Testimonials
Google Reviews
This place is the shit, Maxine who runs it is an amazingly cool hybrid human she is 1 part concierge 1 part entertainer/hostess. (Honestly still not doing her justice).
The property itself is breathtaking, the views are breathtaking. It’s just amazing.
Probably gonna just buy it and keep it for my self.
But then Maxine wouldn’t be there and the place would not be same.
We recently attended a retreat in Costa Rica at a remarkable private property called Punta Gabriela, and it was an unforgettable experience—made truly exceptional by our host, Maxine Gomez. From the moment we arrived, the hostess, Maxine’s warmth, thoughtfulness, and extraordinary attention to detail set the tone for an experience that was both restorative and inspiring.
Perched on a lush hillside with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the estate was a tranquil sanctuary, beautifully integrated into the surrounding rainforest. Every element of the property reflected Maxine’s refined taste and deep care—from the elegant, eco-conscious design to the inviting open spaces that welcomed connection with nature.
Maxine ensured that each of us felt seen and supported. She anticipated needs before they were expressed, creating an atmosphere of comfort and ease that allowed us to fully relax and be present. Whether arranging a peaceful yoga session or coordinating a blissful spa treatment, her efforts were always personal and perfectly timed. Her ability to strike the right balance between structure and freedom gave the retreat a natural, effortless flow.
The culinary experience was another highlight, thanks to the incredibly talented Chef Paige, whose meals were vibrant, nourishing, and customized with care. Maxine worked closely with Paige to ensure that every dietary need was met thoughtfully and deliciously. Each meal was a celebration—colorful, flavorful, and infused with local ingredients and creativity.
Maxine also encouraged us to connect with the local community, which added a beautiful dimension to our stay. When we visited the nearby town, we were met with warm smiles and genuine hospitality. Exploring the lively ferias, we delighted in fresh produce, handmade crafts, and the joyful rhythm of Costa Rican life. These moments of cultural connection made the experience feel deeply rooted and authentic.
Adventures like hiking to hidden waterfalls offered a peaceful thrill, but what stayed with us most was the way Maxine made us feel—not just accommodated but truly cared for. Her dedication to creating a meaningful, personal, and unforgettable retreat was evident in every interaction, every detail, and every thoughtful gesture.
Maxine’s heart and hospitality transformed a beautiful setting into something extraordinary. We returned home renewed, inspired, and incredibly grateful. For anyone seeking a retreat that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit—with a host who leads with grace, intention, and authenticity—we wholeheartedly recommend Punta Gabriela and the exceptional experience that Maxine curates.
xo Lori & Evan
Staying at this beachfront jungle resort was nothing short of magical. From the moment I arrived, I felt completely reset—welcomed into an environment where luxury is beautifully simple, deeply personal, and incredibly refreshing.
I stayed in Villa 1, which featured a private pool and jacuzzi—perfect for soaking in the peaceful jungle surroundings. The sunset views were absolutely unbelievable, painting the sky with colors I’ll never forget.
The resort strikes the perfect balance between intimacy and warmth. It felt exclusive and serene, yet had a grounded, family-like vibe that made it easy to relax and feel at home. Being so close to waterfalls and immersed in nature only added to the enchantment.
If you’re looking for a place to truly unwind, reconnect, and enjoy understated luxury in a breathtaking natural setting, this is it.
The room & accommodations are amazing, the food is outstanding, the views are incredible, and the Hostess with the mostess goes above and far beyond. Can’t wait to go back.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Our Reviews
Sublime
I did a lot of online searching regarding potential places to stay during our family vacation before deciding to reserve Punta Gabriela. There are plenty of good options, but the photos and videos led me think Punta Gabriela stood above the rest. It more than lived up to my hopes and expectations. The architectural, interior and landscape designs are exquisite: it is even more spectacular than I hoped. The property melds with the jungle with just enough shaping of the flora to afford stunning ocean views, and the landscaping is planted with native flora. There is ample communal space at the main house and pool area, and resplendent villas to allow for private time. We saw capuchin monkeys (and heard howlers), agoutis, coati, scarlet macaws, toucans, crested caracara, iguanas and a masked treefrog. The property is up a paved drive from the highway and has secure gates, and there is a safe in each villa. The main house has a professional quality kitchen and we engaged a wonderful chef (Paige Merritt) to cook for us on two days of our week at Punta Gabriela. Jesse, who co-owns the property with his wife Karen, would occasionally check on us when we were hanging out at the main house, and I really enjoyed my conversations with him. Jesse and Karen are originally from south Florida, but have lived in Costa Rica for years, so they know the region and the culture well, and are happy to share local knowledge with guests. The shops, restaurants and grocery store of Dominical are a five minute drive from the property, and there is a four wheel drive 11 seat Mercedes passenger van available to take your group wherever they want to go (fee for longer trips). Part of our group went on an excellent nocturnal wildlife tour focusing on reptiles and amphibians (santaluciafalls.com) a couple of nights into our trip, and I lost my cell phone on the drive back to PG (it apparently fell out of my pocket when I got out of our vehicle to get a better look at a cat-eyed snake crossing the road). The tour guides from Santa Lucia Falls, Humberto and Enrique, put out the word on their local online chat group and one of their family members learned a construction worker had found it. Humberto got his # and arranged for us to meet him in Uvita on the morning we were flying out; but, we had already returned our rental SUV. Jesse didn’t hesitate to drop everything and drive me to Uvita in his personal vehicle, and even dropped Humberto’s daughters off at school while Humberto and I waited for the construction worker to arrive. And, I got my phone back! What a trip! Sublime.
