Waldorf Astoria debuts in Costa Rica with cliffside resort at Punta Cacique

Jake Nicholas
May 5
2 min read

Waldorf Astoria has officially arrived in Costa Rica with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, a 188-key luxury resort perched above the Pacific along the cliffs of Playa Penca. As the first phase of the emerging Punta Cacique master development, the resort introduces a new level of hospitality to the Guanacaste coastline—just 25 minutes from Liberia’s international airport.

Waldorf Astoria debuts in Costa Rica with cliffside resort at Punta Cacique — Image: Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica

Designed by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the resort descends 300 feet from hillside to beach, offering uninterrupted views of Culebra Bay, Coco Bay, and the open ocean. The layout includes 148 guest rooms, 40 suites, and a limited number of private residences, all integrated into the natural contours of the land.

Dining is a focal point, with six venues ranging from a Latin-style poolside grill to a seafood-forward signature restaurant with dry-aged beef. Other highlights include an all-day kitchen with open-fire cooking, a coffee and pastry shop, an artisanal ice cream bar, and Peacock Alley—the brand’s signature cocktail lounge featuring regional small plates.

The 17,000-square-foot spa anchors the resort’s wellness offerings, joined by open-air fitness studios, a gym, and multi-tiered pools with sweeping coastal views. Treatments emphasize local ingredients like volcanic clay and honey, reflecting the property’s sustainability ethos.

For families, a kids and teens club offers age-specific programming, while adults enjoy easy access to paddleboarding, boating, and other oceanfront experiences. The resort also debuts a limited collection of four- and five-bedroom cliffside residences, fully furnished and offering full resort privileges and concierge access.

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique marks the brand’s first foray into Costa Rica—and the beginning of a much larger coastal vision now underway at Punta Cacique.

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