Description: Florblanca Costa Rica

Property Location: Florblanca Luxury Resort

Florblanca is on the Pacific Ocean on the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.  The town of Santa Teresa is predominantly Costa Rican and the area is rather undeveloped.  Chosen as a hotel site for the outstanding surf (tends to be big) and the excellent surrounding national forests and tropical flora and fauna. The beaches are virtually untouched; runners, walkers and shell collectors will find this Heaven!

The hotel is located exactly 2 kilometers north from the soccer field in Santa Teresa Beach at the left hand side (beach side)

 

Dinning: Florblanca Luxury Resort

Our open air restaurant, Nectar, hugs the beach of the beautiful Pacific Ocean and is the meeting point of jungle and sea. From our rich Costa Rican coffee at sunrise to elegant desserts by starlight, the cuisine at Nectar is a seductive as its surroundings. 

Our international chefs draw from the local sea to make the freshest sushi and daily seafood delicacies. We source the finest beef, duck and lamb to offer our discerning patrons their traditional favorites to accompany our local choices. From burgers to fish tacos, from salads to chocolate soufflé, our menu is varied and creative. While seafood is a tradition and beans and rice always a choice, we offer many options and a light Asian flair throughout.

Our wine cellar focuses on Central and South American selections and our bar will create your hometown favorite or a local exotic drink to enhance your seaside experience. Fresh mint, local fruits and the flavors of the native land all enhance your dining delights. It is no wonder that our restaurant is one of the most sought out destinations in Central America.

Private dining spaces overlooking the sea in quiet cabanas or in natural romantic setting are available for groups of couples, as is our room service from breakfast through dinner.

Breakfast is serving from 7:00am-11:30am

Lunch is serving from 12:00pm-3:00pm

Dinner is serving from 6:00pm-9:30pm

Lunch and dinner are serve a la carte. Lunch price ranges from $10-$25 per person and dinner from $25-$40 per person. Taxes included.

 

Additional Services: Florblanca Luxury Resort

- Laundry for guests

- Surfing, fishing, biking, hiking and horseback riding on a privately owned sustainable farm.  Our naturalist guide will accompany you and educate you about the area (Costa Rican guides fully bilingual)

- Masseuse full time

- Executive gym,

- Internet access

- Telephone in all rooms

- T.V. room with cable t.v.

- Room service

- Full yoga & pilates center with daily classes

- Weddings performed

- Private parties accommodated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florblanca Rates

Florblanca Contact Form     |     Florblanca Reservation Form

Booking: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 Standard Policies:

*All rates in US dollars per night, per villa based on double occupancy (2 guests).
*Additional person per night $100.
*All rates plus mandatory government taxes.
*No children under 12 are allowed at Florblanca. (Except for Indian Summer times when the minimum age for children is 6)
*Maximum 3 people in one bedroom villas.
*Maximum 5 people in two bedroom villas.
*Check In at 2:00pm
*Check Out at 12:00pm

 

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS:

INDIAN SUMMER SPECIAL: MAY 1 – AUG 31: (The fifth night is free)
10% discount with all the following activities and services:
Budget Car Rental
Tortuga Island Tour by Zuma Tours
Mal Pais Canopy Zip Line del Pacifico
Montezuma Waterfall Canopy
All Private VIP Land Transportation

Latest Reviews about Flor Blanca Luxury Resort

Florblanca Luxury Resort – Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

“Come to malpais for surf stay here for your luxe and wow food”
Florblanca Resort

I am here now and while not staying at the hotel proper I have been taking my meals there and will spend a day at the spa before leaving - this is a nice arrangement as I am alone but I would come stay here with my family - the food is fantastic the gift shop stocked with local treasures and great place to hang out at night and for cocktail hour breakfast was delicious - come to malpais for easy going atmosphere stay here for your conveniences and luxury I love this place


“Totally impressed”
Florblanca Resort

After a long drive and 8 days of Costa Rica we got the the end of a bumpy dirt road and arrived at FlorBlanca for the final 2 nights of our vacation. We first heard of this resort in 2004 and made it a point of staying there on this trip. If you can afford to I would encourage you to go out of your way to experience this place.
Upon arrival you are greated with cold/wet towels and a tropical drink. There is no paperwork or any kind of business. A concierge guides you aroud the property and eventually takes you to your villa. There are only 11 villas and the staff to guest ratio is about 3 to 1.
The layout of the property is a winding stone path that leads down from the road to the beach with villas off either side of the path before you reach the restaurant and the pool and then ends at the nice beach.
We stayed in villa 4. I cannot possibly say enough to descride how nice the accomodations are. The layout of the villa is ideal. There is an air conditioned bedroom, an open air great room and then a seperate private outdoor bathroom with a shower and separate monster sized soaking tub.
Some of the details we noticed...The bed and the sheets were high quality/high thread count. There was tastefull artwork (paintings, sculptures, etc.) everywhere. The decor was really nice. Obviously alot of thought went into maintaining a consistant style that went from nice light fixtures to candles to quality furniture. The open air great room had a hammock and balcony overlooking the garden, pool and ocean. It was so nice we really did not want to leave. The bedroom alone was as large as many hotel rooms.

The restaurant was awesome. It is on the pricey side but there was certainly value. The menu was creative. The portions were huge. The staff went out of their way to befriend you. I think this is what you get in an 11 room resort. Our favorite server was Gabby. The hotel manager made a point of introducing herself and was constantly visable.
The resort has just completed building a new spa called Bambu. I think the grand opening is in April, but it is open for business now. My wife and I have been to spa's all over and this one is top notch. It is small (a few treatment rooms) but it is enormous measured by the amount of space given to each of the treatment rooms, jacuzzi, and private individual changing/bathrooms. The whole spa is perched above rushing water in bamboo buildings. It is so tastefully done that it is hard to believe it is in such an isolated location. It comes across as something you'd expect in a Four Season's. The massages my wife and I had were the best we've ever had.
Over all, this resort did not disappoint in any way. They literally had everything we needed and didn't flinch at the opportunity to provide it.

“FlorBlanca = Luxury”
Florblanca Resort

If you watch the show "How I Met Your Mother" then you'll understand what I mean when I quote Barney Stinson and say: The FlorBlanca Resort is AWESOME.

The FlorBlanca is hands down the best resort in Santa Teresa, and the surrounding area. This resort scores either a 4 or 5 on the categories I typically base when writing my reviews, and unfortunately this also includes price.

You definitely pay for what you get. Let’s just say that.

The accommodations included a spacious villa equipped with a beautifully decorated living area that led to an outdoor patio. The outdoor restroom featured a rainfall showerhead and separate stone tub positioned aside towering trees and plants. The bedroom was standard with your typical five star resorts; plush pillows, soft sturdy bed with classy decorative paintings that lined the lightly colored walls. Fresh orchids throughout the villa provided a pleasant aromatic scent, and a bookshelf filled with literary classics and NY Times best sellers afforded the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the outdoor patio hammock.

The service was top notch, providing a slue of amenities and extra curricular programs. Some worth noting: free (use) of yoga classes and studio, surf board, and snorkeling equipment.

The establishment offered private access to the beach, lined with lounge chairs specifically designated for FlorBlanca guests.

The restaurant offered a wonderful menu, and the bar whipped up concoctions that defined a new meaning of paradise.

The resort also provided free transportation to Tambor airport.

This place is LEGEN – wait for it… DARY.


“The Best in Costa Rica”
Florblanca Resort

We stayed at Flor Blanca for 5 nights in December, following a stay in Monteverde. Although this was our first trip to Costa Rica, I can't imagine that there are many places better than FB.

We stayed in villa #1 (closest to the beach), which had a large open-air living room (including a hammock facing the beach). The bedroom is air-conditioned and had one of the most comfortable beds we've ever been in. The bathroom is also open-air, which took some getting used to but that's what you get in Costa Rica.

The pool, spa, yoga, and other activities are first-class and were never crowded. The beach directly in front of FB is very rocky, but a great beach is within a 5 minute walk.

The food at FB was pricey, but top-notch. Lots of fresh seafood and the best sushi we've ever had. The bartenders are friendly and make some creative cocktails.

A great boutique resort, we'll definitely return.

“Perfect place”
Florblanca Resort

I heard about Florblanca from a friend. I have been to Costa a couple times awhile ago but wanted to make my Honeymmoon a special trip as she had never been.

