What It’s Really Like To Stay at the Brand-New Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique [Review]

^{The author stayed as an invited guest of the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique. All opinions are the author’s own, and the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique had no input in any part of this review.}

I had anticipated the May 2025 opening of the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique for months. Hilton brought a brand-new Waldorf Astoria to Costa Rica, marking not just the first Waldorf Astoria in the country, but the brand’s official debut in Central America. For a region already known for high-end resorts, seeing a Waldorf Astoria enter the mix instantly grabbed my attention.

The idea of another luxury, points-friendly hotel joining the Papagayo coastline immediately put the Waldorf Astoria on my must-visit list, especially since it’s just a quick hop from my home in South Florida and located in the same area where I’ve vacationed several times at the popular Andaz Papagayo.

I wanted to see for myself how it fit into an area already filled with well-loved luxury properties and whether the experience lived up to the hype. What I found during my December 2025 stay was even better than expected.

Booking: Points or Free Night Certificates Offer the Best Value

When booking the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, points or free night certificates are the smartest way to go.

Standard nights at the resort start at 120,000 Hilton Honors points, but cash rates often tell the real story. In January 2026 (and most of the year), rooms regularly climb well above $1,000 per night, even during slower periods. Redeeming 120,000 points offers well over our valuation of Hilton Honors points of 0.5 cents per point, which is not something that can be said about every Hilton property.

Cardholders of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can get good value from free night certificates at this property. It’s the kind of redemption that makes you feel genuinely good about saving those certificates. It’s a true luxury property in Costa Rica where points stretch far, and the out-of-pocket cash price would sting a little.

Hot Tip:

Curious about other credit cards that offer annual free night certificates just for paying the annual fee? You can explore our guide to the best hotel credit cards that offer a free night certificate for more options.

Location: A Quiet Corner of Guanacaste

The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique is approximately a 30-minute drive from Liberia International Airport (LIR), making it one of the most convenient luxury resort arrivals in Guanacaste.

The drive set the stage. The road winds along coastal cliffs before opening up to sweeping ocean views. The moment I pulled into the property, a sense of calm and seclusion took hold.

What struck me when I stepped into the lobby was the setting, which exuded quiet luxury.

Perched high on a cliffside and facing the Gulf of Papagayo, the property felt worlds away from everything around it. Unlike the Papagayo Peninsula — where the Andaz and Four Seasons sit relatively close together — Punta Cacique is its own private enclave with no neighboring resorts in sight.

The location delivers immediately with stunning views and a serene, high-end ambiance. This isn’t really the kind of place to use as a base to run around exploring every corner of Guanacaste — though wildlife tours and classic Costa Rica activities are available for booking. The resort’s secluded location, away from other hotels, restaurants, and shops, naturally encourages a slower pace.

It’s the kind of spot to settle in, enjoy the restaurants, make use of the amenities, and actually relax. A couple of quiet days of recharging and pampering are precisely what this hotel was built for.

Rooms and Suites: Spacious Layouts, Plunge Pools, and Ocean Views

One thing that’s obvious right away at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique is the expansive rooms. Even the standard rooms are large by resort standards, but the suites take things to another level.

I stayed in an Ocean 1 King 1 Bedroom Suite with a private plunge pool, and it felt closer to a high-end vacation rental than a typical hotel room. The suite included a separate living room, a full dining table, and 1.5 bathrooms, which made it easy to spread out and relax. For 2 people, it’s more than enough space.

The bedroom was spacious, but the bathroom was huge, with ample counter space, dual vanities, and a layout that felt more like a spa than a hotel bathroom.

Outside, the suite opened onto a large terrace with a standalone outdoor soaking tub and ocean views. The terrace was big enough that it felt like an extension of the suite, not just somewhere to step out for a quick photo. Thanks to the resort’s cliffside layout, the views stretch across the coastline and out over Culebra Bay.

Additionally, in a separate outdoor area, there was a private plunge pool with 2 lounge chairs overlooking the coastline.

The overall design was clean and modern, with light woods, stone finishes, and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. This is the kind of room that’s pleasant to spend time in, whether that’s having coffee outside in the morning or winding down back at the suite between meals and activities.

Bottom Line:

This suite is an ideal fit for a relaxing stay in Costa Rica. It’s not just a place to sleep, but part of what makes the stay memorable.

Food and Beverage: High-End Dining and a Great Coffee Shop

La Finca

The resort offers several dining options, led by La Finca, its signature, higher-end restaurant, which focuses on locally sourced ingredients.

This was easily my favorite place to eat on the property. I had dinner there on my first night and was genuinely impressed, enough that I made a point to return on my last night. The menu doesn’t change much, but that worked in its favor.

There were several dishes I noticed the first night that I didn’t get to try, so I went back and ordered the lobster and scallops, which were excellent.

I’m usually pretty skeptical of hotel restaurants. They can feel safe or forgettable, especially when you’re stuck on property, but La Finca surprised me. The food was superb and rivaled some of the top foodie spots I regularly dine at in Miami.

Tico Tica

Tico Tica, where breakfast is served daily, is a more relaxed setting that offers both buffet and à la carte options.

It’s also open for dinner in a more casual setting than La Finca, making it an easy, low-key option in the evenings.

I tried a mix of both during my stay. The buffet was plentiful, but the à la carte dishes were consistently tasty and well executed.

