Costa Rica sanctuary

A High End, Newly Opened Mountain Retreat: Hacienda Santa Ines, Costa Rica

Hacienda Santa Ines is an unusual combination of high end resort/sanctuary and working ranch. Set on 300 acres of farmland, it is hidden in the Tres Rios Mountains that loom 6,000 feet high over Cartago, Costa Rica's old capital city. The Hacienda is new, as it just opened for business in February.

Available for one family or small group to rent exclusively at a time, there are 11 guest rooms, with a staff of 25. iPad and iPod docks as well as wi-fi, allow the guests to remain connected to the outside world, if they want to. The theater room has a Blu-Ray library, and the game room offers pool, table tennis, and more. The spa's two masseuses specialize in four-handed treatments. The fully-equipped gym has mountain and valley views with state-of-the-art equipment. Cigars can be smoked in the paneled cigar room. The view from the indoor pool and Jacuzzi is of gardens and mountains.

The chef makes good use of the farm's fresh eggs and vast organic kitchen garden and greenhouse. Rustic lunches are served in the woods, by the lagoon, or at a variety of barbecue spots dotted throughout the ranch. Modern stables house Fresian horses, ideally suited for gentle walks or energetic adventures. A fleet of ATVs are at guests' disposal, perfect for traveling through the estate's private lands and its three micro-climates. There is an elaborate 100,000-square-foot paint-ball field. There are 300 cows. milked twice daily. Children can feed lambs, calves, rabbits, chicks and piglets at the Petting Zoo.

Located an hour from San Jose's international airport, Hacienda Santa Inés is a unique locale for a family gathering, reunion, corporate retreat, or small wedding. Costa Rica's Pacific beaches are 20 minutes away from the Hacienda's helipad. And the Hacienda is ideally located for car or helicopter excursions to San Jose, the capital, as well as rain forests, waterfalls and volcanoes, in Costa Rica's interior. Pricing ranges from $12,000 to $18,500 per day. There is an added price for children and other guests, depending on the ages, ranging from $200 to $500 per day.

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Tags: costa rica, Costa Rica Haciendas, Costa Rica high end travel, Costa Rica sanctuary, Hacienda Santa Ines, Tres Rios Mountains