Florblanca was great the rooms the view the quite setting. Personal service and atention given to us was great. Turn down service at night and great warm spacious villa set in the manicured ladscape.

I surfed in the morning at the near by breaks as she went to Yoga or walked down beach. they even had some decent boards you could use mostly long boards.

We rented quads from town as they were half the price. We went into town to get some provisions at the local market and drove our quads to Montazuma to see the waterfall.

We ate dinner most of the nights at the resort. The price is steep but we agreed the setting and quality of food was worth it. We aslo at lunch get the fish Tacos. Service was second to none. we stayed for 6 nights and did not want to leave.

The staff was great and very helpfull. They won't mind helping you find local local reasturants and other places to go.

I read some did not think the resort was worth the price. It is not cheap and we would love return for even a longer trip. But we may have to find a place a little less expensive, maybe. I also read that some people had bug problems. we did not except for the couple that fly around or get into the bedroom if the door is left open. This is a resort located among the semi jungle setting and bugs do live there. if you don't want the occasional bug people should may stay in San Jose.

Overall we had a great time and I wated my other half to have a great time and she did. My main goal was to have her want to return to Costa Rica. And that is not going to be a problem.

“Spectacular!”
Florblanca Resort

We just returned from one of the most heavenly experiences at Florblanca. Upon entering the front of the hotel there are beautiful pipes that trickle water into a reservoir that overflows down through the new spa. The sound of the water trickling and the monkeys jumping from tree to tree was a fantastic way to start the trip!

We were taken on a tour of the property and were overwhelmed by its beauty. After that my husband immediately went surfing and I did yoga with Stefano (he's amazing!) and followed up with a pilates class the next day. That afternoon we took the ATV's down to meet the local fishing guide named Amillio and hopped in an old small boat named the "Esmerelda." Our close friend caught a tuna that we brought back to the resort and gave to the kitchen. They prepared sushi from the same fish we caught that day! It was SO delicious.

My friend and I had spa treatments and both had messages. She said her message was so good she claimed it was the "answer to world peace." I laughed. We went body boarding, did yoga and pilates, spa treatments, horseback riding, fishing.. the works! But that is what is great about Florblanca, you can either sit on the beach all day and relax, watch the beautiful sunsets with a mojito every night OR you can partake in a lot of healthy activities that make you feel great when you leave.

As far as the food, for lunch I had the fish tacos almost every day and was never let down. We ate at Riserva one night and I had the seafood fettucine which was delicious. But what topped that was the seafood risotto I had the next night. It's amazing how they can get such a wonderful assortment of meats, cheeses, and wine flown in from all over the world in such a small town.

Overall the staff is beyond great. They know your name and always go out of their way to help you with anything you need. And the best part is they are always happy to do it, they don't begrudge. This being my 3rd time there, I am always so sad to leave because the resort is so small and you get to meet the other people staying in the resort and with the combination of the staff being so friendly it feels like a home away from home.

My only warning is to people who don't enjoy bugs. There are lots of bugs and lizards as it is a tropical rainforest. The villas are open air (the covered outdoor shower is amazing) but the bedrooms are AC so not many bugs in there but if you can't handle them then this may not be the place for you. We will hopefully return soon.

“Didn't plan to stay here, but loved it.”
Florblanca Resort

I had originally booked Latitude 10 (now called Florblanca Reserva) before it was purchased by Florblanca. When we arrived at the airport in Tambor, we were met by a driver and also Marianne, who is in charge of reservations at Reserva. She offered us a villa at Florblanca as a complimentary upgrade. It turns out that since the rainy season was just ending, they had no other guests at Reserva; we would have been the only ones. So while I absolutely loved Jr. Suite A at Reserva (it was just as incredible in person), we accepted the offer to upgrade to Florblanca.

We abosolutely loved our villa and our stay there. I had seen the website when planning my trip, but it never really grabbed my attention. For one thing, the price is very high. (I booked so long ago that I paid the Latitude 10 price, which was much less.) But in person, the villas and property are just lovely, and the staff is incredibly friendly and gracious.

I would recommend a regular villa rather than an ocean view one. They moved us to an ocean view (Villa #1) for our last night, and it was a nice view, but really not so much different that I would have paid the extra $150 for it. You're sort of far from the beach, so the ocean view is sort of an ocean peak through the foliage.

I absolutely loved the town of Santa Teresa. There's not much to it...just a bumpy, unpaved road with a lot of dogs, ATV riders, surfers, small hotels, and a couple of markets and sodas. But to take a cruiser bike (provided by Florblanca) and just ride out on the road all the way to Mal Pais was just so much fun.

The resort offers a few activities, and I highly recommned the ATV tour to Montezuma. You ride ATVs to a canopy tour in Mal Pais, then stop at an animal sanctuary, then ride to Montezuma for lunch and souvenir shopping, then hike to a waterfall where you can jump off a cliff into a pool of water and swing on a rope. It's a full, active day and tons of fun. $150 per person. The tour was created by, and is led by a guy named Adrian, who was born and raised in Mal Pais. He's a terrific guy. He also was my surf lesson instructor the next day.

Meals at the resort were OK. Not bad, but not great. I think they need to step it up in that regard. There is a restaurant just up the road called Al Chile Viola that was delightful (decor as well as cuisine), and the restaurant at Milarepa next door to Florblanca is also very good.

I still love the bungalows at Florblanca Reserva, and I'd love to go back someday. What I didn't realize is that it's right next door to Florblanca. It's slightly less expensive, and you get access to all the ammenities at Florblanca. As far as the bugs that other reviewers have complained about, I think they're worse during the summer. Our trip was in November, and bugs really weren't a problem at all. Even on the Osa, which was our first stop.

All in all, I think Florblanca is a great resort, and I highly recommend it.

“Florblanca is an incredible place”
Florblanca Resort

My boyfriend and I spent several days at Flor Blanca and we were extremely impressed with all aspects of our stay. We arrived late in the afternoon on a Friday and despite the fact that the horseback riding guide was supposed to be off on Saturday, the concierge made special arrangements so we would not miss this special experience…and special it was. We rode back on the beach as the sun was setting. It was the highlight of our entire 11 day trip!

In addition to going above and beyond to make the horseback riding arrangements for us, the staff went out of their way to make us feel special. We were even offered a room with a different view the second night we were there because another villa had opened up. The villas were unbelievable with amazing attention to detail and luxury. (You’ve not lived until you’ve taken a rainfall shower in your private outdoor bathroom!)

We also took a private surfing lesson which was fantastic. With waves to suit all levels of ability, Santa Theresa (within walking distance) has some of the best surfing in Costa Rica. All sorts of other outings such a canopy tour, waterfall tour, and monkey sightings are available as well. Florblanca offers the ultimate in adventure vacation experiences in the lap of peaceful luxury.

The food at Flor Blanca was by far the best we ate during our trip. It was extremely well thought out and they had dishes to suit a variety of pallets. The Chef even took the time to come out and personally introduce himself to us.

With a spa, and yoga studio (and fabulous workout facilities being constructed) this small and intimate resort has all the amenities of the larger resorts without the annoying children or hokey, touristy touches.

We plan to come back to Costa Rica, but Florblanca will probably be the only place we stay. My recommendation would be to call them and they will arrange for a charter (very cost-effective in Costa Rica) flight to the local airport and transportation to the resort. You don’t have to worry about anything but showing up in San Jose!



