Kurà: A Costa Rican Boutique Hyatt Hotel That Was My Favorite Stay of 2025 [Review]

Costa Rica unexpectedly made its way into my 2025 travel plans.

My adventure buddy Phil and I thought we’d treat ourselves to a bit of luxury somewhere hot. As we’d both never been to Costa Rica and we found reasonable flights from our respective locations in Miami (MIA) and Ecuador, it was decided.

I’m so glad we decided to stay here, as we spent 3 days in absolute heaven. We didn’t want it to end, and we left the hotel so late that a traffic jam almost caused us to miss our flight.

From an incredible infinity pool and rooms with to-die-for views to fantastic food and staff, Kurà really does have it all.

How To Book a Stay at Kurà

Kurà is part of the Mr and Mrs Smith collection of hotels, which was acquired by Hyatt in April 2024. As such, you can redeem World of Hyatt points to book your stay.

Points rates are dynamic for Mr & Mrs Smith stays, and we didn’t have enough for even 1 night when we were researching. For example, the room we booked costs 79,250 points per night in March 2026.

We paid a total of $1,548 for our 3-night stay. We thought it was a great price when we booked, but we would consider it a bargain after the truly spectacular experience we had.

I paid using my U.K. version of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, as the U.K. doesn’t have a Hyatt co-branded option. If I were based in the U.S., I’d have likely used The World of Hyatt Credit Card, which earns up to a total of 9 points per $1 spent on Hyatt stays (4 Bonus Points on Hyatt hotel purchases and up to 5 Base Points as a World of Hyatt member).

Remote Yet Accessible Location

If you missed the advance email from the Kurà team, you’re warned again when you start to make the move from paved to unpaved roads.

We had a large Mitsubishi, which had a 4-wheel drive mode. It came in handy on tight, steep curves where tires struggled on the loose gravel.

We managed just fine, and even saw regular cars driving up and down the steep gravel tracks. Still, you’re better off in a larger vehicle with 4-wheel drive capabilities.

The area is also very safe. Despite its remoteness, there are several mansion-style houses nearby, many of which have 24-hour surveillance systems, as indicated by several signs.

The hotel is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes from San José Airport (SJO) by car.

Every Room Is a Suite

Each of Kurà’s guest rooms is classed as a suite rather than just a room. There are 2 junior suites, 2 regular suites, 2 deluxe suites, and 2 master suites.

The master and deluxe suites have a private infinity pool, which almost tempted us to splurge. We didn’t, as we figured we’d spend most of our time at the hotel’s impressive infinity pool anyway.

The main door to our suite had a strange cut-out space that I used to get in or out, rather than the actual door.

Entering the suite via the terrace made for a spectacular first impression.

In the center of the suite was the large king-size bed.

Kurà describes its decor as minimalist and casual cosmopolitan. I’d agree with that in part, but I have to be honest: Some of the design features, such as the white arched leather chair and white terrace furniture, felt a little bit cheap.

Forbes has previously named Kurà as “the most glamorous romantic resort in Costa Rica.” The glass-walled shower indeed feeds into the romantic aspect of that narrative.

Thankfully, the curtain could be pulled across for privacy with my platonic travel buddy Phil.

The other floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the shower looks over the rainforest. You can just about make out the Whale Tail in the distance, too. The Whale Tail of Uvita is notable not only for being an excellent spot for whale sightings but also because the tides turn the stretch of beach into the shape of a whale’s tail at certain times of day.

The open-plan style means the bathroom unit, complete with double sinks, is located behind the bed rather than in a separate bathroom.

If we had unpacked, there would have been plenty of storage.

Each room also comes with a flashlight, binoculars, and a portable speaker, which are nice bonus amenities to have.

Having become accustomed to being nickel-and-dimed by hotel minibars these days, it was refreshing to be offered complimentary, unlimited sweet and savory snacks.

Kombucha and 2 types of Costa Rican beer, Pilsen and Imperial, were also complementary.

While the beers went untouched, the varied selection of teas and coffee pods was very much enjoyed.

The floor-to-ceiling sliding doors could be fully opened, giving a sense of bringing the outside inside.

I thoroughly enjoyed evenings in the hammock. It was blissful to relax to the sounds of the rainforest, and sometimes even the waves in the distance.

Every Room Has Incredible Views

Owing to its hillside location above the rainforest canopy, every suite has exquisite views over the lush greenery and out over the Pacific Ocean. This was the view from the bed!

Here’s a zoomed-in photo I took of the Whale Tail from the terrace.

It was nice not to have a single other building in sight.

We even spotted this cute little local playing around in the grass below our suite.

The views aren’t limited to the suites and infinity pool: This is from the hotel’s main public restroom!

