Kura, Uvita: a sleek rainforest escape on Costa Rica’s wild Pacific coast

Kura, Uvita: a sleek rainforest escape on Costa Rica’s wild Pacific coast Some hotels whisper luxury. Kura leans in quietly and lets the view do the talking.

Suspended above the treetops in the hills of Uvita, this striking adults-only retreat is one of Costa Rica’s most design-savvy jungle stays — minimalist, bold, and effortlessly cool.

There are just eight suites, each cut into the hillside with clean lines and polished concrete, softened by local wood, linen and the endless green of the rainforest beyond. The architecture plays with perspective — glass walls frame uninterrupted views of the Pacific, while private terraces with double hammocks offer front-row seats to the slow theatre of jungle life: hummingbirds, toucans, the occasional monkey.

At the heart of the hotel is a mirror-like infinity pool that appears to float into the sky. It’s the spot to linger at sunset, cocktail in hand, as the light shifts over the ocean.

Food is fresh and local — grilled fish, tangy ceviches, and just-baked plantain bread— served in the open-air restaurant or privately, under the stars, on your terrace or rooftop.

Little touches elevate the stay: binoculars in every room for impromptu birdwatching, in-room minibars (one for wines, the other stocked with kombucha and ginger beer),and a spa that uses native volcanic clay and coconut oil in its treatments.

Though you’ll be tempted to stay put, Kura offers easy access to Marino Ballena National Park — a stretch of beach and protected waters known for its whale-shaped sandbar and seasonal sightings of humpbacks. The hotel’s drivers will take youthere, or to hidden waterfalls and off-grid trails that snake through the jungle.

Kura doesn’t shout for attention. It’s confident, pared-back and deeply in tune with itssurroundings — a grown-up, design-led base for travellers who like their luxury wild and their views unfiltered.

By Lulu Townsend

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