Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Hilton's first Tapestry Collection in Central America, in the hills of San Rafael de Heredia with a spa, two restaurants and private lakes
Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in the hills of San Rafael de Heredia
Montara opened on 24 September 2026 in the mountains above Heredia, about 13 miles (20 kilometers) from Juan Santamaría airport and downtown San José, looking out over the Central Valley. It is the first Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Costa Rica and in Central America, on the grounds of a long-standing local retreat that Hilton has revitalised. We see it as the first or last night of a trip, with a spa and two restaurants to make that night count.
Why we choose it
- The airport night, done properly. Most clients spend their first or last night near SJO in a hotel they forget. This one is 20 kilometers away in the hills, with private lakes on the grounds and the valley below.
- A spa with trails attached. The spa covers 13,200 square feet, with hydrotherapy, facials and holistic treatments, and opens onto open-air decks, meditation areas and private nature trails.
- Two real restaurants. Bosco cooks with seasonal ingredients from farmers around Heredia and the hotel's own organic garden. Santoro is a steakhouse with fire cooking and an open kitchen, and the 1998 Lobby Bar does the cocktails afterwards.
Rooms and views
Guest rooms come with a king bed or two queen beds and look onto trees and pasture, with private balconies and firepits on the patio, warm wood panelling and herringbone floors. Hilton lists connecting rooms and pet-friendly rooms, which matters for a family arriving together.
On the property
The grounds run to roughly 540,000 square feet, with private lakes, nature trails and an organic garden for the kitchens. There is a heated indoor pool, a fitness area, and a juice bar beside them for after a swim. Original work by Costa Rican artists, Mario Maffioli and Fabio Herrera among them, hangs through the hotel. For a family wedding or a company retreat there is 12,700 square feet of event space and a venue called Bruma. The hotel runs partly on its own solar panels, with LED lighting, rainwater collection and a treatment plant that feeds the irrigation.
Location and getting there
Montara is in San Rafael de Heredia, about 20 kilometers from the airport and from San José. Braulio Carrillo National Park, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are all within reach for a day, and Hilton itself describes it as the first or last stop on the road to La Fortuna and Tortuguero, which is how we would use it. Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM. Read more about Heredia.
Hotels we book in Heredia
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton | Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn | Hotel Bougainvillea | Xandari Resort and Spa Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Boutique | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Private jacuzzi in room | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Spa | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
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