Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique: Contemporary Luxury Above the Pacific
There is something particularly appealing about a hotel where the landscape is as much a part of the experience as the accommodations. At Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, the Pacific Ocean is rarely out of sight. The resort occupies a dramatic hillside overlooking Culebra Bay in Guanacaste, where contemporary buildings descend through tropical vegetation toward the beach.
Opened in April 2025 as Costa Rica's first Waldorf Astoria, the resort was designed by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the Mexico City-based architecture firm responsible for integrating the buildings and interior spaces with the natural terrain. The property extends approximately 300 feet down the hillside, with cascading swimming pools and waterfalls leading toward Playa Penca.
The architects incorporated living rooftops, natural materials, and a palette inspired by Guanacaste's coastal rocks, forests, and seasonal landscape. Native vegetation was selected to reduce water consumption and gradually envelop the structures.
The resort is part of Punta Cacique, a larger coastal development led by Revolution Places, with Costa Rican developer Garnier & Garnier among the project's partners.
The architecture makes thoughtful use of the terrain. Rather than concentrating everything in a single large structure, the resort spreads its accommodations, seven restaurants and bars, swimming pools, and gathering spaces across the hillside. The result is a series of different perspectives on the coastline, with the ocean appearing between buildings, gardens, and open terraces.
As we explored the property, the landscaping became one of our favorite details. Flowering plants lined the winding pathways, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The combination of tropical gardens, contemporary architecture, and expansive sea views gives the resort a character that feels distinctly connected to its Costa Rican setting.
Accommodations
The resort offers 188 guestrooms and suites, comprising 148 guestrooms and 40 suites, including 22 suites with private plunge pools. Accommodation options range from ocean-view rooms with balconies to larger suites with separate living areas and private terraces. Residential-style accommodations are also available, but our stay in the two-story Presidential Suite provided an especially private perspective on the property.
Set apart from the main guest buildings, the Presidential Suite is a freestanding sanctuary tucked into one of the resort's most secluded clifftop areas, surrounded by tropical greenery. Reaching it involves a pleasant uphill walk along a winding, flower-lined pathway where butterflies and hummingbirds frequently appeared. The sense of separation from the busier areas of the resort was distinctly noticeable.
Inside, the design is contemporary and spacious, with warm wood finishes, comfortable furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling glass opening onto the terraces. Generous living and dining areas, along with a fully equipped kitchen complete with a bean-to-cup espresso machine, add a residential quality, particularly appealing for longer stays.
The private infinity pool is one of the suite's defining features. Surrounded by greenery, the outdoor area offers generous space for swimming, lounging, or simply enjoying the surroundings. An outdoor firepit and furnished rooftop terrace provide additional inviting spaces to relax and take in the tropical setting.
The suite's two-bedroom layout offers considerable flexibility, accommodating up to eight guests when combined with an additional king guestroom. The primary bedroom occupies the upper level and features a private sitting area and a wraparound furnished terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding greenery and ocean. The second bedroom, located on the lower level, offers two queen beds.
The bathrooms are equally distinctive. Two rainfall showers look toward a green mountainside, while indoor and outdoor soaking bathtubs offer different ways to enjoy the setting.
A distinctive architectural detail was the Japanese-inspired Zen sand garden on the upper level. Its carefully arranged sand and sculptural elements introduce a quiet, contemplative touch that contrasts with the suite's otherwise contemporary interiors.
Technology plays a significant role throughout the suite, with touch panels controlling lighting and automated curtains. Although convenient in principle, some controls were less intuitive than expected and required a little experimentation. It was a minor inconvenience in an otherwise thoughtfully designed accommodation.
Gastronomy
Dining is an important part of the experience at Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, with seven restaurants and bars offering everything from casual poolside dining to more elaborate evenings. In addition to Tico Tica, La Finca, and Buena Nota Café, guests can visit Peacock Alley for cocktails and light bites, The Terrace for sunset views, Vida Pool & Grill for relaxed poolside dining, and Copo y Cono for ice cream, coffee, and fresh juices.
The resort's culinary program was launched under the direction of Executive Chef Nicolas Piatti, an Argentine chef whose career spans more than two decades across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Piatti's approach emphasizes regional ingredients, culinary traditions, and reducing food waste.
Tico Tica
Tico Tica serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a comfortable setting with indoor and outdoor seating. During our stay, breakfast was offered à la carte, with attentive service and a varied selection of dishes.
We particularly enjoyed the avocado toast prepared with white beans and herbs, along with fresh juices, including a combination of passion fruit, mango, and turmeric. A selection of pastries, fruit, yogurt, and granola made a delectable introduction to the morning.
The coffee was consistently excellent, and the staff maintained a friendly, attentive approach without making the experience feel overly formal.
La Finca
For a more elaborate dinner, La Finca offers a refined interpretation of Costa Rican cuisine, combining contemporary culinary techniques with local ingredients and regional traditions. The menu places particular emphasis on fresh seafood, quality meats, and maize, with flavors and influences that reflect the country's culinary heritage.
Our meal began with Tomatada, an inventive preparation that celebrated tomatoes in different forms. Small charred cherry tomatoes filled with a flavorful habanero relish were accompanied by a creamy tomato-based preparation, creating an interesting combination of textures and flavors. The dish was both visually appealing and a creative interpretation of a familiar ingredient.
