Xandari Resort And Spa

Only a half-hour drive from San José international airport, this re-wilded former coffee hacienda is a good choice for a pre- or post-flight stopover. There are wonderful views from pretty much anywhere in the hotel.

The plush Ultra Villas – with floor-to-ceiling glass windows – look across the central valley to the twinkling lights of San Jose and the rippling Cerro de Escazu mountains.

The hacienda sits in extensive gardens on the edge of forest, cut by wildlife trails – some leading to beautiful waterfalls.