Cristal Ballena

Enjoyed our stay here. Rooms could be modernised, but overall clean and comfortable with stunning views. Service was good when we asked for anything, but not as proactive as some other hotels we stayed in. Food was enjoyable, but felt it was expensive. Menu needs to be reduced in size, so they can improve quality/individualism of each dish. Bird spotting from your balcony and by the pool is delightful, enjoyed whale watching with Bahia Adventuras and highly recommend a walk on Ballena beach (just make sure you check the tide times first as needs to low tide!)

I agree with some older comments mentioning that the hotel is in serious need of renovation. The view is fantastic and the pool is beautiful and clean, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is the comfy room, and it was far being satisfying. The staff is friendly but doing the bare minimum. The food at the restaurant seemed tasty but so expensive that we decided to eat somewhere nearby for half the price (and it was delicious). For breakfast, the usual Costa Rican dishes are served. We expected something more original or diverse from a 4-star hotel. To summarise, the price charged is not justified and I don't recommend this hotel.

Great location in the Oso to explore the peninsula including Corcovado and the mangroves in the wetlands nearby. The restaurant is wonderful with great views of the ocean. We drove to the expansive Colones beach and enjoyed the Aracari restaurant nearby for fantastic sunset views. Rooms and the pool are great. They made us a breakfast basket at 6 am to take on our adventure to Corcovado.

We stayed at the hotel for 3 nights in May. The location and views are stunning, but the hotel is far from a 4-star hotel now. The room and bathroom look dated. The bed cover was dusty and after 7pm there was nobody to find at the reception. One day the hotel had people from the local government do life-saving training at the hotel pool so we couldn't use it the whole morning. When we asked the manager about when this would be over, he said we could use a small corner of the pool. The bathroom towels were old and scrubby. I do have to say the food and attention the restaurant was very good. Sorry to say, but I don't think we will come back.

What a fantastic experience at Cristal Ballena. Comfortable rooms, great food, relaxing pool, beautiful views and phenomenal service. Orbis and Minor were great to us all week. This is a must-stay when we return to Uvita.

The street that connects the main road needs at least to be paid, very bumpy, holes and lots of rocks, but it's accessible, it's just a 300 meters length, not bad at all, nice place to stay, clean and quiet, nice huge pool, yummy breakfast 😋, nice people

My gf and I booked a last minute stay at Cristal Ballena while visiting Costa Rica and could not be happier with our entire experience. We had decided to extend our stay in Costa Rica an additional 7 days to enjoy the costal area, choosing this boutique hotel from the reviews, which turned out to be an excellent choice. Everything from the location, the property, the Staff, the food and the overall amenities were absolutely excellent. The Staff and owners made us feel very comfortable and were very personable the entire time. The bartenders and wait staff were amazing and always very attentive, even remembered our names, which is always a nice touch. We had the privilege of meeting and getting to know the owners, enjoyed hearing the stories of their long time ownership and pride in the experience they were providing for people from all over the world for so many years. The room was very clean and had an excellent view from the balcony of the pool, the jungles below and all the way to the ocean. My gf was actually able to see a whale from our balcony! The Food was absolutely 5 star meals every night, such amazing flavors and professional presentation. The location was perfect for visiting the beach/ocean, waterfalls and several small towns within driving distance. We had a rental car, which I highly recommend. Needless to say, we will definitely be returning some day to revisit Cristal Ballena!!!

We visited as part of a small group tour and would have loved to have stayed longer. The room was large well equipped with a huge balcony. The pool area and the pool were wonderful and clean and well maintained. The food was varied and delicious and all the staff were friendly, attentive and helpful. It lived up to its 5 * rating without being unfriendly or intimidating . Highly recommended.