Esh Hotel & Spa
Jungle villas with plunge pools and a wellness programme above Playa Guiones
Esh Hotel & Spa, in the jungle above Playa Guiones
Esh sits in the jungle at Las Huacas, a few minutes inland from Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada in Nosara. Esh is Hebrew for fire, and the whole place is built around that idea, in a brutalist, wabi-sabi design by FAMM Arquitectura of Costa Rica and Sulkin Askenazi of Mexico City. It suits couples who want a quiet, design-led stay with a proper wellness programme, close to the surf but set back in the trees.
Why we choose it
- A villa with its own pool. The One Bedroom Villa has a private plunge pool, a semi-outdoor double rain shower and 55 m2 looking into the jungle. This is the one we suggest for a honeymoon or an anniversary.
- Nosara's slower rhythm. Nosara is one of the world's five Blue Zones, and Esh leans into it: breakfast follows Blue Zone principles, and the days can fill with yoga, Pilates, breathwork or a sound journey.
- Dinner worth staying in for. Almar cooks Mexican Pacific food with fish from local fishermen and organic produce from farms nearby, so the menu tastes of this coast.
Rooms and views
Every room has a king bed, air conditioning and wifi. The villas are the largest rooms: the one with the plunge pool, and the Villa + Exterior Bathtub at 50 m2 with an outdoor bathtub, a private garden and a wide jungle view.
The Selva Suite is on the ground floor and opens onto its own garden. The Canopy Suite is on the top floor, with a balcony that puts you up in the treetops, level with the canopy.
On the property
Almar is open daily from 12pm to 9:30pm, and breakfast is served in the Breakfast Lounge until 10:30am. The Ember & Ash Bar keeps the fire theme going with smoky cocktails until last call at 9:30pm.
Vitalis Spa offers restorative massages and beauty rituals, with a sauna and a cold plunge, and the movement classes run from weight training to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The hotel also sets up surf lessons, horseback rides and canopy tours, and can arrange for you to plant a tree with Costas Verdes, which restores Nosara's coast and jungle.
Location and getting there
The address is Las Huacas, 25 m north of the ICE tower, in Playa Guiones. Nosara's small airport is 5 km away, and Liberia is 110 to 115 km by road, so fly into Liberia and we arrange a private transfer that meets you at arrivals. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00. Read more about Nosara and its beaches.
Hotels we book in Nosara
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Esh Hotel & Spa | Tierra Magnifica | Hotel Lagarta Lodge | Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Boutique | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Spa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 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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