Hotel Luna Azul, Costa Rica

Over the hills and far away, to Luna Azul we go.

Hotel Luna Azul is located off the Pacific coast, nestled in the Ostional Wildlife Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula. This remote and cozy location is run by two Swiss owners, a zoologist and a homeopathic doctor. However, unbeknownst to most, one the owners is an amazing chef. Using the local markets and freshly caught ingredients, he provides a menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner- but only for the lucky guests staying in one of the property's 7 bungalows. The bungalows offer open showers and wide open terraces with total privacy, which open up to the surrounding nature preserve. You can watch howler monkeys climb from tree to tree, right ouside your room!

Each day started with a fresh breakfast with made-to-order eggs, accompanied by freshly cut local fruit and yogurt. After a day lounging in the sun by the serene pool, lunch consisted of made to order sandwiches and salads with freshly picked vegetables. When the urge to explore strikes, you can spend the day driving up and down the coast, visiting the gorgeous beaches of the Pacific coast. For these excursions, Luna Azul's excellent sandwiches are available to go. No matter where the day's travels take you, you would be well served to rush back to watch the sunset from the pool deck, with one of the most perfect margaritas in hand. An intimate dinner is served on the ajoining porch, with a new menu every night.

One night's fare consisted of a delicious dish of sauteed garlic shrimp over a bed of lightly buttered linguini, a perfect complement to a hard day of surfing. A meat option is available most nights. Although the chef prides himself in finding excellent meat by Costa Rican standards, choosy carnivores will find the local grass-fed beef falls somewhat short of American steakhouse standards. I'd stick to the seafood, which is as fresh as you'll ever find. On the other hand, if meat is a must, this was still some of the best we encountered in Costa Rica!

For our last meal, we were able to dine with the owners family as they arrived on our last nite, with a traditional Costa Rican dish, the Casado. The Casado was a dish that looked like a sampler plate, consisting of fresh sauteed vegetables, salad, rice, beans, perfectly cooked fish, braised chicken, and fried plantains. Although the menu for the human patrons is ever-changing, the myriad geckos that patrol the roof of the patio area feast on insects nightly, keeping the dining area almost entirely bug-free!

The perfect remote getaway..... without breaking the bank.