“Florblanca is incredible”
Florblanca Resort

If you are considering a trip to Costa Rica, this review is a must read. If you are taking kids, you may want to read a different review. This review is geared toward couples like us (20's-30's, active, kidless, seeking fun times, beautiful views, relaxation, and the occasional active excursion). I read thru all of the reviews and listened to the people at Costa Rican Expeditions and finally made a "best guess" as to what our 12 day vacation to CR would include. We started by staying a night in San Jose and made an early morning rafting trip to the Pacquare River. We did the connoisseur trip (which I would recommend) so it was just one raft with my girlfriend, myself and 2 others. It was nice, not spectacular. We went from the Pacquare to Hotel Arenal at the Arenal Volcano. We were told the volcano was active and you could see the flow of lava in the evenings. What we weren't told is that the volcano is covered by clouds 99% of the time (never did see lava). We did the hanging bridge tour, which was ok...
saw some monkeys and a sloth...nice scenery often interrupted by screaming kids running back and forth on the bridges. We made a trek into la Fortuna, a tourist trap complete with a Burger King, Churchs Chicken and Las Vegas style hot springs resorts with flashing neon signs a bus loads of tourists streaming in to "soak" in the hot springs that flow from the ground (not my idea of fun). We were scheduled to stay at Hotel Arenal for 4 nights but cut it short...not at all what we had envisioned. We flew from la Fortuna to Punta Islita, a 5 star rated resort that sounded like paradise. Punta Islita was nice, but certainly not a 5 star resort. The food is 2 star food at 5 star prices (since the resort is very remote, there isn't any other place to eat/drink/hang out other than the resort). The bar is only open until 10pm. The rooms are utilitarian. There isn't much to do. The canopy tour was fair. 15 people waiting their turn to spend 20 seconds hanging from a harness...don't expect to see any wildlife or beautiful scenery...there is none. We also paid for "river kayaking", that turned out to be "pond canoeing". The river is nothing more than brackish backwater that rises and falls with the tides...so you get to paddle upstream both ways as the tide goes in and out. The beach area at Punta Islita is nice...the surfing sucks but the lounging area is pretty nice (unfortunately its a 10 minute walk each day to the beach). We got massages on the beach which were excellent. Not much to do here, bring a book. Again we encoutered lots of kids. Punta Islita is at best a 3 star resort.

From Punta Islita we traveled by land to Florblanca...a 3 hour trip that was very entertaining and gave you a chance to see the "real" Costa Rica. Nice. Florblanca is simply breathtaking. The pool area made the pool at Punta Islita look like a dump...it was simply incredible. The grounds are beautiful. Wildlife is everywhere. Situated right on the beach, the place is very intimate (just 8 cabins) and truly caters to the needs of it's patrons. The rooms....
wow. The attention to detail, the intimacy, the beds....again, wow. We were fortunate that we did not begin our trip at Florblanca because it would have made the remainder of the trip VERY disappointing. No kids. No crowds. We went on excursions by ourselves with our personal guide. Surfing, horseback riding....all first class. Riding horses thru a 6000 acre ranch, monkeys, the ocean, heading back at sunset on a horse on the beach....incredible. The food was priced the same as Punta Islita...but NO comparison in quality. This is 5 star food, from a 5 star chef. The facilites were fantastic....a small massage compound right on the beach with a complete spa menu, free internet access (Punta Islita charged for EVERYTHING), a short walk to a small surfing town (Santa Theresa). My only regret was that we didn't get to spend more time there. When we go back to Costa Rica we will spend all of our time at Florblanca. There is no need to go anywhere else.

“Spectacular and Unique Resort”
Florblanca Resort
Latitude 10 was everything I expected. Personal service, unique accomodations, and a beautiful and remote setting.

I was somewhat worried when I learned a week before my arrival that Latitude 10 had been purchased by the owners of nearby Florblanca. I became even more concerned when I saw that the new room rates were substantially higher than those I booked and the meal plan had been eliminated. I had read issues about rates and prices at Florblanca suddenly being charged at higher rates than previously represented.

My concerns were unfounded. My previously booked rate was honored. The meal plan no longer existed, but the prices for meals were not at all out of line for the quality of meals prepared.

I am not at all sure how best to describe this resort. It is personal and intimate. An ideal place for honeymooners, or couples just looking for a place to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle of the city.

The layout of the resort is well designed. The center of the resort is the clubhouse/dining room. The pool is immediately in front of this meeting/dining area. On each side of the clubhouse are the master suites, both considered ocean front. The three junior suites are actually behind the clubhouse to the left, right and center. All the suites are separate standing structures hidden amongst the landscaping.

For those worried about privacy, each suite can only be reached through its own pathway. There is no reason to go down the pathway (at least for the master suites) unless you are going to that particular suite. Although the roofs and parts of the side of the stuctures can be seen from the clubhouse, they are each just far enough away and surrounded by the jungle to be quiet and secluded.

Although I said above the resort is an ideal place for honeymooners and couples, it was also perfect for my family of five, with an 8 year old, 14 year old and 16 year old. In fact, during part of our stay, all but one of the bungalow/suites were occupied by families with kids of all ages. And all of the kids loved it! It was amazing how much fun the kids could have when there was no tv, internet or cell phone available.

But you honeymooner's and couples don't worry. First, it was Easter break. My guess is there are very few other times of the year when families will be traveling to a place like Latititude 10. Second, the suites are secluded enough that I doubt the kids were an issue for the couples that were there during our stay, except perhaps around the pool, And finally, I was told that one of the new policies being implemented by Florblanca, is that no more children under age 12 will be allowed.

While I would take my kids there again in a second, I must say that when we walked into our Master Suite, I said to my wife, this would be alot more fun if it were the two of us. The suite was beautiful, with dark woods, romantic lighting and candles, and an open air design that is difficult to describe. The attention to detail was evident at every turn. And the ventilation could not have been better. In the heat of dry season, the breeze at night (along with the whisper quiet ceiling fan) kept the room extremely cool and comfortable.

The outdoor bathrooms were also stunning. Nothing quite like taking a shower outdoors! My son especially enjoyed seeing a monkey in a tree above him while he was taking a shower!

Others have raved about the food and staff, and those raves were well deserved. We enjoyed all of our meals (and drinks!)and thoroughly enjoyed the personal attention we received from all the staff. They knew just the right amount of attention to give and were always there if needed.

If we had a special request, the request was met, whether asking Sebastian to make something special for the kids, or having any one of the staff giving input on the next days activities. The new ownership would be well served if they make as few changes a possible to the stafff and how they serve their guests.

I always try to think of what things could be improved. With Latitude 10, that list is small. My wife pointed out there were no robes, kleenex, or blow driers in the room. Her point was for that kind of money, they should provide those type of amenties. Probably a valid point. The only negative comment we could come up with on the meals was that soups were not Sebastion's strength. They were good, but they were not spectacular like everything else he prepared.

One thing guests should be aware of is that some of the representations on the new website have not yet come to fruition. There is no wireless internet service in the rooms yet and if each room has a four wheeler, that was news to us. My guess is those are amenities planned for the future that have not yet been added.

We had a wonderful stay at Latitude 10 and will recommend it to our friends as a place to go with or without kids. We are hopeful that on spring/easter break weeks and Christmas, the resort will consider relaxing its kids policy and allow children under 12 during those time periods because I would hate to have to wait 3 or 4 years to return with my family.

Regardless, we plan on returning. Latitude 10 is a special place and provides a unique environment that should not be missed.


“Absolutely loved it!”
Florblanca Resort
Florblanca was recommended by a close friend who spent her honeymoon there a few years ago. I was a little nervous, having read a recent review here that was mediocre, but booked it on my friend's strong recommendation.

I couldn't be happier. First of all, the staff was incredibly helpful in arranging flights from San Jose to Tambor, and then ground transportation from there - seamless.

The villas are huge, apparently recently remodeled to have outdoor baths and very modern. We had some industrious termites trying to build something in ours, but they weren't a problem and we alerted the staff who promptly took care of them. But what really blew me away was the food - I have no idea how they managed to get a NYC caliber chef down there - but the menu looked like something out of a restaurant here in the city.

The front office was particularly helpful in setting up activities. I'd recommend the canopy tour (ziplining around the forest, and swimming in waterfalls) as well as the horseback riding on the beach. The beach and scenery are top notch.

I don't have any real complaints. The only thing I'd say is that you get what you pay for -- Florblanca is not cheap. At all. But it was definitely worth it. I'll be going back again.

“Perfect Honeymoon Destination”
Florblanca Resort
My wife and I stayed here for the first 3 days of our honeymoon back in September of 2006. Let me start off by saying, this resort was perfect for us!
We arrived kind of late, not knowing it would take so long to drive from San Jose (I don't recommend doing that unless you have 6 hours to kill) and by the time we arrived the front desk had closed. We pulled up, and there was a gaurd outside in the parking lot. He helped us unpack our car, but unfortunately he didn't speak much english. We didn't know at the time that the front desk was closed, and we thought that's where he was leading us. When we walked in a beautiful open air lobby, we realized it was actually the living room to our room! The staff had written us a note and neatly placed it on our bed welcoming us, and it mentioned the restaurant had closed but they had left a full complimentary sushi dinner in our fridge. Plates and a sushi set was already on one of the tables in our living room. My wife and I eat sushi about twice a week, and this sushi was delicious!
Being the off season, we pretty much had the entire resort to ourselves, in fact there was only one other couple there! It was a truly sureal experience... To be honest, even though it was supposed to be the rainy season, it didn't rain on us at all! Not even once! The locals actually commented that the rain wasn't normal, so I'm not saying if you go during rainy season you won't get rained on...we just lucked out I guess.
We really just enjoyed the seclusion and attention to detail that the hotel provided why we were their guests. I would go back in a heartbeat...
They helped make our honeymoon absolutely incredible.

