Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection

This is one of the nicest resorts that my family and I have ever stayed in. Unfortunately there were quite a few inconsistencies in the service. Upon arrival, the welcoming we had was amazing, but the following days specifically with food service some things were not up to standard. 3 days in a row the food I ordered was incorrect and took extremely long. This was typically only with certain servers, others were amazing. I would like to mention Andrey as he is the one who should be setting the standard for all other servers. He was amazing. Regarding the food itself, it too was inconsistent. Some dishes good, others not so much. I think the main issue here is inconsistency in service and food. When staying at such a high level resort, I expect these things to be above avg. Not avg, or below. Regarding the experiences offered by the resort, I would say they were extremely over priced. We did a short hike which was underwhelming for the high price. We were going to do ATV's but the cost of the experience was almost the cost to buy a new ATV. The horse back riding was worth it for sure but the other ones not so much for the price. Besides the points I would improve on, I would say the resort itself was beautiful and extremely clean. Our campos (concierge) Kevin and his associate were extremely quick at response times whenever we needed something such as room service or a driver. Overall I would say there's some room for improvement to justify this resort to be at the high-level it intends to be, but nonetheless it was still a great time.

Couldn’t say enough about Hacienda AltaGracia. Amazing, wonderfful. Clean, beautiful, amazing staff, amazing food. Will definitely go back with my family for another special occasion. Spent my 40th birthday with my husband and kids and we had an amazing time, great food and activities.

Nestled in the mountains near Santa Maria in the Cajon District, this resort is a gem. There is nothing like it in this area of Costa Rica. The food was incredible as was the spa and our casita. We had a private garden with spectacular jungle view.

I usually write reviews after poor experiences, but Hacienda AltaGracia is an exception. My family is very particular from a cleanliness and service standpoint, and this property met our exceptionally high standard. The property itself is beautiful and the staff incredibly friendly and helpful. This is our fourth time to Costa Rica, and I was a bit concerned about feeling isolated in the central mountains (prior visits were with Nayara and Four Seasons). Even after five packed days we felt we could have filled another few with the many unique and authentic experiences the team curates for you. In short, this is a lovely property and my very particular family felt comfortable here. The property has something for everyone and guests can stay as busy or low key as they choose.

Finding it hard to believe all these 5 star reviews are true? I read them all ahead of our trip and was skeptical too. But that's the magic of Altagracia...it really is that good. Just an ideal place for a couple or friends to come enjoy a true piece of paradise in the mountains and leave restored, relaxed and renewed. It's not simply a spa destination to get some R&R. You'll likely leave this place with a shift in perspective too... I found myself buying a gorgeous leather bound journal on the way out which I thought would be perfect to document a daily piece of gratitude back in "real life." It's not to be grateful that you are one of the lucky ones that got to experience a place - and community - this special. Many have commented here about the fabulous casitas, great design, beautiful fresh food and more. And it's all true. But as other have said too, the team is really what sets this place apart. They are all just absolutely the best I've encountered in any 5 star resort in the world. Such warmth and care... and attention to detail. We felt so very well taken care of from the moment we arrived. Extra special shout outs to Fabi, Priscilla, and Johan. Some highlights you should consider making sure are part of your itinerary: - River bath - incredibly unique and the best coffee scrub you'll ever use. A truly jaw drop moment when you arrive. - Waterfall hike (Mina Escondida) - cold plunge never looked this good - Casita BBQ - it was such a nice way to end our trip and it was the best food we had all week. Don't miss it. - Spend time in Mercado learning about Costa Rican coffee and how to prepare it at home. - of course, plan for relaxation time at Casa De Agua and 1 or 2 treatments. We did the Integration, Shiatsu, Craniosacral treatment and a Maderoterapia massage therapy. All fantastic. Auberge is doing an incredible job with this property and it comes across in every activity, interaction and experience you'll have. Tip: excursions off property are priced incredibly high. We did a great day trip to Osa Peninsula for a tour of the mangroves and snorkeling at Cano Island using Sierpe Outfitters. We loved it and it was 1/4 the price if booked through the resort. They provided RT transport as well. Something to consider.

