Guayabo Vacations from $1,450

We stayed in the Ron Ron suite. Wonderful views. Great food and service at the restaurant. Hotel was difficult to find since it was the evening. The viewing platform had great views but lots of bugs and ants up there.

The RIU Palace is a great destination for travelers who want the access to Costa Rica without the hassle of having to rent their own car, look for places to eat and excursions. Pros: the food was surprisingly delicious for an all-inclusive, the drinks (as a non-drinker) were also good, the massages at the spa (shout out Hazel) were reasonably priced and amazing! The coffee shop was working overtime! The coffee was to die for! And the mountain views were stunning. Importantly, it is 5 minutes from Diamante Eco Park. The hotel has vans that depart every 30 mins so it was great. Cons: it was incredibly hot, not the hotel’s fault, just something to note. Guanacaste is an arid area so hotter than other parts of the country. The hotel has a 2000’s look. It is definitely older and it shows. The AC was not super cold, some light fixtures were not working and my shower did not fully drain. The beach was not blue (to be expected given the volcanic sand) but it was not clean either. There were some fruit and garbage scattered throughout. Lastly, LAR is a transportation company located inside the hotel, that took us to Coco Beach. That area was not what we were told AT ALL and when we called for them to pick us up they told us to wait an hour and a half for the next van. In conclusion, if you want a taste of Costa Rica but you don’t want the “three hour hike” version, do RIU. You’ll have food, great coffee, amazing views, and you can go to the park for a taste of nature.

Great location! But apart from the location, the experience of the hotel doesn’t match the premium price it charges. We don’t recommend it and won’t go back.

Our family used this as our last night stop close to the airport (LIR). It was just a key code to access the property with simple instructions to follow. The property was secure and private. Everything was new and very clean. Since we were traveling it was so nice they provided bathroom amenities, washer and dryer and full kitchen. The shower at this place was amazing and very relaxing. The best part was being given access to the beach club (5 min drive or 20 min walk). We went there and spent time at the beach and swimming in the pool. They offered outdoor showers, rentals of surf/boogie boards lounge chairs, etc.The pool was warm so my kids swam for hours. The offered drinks and a full menu. The staff was very friendly. Overall it was a great location and great stay.

The property and villas were stunning! Staff was very knowledgeable and attentive. Everyone knew us by name! Loved having breakfast included with many delicious options. Having a stand alone villa was a treat. No noisy neighbors! We spent a couple mornings at the main pool and usually ended up in our plunge pool in the afternoons. The views from everywhere are amazing! Although we loved our Sunset Villa, it was warm in the late afternoon when trying to get ready for dinner. No way to block out the sun in the bathroom. The town of Las Catalinas was a bit of a let down. Maybe because we were there off season but other than a few restaurants, there wasn't anything going on. No shops or entertainment. Pretty beach but no place to rent beach chairs and make a day of it. The only excursion we did was a coffee/chocolate tour at Tio Leo Coffee. Highly recommend! It was about 1 hour away. Very relaxing trip, which is what we were looking for. Casa Chameleon made us feel very special.