Hacienda AltaGracia Auberge Resort

Mountain days on a working hacienda

Above Valle del General, Hacienda AltaGracia Auberge Resort invites you into a different Costa Rica rhythm. The mountain setting near San Isidro del General brings panoramic views and a refreshing contrast to the nearby beach regions. On the 865-acre estate, gardens, forest, a river and waterfalls make time outdoors as much a part of the stay as the spacious suites and casitas.

The working farm and your table

The working farm connects the landscape with the table. Much of the food in the three restaurants is cultivated organically on the property, and a complimentary chef-led garden tour takes place once a week. Fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs become more than ingredients when you have seen where they grow. The hacienda has also been recognized in Condé Nast and Travel + Leisure; its working-farm setting gives you a more personal reason to discover what drew attention to this mountain retreat.

Riding, pools and the changing activity program

Give a day to horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking, then return for a swim and an afternoon with less on the agenda. Indoor and outdoor pools, a Jacuzzi and a pool bar provide places to unwind. Fitness facilities give you another way to stay active. The modern stone firepit and game room add other ways to enjoy the estate when you choose to remain close to your accommodation.

Onsite guided horseback riding, hiking and biking let you explore the estate with a closer look at its surroundings. The daily complimentary program changes throughout the week, with possibilities such as yoga, meditation, tropical-fruit tasting, forest or garden hikes, a class to make your own skin-cleansing scrub and time in the organic gardens with the chef. Every day, you can join a ranch hand to meet and feed the horses. Choose around the program during your stay, and leave time for the pleasures of simply being on the hacienda.

An afternoon for the spa

Give an afternoon to the spa after a more active morning on the estate. Steam and sauna rooms, coconut scrubs, coffee compresses and a selection of massages, including hot-stone treatments, offer different ways to unwind. You can choose the treatment that appeals to you and let these quieter hours have a place in the vacation alongside the trails and outings.

Explore the neighboring countryside

Outings can take the stay further into the region, with opportunities to learn about Boruca traditions, visit a coffee plantation or explore Los Cusingos Wildlife Reserve. Farm visits, Savegre River rafting and zip-lining add different perspectives. Keep those excursions distinct from the resort’s changing complimentary activity program when planning your days.

Local visits can put you in touch with the region’s daily life as well as its landscape. A neighboring farm offers traditional farming experiences such as milking cows, making cheese, meeting farm animals and collecting eggs. Boruca visits introduce the culture known for intricately carved and painted masks. An Ultralight flight can take the view out over mountains, rainforest and the Pacific coast; down on the ground, a reserve visit can include adopting a particular rainforest tree.

A spacious suite or casita to return to

Suites have around 1,100 square feet and casitas around 2,200, giving couples and families generous space for the hours spent indoors. Air conditioning, coffee makers, living-room furnishings, quality bedding, internet access, premium channels and Apple TV bring familiar comforts to the mountain setting. Patio furniture makes the view somewhere to sit and enjoy: a place for conversation or a slower start before exploring the estate.

Some units have two bedrooms, a fireplace, Jacuzzi tub or mini-fridge. None has kitchen facilities, so plan snacks accordingly and request a mini-fridge option if it matters to your stay. The hacienda is worth enjoying at its own pace: an outing in the morning, time outdoors afterward, and an evening with the valley in view.

What to consider when choosing Hacienda AltaGracia Auberge Resort

• Choose Hacienda AltaGracia for an 865-acre mountain estate overlooking Valle del General, with a higher-altitude contrast to the nearby coast and room for a romantic retreat or family stay.
• Horseback riding, hiking and mountain-bike trails bring the gardens, forest, river and waterfalls into your days; you can also join a ranch hand to meet and feed the horses daily.
• The working farm supplies much of the organic produce for three restaurants. A complimentary weekly garden visit with the chef makes the connection between the landscape and your meal tangible.
• Complimentary daily activities change through the week, with possibilities including yoga, meditation, fruit tasting, forest or garden hikes and scrub-making; choose around the program rather than assume every activity runs daily.
• Indoor and outdoor pools, a Jacuzzi, pool bar, fitness facilities, a game room and a stone firepit give you varied ways to enjoy time on the estate between outings.
• Spa time can include steam and sauna rooms, coconut scrubs, coffee compresses and massage choices such as hot-stone treatments, for a day focused on unwinding.
• Spacious suites and casitas have mountain-facing patio furniture and living space; selected units add two bedrooms, a fireplace, a Jacuzzi tub or a mini-fridge. None has kitchen facilities, so plan snacks and request a mini-fridge option when needed.
• Boruca traditions and mask carving, hands-on farm visits, coffee plantations, Los Cusingos, tree adoption, ultralight sightseeing, Savegre rafting and zip-lining offer different regional outings; keep those tours separate from the changing included activity program.