Vida

For something more casual, I had lunch by the pool at Vida, the resort’s laid-back eatery facing the pool area.

I ordered directly from my pool lounger, and my ahi tuna and fish tacos were brought over from Vida for an easy setup for spending the day by the water.

Buena Nota Café

One of the unexpected highlights of the stay was the coffee shop, Buena Nota Café.

I stopped in every morning. It went beyond getting my daily caffeine fix because they genuinely take coffee seriously. The baristas were proud to show off their scratch-made syrups and let me sample their kombucha.

The coffee shop sources its beans and produces properly made barista-style drinks, ranging from solid espresso to craft lattes and cold brew.

It quickly became part of my daily routine before heading out to explore the property.

Gelato and Ice Cream Shop

There’s also a gelato and ice cream shop on the property, which I visited one evening for a post-dinner taste of sweetness.

It’s located just steps from Tico Tica, making it an ideal stop for dessert with a relaxed stroll around the property after dinner.

Peacock Alley

I didn’t stay for a drink at Peacock Alley, the resort’s formal cocktail bar, but I did stop in after multiple staff members told me how beautiful it was inside — and they weren’t wrong.

The space alone makes it worth a visit, even if just for a quick look.

Amenities: 10 Pools, a Full Spa Circuit, Beach, and More

The layout of the property becomes most noticeable when using the amenities, which are spread across a large, open footprint.

The Beach

The resort sits on a small, protected beach below the main property. Costa Rica is better known for its rainforest and wildlife than its beaches, but this one delivered.

It’s calm and easy to access, with loungers set up and staff available to help with towels or water.

Because it’s tucked into the bay, the water is generally gentle and well-suited for swimming, paddleboarding, or jet skiing.

This isn’t a long, walkable beach, but it works well as part of the overall resort experience. It’s a place to spend some time by the water before heading back to the pools or other areas of the property.

Spa

A spa treatment was booked for me during my stay, and I found the spa to be thoughtfully laid out.

It combines indoor and open-air spaces, including a moon room that’s cool and quiet, a sunroom with filtered natural light, and a sauna.

There are also hydrotherapy features and outdoor showers for rinsing off before treatment. The design aligns well with the Waldorf Astoria brand, incorporating subtle elements that reflect the resort’s nature-centric decor.

Pools

Because the resort is built across multiple levels, the pools are spread throughout the property rather than centered in a single area. There are 10 pools in total, with a mix of layouts, seating areas, and hot tubs scattered around the resort. That variety makes a noticeable difference. Even if the hotel were at full occupancy, it would still be easy to find a quieter corner or a setup that feels more private.

All of the pools maintain a calm, relaxed atmosphere, with 1 pool featuring a small water slide that’s especially appealing for families with kids.

During my stay, none of the pools felt crowded, and it was easy to settle into a spot that felt comfortable for the day.

Fitness Center

I worked out each morning, and the gym had everything I needed.

It’s not especially large, but it’s well equipped with free weights, cardio machines, and cable equipment. The space is bright and comfortable, which made it easy to knock out a workout without overthinking it.

The gym sits right in front of the resort’s only adults-only pool, which is set apart from the main pool areas and located near the spa.

That whole section of the property felt a bit more tucked away and quiet, making it a nice place to start the day before heading elsewhere on the resort.

Golf Carts

The property is spread out, so the resort offers a 24/7 golf cart service to get around. I dialed “0,” and within a couple of minutes, a cart arrived to take me wherever I needed to go.

I usually like walking everywhere, even up and down hills. This resort definitely has plenty of them since it’s built into the mountainside. But one evening, when I was heading to dinner at La Finca, which was uphill near the lobby from my building, I wasn’t in the mood to burn my calves. I called for a cart, and one arrived in about a minute to take me to dinner.

Kids Club and Teen Club

The resort also has dedicated kids and teens clubs. I didn’t step inside the kids club, but I did walk through the teen club.

With TVs, gaming stations, a pool table, and ping-pong, it’s the kind of space my preteens would have loved, and a solid option for giving older kids their own place to hang out while on the property.

Complimentary Water Activities

Guests can sign up for complimentary daily water activities, such as kayaking or paddleboarding, right off the beach.

One day, I joined a guided kayak outing with about 10 other guests, and we paddled to a nearby beach roughly 15 minutes from the resort.

It was an easy and relaxed experience, a nice way to spend time on the water without needing to plan anything.

Service: Warm, Genuine, and Pura Vida

Service across the resort was generally warm and professional, with some teams standing out more than others. The restaurant staff at La Finca and each morning at Tico Tica were consistently friendly and attentive, striking a good balance between being present and not overbearing.

The team at Buena Nota Café stood out the most. Each morning, it was easy to notice how engaged they were with guests. They clearly bring attention to detail and pride in their craft, which came through in both the drinks and the interactions. It set the coffee shop apart from the rest of the service experience on the property.

Final Thoughts

I’ve anticipated the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique. After finally experiencing it firsthand, I came away genuinely impressed. It’s a strong addition to the Guanacaste hotel scene that feels thoughtfully executed.

For a property that opened in 2025, it’s already operating at a high level. After spending several days on-site, it’s easy to understand why the resort has drawn so much attention, especially for travelers seeking a calm, resort-focused stay where the property itself is a significant part of the experience.