A Dreamy Infinity Pool

I’ve swum in incredible infinity pools, but none quite like this.

The pool at Kurà looks directly over the famous Whale Tail.

Unless we were sleeping, we were up at the pool, taking in this most incredible scenery. As there were only 8 rooms, we often found ourselves enjoying the space and views alone.

From certain angles, the pool meets the sea, which blends into the sky, and it’s hard to distinguish where one ends and the other starts.

As the day’s light begins to fade, the scenes are nothing short of magical.

The hotel’s bartender mixed up a tropical mango-flavored cocktail for me to sip as the spectacle unfolded.

I honestly don’t think I’d ever seen a more beautiful sunset in my life.

Once the evening show is over, the backdrop of the night sky changes the pool’s ambience once again.

Also at the pool area, there’s a telescope in a prime position for even better viewing of the Whale Tail and, if you’re lucky, some whales.

Kurà also provides a bunch of board games and books to break up those long days of soaking up the sun in paradise.

Incredible Food and Beverage

Breakfast was included each morning in our rate. It kind of had to be, given Kurà’s remote location.

The hotel’s only restaurant is located on the same level as the infinity pool, accessible by a set of stairs from the driveway and guest rooms.

Breakfast with this view is a pretty special way to start the day.

We were given the option to choose one each from a list of sweet and savory dishes on the à la carte menu. Phil told me the banana bread was excellent, and I was delighted with my hearty portion of fresh fruit.

In addition to classic options like eggs Benedict and huevos rancheros, Kurà’s breakfast menu featured some tasty combinations that I’d never tried before.

This was the Kurà breakfast. It came with my choice of eggs (I went for an egg white omelette), prosciutto, avocado, fresh local cheese, manchego cheese, homemade toast, jam, and dark chocolate bites.

The next morning, I tried the “typical breakfast,” which was scrambled eggs, cheese, and gallo pinto — Costa Rica’s version of the Latin American classic rice and beans dish.

We ordered the French toast one morning, and it was so big that we didn’t know whether to eat it or climb it.

My usual preference for dinner when I’m on the road is a local restaurant, rather than a hotel, except for locally owned and run independent hotels. Kurà is technically independently run, despite being part of Hyatt’s portfolio, so it fits the bill.

Being wowed by breakfast on our first morning is what sealed the deal. We reserved a table for dinner on our second night on the spot.

I was expecting prices for dinner to reflect the hotel’s 5 stars, remote location, and the fact that Costa Rica was noticeably more expensive than most (if not all) of the other Central and South American countries I’ve been to. To our surprise, main meals ranged from $22 for a chicken breast with romesco sauce and salad to $40 for the premium beef cut.

I had the chicken, and Phil went for the ravioli. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and shared a delightful chocolate tart to finish off proceedings.

Unquestionable 5-Star Service

The more I stay in “5-star” hotels, the more I question the grounds for why hotels are awarded 5 stars.

Kurà excelled in the service department. Not in a “Yes, sir. What can I do for you, sir?” kind of way, but rather because Kurà makes sure its guests are at the heart of everything they do.

For example, if ever we returned to our room in the early evening, turndown service would have been done. Staff clearly knew when we were out, as we never crossed paths with a member of housekeeping once during our stay.

Another moment that stuck out for me was eating breakfast one morning when it started to pour torrentially with rain. Even though we were seated under cover, it was only seconds before a member of the team closed the sliding doors to ensure we didn’t get wet.

However, the most thoughtful and valuable part of the service was having access to the Kurà car. You can reserve a complimentary ride during the day or evening, depending on your plans.

We had our own car for adventuring during the day, so we used the service only once when heading out for dinner on our last evening. It meant we didn’t have to navigate the windy, unlit, dirt tracks at night, and we could have a glass of wine (or 2). You can also book private airport transfers to and from Kurà for a fee.

Kurà saved the best turndown service for our last evening. We got back after dinner to find a goodbye note with some Kurà ground coffee to take home.

I was also impressed with the personal email communications we received almost immediately after booking. A member of the team reached out to ensure we were aware of the terrain leading up to the hotel and that it’s recommended only to attempt the drive using a 4×4 vehicle. We were also offered the alternative of booking an airport transfer or a complimentary pickup from Uvita if we preferred to leave the car in town rather than attempt the steep descent ourselves.

Final Thoughts

Kurà is a very special place. If you like intimate hotels with attentive staff, great food, and views to die for, then you absolutely should consider a stay here, even if Costa Rica isn’t high up on your “to-visit” list.

If I hadn’t wanted to visit places like Whale Tail Beach, I could have happily stayed put for the entire 72-hour stay.