Imagine waking to the sounds of monkeys playing in trees or the greetings of parrots and toucans outside of your window. What about deep tissue massages and facials in a private spa, or lounging for hours by an infinity pool? How does an excursion to breathtaking waterfalls sound, or dining on delicious local cuisine at your luxury hotel’s restaurant and bar?
These daydreams are reality at the Hotel Three Sixty in Costa Rica. The boutique, five-star hotel derives its name from its 360-degree panoramic view of nearby Pacific beaches, mountains and the Osa Peninsula. It’s here where a vacationer can truly experience the beauty and variety of southwestern Costa Rica.
Hotel Three Sixty is an adults-only resort, which is a new experience for this writer. However, with all due respect to my children, it added to the serenity and uniqueness of the location.
Owner Trevor Ling, originally from England, worked as a wealth management specialist for 30 years before turning his focus to the world of hospitality. After moving to Costa Rica, he opened Hotel Three Sixty in 2017 with investor friends. He and his team are especially proud of the hotel’s dedication to environmental sustainability. Guests can see evidence of this everywhere—from the organic or locally-sourced food served in the hotel to ecological cleaning products and organic amenities offered in the rooms.
One of the many standout features of the property is its friendly and accommodating staff. From the hotel manager to its chef, servers and cart drivers, a genuine and sincere effort to care for guests is always evident.
The staff is also happy to make recommendations and help arrange for special tours to nearby destinations. One such memorable expedition is the Nauyaca Waterfall Tour. A 4X4 takes groups to two of the region’s spectacular waterfalls, one can be viewed at a distance while the other allows visitors to watch daredevils dive off ledges into the pool below or splash into the surrounding water to cool off.
Another not-to-be-missed excursion is the immersive boat tour exploring the Costa Rican mangroves and its varied residents. Guests can expect to see countless monkeys frolicking and sometimes sleeping among the tropical plants where they live and play, and if you’re lucky a long-distance sighting of a boa constrictor. According to the boat guide Vilmar Lopez, more than 375 types of birds reside there. As for dining facilities, the food at the hotel’s Kua Kua restaurant is filling and plentiful and the nearby bar serves up wonderful tropical drinks as well (don’t miss the frozen banana daiquiri) Close to the hotel are several outstanding local restaurants such as Fuego, a popular local brewery which offers quality craft beer, Citrus, a well-known dining spot in the area with offerings from Asia, and the Middle East and even France. Heliconia is also a crowd-pleaser, offering up authentic Costa Rican cuisine.
On-site offerings dedicated to self-care include a yoga deck, a gym, and an easy-to-hike nature trail. Not to be missed, however, is the Jungle Spa which offers massages, wraps/scrubs, facials, and many other services. I can tell you from experience that masseuse Shirley Rodriguez’s shoulder and back massages are one of a kind.