“Love this place”
Florblanca Resort
I stayed at Flor Blanca for 6 days in august/september 2004.

I absolutely loved the place, it was so relaxing. The surf guide was brilliant company, he also took us on the canopee tour and to Montezuma.
The beach was fantastic, hardly any people, great for romantic walks. The sea water was warm as a bath.
The food at Flor Blanca was excelent, I liked the Neptune Steak most. Cocktails were brilliant.
The yoga class with Stefano Alegry at the beach front dojo was the very first yoga session in my life and it was absloutely amazing. I haven't had any class like it in the UK since. It was a great body & mind experience.
I have also recieved a full body treatment of Stefano Allegry, and this treatment was also soo amazing. After I came back home to the UK, I picked up studying aromatherapy because I liked his treatment so much. Today, I am a qualifyed aromatherapist, starting to run my own business, all that thanks to 6 amazing days at Flor Blanca!
Yes, it is expensive, but I felt very safe in the open air villa. The staff was very interesting and friendly and the service was good.
I loved the soap and the allround nature friendly approach of the resort.
Nowadays, I still find myself at the dojo when I am meditating and surely one day, I will return.

“Way off the beaten path”
Florblanca Resort
If you are looking for Costa Rica pre-tourist boom, Mal Pais is it. Florblanca is at the very end of the (dirt) road through town and provides deluxe accomodations comparable to any international resort. On-site yoga in open-air setting, gourmet kitchen, gorgeous pool, basically private beach, well-executed Balinese theme and private bungalows. Very low guest-to-staff ratio make for friendly personnel. Bike ride into town for the fit and hardy, or rent a quad to find dinner or lunch spots. This is an area for those who want to do a lot of nothing unless you surf, so bring a book and prepare to relax if you are not getting in the water. Do however expect American range pricing on everything at this hotel, including US tipping.

“A Great Vacation”
Florblanca Resort
My family and I arrived at Florblanca for an eight night stay. My kids are 17 and 19 and wanted to go to Costa Rica for a surfing vacation. Florblanca was suggested by a travel agent with significant CR experience. The villas are great, the food excellent, the staff friendly, attentive and informative. We will be back!

“Best hotel in Costa Rica”
Florblanca Resort
Thankfully the staff have improved and the manager Greg was on hand all the time (even cooking the to die for breakfast muffins). To be honest we stayed in some of the best hotels in Costa Rica and none of them compared to the quality and service we received at Flor Blanca it was quite simply in another league.

It was expensive but in this case very much worth it. The Staff were friendly helpful and seamed proud to work at such a great hotel. Nothing would stop me recommending this hotel, it is a dream. The food is the best we had in Costa Rica and possibly some of the best food we have ever tasted and we have eaten in some pretty great places.

Only negative I can add is that some of the garden villas suffer from background noise from the road, but it is minimal.

Overall a beautiful resort, in a beautiful setting that is extremely well managed so do not hesitate to make a visit, 3 nights at least, we only stayed 2 and wished we had spent 7!.

“My best vacation ever!!!”
Florblanca Resort
The bad thing about Hotel Florblanca is that we had to leave. This place is unbelievable and surpassed our expectations. The villas are stunning, very large and beautifully designed. We stayed in Villa #4 and at first were disappointed because we did not have an ocean view but we could hear the waves and the jungle view was even better. There's a cat who will live with you if you let her. We named her Flora and she loves scrambled eggs and whatever leftovers you may have.

Only the bedroom was air conditioned. The living room was open air and we spent much of our time listening to the jungle sounds and watching the animals.

The grounds are amazing. There are landscapers out every day cleaning and tending to the varied foliage.

The staff was very helpful and friendly. Florblanca is staffed by mostly early 20 something surfers from all over the world. It was fun to get to know them and they go out of their way to help with any request.

The food in the restaurant was superb. The presentation and flavors were terrific. I have only 1 small complaint. They need to rotate the entrees a little more. We stayed for 5 nights and saw very few dinner entrée changes, no changes at all on the lunch menu. We were also forewarned about the lack of spice in Costa Rican food so we brought our own bottle of Tabasco sauce. Oh, and bring your own salt and pepper too as it's only bought out upon request.

Unlike some other posts, I did not think the prices were bad. We paid about $80-$90 for dinner each night but we always had 2 sushi appetizers, 2 entrees and several drinks. I think the sushi rolls were about $7.50, drinks around $6 and entrees around $18 for fish, more for beef. A one hour massage cost $70. I think these prices fall well below what I would pay in Southern California. Another nice thing is that Florblanca takes care of all tour expenses so you only have one bill at the end of the trip instead of paying for this and that along the way.

If you're looking to save money you can take a taxi into Santa Teresa. There are a few markets and a liquor store at the crossroad of Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. Bring your own wine if you're into wine because the selection is atrocious. Santa Teresa also has some really good mom/pop places to eat where you can get a full Costa Rican meal and beer for $5.

The road through Santa Teresa is dirt so it gets very muddy if it rains. The best way into Santa Teresa is to rent a quad but be prepared to get muddy. It's all good…. You're in Costa Rica, not L.A. so relax and go with the flow……

 “Worth every penny”
Florblanca Resort


My husband and I chose Florblanca after finding out that Casa Chameleon was booked for our dates and we saw so many wonderful reviews for Florblanca. It was more expensive, but I feel that it was worth every dime we spent. We had stayed at another hotel in the area and had arranged for an all day snorkeling tour for the day we checked in. Rather than leaving all of our luggage in the car,Florblanca said it would be fine for us to leave our bags there before we left. When we arrived at about 7:30am, they knew right away who we were and unfortunately said that our tour had been cancelled due to weather. We weren't really sure what to do with ourselves at that point, but the girl at the desk said "Give me just a minute" and got on the phone, next thing we knew we had welcome smoothies, were being given the grand tour, and shown to our villa, even though check-in wasn't until 2:00. They delivered our luggage to us along with fresh fruit and flowers. Even though we were bummed that we couldn't go snorkeling, they did everything they could to make sure we still had a fun and relaxing day. Every single person on the staff that we saw was very friendly and sincere and even though the restaurant was a bit overpriced for the area, the food was great. The bed was by far the most comfortable one we slept in, and we definitely needed the good sleep. It was the highlight of our honeymoon and exactly the kind of relaxation and pampering we needed!


“Beautiful!”
Florblanca Resort

We stayed here for 4 days of our honeymoon.
The Pros:

--its secluded. You get a villa to yourself, so you don't have to deal with noises, etc. We spent many evenings relaxing on the hammock by ourselves.

--the food rules!!! The on-site restaurant is absolutely fabulous. We are from Chicago and I would say it rivals any of the good Chicago restaurants -- Trotters, Alinea, Moto, etc. -- both in quality of ingredient and in innovative preparation and presentation. We had plans galore to try out other area restaurants and just didn't find the need to do so.

--the beach is very close and secluded.

--The accommodations are gorgeous. This is the best bed we slept on during our honeymoon; the sheets and other bedding were very luxurious.

--The spa and yoga classes were great (albeit slightly overpriced compared to the rest of the places we stayed in Costa Rica).

--We took a surf lesson from one of the instructors on-site and it was great! Highly recommended.
--As a result of being secluded, this place is very hard to get to. We opted to drive from the volcano, and it took about 7 hours -- 3 hours to get to the ferry, 2 hours to get across the ferry, and another 2 hours on the other side (an hour of which were on completely dirty roads). You must have a 4 x 4 and you must do this in the daylight. A GPS is also recommended.

The Cons:

--If you, like me, are hesitant about bugs, lizards, etc., this is a hard place for you to stay. The villa is open air. This means that your bathroom doesn't have a ceiling or walls. While you are peeing or washing your hair, there might be a large lizard staring at you from a tree branch above. My husband loved this; it took me a while to get over my initial squeamishness (looking back, a few months later, it's all fine -- but if you're expecting the Four Season, well, this is just *different*).
--The beach in front of the hotel is pretty rocky and hard to swim or snorkel in - you have to walk a bit down the beach to find a good area for swimming, lying out, etc. I don't know how relevant this is -- we enjoyed our walks on the beach almost as much as laying out or swimming.
--We had one issue where the price advertised for a private yoga session was less than what we were charged. My husband was upset about it at the time, but overall, that's not a huge deal. Just be sure to clarify whether prices have changed since the details were published.