Words don't describe how amazing this place is
This place is absolutely incredible! Punta Gabriela has unbelievable breathtaking views from anywhere on the property at any time of the day. This place was more than I had ever expected. Its the perfect mix of luxury with the jungle in your front yard and the ocean out back. In the mornings if you wake up early you can hear the howler monkeys in the distance as well as the waves crashing on the beach and you can watch it all from the cool helicopter pad he has at the top of the penthouse villa (so cool!). The highlight of my trip was the side by side tour that they provide. They have awesome 4×4 off road tanks that can get you through any terrain and i had a blast. I definitely wont forget that experience. Aside from all of that even the staff was very kind and friendly and always willing to help, not to mention the place was spotless everywhere you went. The owner even gave me and my dad a personal tour of his new “hideout” of an incredible treehouse he built a few hundred feet up the mountain on the property. This was an overall fantastic experience and I can’t wait to go back. Highly recommended and wish i could give 10 stars. We will be back. Pura Vida
Amazing memories!
We stayed for a week from 6/27-7/3. We had a group of 7. Five kids aged 5-17 and two adults. Everyone had the best time. The views are breathtaking. Even children said so. That’s saying something! The villas were beautiful, comfortable, and so clean. We had more than enough room for everyone. The staff is top tier. So friendly and so helpful. We had a chef for breakfast and a few dinners. He made us the best meals of the trip. I can’t say enough good things about this place. Jesse made sure we were taken care of and answered any and all questions we had. He helped with transportation and everything. If you are going to Costa Rica, this is THE place to stay. Warning: you will miss them when you leave. They felt like family.
Best Vacation Ever!
Hey everyone! My family and I recently stayed at Punta Gabriela for my high school graduation trip. This trip was nothing short of exceptional, and the best vacation I have ever been on. From the moment we arrived, Jesse and Karen were very warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home and helping us with our luggage. Punta Gabriela is absolutely stunning, surrounded by lush tropical jungle and insane views of the Pacific Ocean, providing a breathtaking and serene atmosphere.
We had the luxury of staying in the Penthouse of the main building. It was beautiful, luxurious, and meticulously clean, with every detail attended to. Our room exceeded our expectations, especially by having an outside shower that overlooks the beautiful ocean view. Punta Gabriela offers a variety of activities to suit all interests. Whether you’re looking to relax by the pool or explore the surrounding areas, there’s something for everyone. My family spent some days by the pool, as well as some days exploring the surrounding towns on side-by-side tours, where we visited
many different waterfalls and a coffee plantation.
Dining at Punta Gabriela was spectacular. There is an option to bring in Punta Gabriela’s private chef’s and I would most definitely recommend doing that. If doing so make sure to ask for the Tres Leches for dessert, I usually do not like it but that was the best dessert I have ever had.
Every staff member we encountered was friendly and attentive, ensuring that we had everything we needed throughout our stay.
Overall, our experience at Punta Gabriela was unforgettable. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing getaway. We can’t wait to return!
Amazing property and amazing hosts!!
Our children invited us to join them and our granddaughters at the Punta Gabriela. I know I will never be able to express the magnificent experience we had. The Punta Gabriela is a true paradise. The villas are all beautiful and you can experience an ocean view from each villa. We woke up every day to that magnificent view, monkeys waving at us from the trees, iguanas that would love to visit and toucans that flew above our balcony every morning. The landscape was absolutely magnificent, birds of paradise, aloe plants, gorgeous ferns and the lists goes on and on. The property is maintained with love and we definitely noticed. The children played in the pool, rain or shine, whenever we weren’t out on our magnificent adventures.
We were guests when we arrived but quickly became friends to Jessie and Karen, the property owners very quickly. You can see the love and passion they put into building a gorgeous paradise and we were blessed and thankful they shared it with us.
Jesse made sure any and every thing was available to us. The unlimited chauffeured rides to the beaches, shopping, restaurants, parks, etc. Andre and Minor were so patient waiting for and watching over us at each location. We felt safe and they quickly became like family to us and our grandchildren.
The villas were immaculate and remained that way thanks to the amazing housekeeping staff.
We had Chef Marcella and her staff cook the majority of our meals. Every meal was delicious and authentic Costa Rican, which is what we requested. But she was very conscientious of the children’s pallet and adjusted their meals so they were also very happy. Her staff was with us all day Father’s Day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and the dads were not disappointed.
