My experience at Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen

I love hotels that combine leisure, relaxation, incredible food, and meaningful sustainability initiatives—and Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen has it all! This stunning property offers visitors not only a luxurious escape but also an authentic connection to Costa Rica’s rich culture. Its prime location, just 15 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport, near the capital San José, makes it incredibly convenient too.

My recent stay at Hacienda Belen was absolutely unforgettable. From its breathtaking colonial architecture surrounded by its own coffee farm to the warm and attentive staff, every detail exceeded my expectations. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know—along with personal insights from my experience—to help you decide if this is the perfect getaway for you and plan your stay with ease.

Where is Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen located?

Set in Heredia, Hacienda Belen is perfectly situated for travelers who want easy access to both urban experiences and tranquil, nature-filled escapes.

Here is where Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen is located on the map:

Address: 700 Meters West From Bridgestone/Firestone, Heredia, 40703, Costa Rica

Transportation

• Airport shuttle: They have a free airport shuttle service that must be reserved in advance via email [email protected] or by calling (506) 2298-0000.
• Parking: Complimentary self-parking for overnight guests.
• Electric Vehicles: There are 3 complimentary EV type 1 chargers J1772.

The property

This 299-room hacienda, inaugurated in 1996, is steeped in Costa Rican history and gives us a sense of traveling in time. The building is inspired by the National Museum of Costa Rica, and around every corner, there is a piece of art and history to appreciate.

The room

My partner and I stayed in an Executive Room with a Mountain View, featuring two double beds that were incredibly comfortable. It was nice to enjoy the view, whether the sun was shining or the rain was falling. Since we visited Costa Rica during the rainy season, it rained a bit every afternoon.

The bathroom was spacious and impeccably clean. The shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided in bulk containers, a great eco-friendly touch! They also offered several amenities, though unfortunately, some were still packaged in plastic. However, it’s worth mentioning that they seem to be working toward eliminating all plastic from the rooms, which is a step in the right direction. I can’t forget to mention that the shower was really good too!

I loved that they provide reusable glass water bottles for guests, encouraging refills directly from the tap or from the filtered water stations on the property. They also sell water in aluminum bottles for those interested. Besides being excellent initiatives to reduce plastic waste, having access to free potable water on the property and in most places around the country is such a wonderful perk. Well done, Costa Rica!

Breakfast at Marriott Hacienda Belen

I don’t know about you, but for me, a remarkable breakfast is a must! At Marriott Hacienda Belen, the breakfast is served at Hacienda Kitchen, one of their restaurants. They have a very complete buffet with a great selection of bread, pastries, and a hot food section with bacon, eggs and several local delicacies.

One of my favorite things about it was the omelet station, where you can ask the chef to add all the ingredients you want.

A sweet curiosity is that every day Javier, on the right, harvests fruits in their garden (Yes! The hotel has an organic garden!) to make fresh jelly for the guests.

Restaurants at Marriott Hacienda Belen

Since we are talking about food, let me tell you about their 5 restaurants:

La Isabela Steakhouse

This was definitely my top pick and I highly recommend that even if you decide not to stay here, you should at least have dinner at La Isabela Steakhouse. I swear to you that if I come back to Costa Rica at some point (and I hope so!), I will definitely stop by again to order the following:

• Isabella salad: roasted beets with goat cheese, caramelized walnuts, prosciutto chip, and sherry vinaigrette.
• Porterhouse US 21 oz: beef tenderloin accompanied by chimichurri sauce, demi-glace, and sweet onions, served with asparagus drizzled with orange oil and squash risotto.

Another highlight of this experience was the assistance of Henry, an experienced sommelier who paired the meals with an amazing selection of wines and introduced us to the Golden Rush, a liqueur made from the golden berry (also known as uchuva), which grows in the Costa Rican cloud forest.