All in all? One of the most memorable experiences of our honeymoon.

“Tranquil and Relaxing!”
Florblanca Resort

I was looking for a relaxing place where I wouldn't be bothered by anyone... The Florblanca delivered! The villas were truly secluded and incredible. The hotel staff was very friendly and made each of my requests happen.

Positives: Amazing sunsets on the beach attached to Florblanca, friendly and accommodating staff, beautiful resort grounds, great pool area, large open villas.

Negatives: Shouldn't count on having Internet or cell phone access (but you're on vacation, why would you need it?), since the villas are open you have to expect that you might run across some bugs or animals. I don't mind those things, but I know some people do.
I was there in January and the weather was perfect. I plan on making another trip back sometime!


“Absolutely loved it!”
Florblanca Resort

My wife and I just spent 5 fantastic days at Flor Blanca. Our room, a 1 bdrm garden view, was amazing. Much larger than our NY apartment, very quiet and beautifully appointed with air conditioning and ample lighting in the bedroom, an incredible outdoor shower/bath, and a huge open-air living room. We had the opportunity to switch to an ocean view room but liked the garden view so much that we stayed. FYI it was very quiet but may have been different if we'd had a room further back near the road/parking area.


We found the staff to be professional, courteous, friendly and responsive. The concierge team was very helpful in scheduling everything from our return to San Jose to various activities in a timely and efficient manner; the food and drink service was excellent as well. I've read the reviews complaining about the service and perhaps they forgot they were at a beach resort where everything is supposed to be a bit more relaxed?


Activities: There is a terrific yoga studio that overlooks the beach and the instructor, Nancy, was terrific. The classes are as challenging as you need them to be. Surfing lessons were great and we'd definitely recommend the afternoon/sunset horseback riding at hacienda del arroyo about 15 minutes up the road. Fantastic views, great guides and very healthy horses. Snorkeling at low tide at Playa Suecos was great, Snorkeling off the beaches here is a little strange b/c it's done in tide pools where you're rarely in more than 5 ft of water. The visibility isn't great and it feels a bit silly but there are some very cool things to see.

Overall, the best activities here are relaxing, enjoying the beach, having drinks at sunset taking in the amazing views, etc.

Getting there--we flew to Tambor and rented a car there. The drive to Flor Blanca was about 45 min. The Budget rental folks were very helpful. They picked us up at the airport and the car was clean and ready. In driving the rough roads in the Nicoya, a stabilization bar near the rear axle broke but they replaced the car (picking up the old and dropping off the new) at our hotel within an hour or two of notice. Incredible service. Driving the roads around here is a lot of fun and they're generally better than the Osa Peninsula. If you get a chance to drive the road fromMal Pais over to Cabuya, do it if you have 4x4. It is absolutely the roughest road we've ever driven
(In a bad rain it'd be impassible) but the scenery is stunning.

Worth it if you're confident in your vehicle.

Montezuma: We didn't think much of the waterfalls near Montezuma, but there are fantastic beaches and swimming opportunities on the way to the falls about 5km south of town (about 40 minute hike beyond ylang ylang resort).

“Fantastic Florblanca!”
Florblanca Resort

Florblanca was recommended by a close friend who spent her honeymoon there a few years ago. I was a little nervous, having read a recent review here that was mediocre, but booked it on my friend's strong recommendation.

I couldn't be happier. First of all, the staff was incredibly helpful in arranging flights from San Jose to Tambor, and then ground transportation from there - seamless.

The villas are huge, apparently recently remodeled to have outdoor baths and very modern. We had some industrious termites trying to build something in ours, but they weren't a problem and we alerted the staff who promptly took care of them. But what really blew me away was the food - I have no idea how they managed to get a NYC caliber chef down there - but the menu looked like something out of a restaurant here in the city.

The front office was particularly helpful in setting up activities. I'd recommend the canopy tour (ziplining around the forest, and swimming in waterfalls) as well as the horseback riding on the beach. The beach and scenery are top notch.

I don't have any real complaints. The only thing I'd say is that you get what you pay for -- Florblanca is not cheap. At all. But it was definitely worth it. I'll be going back again.

“Beautiful Rooms...but....”
Flor Blanca Costa Rica

We recently stayed in a beautiful ocean view suite at Florblanca...can't say enough about how impressed we were with our villa - two bedrooms - two full baths (the main one was a huge open air affair), lovely sitting area with an open balcony. he grounds were very nicely kept, the pool was beautiful. Swimming was not possible right in front of the hotel, but a ten minute walk took you to a very nice beach, great for boogie boarding and surfing.

On the down side we found the dinner service at the restaurant to be some of the worst service we have ever received in our travels. Some of the staff were trying to do their absolute best, while others just stood around talking. The meals were hit and miss, and very pricey forCosta Rica.

In general. we found that there was quite a range in the attitude of the employees. Some were very warm and friendly, in particular theCosta Rica n staff, while others were cool and apathetic, particularly when management was not around. Although our initial impression was very positive, by the time our stay was over we had decided this would not be on our list of places to which we would return.


"Perfect Honeymoon Destination"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

My wife and I stayed here for the first 3 days of our honeymoon back in September of 2006. Let me start off by saying, this resort was perfect for us!

We arrived kind of late, not knowing it would take so long to drive from San Jose (I don't recommend doing that unless you have 6 hours to kill) and by the time we arrived the front desk had closed. We pulled up, and there was a guard outside in the parking lot. He helped us unpack our car, but unfortunately he didn't speak much English. We didn't know at the time that the front desk was closed, and we thought that's where he was leading us. When we walked in a beautiful open air lobby, we realized it was actually the living room to our room! The staff had written us a note and neatly placed it on our bed welcoming us, and it mentioned the restaurant had closed but they had left a full complimentary sushi dinner in our fridge. Plates and a sushi set was already on one of the tables in our living room. My wife and I eat sushi about twice a week, and this sushi was delicious!. Being the off season, we pretty much had the entire resort to ourselves, in fact there was only one other couple there! It was a truly surreal experience... To be honest, even though it was supposed to be the rainy season, it didn't rain on us at all! Not even once! The locals actually commented that the rain wasn't normal, so I'm not saying if you go during rainy season you won't get rained on...we just lucked out I guess. We really just enjoyed the seclusion and attention to detail that the hotel provided why we were their guests. I would go back in a heartbeat...

They helped make our honeymoon absolutely incredible.

 
"Love this place"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

I absolutely loved the place, it was so relaxing. The surf guide was brilliant company, he also took us on the canopy tour and toMontezuma. The beach was fantastic, hardly any people, great for romantic walks. The sea water was warm as a bath.

The food at Florblanca Resort was excellent, I liked the Neptune Steak most. Cocktails were brilliant.
The yoga class with Stefano Alegry at the beach front dojo was the very first yoga session in my life and it was absolutely amazing. I haven't had any class like it in the UK since. It was a great body & mind experience. I have also received a full body treatment of Stefano Allegry, and this treatment was also soo amazing. After I came back home to the UK, I picked up studying aromatherapy because I liked his treatment so much. Today, I am a qualified aroma therapist, starting to run my own business, all that thanks to 6 amazing days atFlorblanca Resort ! Yes, it is expensive, but I felt very safe in the open air villa. The staff was very interesting and friendly and the service was good.

I loved the soap and the all-round nature friendly approach of the resort.

Nowadays, I still find myself at the dojo when I am meditating and surely one day, I will return.

 
"Way off the beaten path"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

If you are looking for Costa Rica pre-tourist boom, Mal Pais is it. Florblanca Resort is at the very end of the (dirt) road through town and provides deluxe accommodations comparable to any international resort. On-site yoga in open-air setting, gourmet kitchen, gorgeous pool, basically private beach, well-executed Balinese theme and private bungalows. Very low guest-to-staff ratio make for friendly personnel. Bike ride into town for the fit and hardy, or rent a quad to find dinner or lunch spots. This is an area for those who want to do a lot of nothing unless you surf, so bring a book and prepare to relax if you are not getting in the water. Do however expect American range pricing on everything at this hotel, including US tipping.

