Costa Rica's first Waldorf Astoria to feature cenote-inspired spa and outdoor treatment rooms
– Chris Nassetta
Hilton Hotels’ high-end Waldorf Astoria brand will debut in Costa Rica in 2025 with a barefoot luxury property and wellness retreat.
The new-build resort will open in the tropical province of Guanacaste known for its lush forests and pristine beaches. Currently under construction, Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste is expected to open with 190 guest rooms and 25 branded residences.
Wellness will form a core part of the resort’s leisure facilities. The property will feature a holistic spa and wellness centre with a gym, a movement studio, outdoor yoga facilities and lap and thermal pools.
Inspired by sacred Mayan healing wells called cenotes, Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste’s spa will be home to eight treatment rooms – plus three outdoor treatment rooms emulating a tree house – along with a variety of the brand’s signature spa treatments.
The tropical retreat will join Waldorf Astoria’s portfolio of more than 30 properties around the world, five of which operate with a spa partnership with premium skincare, spa and fragrance brand Guerlain. However, no official announcements about spa partners for the Costa Rica flagship have been made yet.
The property will focus on sustainable luxury with an emphasis on architecture that blends into the surroundings, native flora and fauna and offerings that connect guests with the natural environment. All resort vehicles operated on the property will be electric.
“Costa Rica is a fast-growing and highly sought-after destination that is an ideal place to introduce the world-class personal service of our Waldorf Astoria brand,” said Chris Nassetta, Hilton president and CEO.
“We look forward to sharing our signature hospitality and creating unforgettable stays for our guests in this serene and beautiful location.”
A growing presence
Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste will join Hilton’s portfolio of 200 properties in the Caribbean and Latin America. The hotel group also currently has a development pipeline of more than 100 hotels in the region.
Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste will be managed by Hilton and owned by Revolution, Cacique Investors LLC and Garnier & Garnier – the project’s Costa Rican developer.
The resort will become a part of the Cacique Costa Rica community and is set to offer retail, residence and wellness experiences that highlight Guanacaste’s natural beauty and connect guests to the local community.
Upon arrival, guests will be greeted in “El Pueblo,” the lobby area and hub for guests to relax, socialise and unwind. Guests can also expect high levels of culinary excellence with a selection of food and beverage offerings, including a signature restaurant and bar, a speciality outlet and a gelato shop.
Younger travellers will be able to explore a range of the resort’s family-friendly activities, including a kid's centre and teen’s club.
For groups and events, the luxury property will offer approximately 10,000sq ft of meeting and event facilities, including indoor and outdoor space, an event lawn and a ceremonial pavilion for weddings.
Hilton Waldorf Astoria Guerlain Costa Rica Revolution Cacique Investors LLC Garnier & Garnier
Spa with style: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh and Harvey Nichols launch luxury spa and private shopping package
SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences
The Well unveils first international outpost in the Costa Rican rainforest
Waldorf Astoria Maldives’ spa launches new Aqua Wellness Centre and hydrotherapy programming
Guerlain launches first spa in Israel with design inspired by Jerusalem’s architectural heritage
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