Other highlights included sea bass and Wagyu ravioli, followed by a dessert featuring mango mousse and sorbet, and fresh mango. Throughout the meal, the kitchen demonstrated considerable attention to presentation, balancing contrasting textures and flavors while giving familiar ingredients a contemporary twist.
We also sampled small fruit spheres as an amuse-bouche, prepared using molecular-gastronomy techniques. Their appearance was certainly inventive, although we found the visual presentation more compelling than the flavors themselves.
Overall, La Finca offers an interesting approach to contemporary Costa Rican dining, bringing together local ingredients, culinary creativity, and a willingness to experiment with different techniques.
Buena Nota Coffee Lab
One of our most interesting culinary experiences took place at Buena Nota Coffee Lab, where Ángel Fonseca, one of the property's baristas and our guide for the experience, introduced us to the finer points of both coffee and kombucha.
The resort's specialty coffee program showcases carefully selected Costa Rican roasts from renowned growing regions such as Brunca and Tarrazú, including its signature Chirripó blend. Our experience went considerably beyond a conventional tasting. Ángel explained how roasting techniques influence flavor and demonstrated the importance of water composition in preparing coffee, including how its mineral balance can affect the final cup.
A series of aroma exercises offered another perspective on the complexity of coffee, helping us appreciate the distinctive characteristics that develop from bean to cup.
The experience then shifted to kombucha. Ángel introduced us to the fermentation process, explaining the role of the cultures used to produce the drink and how the preparation influences its final flavor.
We sampled a concentrated kombucha with a distinctly citrusy flavor. Unlike the sparkling versions commonly sold in stores, this particular sample was not noticeably carbonated. Ángel explained that it was intended to be diluted, as the undiluted flavor would be too strong for regular consumption.
The tasting was enjoyable, but what made the visit especially worthwhile was the opportunity to learn from someone who clearly understood both subjects and genuinely enjoyed sharing his knowledge.
Amenities & Wellness
The resort's hillside layout creates several distinct areas for relaxation. Its multi-level swimming pool complex features cascading pools and waterfalls overlooking the Pacific, while landscaped pathways connect the restaurants, accommodations, and beach. With the buildings positioned at different elevations, a walk through the property offers changing views of the bay.
The 17,000-square-foot Waldorf Astoria Spa and fitness complex takes inspiration from Costa Rica's biodiversity, offering 11 treatment rooms and wellness programming that includes mindfulness, movement, and holistic therapies. The facilities also include a fitness center, movement studio, outdoor yoga area, sauna, steam bath, whirlpool, and fitness pool.
Families have access to dedicated kids' and teens' clubs, while approximately 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space accommodates private gatherings, weddings, and celebrations.
Experiences
The surrounding coastline provides opportunities to experience Guanacaste beyond the resort's restaurants and swimming pools. Two activities stood out during our stay, each offering a different introduction to Costa Rica.
Kayaking in Culebra Bay
One morning, we set out from Playa Penca on a guided kayaking excursion through Culebra Bay, spending approximately 50 minutes exploring its beautiful shoreline.
Paddling along the coast brought us closer to the landscape, with tropical hillsides rising above the water, rocky outcrops interrupting the shoreline, and small beaches appearing between the curves of the coast. We reached a neighboring deserted beach, where we brought our kayaks ashore and took a refreshing swim.
On our way back to the main beach came an unexpected encounter: green sea turtles swimming nearby. Seeing them in their natural environment was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the outing, and a reminder of the marine life that makes this stretch of Costa Rica so special. We were also told that dolphin and whale sightings are also possible during the appropriate seasons.
At just under an hour, the excursion offers a wonderful opportunity to experience Culebra Bay from a different perspective, combining gentle adventure, a secluded beach stop, and the possibility of encountering local marine life.
A Traditional Costa Rican Cooking Class
Another memorable experience took place beside the hotel's working kitchen, where the executive chef and culinary team introduced us to the preparation of traditional Costa Rican tamales.
The class offered a hands-on introduction to a dish deeply connected to the country's food culture. We participated in preparing the corn-based tamales, learning about the ingredients and techniques involved.
What made the experience particularly enjoyable was its continuation the following morning. The kitchen had cooked our tamales overnight, and we were able to taste them at breakfast.
It was a small but thoughtful detail that connected the cooking lesson with the following day's meal.
Worth Exploring
Beyond the main accommodations and restaurants, several details are worth considering when planning a stay.
Explore the coastline by kayak. Even a short guided outing provides a different perspective on Culebra Bay, with the possibility of encountering marine wildlife.
Make time for Buena Nota Café. The specialty coffee experience offers an interesting introduction to roasting, aromas, and the influence of water composition on flavor. Our session with Angel also included a particularly engaging explanation of kombucha fermentation.
Consider a culinary activity. The tamale-making class was an enjoyable way to connect with Costa Rican traditions, particularly because we were able to taste the results the following morning.
Choose accommodations according to how you plan to spend your time. The Presidential Suite offers considerable privacy and outdoor living space, although its hillside position means a longer walk to some resort facilities.
Explore beyond the resort. The Guanacaste region offers beaches, nature excursions, and destinations such as Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Liberia's Guanacaste Airport is approximately 17 miles from the property, making the resort accessible without a lengthy transfer.
Hotel Information
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
Km 3, Ruta Nacional 159, Playa Penca
Punta Cacique, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Telephone: +506 4104 0700