 
"Wonderful Place Florblanca Resort Luxury Resort”
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

After reading some of the negative reviews of Florblanca Resort, I was afraid we might not enjoy it, but I was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I went last week (April 17-22). I will try not to re-hash what's already been said.

The rooms are amazing and we loved the open living room and bathroom.


I do agree that better shampoo and conditioner should be provided at a resort of this caliber, but I had brought my own. They give you shampoo that looks like a bar of soap. It does work, but they don't provide any conditioner, which most women need!! Their pamphlet says they are trying to reduce throwing away bottles (hence no "real" shampoo and conditioner) but I don't buy this argument, as we went through so many water bottles that we had to throw out! Instead they should focus on reducing trash by ridding of the water bottles and using water coolers instead.

I was a bit disappointed with the beach front. As has been said, the beach out front of the resort is all rocky. We did walk a minute down the beach to go swimming, which was no big deal. They said there was snorkeling available, but having been snorkeling in Belize (and very spoiled there with the clear water) we couldn't find any snorkeling worth while. That said, we were the ONLY people on the beach at times and the privacy was amazing. Very quiet and relaxing.

 

We went on a 2 hour boat trip one day. It was nice to get away from the resort and see other things, but the boat trip was nothing amazing.


We mostly ate at the resort and the food was incredible. The prices weren't cheap - about $20-30 for an entree, $7 for a salad, and $30 for a bottle of wine. But the quality and portions were good, so I didn't feel we were being ripped off. The menu didn't change the whole time we were there, so 5 days was good for us or I would've gotten sick of the same menu. Drinks seemed reasonable priced too - $6 for a cocktail. I would have liked to have experienced some other restaurants but we didn't have a car, and there was only 1 within walking distance, called Soma. Soma was next door at another resort and I would recommend eating there too. Same type of food and prices but again, good quality and portions. I think Florblanca Resort will arrange a cab for you if you want to go elsewhere for dinner. I would recommend venturing out, even though we didn't!

The biggest downside was that I think my husband and I got sick from a sushi roll we ate our last night at Florblanca Resort. Sushi is on the menu everyday and we saw people eating it all the time, so it must've just been one of those fluke things.

Contrary to what I had read, the staff and service was very friendly and very good. We had a few mix ups, for example, they thought we ordered sushi one night and bring soy sauce to our table, but nothing major. The staff seemed to go out of their way to be friendly.

We were in cabana #7 which had a partial ocean view. I could hear a generator running on top of the main lobby building though. While it didn't really bother me (it became more background noise), it may bother some people.

Finally, we were very lucky that there were hardly any bugs this time of year when we went!
Would I go back? Definitely.

 
"A Great Vacation"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

My family and I arrived at Florblanca Resort for an eight night stay. My kids are 17 and 19 and wanted to go to Costa Rica for a surfing vacation. Florblanca Resort was suggested by a travel agent with significant CR experience. The villas are great, the food excellent, the staff friendly, attentive and informative. We will be back!

 
"Best hotel in Costa Rica"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

Thankfully the staff have improved and the manager Greg was on hand all the time (even cooking the to die for breakfast muffins). To be honest we stayed in some of the best hotels inCosta Rica and none of them compared to the quality and service we received at Florblanca Resort Resort it was quite simply in another league.

It was expensive but in this case very much worth it. The Staff were friendly helpful and seamed proud to work at such a great hotel. Nothing would stop me recommending this hotel, it is a dream. The food is the best we had inCosta Rica and possibly some of the best food we have ever tasted and we have eaten in some pretty great places.


Only negative I can add is that some of the garden villas suffer from background noise from the road, but it is minimal.

Overall a beautiful resort, in a beautiful setting that is extremely well managed so do not hesitate to make a visit, 3 nights at least, we only stayed 2 and wished we had spent 7!

 
"My best vacation ever!!!"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

The bad thing about Hotel Florblanca Resort is that we had to leave. This place is unbelievable and surpassed our expectations. The villas are stunning, very large and beautifully designed. We stayed in Villa #4 and at first were disappointed because we did not have an ocean view but we could hear the waves and the jungle view was even better. There's a cat who will live with you if you let her. We named her Flora and she loves scrambled eggs and whatever leftovers you may have.

Only the bedroom was air conditioned. The living room was open air and we spent much of our time listening to the jungle sounds and watching the animals.

The grounds are amazing. There are landscapers out every day cleaning and tending to the varied foliage.

The staff was very helpful and friendly. Florblanca Resort is staffed by mostly early 20 something surfers from all over the world. It was fun to get to know them and they go out of their way to help with any request.

The food in the restaurant was superb. The presentation and flavors were terrific. I have only 1 small complaint. They need to rotate the entrees a little more. We stayed for 5 nights and saw very few dinner entrée changes, no changes at all on the lunch menu. We were also forewarned about the lack of spice inCosta Rica n food so we brought our own bottle of Tabasco sauce. Oh, and bring your own salt and pepper too as it's only bought out upon request.

Unlike some other posts, I did not think the prices were bad. We paid about $80-$90 for dinner each night but we always had 2 sushi appetizers, 2 entrees and several drinks. I think the sushi rolls were about $7.50, drinks around $6 and entrees around $18 for fish, more for beef. A one hour massage cost $70. I think these prices fall well below what I would pay in Southern California. Another nice thing is that Florblanca Resort takes care of all tour expenses so you only have one bill at the end of the trip instead of paying for this and that along the way.


If you're looking to save money you can take a taxi into Santa Teresa. There are a few markets and a liquor store at the crossroad of Santa Teresa andMal Pais . Bring your own wine if you're into wine because the selection is atrocious. Santa Teresa also has some really good mom/pop places to eat where you can get a fullCosta Rican meal and beer for $5.

The road through Santa Teresa is dirt so it gets very muddy if it rains. The best way into Santa Teresa is to rent a quad but be prepared to get muddy. It's all good…. You're inCosta Rica, not L.A. so relax and go with the flow……

 
"Magic, with a capital M"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

Just got back from a 5-night stay at Florblanca Resort Resort. There is no comparison between Casa Chameleon and Florblanca Resort Resort. My wife and I wanted to stay longer at Florblanca Resort Resort but a pre-booked wedding party had taken all 11 villas for a whole week. I then rented a quad and visited Casa chameleon to see what the rave was about and was disappointed. The only thing they have is a view of Sunset Reef from the hill. They only have 2 bungalows (which are clean and well finished), no restaurant/bar (although small tiki bar by the pool), no quad rentals; pool is very small, very steep climb to the Casas from the main road and no beach. Walks on the beach are very important for my wife and I, so waking up to the monkeys 50 ft from the sand is a dream come true. I met the owner of Casa Chameleon and although at the time she could not accommodate us she still showed me around and I liked that, they definitely have taken pride in building these 2 bungalows/villas. Yet I sensed a feeling of intrusion if I were to stay there as there were no servers/wait staff, front desk, internet service, laundry service and if I needed something I knew I would have to knock on the owners front door to get it. I have never experienced anything like Florblanca Resort before and have sworn to return. Don't lose your head on the dirt road from Cobano to the resort, it can get bumpy and muddy but well worth it once you arrive. If you are concerned with the price of the villas, don’t be, Ask for Esteban and see if there is anything he can do with the price. We stayed 5 nights and the price came down from $320 to $250 a night. I had not booked on the Internet and got extremely lucky in getting our villa. Esteban did explain that next time we should book on the Internet and once we arrive (and we’re face to face), he will better the rates. And at $180 for Casa Chameleon, that extra $70 is more than worth it. The restaurant at Florblanca Resort served Sushi everyday at 4pm and at 6pm the full menu opened for dinner, try the sea bass with lobster bisque. Every morning I was up at 5 with the monkeys checking out the surf. For the surfers out there, I walked south around the bend and paddled out through the channel by 'suck rock' and long boarded the right peaks coming through double over-head five mornings in a row. In the line-up were the owner of Florblanca Resort (Greg) on his body board, the bar tender (Chris) from the night before and the Pm host of the hotel, Federico.

As a pool contractor in south Florida, I don't make a whole lot of money and I'm used to paying around a $100/$150 a night at hotels and resorts but I can tell you that I would have paid the $320 a night for those villas and that service. Our 10-year anniversary was a huge success and I believe as a married man, if your looking to please your other half, look no further than Florblanca Resort Resort.

