Uvita, Costa Rica
We are thrilled to announce our newest clients: Rancho Pacifico and Vista Celestial in Uvita, Costa Rica. Set nearly 2,000 feet above the sea overlooking Uvita’s famous “Whale’s Tail,” Rancho Pacifico is an adults-only oasis with only eight rooms - ranging from modern suites to the four rainforest treehouses, while a short walk down the mountain is Vista Celestial, a family-friendly, nine-room property with ocean-view villas with private plunge pools and garden casitas (popular for wellness retreats).
The 50-acre nature preserve that surrounds both properties is woven with trails through the forest that can be explored solo or with on-site naturalist guide, Harvey Harriett. One highlight is the hike to the property’s own waterfall, and those that make the walk are often rewarded by the bark of howler monkeys and birdsong along with the rush of water hitting the rocks.
Why Uvita?
Unlike popular destinations that have infiltrated the mainstream - Peninsula Papagayo, Nosara, Arenal… - Uvita still remains slightly below the radar.
Just south of Manuel Antonio, Uvita sits along the Southern Pacific’s Costa Ballena where the rainforest plunges directly into wide beaches that have been zoned for conservation with no high rise developments.
Many come to see the “Whale’s Tail,” a natural rock and sand tombolo that emerges at low tide offering the chance to walk out between two colliding sets of waves - and if you walk back through the palms, you’re likely to spot scarlet macaws and mischievous capuchin monkeys.
Uvita is one of the few places on earth that hosts two distinct humpback whale migration waves - migrating pods from the Southern hemisphere from July to November and from the Northern Hemisphere December through April - offering nine months of prime whale watching.
What’s new?
Harvey Harriett joined the team at Rancho Pacifico and Vista Celestial in October as a full-time naturalist guide. Harvey was raised in Costa Rica and is passionate about the flora and fauna, sharing his enthusiasm with guests on early morning birding walks, hikes around the property and nearby area, and late-night nature walks to spot nocturnal creatures.
In November, Rancho Pacifico and Vista Celestial just welcomed a new Wellness Guide who is launching a full wellness program including yoga classes, sound baths, and a dedicated wellness menu at both restaurants.
F&B
There are two restaurants - one at Rancho Pacifico and the other at Vista Celestial. Both under the care and guidance of Head Chef Juan Pablo Leon Viquez, the restaurants source the freshest local ingredients from the land and sea (and the resort’s own gardens) to create globally-inspired dishes ranging from ceviche to sushi, BBQ ribs to grilled fish. The full-service bar offers an extensive wine list, national and craft beers, and cocktails made with fresh local fruits and juices.
Wellness
Rancho Pacifico’s spa offers an intimate retreat surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. With local ingredients like chocolate and coffee scrubs, guests can choose from an array of massages, scrubs, wraps and facials. The two treatment rooms offer single and couples’ massage options.
The yoga pavilion is available for private yoga sessions and retreats, and the new wellness guide will introduce a rotating menu of wellness activities each day.
Sustainability
Staff: 100% Costa Rican, with leadership raised within a two-hour radius. All positions are full-time, year-round roles providing stable, fair livelihoods for local families.
Land & Wildlife: The estate features successfully reforested mature rainforest, which has brought back native wildlife like spider monkeys, king vultures, pumas, and peccaries. Guests can explore both regenerating and secondary forest trails on site.
Local Construction: The 2024 treehouse expansion was designed, built, and furnished entirely by local talent—from the architects and solar engineers to artisans and contractors.
Farm-to-Table Dining: Menus prioritize estate-grown produce, and guests are welcome to forage fruit directly from the trees for the kitchen to prepare. All outside ingredients are sourced within a three-hour drive.
Green infrastructure: Operations rely on solar pool heating, greywater recycling for landscape irrigation, and biodegradable, eco-friendly cleaning products.
Activities on property
Bird watching
Night tour
Waterfall hike
Yoga
Cooking class
Activities off property
Ocean & Marine: Whale watching in Marino Ballena, Caño Island snorkeling/diving, mangrove safari on the Sierpe River.
Adrenaline & Rainforest: Nauyaca Waterfalls, canopy zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, Corcovado & Manuel Antonio day expeditions.
Culture & Agro-Tourism: Local family-owned coffee and bean-to-bar chocolate tastings, Uvita farmers and artisan markets.
Owners
Husband-and-wife duo Jennie Peterson and Greg Wyatt bought the properties in 2021 and 2022. Jennie has a lifelong background in independent boutique hotels with a degree in environmental science and public policy, while Greg has a PhD in Zoology and has a deep expertise in corporate strategy and biodiversity stewardship. Together with their three young sons, they split their time between Utah and Costa Rica.
History
Once a primary rainforest, the whole hillside was torn down to make way for cattle farms. Over the past 40 years, the land has regenerated and seen the return of animals like howler monkeys, anteaters, lots of toucans, and even the occasional scarlet macaw (they usually prefer lower altitudes).
How to get there
The closest international airport is in San José (SJO). From there, guests can drive (about 3.5-4 hours) or take a 20-minute puddle jumper to Quepos (XQP) or Palmar Sur (PMZ) airports, each an hour’s drive to the property.