Hotel Maraica

The peaceful spot at the edge of town suited us well, and the scenery was beautiful. We loved the warm welcome, tasty food and drinks, and the comfortable beds. The pool was refreshingly cold, and the staff were some of the kindest people I’ve met. They made us feel like family. Before we arrived, they also helped arrange airport transfers and wonderful in-room massages. I can’t wait to return to Maraica.

We could see and hear the ocean from our room, and it was lovely to relax in the hammock on the patio. The big windows gave us nice views. We stayed in the Iku room with two beds, and one of our kids slept on the day bed. The room was pretty basic, and we got quite a few big bites, so I’d bring bug spray. The shower had strong pressure and properly hot water. Wi-Fi was very spotty, though we didn’t mind being disconnected. The beach is right across the street, and we walked into town several times a day. It took about ten minutes, and we liked being in a quiet area outside town. We mostly had the restaurant and pool to ourselves. The food was delicious, and the chef was very friendly. Our hostess was invaluable throughout the trip. She checked in with us on Whatsapp before we arrived, arranged airport pickup, and helped with everything we needed, like a private concierge.

The restaurant was my biggest frustration. I emailed before our Friday arrival to check that it would be open for dinner and that we wouldn’t need a reservation. They said it opened at 6:30 and a reservation wasn’t needed. But when we arrived the next day, we learned it would be closed for the weekend. They assured us it would open at 6:30 on our last night, but it was closed for a retreat they were hosting. We were told we could eat at 8pm, too late for our two small children, so we had to scramble for another dinner plan. I believe the restaurant closure was because of the yoga retreat. With a little communication this could have been avoided. I was traveling with the kids and had hoped to eat there on arrival after a day of travel and again the night we left. There were some lovely things about Maraica. The setting is beautiful, you can hear the waves, and the pool is nice. The cleaning and restaurant staff were really nice, and the food was good. A beautiful, quiet beach is less than a block away, but there are no beach chairs or umbrellas, and none available to rent there. The minimalist rooms had nice soaps, bedding and towels. There’s no AC, but we didn’t need it in February. The rooms share openings separated only by mosquito nets, despite the high ceilings. If a neighbor turns on a light late at night, it shines into your room, and you can hear them talking. We heard our neighbors at 1am and their alarm at 6:30am, even though they were trying to be quiet. We also kept having to shush our kids so they wouldn’t disturb them. Our room had a gorgeous ocean view, but my parents’ supposedly deluxe room looked out at the parking lot. Its windows faced a busy path and had to stay closed. It was also much smaller than the online pictures suggested. The only thing that made it deluxe was a corner chair where my mother put her suitcase, rather than the daybed or lounge chair shown in the photos. I can see this being a good fit for retreats, especially with meals and communication handled for you, other guests on similar schedules, and a steep room discount. For everyone else, I found it a bit overpriced for the comfort and service.

It’s a small, remote place with lovely gardens, incredible rooms, and beautiful views. Our room was stunning, and we watched the sunset from it every night. The little pool has ocean views and bar service. They’re mindful about the environment: organic linens and products, collecting water for the gardens, and using very little plastic or paper. I love the concept. The food was great too.