Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, Playa Montezuma

Pros

• Secluded beachfront property featuring some rooms with ocean views
• Hiking trails that lead to a waterfall and creek are accessible from the property
• Breakfast and dinner included in the room rate
• Features a treetop canopy room - an experience comparable to glamping up in the trees

Cons

• The hotel can be difficult to reach as it’s only accessible by way of the beach
• For most tours, travelers need to walk to a meeting place in town and cannot be picked up from the hotel

Additional Notes From Brittany

It's not always easy to navigate around Costa Rica thanks to apps providing inaccurate directions, but Ylang Ylang was the most difficult of all. There was no road, no sign, and no main entrance. But once I managed to figure out that the only way to the property was to walk down the beach, it became clear that this resort is the ultimate secluded escape! The only sounds on the property were natural – the waves crashing, birds chirping, and the wind blowing through the trees. It's peaceful and devoid of crowds while still being close enough to town to access anything you need.

Authenticity

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is a beautiful, scenic beachfront property surrounded by a lush tropical forest. The unique hotel is secluded from the town of Montezuma and most travelers will need to walk along the beach to get to and from the property. 

Location

The hotel is located on a quiet beach, a short walk from the center of town. While not easily accessible by car, the hotel does offer a shuttle service to and from its sister property on arrival and departure days. Guests can also choose to leave their car in a lot at the sister property. Since most tours and activities can't pick up travelers from the hotel, guests will also need to walk to a meeting point in town.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The hotel offers 23 rooms, including eight cabins that have been recently renovated (Dec. 2022). These are smaller, have a more rustic feeling, and can fit up to three people. The hotel also has three standard rooms that can hold four people, three family suites, four beach bungalows, two larger beachfront bungalows, two garden bungalows, and a treetop canopy room that's a climb of 40 steps to reach the room. Each accommodation has air conditioning, coffee, and a mini-fridge. The larger beachfront bungalows also have an outdoor bathroom, private beach hammock and a covered lounge area. 

Other Highlights

The hotel includes breakfast and dinner in the room rate and features a pool, spa and yoga studio with daily classes (for an additional cost). It also has hiking trails on the far end of the property that lead to a waterfall and creek. 

Sustainability

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort touts a number of green initiatives, including its use of solar panels to produce a large portion of its energy needs. The hotel also uses the air conditioning units in rooms to heat hot water tanks, which helps to conserve electricity. The on-site restaurant, which uses organic, fresh, and sustainable ingredients, has adopted a "straw-free" approach and only serves drinks with straws if specifically requested. Compostable cups are also used whenever a guest wants to take a drink to the pool or beach. The hotel is also trying to eliminate single-use plastic bags, instead adopting compostable trash bags for its rooms. In addition, locally sourced eco-friendly cleaning products and laundry detergent is used by the hotel.