The ladies had massages courtesy of Kirk, who is amazing and the men had massages courtesy of Marcella. Yes, she is an amazing cook and massage therapist.
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rick we can’t recommend Punta Gabriela enough. They exceeded our expectations and if we ever return to Costa Rica, we will be staying with our new wonderful friends!!!
Thank you Jesse, Karen, and all staff members who made our stay one we will remember for a lifetime!! Thank you for building a gorgeous paradise and sharing it with us.
We stayed for 10 days and our hearts were so heavy to have to leave. We felt we were leaving family behind. We already miss them terribly.
Pura Vida,
Gina and Chris LeGate
Marietta, GA
Luxury stay in the jungle
This vacation was one of the beast I have had. From the moment we arrived at the airport we were met by the driver who was very professional. Upon arrival we were met by Jesse and Karen and their staff. Every villa had such a magnificent view. The beautiful foliage and flowering trees were so vibrant and beautiful. Our meals were always served on time and oh so delicious and healthy. We road up a mountain on a side by side to a fabulous waterfall. The ride was exhilarating. The water was so refreshing after we had to hike at a certain point to get to the waterfall. They recently built a treehouse. Noting I could have ever imagined. The hike to the treehouse was challenging but well worth it. We also did a paraglide excursion which was also up on the mountain top. Jesse and Karen are gracious hosts and made us feel very welcome. We fell in love with their wonderful friendly dogs too. Overall this was a wonderful vacation and would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is either looking for adventure or relaxation.
Best place on Earth!!
Jayne and I went to visit our friends and met some new friends in Costa Rica. We were there almost a week and Jesse and K@aren owners of PUNTA GABRIELA showed us a great time. The resort is in Dominical right on the beach in the middle of the jungle. There are 5 beautifully decorated villas on the property along with a huge 3 story home and awesome pool right in the middle of the property. Villa one has a private pool with built in spa overlookkibg the ocean . They just finished adding a really cool 1800 sq ft TREEHOUSE above the main residences that is really awesome at sunset.
Sunsets there are like no other place we’ve been too. We used the side by sides to explore the Pacific side of the Country, venturing up to the waterfalls for the day then paragliding the next day off a high cliff overlooking the ocean. They supplied an excellent gourmet chef for us and the food was like a 6 star resort. This place is luxury in the jungle. Punta Gabriela is on Instagram and trip advisor if you’d like more information. We’re going back in June for another week of fun and sun.
Special thank you to Jesse and Karen for opening up your place to us!!! In Costa Rica you’re normally in bed by 9 then up again at 6 to start your day .
Spectacular high-end stay
The place is spectacular!! So peaceful and beautiful. Neco’s meals made me want to eat all my meals at his table. Jessie and Karen make you feel so welcome. We went paragliding and visited hugh waterfalls among other things. Looking at the ocean and beaches lulls you into such a relaxed state. Highly recommend.
Adventure, chillax, eat, repeat!!!!
From the moment we arrived, to our departure, this place was incredibly relaxing. Great hosts Jesse & Karen made our stay perfect. From adventures to waterfalls, paragliding, to mention a couple. The food was was deliciously created by Chef Niko, directly from Greece. Everything prepared fresh on every meal. The accommodations were perfectly thought out in decor, function and wonderful ocean views from every room. The perfect balanced vacation. The staff is friendly and helpful. Thanks for a great time. We will be back.
Punta Gabriela was incredible!
Where to begin! My wife and I recently had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with friends in Dominical, and we could not be happier with our decision to stay with Jessie, Karen, Niko, Carina, and the whole team at Punta Gabriela. Everyone was so kind, helpful and super inviting. I highly recommend this resort for your next stay in Costa Rica. The location, the amenities, the food and hospitality were all top notch. We will definitely be back!
Jungle Paradise
Punta Gabriela was the perfect getaway with friends. The property and pool are well maintained and the view is spectacular!!! House Manager Carena was extremely hospitable and Chef Niko’s breakfasts and dinners were out of this world. The small town of Dominical is close by, as well as some nice beach areas. I highly recommend Punta Gabriela for you and your friends or family!
Piece of heaven ☀️
Just spent an amazing week here with friends making the best memories! Comfortable clean and so convenient. Jesse and Karen are so inviting and make everything accessible that you need! We were in Villa 3 and had amazing views waking up to the ocean and sounds of the birds and waves. The food was delicious as well! Love it- pure piece of paradise!!! Highly recommend and we will be back for sure!
Our core values are dedicated to giving you the best service in paradise. Our team delivers the most outstanding personalized experience possible. We work hard to maintain our values and deep commitment to each of our guests.
Important Links
Contact Information
- Reservations: 1-(786) 239-5101
- maxine.puntagabriela@gmail.com
- 506-8802-6521
- 64RX+XW Dominicalito, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
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