A stay in Costa Rica’s lush Central Valley can offer a wonderfully relaxing start or finish to your time in the country, and the Xandari is one of our favourite places to stay here. Quirky and colourful, this boutique hotel is set in rolling plantations with expansive grounds where you can enjoy gentle walks to a series of waterfalls, an orchid garden, birdwatching and medicinal plant tours. The hotel also features a swimming pool and spa, and the terrace restaurant is a great place to enjoy views of the valley becoming illuminated with distant city lights at sunset. The majority of rooms and villas at the Xandari feature their own balcony or terrace, meaning you may also simply choose to absorb the tranquillity and natural surroundings without venturing too far from your front door.