Hotel Villas Gaia

Hotel Villas Gaia, private cabins in the forest near Ballena

Villas Gaia is a small, rustic hotel of private cabins set back in the rainforest near Uvita, minutes from Marino Ballena National Park. It is right off the main road, yet once you walk the garden paths to your cabin you would never know it. It suits couples and nature lovers who want a simple, secluded base for the whale coast.

Why we choose it

• Your own cabin. Each room is a private cabin with sliding glass doors and a balcony looking into the trees.
• Secluded but easy to reach. It is close to the coastal road, so beaches and tours are near, while the grounds feel far from everything.
• Minutes from the marine park. Marino Ballena, its beaches and its whale and dolphin tours are a short drive away.

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Rooms and views

The cabins are built with warm, elegant woodwork, which gives the whole place a homey, rustic feel. Open the sliding glass doors and the balcony is yours, a quiet spot for a drink at the end of the day with the forest and its sounds all around. Inside, the cabins are comfortable and simple, with a safe for your valuables.

The paths that lead to them wind through gardens full of plants and birds, which sets the tone from the moment you arrive.

On the property

The restaurant is surrounded by trees and plants, so breakfast feels like it is served in the middle of the rainforest. There is a pool for the hot afternoons and a spa for a massage. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the small size means you are looked after rather than processed.

Location and getting there

Villas Gaia is just off the coastal road near Uvita, on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast. Marino Ballena National Park is minutes away, with its beaches and rainforest. From here we can arrange whale and dolphin watching, the tour most guests come for, as well as snorkeling, kayaking and rainforest walks. See more of Ballena Beach and Marino Ballena.

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