Cotinga Hotel Spa

The room changes and poor communication made this a very disappointing stay. We were moved twice in two days. The first time, we were told while we were out, and the second time we only found out when we got back, walked into our room, and found someone else there and our belongings moved. The owner said he meant to tell us but forgot. Our personal items were drying in the bathroom, and we could have secured them if we’d known about the move. We were told a pipe had burst, but later found out the room had been fumigated. Back in the original room, we saw what looked like bed bugs. When I showed the owner a photo, he said they were droppings from the ceiling. If that was true, it meant my family and I might have had something dripping on us all night. He wouldn’t take responsibility and said he’d refund one night. We left a day early, and he hasn’t kept that promise. We were also charged an extra foreigner tax even though my wife is a national and booked and paid with her credit card. When I asked why the charge was under my name instead of hers, the owner had no answer. Honesty matters, and that’s not what we got. As of Jan 2026, this was a very poor experience, and I wouldn’t recommend the hotel.

Getting to and from the hotel was a real problem. It was almost impossible to find a taxi or Uber, and a couple of neighbours might offer rides for six times the usual price. Even then, a pickup might never come or could take hours. The listing says airport services are available, which is an exaggeration. The entrance looks nice, but the neighbourhood is rough. Guests aren’t encouraged to walk beyond the front gates alone or wait outside for a bus. I’d booked two days, but food poisoning after breakfast left me too sick to stay. I arrived early on the first day, had to arrange an early flight home, and checked out before 8 A.M. the next morning because I felt safer at home. They refused to refund the second day I couldn’t use, which I think I should have been given back. The people were very kind, and the grounds were pleasant and well kept. My room was simple, with a large comfortable bed, and the windows onto the gardens were lovely. But those windows had been forced open and wouldn’t latch, so I felt unsafe at night even though nothing happened. The room door had also been forced and wobbled, and its lock was difficult to use. The security box was useless, the codes didn’t work and no manual keys were available. The mirror was too high for me to see myself or put on makeup, and the bed had no headboard to lean against while I was sick. It sat against a glass window with a gap where the pillows kept falling through.

The pool is huge, and I especially liked the sauna and the Jacuzzi. The hotel itself is really pretty, with kind staff, and it’s welcoming for kids and families. I’d definitely recommend it!

Such a beautiful, spotless place. The staff were wonderful, and Eduardo was the best. Highly recommend.