A visionary hotel concept in Costa Rica

A meeting at the top with Garrison and Silvia Krause, owning founders of the Rancho Pacifico, an exclusive Small Luxury Hotel, nestled on the Southern coast, in one of Costa Rica’s most spectacular settings, overlooking the fabled Whale’s Tail.

BH: When /Why did you start to imagine the Rancho Pacific Concept

GSK: In 2003, I was attracted to an unspoiled area of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast -- where virgin rainforest meets wild and dramatic beaches. I wanted to find a property that took advantage of both - which ended up being part of a 250-acre mountaintop nature preserve with dramatic views of 3000 sq. km’s of blue ocean and easy access to wide open, empty beaches. The concept unfolded as an intimate adult-exclusive hideaway with unprecedented access to intense tropical nature. We designed Rancho Pacifico to become what we promise, “where style meets nature and the rainforest meets the sea".

BH: What makes the concept special?

GSK: Our remote location is the heart of what makes us special and unique. We offer unexpected quality and design to our guests from an oasis that is immersed in a thriving jungle environment. Because nature comes first at Rancho Pacifico, we used modern, open design so that guests would have a true experience - 24 hours a day. We said no to phones and TV’s -- and ended up with a chic yet unpretentious hideaway where couples could truly connect. At Rancho Pacifico our focus is on harmony; we work with the blessing nature has given us by building sustainably and functioning within a carefully designed and non-invasive, carbon neutral footprint.

BH: What about the future? (Development, projects, new products...)

GSK: We are always evolving - without exactly growing. For 10 years we have served a maximum of 24 guests at a time - and have won awards and accolades for our intimacy. We have no plans to put our smallness at risk. We do however continuously strive to accentuate the guest experience. Recently our kitchen has gone completely organic, we are brewing our own (organic) beer and have partnered with a remote coffee plantation which is producing a one-of-a-kind blend just for us. At the end of the coming year, we will be offering a remote luxury tent experience in a super-dramatic setting for couples who are willing to push the envelope of privacy.

Infos/contact : http://ranchopacifico.com ; http://slh.com/hotels/rancho-pacifico

By Suzanne Kauz