At Hotel Punta Leona, our guests, while surround by nature and the calls of wild MacCaws find warmth and enjoyment regardless of language or nationality.
In the heart of Costa Rica Pacific Central, Hotel Punta Leona is the living example that Costa Rica ... is a democratic, free, independent, multi-ethnic and multicultural Republic.
For the Celebration of Cultures, Punta Leona is the logical place to come and enjoy the party; the colors, the flavors and stories that come together to showcase the many and varied cultures of Costa Rica.
When dawn breaks, the early risers walk through the gardens and beaches to enjoy the beauty of the birds that can be seen sunbathing and fishing. If your stroll takes you near the area of apartments, your senses will be awakened by the aromas of Tico freshly brewed coffee, Gallo Pinto and tortillas reminding you that breakfast time is near.
A short time later in the Carabelas, visitors of different nationalities are inspired by the warmth of the restaurant, located in the middle of the forest and accompanied by the rumbling stream. For many visitors this is their first contact with Costa Rican cuisine. The indispensable gallo pinto, the bananas in syrup and the colorful fruits delight all those who start the day surrounded by nature, and with a little luck, in the company of monkeys and daring coatis.
As the day progresses, the pools and beaches are filled with sun seekers. Visitors to Punta Leona enjoy the sun and the waves while mingling and hearing a multitude of different languages. Your neighbors at the beach may be from nearby towns or far away countries – all here in love with the blue waters and blue flags of Playa Blanca. In this space the slushies, piña coladas and beers are equally refreshing for everyone and children always find a way to communicate with each other and to share the sticks and buckets in the sand.
In the afternoons there are options for all tastes; a cup of gourmet coffee , a glass of wine or a fresh natural juice. For dinner, Punta Leona restaurants have different options including local and international dishes. With food being a major Costa Rica focus, the dishes reflect centuries of history that amalgamate new offerings combined with ancient traditions to create the unique flavors of each dish.
Purity is in the mix
The words of the late Paul Dones: In the pure there is no future. Purity is in themix. In the mixture of the pure.That before pure was mixture. It is the service from Team Hotel Punta Leona that makes the difference with the warmth and personal care for all of our visitors.
Costa Rican hospitality and foods are the mixture of Europeans and local indigenous with a touch of Africans, Italians who came early to our shores. More recently, the list increases with those who came for a visit and stayed for a lifetime. Even though physical traits may vary, Costa Ricans all share the same Pura Vida spirit and warmth that welcomes all visitors to Costa Rica.
A special shout out for Hotel Punta Leona
The celebration of the day of cultures has its origin in the commemoration of the arrival of the Spaniards in America in 1942. Since 1995 it has become the Day of the Cultures to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity, tolerance and peace among peoples.
But long before this, the arrival of the Spaniards in America and the European vision of colonization was an attractive subject for the film industry with versions of the story shown in movie theaters around the world.
Of those productions one was relevant in the history of Hotel Punta Leona. Part of the filming of the movie,1492: Conquest of paradise, was done in Playa Blanca and neighboring communities with the production team housed in Punta Leona. It is the epic and dramatic genre of 1992 directed by Ridley Scott and starring Gérard Depardieu.
This synergy between the Hotel and the Franco-British production company, enabled the renovation and expansion of the facilities. This is the reason that the Punta Leona Rooms are divided into sections with the names of the countries of the Americas, the meeting room is called Columbus and the main restaurant Carabelas.
Still today many of the collaborators of the time gladly sit down to review anecdotes in which Hotel Punta Leona was like small Hollywood.