 
"Jewel in a surf town"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

My husband and I honeymooned at Florblanca Resort for 5 nights. The resort is beautiful but there are a few things I wanted to share for anyone considering this hotel. The villas are great, tucked away in the gardens. They are open air living rooms and bathrooms, while the bedroom is air conditioned. I didn't realize the living room was also open but also didn't mind the small lizards that spent the nights in there catching bugs. There is a sign in the bathroom that says you can not flush any toilet paper and we had to use the waste basket instead. You can't swim at the beach at Florblanca Resort because of the rocks, you have to walk a few minutes south, but the surf was very strong at that beach too. We walked north of the hotel about 30 minutes to Playa Hermosa which was a gorgeous beach. The town of Santa Teresa is a surf town and this resort is the nicest and most expensive place in town. The restaurant was very expensive and we walked to Milarepa next door every night for fresh fish and creative cuisine. We rented an ATV for the day and that was the best way to get around since the roads were all dirt and bumpy. Since we didn't have a car the ATV gave us the freedom to explore and we drove it all the way toMontezuma. Its a great place to go, especially if you like to surf, It's very secluded and there's not much activity at night at all.

 
"Quite a pleasure"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

Florblanca Resort was the highlight of our visit to the Pacific Coastline. Although it was dreary and rainy, the cozy 1-bedroom villa was perfect for one evening. There is a large sitting room, open to the view of the ocean. This has a kitchenette area with sink and refrigerator. It's larger than most hotel rooms alone and you could really have a party in here. To be honest, the villas are larger than a Boston 1-bedroom. A hallway connected the air-conditioned bedroom with large soft bed, CD player, and fan - to the outdoor bathroom, fully private but allowing for a great view of the jungle skies. Each room comes with a bookshelf and we enjoyed perusing some of the books other visitors had left behind.


Each villa comes with two soft cotton robes and two sarongs, perfect for the beach or pool. Music for the CD player was also provided – our room had a classical piano CD and a Chris Issak CD. We had also brought our own “romantic music” CD as it was our honeymoon, and since I forgot it at the hotel, maybe someone else can enjoy it while in Villa #7.

The environmentalism emphasized here made me feel very good about my choice of hotel. Instead of plastic bottles, the soaps come wrapped in natural banana leafs. The hotel offers sarongs in place of towels, because they are easier to wash and dry. The rooms come with air-conditioning, but also a fan so that those who wish to use less electricity may do so.

The food at Nectar restaurant is famous in Malpais and people come from hotels to eat there. We missed the afternoon “Sushi Time”, but did greatly enjoy the sushi at dinner. Fresh fish prepared in a French-Asian style is the order of the day. For lunch, I had the best cheeseburger of my life while my partner dined on a Singaporean noodle dish.

Breakfasts are typical Costa Rican, with a changing special of the day, served with whole-grain muffins and a tropical fruit plate.


The bathtub is shaped like a leaf and is very deep, fitting two people. The shower is well-fit-out, and includes two soaps wrapped in a banana leaf. These are custom-made for the hotel from the Plumeria (or Florblanca Resort) flower. One is for shampoo and the other for soap, and we loved them so much that we wished they sold them in their gift shop.

The hotel has a Balinese theme, and wooden Balinese statues, Asian décor, and thatched roofs complete the feeling. The yoga/martial arts studio looked fantastic. The gift shop was filled with Eastern goodies as well asCosta Rican artisan crafts, for prices that are accessible to most Americans. They also sell the beautiful sarongs here.

Quite a few famous people stay here. One of the Grateful Dead guys was staying here when we were here. As it is a small hotel with lots of privacy, it's ideal for that anonymous get-away.

 
"Special Place"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

I use this website all the time, but until I stayed here I never felt the need to write. This hotel is very special. I discovered it on the internet a year ago, and "bookmarked" it. I did my research, and we just came back from celebrating our 10 year anniversary inCosta Rica . We spent 4 nights here. and it was absolutely amazing! You will not be disappointed! We had an amazing villa right on the beach, and service that was above and beyond! I lost my passport the very first day, and management arranged (last minute) for a relatively inexpensive flight back to San Jose so that I could get to the U.S. Embassy and get on with our trip! The restaurant manager also arranged for a private dinner in their "dojo," decorated with candles, and fresh flowers, and even special ordered lobster for our special night!

We have two young boys that this place would not be appropriate for, but if you are looking for a very romantic, private escape, this is it! You will not be disappointed! The 1 bedroom villas are large and open to the surrounding gardens, but yet maintain your privacy. I never felt crowded, almost always sitting alone at the intimate pool. I was very impressed. I hope we can return one day. I fantasized about this resort for almost a year...and I was not disappointed!
K. Adams, San Diego, CA

 
"Beautiful Rooms...but...."
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

We recently stayed in a beautiful ocean view suite at Florblanca Resort...can't say enough about how impressed we were with our villa - two bedrooms - two full baths (the main one was a huge open air affair), lovely sitting area with an open balcony. The grounds were very nicely kept, the pool was beautiful.

Swimming was not possible right in front of the hotel, but a ten minute walk took you to a very nice beach, great for boogie boarding and surfing.

On the down side we found the dinner service at the restaurant to be some of the worst service we have ever received in our travels. Some of the staff were trying to do their absolute best, while others just stood around talking. The meals were hit and miss, and very pricey forCosta Rica.

In general., we found that there was quite a range in the attitude of the employees. Some were very warm and friendly, in particular theCosta Rica n staff, while others were cool and apathetic, particularly when management was not around. Although our initial impression was very positive, by the time our stay was over we had decided this would not be on our list of places to which we would return.

 
"Yes, it's Wow!"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

This resort satisfies. With only 10 rooms, this resorts manages to be full service with a terrific restaurant, easily arranged activities, and a friendly and welcoming staff at every turn. The rooms (really houses) are beautiful, clean, and generally a lot nicer than they need to be for guests to love. The open air bathroom and shower was fun and romantic (your privacy is well ensured). The beach is wonderful and miles of sandy walks are available out of the front door. Also, the beach was very clean (unlike our stay in Ambergris Belize). If you survive the flight in and out, you'll have great memories like us.

 
 "Unbelievable!!!"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

On our honeymoon we were blown away by this hotel. We had been traveling Costa Rica for one week when we got to our last hotel, Florblanca Resort. This place is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at by far. Only 10 very private villas in the whole place with a great restaurant/bar and beach just feet away. The room rate is high but worth it. Once you get there the food and drink prices are very reasonable which is a nice surprise. A $350 hotel in the US would try and stick it to you on food and drink but not this hotel. Food was unbelievable and staff was extremely polite. I cannot speak highly enough about this hotel. We will definitely go back some day.

 
 "A terrific little hotel"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

My sister and I visited Florblanca Resort in August, 2004. What a gem of a hotel. The service was excellent, the food outstanding, and we had a great time in a two-person villa. Each morning and evening we were visited by a troop of howler monkeys that we could see right out of our balcony. The beach was great for long walks, especially at low tide. My sister and I indulged in some great massages, great dinners, and had a truly relaxing time. We had to get up at 600Am to catch our flight to Lapa Rios, and our breakfast was waiting for us, along with the owners. They even wrapped the rest of it up for our ride to the airport. What a delightful find at the end of an extremely muddy road! Will return in the future. The villa was extremely spacious, with first class amenities. I have traveled to some of the great places in the world, and Florblanca Resort rates with the best of the small, intimate hotels. I recommend it without reservation.

 
"Amazing in every way"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

Wow! What can I say? We started our honeymoon at this special place and really never wanted to leave. The staff was beyond accommodating, friendly, and helpful. The food was excellent and esp. breakfast. The beach is beautiful. Our villa was perfect. I could rant and rave forever but honestly a place definitely worth checking out. We would return in a heartbeat. Also, we went the week before Thanksgiving which was perfect because it was quiet.

 
"Disappointing"
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

Florblanca Resort was intended to be the "highlight" of our honeymoon in June, however we were disappointed in staff service for the high price tag to stay there.

The positives... We stayed in Villa #1 which is the closest to the ocean and has views through the palm trees. (Also the most expensive) The Villas are beautiful, open aired, huge Bali bed and rain showers. The waterfall pool is lovely and the location right on the beach is great for early morning runs, surfing and meandering on the beach at sunset.

The negatives... We found the staff to be unprofessional and unhelpful. There was a distinct "attitude" the staff has that made us feel uncomfortable. The staff seemed to be there to surf and play and were not concerned with guests. Villa #1 is great, but every day the staff from the resort walk right in front of villa when they go to surf. There is also a path in front of Villa #1 that staff from Milarepa next door use. The restaurant has great food, but is also a very popular local hangout so be sure to reserve a good table. (a service they offer for guests).

