Florblanca

Luxurious, blissful and by the sea - a tiny hotel in an utterly romantic setting in unspoilt southern Nicoya Peninsula

Beautiful Florblanca is secluded in jungly gardens beside a pristine beach - with wild surf, white sands and overhanging palms. Choose 1 of 10 modern comfortable villas, or the gorgeous honeymoon house - all are spacious and airy, with sumptuous cream bedrooms and fairytale canopy beds. Wallow in a leaf-shaped bath by candlelight under palm trees in your outdoor bathroom. Sip cocktails by the free-form pool, practice some yoga or laze in a hammock by the beach. Hip young staff whisk up gastronomic delights; the yellow-fin tuna for your sashimi was caught just hours ago.

This is a very chic retreat indeed. You have the ocean on your doorstep, bird ballad and monkey chatter to wake you, that shapely pool, and yoga, pilates and creative cuisine. If you're not surfing the waves then bliss out in the spa, romantically perched above rushing water. It's a small slice of heaven, with its laid back but luxurious feel - oh, and the staff are described as "beyond great".

Highs

• Florblanca’s villas are utterly luxurious: high-ceilinged sitting rooms open to the ocean breezes with grand bedrooms and wonderful alfresco bathrooms
• Food is superb: funky Pacific Rim flavours with classical French influences
• Excellent surfing
• Honeymooners will love the rooms, 3 of which have ocean views, and dining in the private gazebo by candlelight
• The new Bambú Spa has 3 treatment rooms, and outstanding treatments and massage

Lows

• It's pricey. But transfers from the Tambor airstrip are included, as well as yoga classes and the use of surf and boogie boards
• Take a transfer, don’t drive here. The roads are terrible
• It's near the road - you will hear cars from your villa during the day
• Bugs and beasties - you're in the jungle after all