HotelChatter

The tag team coached us on an easier, more methodical path to surfing success than we had previously learned and this new path of enlightenment if you will, emphasized finding the proper stance, instead of being hell bent on immediately standing up. innocent surf school has coached folks from age 4 to 78-years old, beginners to competition level surfers who want to step up their technique and style. We really love innocent’s Boardrider Club, where local kids can come take classes for free each Sunday.

Aside from its spitting distance proximity to prime surfing, The Harmony Hotel has a lot going for it. The boutique property is overseen by José, Angie, and her feisty Weimeraner sidekick, Kalani. Comfortable bungalows with outdoor showers (with Red Flower toiletries inside) frame a saltwater pool, where the vibe is a bit Palm Springs-esque, but in the tropics.

Health and wellness is a major draw for Harmony’s guests and you won’t find any red meat or soda served on property; instead fresh squeezed juices, smoothies, raw foods and sushi that rivals the world’s best (we’re not exaggerating) from The Juice Bar. Dishes like Coconut Basil and Ginger Jumbo Prawns and Octopus Ceviche are served in the restaurant. Yoga classes are held each morning in the open-air terrace, while spa treatments incorporating local ingredients such as lemongrass, papaya, and avocado, are offered at The Healing Centre. Weekly Thursday night salsa classes with Tammy, the spa director, are popular with guests and locals alike.

The Harmony Hotel is dedicated in its eco-initiatives (i.e.; recycles 85% of its waste, heats hot water for all guest rooms with solar panels, hires and trains 90% of its staff from the local community) and was the first hotel in Costa Rica to receive a rating of five leaves from the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) on its first evaluation.

Rooms during the “Green Season” are reasonably priced at $150 per night, per person and include accommodations, a delish continental breakfast and a daily yoga class. Ninety-minute surf lessons at innocent surf school are held three times daily and the initial class costs $48.

The writer was provided complimentary accommodations while traveling throughout Costa Rica on various assignments.