We travel the world and Hacienda Alta Gracia was definitely one of the most unique and memorable places we've stayed. Be prepared to be spoiled and doted on by the staff! Bring walking shoes. There are 50 casita's on property and depending if you're #1 (closest to the pools/restaurants) or #50 (closest to The Well Spa) will determine how many steps you'll get in. The walk is beautiful and hilly. You can ask to be picked up in a golf cart but we found it easier to just walk most of the time. There are plenty of complimentary activities on property and some that cost $$$. For the ones that are not free.... We loved the Vaqueros de la Hacienda (horseback ride)! A first for my husband. The guide was super friendly. And the views....just wow! These were the most well trained trail horses I've ever seen. Plus they are humane in their treatment of the horses (a HUGE deal for me). The River Bath was a neat experience but I'm not sure I would do it again. Bring water shoes for this one so you don't slip and fall in the river. The only activity we didn't care for was the Time Together experience. We thought it was a waste of money. My suggestion, just get massages and then hang out by the pool afterwards. All of the food is bright, colorful and delicious! There are a couple staples like nachos and burgers but be prepared to expand your palette a bit. The menu stays the same for breakfast and lunch but changes daily for dinner. For breakfast, we loved the Morning Omelettes, the Banana, Pineapple, Cocoa Nib Bread, and also the Banana Flour Waffles! The Fish and Grilled veggies were my go-to for dinner. Be sure to order a fruit plate by the pool. You'll be amazed at the colors and sweetness of the fruit. The vegetable and hummus platter was delish! As far as complimentary activities, Embody Yoga was a fun experience. It's great for newbies to yoga like my husband. They also have complimentary coffee and then a chocolate tasting which was fun and informative. Be sure to hike around the property! It's free and unguided. The trails are groomed and well marked. We did the Puma Trail twice. The second time, we wore bathing suits under our clothes and our Compa made us a picnic basket to carry with us. There are some streams and waterholes you can hang out in. And don't worry about the small charter flight. They do such a good job explaining everything and take great care of you that you don't even think about it! The planes and pilots are top notch!

I wish everyone could experience the magic of this place! Every inch of the property was well thought out, exuding unpretentious luxury, but it was the staff that really made AltaGracia shine. Trust me, it's worth it!

We are currently staying at this secluded property in Costa Rica and after experiencing their turndown service where hot water bottles are placed inside the beds I have elevated my rating. First, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Since the property is very isolated the team goes out of its way to schedule activities they believe guests will enjoy. The property itself is beautiful as are the surroundings. This is our fourth time to Costa Rica, and from a cleanliness standpoint it is on par with the Four seasons and other luxury properties in Guancaste. A few opportunities: - Property is difficult to get to and around. My son has a sprained ankle (wearing a boot) and I am very pregnant. The walking paths are not especially conducive for those not especially mobile and it could be great for the team to better anticipate the buggy needs of guests- especially when they have created such detailed itineraries and there is no doubt where guests are expecting to be at all times. - It is hard to believe I am saying this, but the pool is a bit too warm to be refreshing on the hot days. - There is also not staff dedicated to pool guests with a standard protocol when guests arrive (ie. setting up towels, water, umbrellas, etc.). The staff is absolutely happy to bring beverages and food as it is shared with the nearby restaurant, but it is a much more low-key, laid back approach than we are used to. Again, not bad, just different. - The room we booked is an inclusive rate for our family of four at ~$3k per night before fees. We initially felt good about the rate as we are not accustomed to inclusive packages and typically our food/bev/activity bill is as much as or more than our room rate. What does not sit well is that when we arrived our host volunteered there were not any upgrades available (which was okay with us as we did not ask and are happy with our room). It's just that they subsequently told us that they are only at 60-70% capacity. After 24-hrs onsite, I went online to see if I could decipher if there were any rooms available closer to the central part of the property to limit walking up so many hills, and while I could not learn this, I did see our inclusive room is listed at ~$1700/ night and there are also many higher level rooms available during our stay. We have several more days on-site. We are looking forward to the many activities planned in the days to come. The food is fresh and simple and the honey tasting was lovely. The musician brought in for the specialty dinner this evening was magic. In short, this is a lovely property and my very particular family feels comfortable here. There are just a few little things on the service front that could make the experience even more memorable for future guests.

We had an incredible stay at the Hacienda! We just wish we had more days there. From the views, casita pool, incredible meals and the shows and excursions, we had our every need met and felt both at home and relaxed. The staff goes above and beyond to make your experience everything you want and will customize your trip! We even brought our 4 month old baby and were helped in every capacity so we could enjoy the visit. We can't wait to come back!