Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Resorts
Independent
7 km al Sur de Uvita, Costa Ballena, Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas, 60504 , Ballena , CR

Facilities

Gift shops or newsstand
Conference space
Golfing nearby
Snorkeling nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Library
Rafting nearby
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Nice staff
Comfortable bed
Great view
Games room
Cons:
Limited towels
Noisy ground floor
High dining costs
Lacking amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
9.54
Towels in the bathroom were limited, suggesting issues with cleanliness.
Service
10
The staff were nice, indicating good service.
Location
10
Great views and wildlife sounds contribute positively to location sentiment.
Room Quality
9.04
Noise from the room above and dissatisfaction with ground floor room affects room quality.
Amenities
8.54
Limited facilities like no gym or steam room, which does not meet expectations for a spa hotel.
Value for Money
8.54
Disappointment with the high price paid for the stay suggests poor value.
Food and Beverage
9.54
Dining was expensive and required booking, which may limit the experience.
Overall Experience
10
Overall stay was okay with some positives, despite certain disappointments.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 18:05

Property Description

Luxurious Spa Retreat

Indulge in rejuvenating massages and facials at the full-service spa. Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi, and enjoy the convenience of concierge services. A free beach shuttle awaits to whisk you away to the sandy shores.

Poolside Dining

Savor international delights with garden views at Pura Vida, the poolside restaurant. Unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge, or opt for room service. Wake up to a complimentary buffet breakfast before starting your day.

Elegant Accommodations

Relax in air-conditioned rooms with Tempur-Pedic beds and private balconies. Stay entertained with flat-screen TVs and satellite programming. The hotel offers a seamless blend of comfort and style.

Book your stay at Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa for a luxurious coastal getaway.

Important information:

  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the resort prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
  • No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.
  • Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: LIL

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Pets

    Service animals not allowed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • Guest type

    Essential workers only - NO

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

Cleanliness: 9.54
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 9.04
Amenities: 8.54
Value for Money: 8.54
Food and Beverage: 9.54
Overall Experience: 10
A
Ana family_with_children cl
10
Vistas espectaculares
Pros:

Me encantó , no tenía gran expectativa , me sorprendió gratamente , camas cómodas , habitación grande , personal de restaurant muy atentos, todo bien cuidado

Cons:

Irme

2026-09-10 via Nuitee
L
Loo solo_traveller us
6
2026-09-07 via Nuitee
L
Lucia solo_traveller cr
9
2026-08-31 via Nuitee
C
christina extended_group us
9
2026-08-30 via Nuitee
T
TICA solo_traveller es
9
2026-08-28 via Nuitee
M
Miriam solo_traveller de
10
Pros:

Die Aussicht ist wunderschön, egal ob man beim Frühstück sitzt, am Pool verweilt, oder auf dem Balkon, der zum Zimmer gehört, relaxt. Auch das Essen im Restaurant war sehr gut. Wir haben dort sehr entspannte Tage verbracht.

2026-08-28 via Nuitee
D
Debora solo_traveller it
9
Pros:

Tutto splendido

Cons:

Unica pecca la colazione piuttosto scarsa.

2026-08-28 via Nuitee
G
Gard family_with_children no
9
2026-08-26 via Nuitee
B
Beatrice couple fr
10
Un séjour trés agréable à Uvita
Pros:

La qualité de l’emplacement, des équipements et la beauté du parc avec tous ses oiseaux magnifiques

Cons:

Rien

2026-08-17 via Nuitee
M
Melvin couple cr
10
2026-08-16 via Nuitee
L
Lyran extended_group it
9
Beautiful property
Pros:

Great pool area, staff was friendly. The room was big and spacious, property is beautiful in the middle of the rainforest with lots of bird activity, monkey next to our room.

Cons:

The shower in the room was really terrible and must be fixed and upgraded. Water pressure was bad, the shower head was terrible and the shower is dysfunctional with water going everywhere since there is no glass to stop it. Breakfast offering can be improved and was quite limited. Offer guests some other eggs options, make some waffles or French Toast. Offer more fruit types, more bread types.

2026-08-13 via Nuitee
L
Luis Ruiz extended_group cr
10
Great hotel
Pros:

Beautiful place, wonderful staff... everything great!!!!

2026-08-12 via Nuitee
R
Rene couple nl
9
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
R
Rosibel family_with_children cr
9
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
M
Maximilian family_with_children de
8
2026-07-24 via Nuitee
B
BERVAS couple fr
10
Parfait
Pros:

Nous avons passé un super séjour
Le personnel est très aimable

Cons:

Rien

2026-07-24 via Nuitee
A
Anja solo_traveller nl
7
Cons:

Geen ontvangst bij aankomst laat in de avond receptie gesloten en restaurant ook. Locatie was donker en we gingen ervan uit dat we konden eten in het restaurant wat op de website staat.

2026-07-21 via Nuitee
T
teddy family_with_children fr
8
Malgre quelques imperfections, hôtel recommandable et tres bon rapport qualité prix
Pros:

Vue top, rapidite d'intervention, calme, decoration, ambiance, taille de la chambre

Cons:

pas de savon dans distributeur, une fenetre qui ne fermait pas à notre arrivée, une douche non completement nettoyee, repas pas execptionnel et petit déjeuner léger

2026-07-19 via Nuitee
S
StaciaLittlefield solo_traveller us
10
Pros:

Beautiful property with a nice walking trail also. Food and service were excellent. So relaxing. The pool area was awesome. Great location also. The Toucans were also fun to watch on the property. Close to Marino Ballena Park (whales tail) which was very nice to visit.

2026-07-09 via Nuitee
D
Diego solo_traveller us
9
Pros:

Amazing views
The staff is simply the best, kind, helpful, always happy
Excellent food
Pool
Animals
Pristine landscaping, you are in the middle of the jungle with all the comfort

Cons:

Breakfast could be improved. We were
close to the low season so it’s possible they had less variety.
Restaurant is a bit pricey and given the location it’s the only thing nearby

2026-06-24 via Nuitee