Overall it is a beautiful resort, in a beautiful setting that is terribly mismanaged and for the price you should receive better service as a paying guest.

We also stayed at Casa Chameleon just up the road and had a wonderful experience. Beautiful setting and villa, superior service and reasonably priced. Casa Chameleon was the highlight of our honeymoon and when we return we will stay there and not at Florblanca Resort Resort.

 
 "Not what we expected......."
Florblanca Luxury Resort: Mal Pais -

We have just returned from our second vacation in Costa Rica. We love Costa Rica and it's people, but what you will find at the Florblanca Resort is an assortment of 20 something North American kids running a hotel with no obvious prior training in hotel service. It seems that the criteria for hiring is, attractive, tattooed, do you surf and speak English... hired!


The grounds are beautiful and we rented a two bedroom villa for our family of 4, Plenty of room. Beautiful and comfortable beds, a luxury inCosta Rica . Getting around this area is slow, and I HIGHLY recommends renting a car, or you will be very bored, unless you plan on just some serious relaxing. Please note, we were informed that the original owners had recently sold the hotel, it seems that in this change over, details are getting forgotten, the glowing reports that you read in travel books and magazine articles are not quite accurate as I write this review.

Here are some of the problems with the hotel. First off, it is absolutely the most expensive property in the area. We do stay at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton’s, and are willing to pay top dollar, when appropriate. For over $400 a night at a hotel that is American owned and run by Americans, I expect services such as turn down in the evening, complementary bottled water, better quality soaps ( I have no idea what the soap in banana leaves was, we received tiny bars of soap in paper wrappers). There is a lovely sunken outdoor bathtub, and no bubble bath.... This is not a service oriented hotel, it is VERY laid back and as expensive as some of the top world wide chains.


We ordered a single piece of pie one evening, and we were charged a $20 service charge for bringing it to the room! The pie was a $6.00 item. We complained, and the service charge was removed.

Several words or caution.... In case you are unaware, there is a severe outbreak of Dengue fever in Costa Rica. We meet 2 people in our 13 days there that had had it. It is spread by mosquitoes. I suggest if you are visiting Costa Rica or staying at Florblanca Resort, that you bring along, or plan to purchase plenty of mosquito repellant. We were slathered at ALL times and were still bitten. Florblanca Resort, has open air rooms, except for the bedrooms as you may have read in some of the other reviews. We also used mosquito coils, which I brought with us. They proved to be somewhat effective.

 
There are 2 cats on the property that will freely enter your "open aired villas", so it you have allergies, of just don't want a cat in your villa, there is not much you can do... and the staff there doesn’t care nor can they control the cats.


We hired a "surf instructor" for our 9 year old son, who does surf already, but the surf in CR is much stronger and difficult then the tiny waves in Santa Monica CA. The lesson was the instructor leaving our son out in the line-up with 7-8 foot waves while he rode waves in himself. The "boards" that they offer for use atFlorblanca Resort are terrible.... better off renting in town, ( Santa Teresa) which we had done but were told that we could use the junk boards at the hotel. If you want to rent boards go the Alex's in Santa Teresa. He's a great guy.


I totally agree that if you are staying at Florblanca Resort for awhile, the food becomes VERY boring! We were there for 4 days. I suggest trying dinner at Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa. we had actually been staying there and moved... not sure if that was truly the best choice. The beach in front of Tropico Latino is swimable (Florblanca Resort isn't) and the staff there is a bit more authentic. Also note, the yoga and Pilates classes are an additional fee.


So the bottom line is... it's a beautiful property and the villas are very comfortable. You will pay dearly for service that is average. As far as a high end hotel in the area.. this is the only game in town. If you don't expect too much, you won't be disappointed.

 
Beyond Accommodation

Florblanca Villas

FLORBLANCA VILLAS SPA & RESORT
By:
Nancy & Nina
GURU MAGAZINE
PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Along a dusty, dirty road… past tin-roof houses, colorful surf shops and plenty of stray dogs one finds a paradise beyond what you would ever expect in Central America. Quietly hidden in Playa Santa Teresa, which some consider one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, you’ll find the Florblanca Villas. A small boutique hotel that unassumingly covers seven acres of beachfront land with 11 luxury villas, a world class restaurant, an ocean view yoga studio, spa and two level swimming pool. Built on the belief that man and nature can live in a symbiotic relationship, this heavenly resort reminds us to slow down, breath deep and relax. And that’s exactly what you’ll do after the long journey to get there.

Upon arrival, a quick check-in and short tour we were welcomed with a refreshing Ginger-Tamarindo juice and shown to our luxurious ocean view villa. It took us a moment to catch out breath as we marveled in awe at the amazing details of the architecture, the outdoor garden bathroom and stylish simplicity. We quickly changed into our bathing suits, grabbed a couple of sarongs (Balinese style cover-ups that the hotel in each villa) and headed down to the pool.

It was there, while enjoying fresh sushi and chilled sake that we met Susan Money and Greg Mullins, the visionaries behind this amazing place. They proceeded to entertain us with their stories, trivia, and the real history of the Florblanca: “The story of Florblanca actually started over 20 years ago when found myself purchasing the exact land where I had set down my tent. I returned to California and my job as a dental hygienist and dream about what I could do to earn a living in Costa Rica. I realized that I could cook and I could entertain, which pointed me in the direction of small hotel owner. With both kids entering college it was the perfect time to flee, and so began the construction of Sueno Del Mar, my first little Inn on the beach.”

“My husband and I lived, breathed and buried ourselves in that endeavor… despite a lack of phones, roads, or banks; we managed to make a good living. But the town soon grew up, the people changed, and out little spot in paradise had lost some of its charm. So we hopped on our horses and headed south down the coast, thinking we would certainly stumble on a little undiscovered piece of paradise just calling our names. Ten years later after much planning, 3 years of construction and many sleepless nights, we built our dream: The Florblanca Villas. After traveling through Indonesia and falling in love with the Balinese hospitality, culture, and art I knew that my next project would have to be a fusion of Asian influences and Latin American charm. The resort would embody all the essentials needed to be successful and much more. The criteria being a world class beach for surfing and swimming, luxurious accommodations that blend with nature, yoga classes and experienced massage therapists, spectacular food including fresh fish and organic produce, adventure tours like horseback riding, canopy excursions, snorkeling and fishing, and of course a staff of happy hardworking people that love where they live and what they do”.

“Were we able to achieve our dream-definitely, and the consistently booked villas and returning guests prove so. Florblanca reminds me everyday that Mother Earth does it better than man ever could. If we tread lightly, think globally, and act responsibly we can all do our part in preserving the planet for our children.”

Spoken from the heart, Susan and her family live their dream and happily share it with all those that are fortunate enough to spend some time at Florblanca. You can find Susan practicing yoga with her daughter, Nancy Goodfellow, as well as quite a large following of local residents and tourists who attend the inspiring classes in the amazing ocean view shala (Sanskrit word for a traditional yoga room). Nancy (Yoga Alliance certified) gives energetic flowing sequences of postures with touches of Tantra Yoga philosophy, chanting and meditation. WARNING! This may be the most challenging hour and a half of our whole vacation, but with Nancy’s expert guidance and joyful nature you will fishing feeling completely rejuvenated and extremely peaceful.

Along with yoga classes, Florblanca also offers Pilates lessons and many kinds of massages in their air-conditioned spa.

After all the activities and exercise you will certainly appreciate the amazing cuisine and excellent service found at Florblanca’s Nectar restaurant. Thanks to chefs Demian Geneau and Spencer Graves, we believe this is the best and most romantic restaurant in the country. I think we could spent all week just tasting the different delicacies: from sashimi and locally caught fish to organic meats and salads, the creativity and presentation thoughtfully conveys the passion and love that goes into every plate.

By the end of our stay we found ourselves in a space of total contentment and relaxation while feeling healthier than we ever thought possible. It was difficult to say goodbye, we had made so many friends and had such an amazing, enjoyable time. One thing is certain… WE WILL BE BACK

http://flor-blanca-resort.com

http://flor-blanca.net

http://florblanca-costarica.com

http://florblanca-resort.com

http://florblanca.info

http://florblancacostarica.com

http://florblancaresort.net

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