Kura Design Villas

Kura Design Villas, on the ridge above Uvita

Kura sits about 1,100 feet above the Pacific on a ridge over Uvita, looking down at the forest, the ocean and the Whale's Tail sandbar of Marino Ballena National Park. It is a small, contemporary, adults-only hotel, and it suits couples and honeymooners who want privacy, good design and a view they will keep talking about at home.

Why we choose it

• The Whale's Tail from your suite. Every suite type looks over the rainforest and the ocean to the Whale's Tail sandbar, the shape this coast is named for.
• Adults only, properly. Guests must be over 18, so the infinity pool and the restaurant stay quiet and romantic.
• A plunge pool of your own. The Master and Deluxe Suites have private plunge pools facing the Pacific, which is what we book for a honeymoon.

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Rooms and views

There are four suite types, each for up to 2 guests. The Junior Suite, at 68 m², sits at canopy level, in the treetops with the ocean beyond. The Suite, at 85 m², looks over rainforest and ocean to the sandbar.

The Deluxe Suite is also 85 m² and adds a private plunge pool facing the Pacific and the Whale's Tail. The Master Suite is the largest at 140 m², with a plunge pool and the widest view of forest, ocean and sandbar together.

On the property

The infinity pool looks straight out over the coast, and it is where most evenings start. The restaurant cooks for the hotel's guests, and you can also eat in your suite. The hotel offers yoga and cooking demonstrations, and a daily shuttle runs down to the beach. Kura is operated by the Cayuga Collection, a group of sustainable hotels in Costa Rica. Check-in is from 2:00 pm and check-out is at 11:00.

Location and getting there

Uvita is on the Southern Pacific coast, the stretch known as the Whale Coast, with the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park below and waterfalls and rainforest inland. From here we can arrange a boat to Caño Island for snorkeling and diving, a day in Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula, or a horseback ride to the Nauyaca waterfalls. See more of Uvita.

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