Hacienda Kitchen

As mentioned before, this is the restaurant where breakfast is served. Their specialty are Costa Rican recipes cooked with local ingredients. Here we had:

• Ceviche Pura Vida: a vegetarian ceviche made with hearts of palm, mango, peach palm, and green banana.
• Casado Hacienda: a traditional dish with chicken (could be replaced by beef or fish), rice, beans, ripe plantains and creole salad.
• Pineapple Flip Cake: a cake with pineapple cream and compote served with vanilla ice cream.

Bar 10

La Castilla

La Castilla offers Asian-fusion cuisine with a creative and adventurous menu. Here we had a combination of sashimi and sushis suggested by the chef. They serve innovative cocktails and premium drinks in a serene atmosphere. If you prefer, you can have dinner on the terrace that has a beautiful view.

Casa del Café

Right next to the gift shop is Casa del Café, the perfect spot for a coffee break or a change of scenery to work (I noticed that a lot of people stay at Marriott Hacienda Belen for bleisure). Here you can try its locally produced coffee and a great variety of delicious ice creams.

More than just beautiful architecture, the hotel Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen is rich in activities that blend relaxation with exploration and cultural traditions. Here are some things you can do onsite and nearby:

1. Unwind at the Spa

Need some time to take good care of yourself? Book a massage at their spa. They also offer a variety of treatments, including body and facial scrubs with coffee from their own farm. A really nice fitness center is available to the guests too.

2. Relax by the pools & whirlpool

The hotel has two outdoor pools, perfect for lounging with a book or indulging in refreshing poolside cocktails. My favorite was the whirlpool though, which is quite hidden and so peaceful.

3. Participate in complementary onsite activities

The hotel organizes several activities, and the best part is that they are included in your stay. The options include art therapy, historic tour, culinary classes, a visit to their organic garden, and more. I took a mixology class to learn how to make guaro sour at Bar 10 and did the coffee experience to taste local coffee and learn about the coffee culture in the country.

4. Go on a tour

The hotel has an inhouse travel agency that can help you organize day trips or even a whole itinerary around the country. Matthew and I took a City Tour that took us to the Museo Costarricence, the Central Market, the Municipal Theater and the Central Bank Museum.

5. Enjoy the driving range

They have practice areas for pitching, driving and sand lies. You can also take golf lessons and rent equipment there.

You can find more information about the experiences they offer here.

Staff

You have probably noticed that we have several photos of the staff in this article, and this is because although the hotel is big, you can feel a personal touch in the way the employees treat you.

I talked to several employees during my stay to get an understanding if they were happy to be there and if they were really involved in sustainable projects. Renato, the bartender at Bar 10, told me for example that Marriott let him take extra days off to attend a professional development course in Europe. Fernando, showed me a picture of the latest recycling materials he brought from his house to the hotel’s recycling center. Roberto told me about an organic garden they were building in a community volunteer activity. Cool, right?!

My personal overall review of Marriott Hacienda Belen

The hotel combines comfort, elegance, history and culture with such welcoming staff, memorable food (again, go to La Isabela no matter what!), great experiences and sustainable initiatives. I recommend and would come back here without a question!

Elaine Villatoro

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A post shared by Elaine Villatoro 🇧🇷 · Turismo Sustentável / Sustainable Travel (@livemoretravelmore)

I think it’s important to highlight the inspiring work being done by Marriott Hacienda Belen, which worth it being shared and supported. We often focus on the direct environmental impact a hotel promotes or the impact they cause on the tourists. But tourists come and go, and when we think about local impact, the work they are doing is bringing great awareness not only for their 410 employees, but for their whole families too.

Extra Tips

1) Stay connected

We always need internet access to use maps or even order rides through apps, right?! With Airalo’s international SIM card, you’ll have internet access as soon as you arrive in Costa Rica.

Not familiar with eSIM technology? In this article, we explain what an eSIM is and how it works.

2) Don’t forget to get travel insurance

Currently, we use SafetyWing travel insurance because of its competitive pricing (especially for digital nomads and trips) and excellent coverage, including adventure sports and electronic equipment theft.