Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
Cliffside resort above Playa Penca, between Playa del Coco and Playa Hermosa
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, on the cliffs above Playa Penca
The first Waldorf Astoria in Costa Rica is built into the cliff at Punta Cacique, between Playa del Coco and Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. From the terraces you see Culebra Bay to the north, Coco Bay to the south and the sun going down over the Pacific. Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos stepped the buildings down the hillside, with living rooftops and native gardens that need very little water.
It works well for families with kids of any age, and for couples who want a suite with a plunge pool and a beach a short walk away.
Why we choose it
- A beach you can swim at. Playa Penca is steps from the pool, good for swimming, paddleboarding and boating year round, and it holds the Bandera Azul Ecológica.
- A short transfer. Hilton puts the hotel 25 minutes from Liberia airport, so a long travel day ends at the pool, not on the highway.
- Something for every age. The Natunki Kids Club and the Nasome Teens Club keep children busy, while the spa and the suites with private plunge pools give the adults their own time.
Rooms and views
Guest rooms have terraces or balconies and earthy, modern interiors, facing either the bay or the open ocean. The suites add a living area and a private terrace or rooftop, and some have their own plunge pool, out on the balcony. Tell us who is travelling and we will match the room to the group.
On the property
The main pool cascades down several levels with loungers set in the water, and there is a separate pool for laps. Dining is gathered in a little village called the Poblado. La Finca is the signature restaurant, with local seafood, dry-aged grass-fed beef and regional maize cooked with Chorotega techniques. Tico-Tica cooks over an open flame all day with Playa Penca below, Vida Pool & Grill does ceviche and tostones by the water, and Peacock Alley mixes cocktails with local sugarcane and Costa Rican rum.
The spa covers 17,000 sq ft. Its rituals use volcanic clay, cacao and Melipona honey, and there are saunas, steam rooms and open-air yoga. Weddings have a ceremonial pavilion for up to 100 guests.
Location and getting there
Punta Cacique is on the Gulf of Papagayo, with the restaurants of Playa del Coco and the calm water of Playa Hermosa close by. Fly into Liberia, and we arrange a private transfer that meets you at arrivals. Read more about the Papagayo beaches.
Hotels we book in Papagayo
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique | Four Seasons Resort | Andaz Peninsula | El Mangroove | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 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.
If this hotel is full, we would look at
Your Costa Rica, starting in Papagayo
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A Specialist who lives here checks this hotel and builds the rest around it.