thrilled you enjoyed your time with us and that you were able to breathe in the wonderful views, savour the delicious dining and feel the warmth of our excellent team. Please come again.
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Cristal Ballena was the best hotel during our trip around Costa Rica. It’s simply beautiful, situated on a small hill near the sea. Around the property there is a private rainforest. You can see birds and other animals from your balcony. The restaurant and pool area are really great. The quality of food is superb. During our stay in January there were absolutely no mosquitoes on the hotel property.
Close to the hotel there is Ballena beach. It’s possible to swim there but you should ask at the reception before. The beach is part of a national park; you have to pay 6 USD per person. It’s not overcrowded and everything is keep clean. There is also a free parking included in the price. You can drive there in 5min from the hotel with your own car or there is also a free hotel shuttle.
I contacted the hotel per e-mail before my arrival to ask for a day tour to Corcovado National park. Yolanda from the reception was so kind to organize everything perfectly for me.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Location
Service
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.
Good Morning,
Dear Sienna,
The price for the massage is:75
And About the laundry services it is depend on the kind and how many pieces.
Best Regards,
Jorge Mejías
Cartago, Costa Rica40 contributions14 helpful votes
Hola Playa ballena está a 500 metros de la propiedad, el hotel ofrece transporte gratis a esta playa cuando se solicita en la recepción. Igualmente la caminata es muy bonita, se pueden observar monos, perezosos y tucanes, entre otras aves.
There are more places to choose from in the Uvita area.
PRICE RANGE
$323 - $443 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
hotel cristal ballena osa peninsula
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasUvita
NUMBER OF ROOMS
19
Prices are provided by our partners, 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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