Some of my schoolmates still remember that, even back then, I used to say that one day I would own a hotel. Perhaps that was when the seed of this dream was planted, quietly stored somewhere in my memory, waiting for the right moment to come alive. That moment arrived 35 years later, enriched by a lifetime dedicated to tourism.
My hospitality journey began in the mid-1990s working in hotels and more than 30 years in tour operations, mainly in sales. My role was to convince international tour operators that Costa Rica deserved a place in their portfolios—first as an alternative destination, later as a fashionable one, and eventually as a truly aspirational place to visit.
Through my global business travel, I learned to see my country through different eyes. Costa Rica is far more than breathtaking landscapes. Its natural beauty awakens the senses, but its greatest strength lies in its people—the warmth, the kindness, the unmistakable Pura Vida spirit that makes visitors leave smiling and return home feeling lighter.
In the year 2000, I chose Llano Bonito de Naranjo as my home. A small mountain village surrounded by green pastures, lush forests and sweeping views of the Central Valley and its volcanoes. But above all, it is a place shaped by humble, hardworking, and genuinely warm people. It is where my mother taught at the local school and where my father’s family grew up. Llano Bonito has always been part of who I am.
Throughout my career, I had the privilege of visiting more than 60 countries. I experienced extraordinary landscapes, dream destinations and met people who are now close friends. Yet in every place, I found myself wishing to create a place where people from around the world can discover the beauty of Llano Bonito de Naranjo.
That is how the dream slowly took shape. And like all meaningful dreams, it required hard work, sleepless nights and sacrifices that, somehow, never felt painful. In 2015, we opened the restaurant; six months later, our first three rooms; and a year after that, the twelve rooms that today make up Chayote Lodge.
Chayote Lodge is a special place. A mountain boutique hotel in Costa Rica, built with love and intention, far from crowds and noise. A place where silence feels comforting and where reconnecting with yourself happens naturally.
Dreams do come true when they are built with heart. And the most beautiful part of dreaming and creating is sharing it. Chayote Lodge exists so that you, too, may find a place to live your own dreams.
