Hotel and Club Punta Leona

Overview

Description

Our location near the capital of San José make our hotel one of the most prestigious beach destinations in the country. Three beaches surround Punta Leona:

• Playa Limoncito: Awarded one star by the Blue Flag program.
• Playa Mantas: Awarded two stars.
• Playa Blanca: Awarded four stars, the only beach in Costa Rica to achieve this level.

Playa Blanca wetland:
In 1994, Playa Blanca was declared a marine marshland protected by the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET). A marine marshland is one of the most important and richest ecosystems on the planet, where many species reproduce and feed. Its existence is directly related to water resources.

Butterfly garden:
Our butterfly garden is an example of the sustainable use of natural resources in harmony with a tourism project. The garden represents a viable alternative to protect species and their habitat.

Private wildlife refuge:
Punta Leona has one of the most important reserves on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast due to its geographic location and conservation plan. It consists of an area of 50 acres (20 hectares) of primary and secondary forest, declared a Wildlife Refuge by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy. The refuge is of great biological importance because it is one of the few remaining areas in the transitional zone between the dry tropical forest of the northern Pacific coast and the tropical rainforest of the southern Pacific. For the last two decades, its main function has been as a research center for the investigation of mammals and birds.

Punta Leona is considered an excellent place to observe birds, with more than 330 migratory and resident species, including the spectacular red macaw, toucans, woodpeckers, fly trappers, owls, and many others. The reserve is also home to white-faced monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii), raccoons (Procyon spp.), kinkajous (Potos flavus), tayras (Eira barbara), anteaters (Tamandua mexicana), spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), iguanas, and a great number of butterflies. Punta Leona’s Wildlife Refuge has many easily accessible trails that are well marked for visitors.

Rooms

108 rooms with double beds and views of the natural surroundings.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 235

Percentage of local employees: 95%

Punta Leona opened its doors as a beach club in 1975 and as a hotel in 1992. Since its beginning, environmental conservation and sustainable development have been priorities in all of our projects to maintain, protect, and encourage a balanced ecosystem.

Supporting the local community is part of Punta Leona's culture and business. We are always searching for ways to help society and the environment; for more than 10 years we have supported our communities. We work to improve local quality of life, support environmental education for local students, and focus on protecting the environment and caring for flora and fauna.

The effort to become an exemplary business in terms of sustainability has led us to reach the second level in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) certification program, a recognition that incentivizes hotels to develop sound environmental practices.

This seal accredits tourism businesses that incorporate environmental factors into their operations: natural resource management, waste management, potable water management, ecological promotion, preservation of the surroundings, and more. The program categorizes and certifies tourism businesses according to the level that their operation incorporates sustainability into their business model. We aim to obtain a rating of four leaves, ensuring that we comply with more than 80% of the criteria set for sustainability.

Rates

$101 – $150

For more information about rates, please visit:

• hotelpuntaleona.com/about/hotel-accommodations/our-rates.html (available in English, German and Spanish).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: San José (SJO)

Travel time to nearest airport: The trip takes around 1 hour, depending on traffic.

From La Sabana Park you can take two routes:

1. When leaving San José, take the main highway (Carretera Interamericana) going north toward Puntarenas. The highway will pass the Juan Santa María (SJO) airport. Stay on the highway for about 10-15 minutes more, until you see an exit for a town called Atenas. Take this exit and you will see a sign for Hotel Punta Leona. Continue to follow the signs for Hotel Punta Leona, Jaco, and Quepos, as you go through the towns of Atenas, San Mateo, Orotina, and Tarcoles. The hotel is located on the right hand side of the road, about 15 minutes after you pass over the Tarcoles River. You will see a big sign and entrance gate on your right hand side; don't worry, you can't miss it.

2 – Take the new highway to Caldera and follow the signs. After Orotina, take the exit to the “costanera” highway. Just as with the old route, 15 minutes after you pass the Tárcoles River, you will find the hotel on the right-hand side of the highway.

Additional Information

Date This Information Was Provided

June 2011.

Photos courtesy of Hotel and Club Punta Leona, Costa Rica, for SustainableTrip.org.