Hotel Playa Hermosa Bosque del Mar

Hotel Playa Hermosa Bosque del Mar Review

Vastly expanded and expensively upgraded, this beachfront hotel replaced its vintage bungalows with luxury rooms and suites, but thankfully, the century-old, vine-draped trees that shade the property on the southern end of Playa Hermosa have been saved. The most popular activity here is still lounging on the beach, but floating in the blue-tile pool surrounded by lush landscaping is a close second. You can also rent kayaks for paddling in the sea. Flashes of sunlit ocean, just a few barefoot steps away, periodically penetrate the cool greenery, and now and then an iguana, bird, or monkey rustles the foliage above. Garden-view suites in two-story buildings are mostly wood and glass with sitting rooms and balconies or terraces. Ocean-view deluxe suites are the most sought after, with Jacuzzis, plasma TVs, and sofa beds. Teak and marble feature prominently in the upscale decor and all the rooms have refrigerators. A huge penthouse suite above the restaurant is over-the-top luxurious. The vast, open-air Niromi Restaurant is practically on the beach, with an ambitious, modern menu ($16) that focuses on fresh fish and seafood, and beef tenderloin raised on the owner's own ranch. There's also a breezy upstairs bar lounge.