Nosara has always done things its own way. A surf town with a spiritual undercurrent, where jungle presses up against the Pacific and dirt roads still outnumber paved ones. It’s here, far from Costa Rica’s polished resort strips, that Esh (meaning fire) has opened as the latest member of Design Hotels.
Founded by Costa Rican entrepreneur Jaime Bravo Gallegos, the project takes its cue from a line by Nietzsche: “He who has a why can bear almost any how.” The idea isn’t abstract branding. Esh is pitched as a place for adults and teens over 13 to “pause, recalibrate and look inward.”
Designed by FAMM Arquitectura and Mexico City studio Sulkin Askenazi, the hotel balances opposing instincts. “They are complete opposites and that’s what I wanted. A clash in styles to produce a radical balance,” says Jaime. Concrete and clean lines meet handcrafted timber details, combining precision with warmth to create interiors that prioritise texture and depth.
The lobby sets the tone with a palm tree that rises through the ceiling. Raw concrete walls are softened by wood and art, and open thresholds frame dense greenery outside. At its centre, a firepit hosts a welcome ritual where guests write down a personal intention and commit it to the flames.
From there, paths wind through the jungle to 20 suites and nine villas. Ground floor Selva suites feature semi-outdoor rain showers, while Canopy suites sit among the treetops with balconies primed for howler monkey sightings. Villas add plunge pools or sculptural outdoor bathtubs, keeping privacy front and centre.
Rooms are pared back with built-in concrete beds, linen curtains, and charred wood details. Lighting is handcrafted by an NGO supporting women at risk of domestic violence, with forms inspired by volcanoes and bird nests. Artwork by Nosara-born Mael Victory adds a final layer of local craftsmanship.
Life centres around the pool and the open-sided restaurant, Almar, where organic produce and Pacific seafood dominate the menu. Mezcal and tequila take the lead at the bar. Beyond that, yoga, boxing, surf lessons and reforestation projects with NGO Costas Verdes root Esh firmly in its setting, a hotel shaped as much by its landscape as by its philosophy.
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Esh Hotel Nosara Photography, courtesy Design Hotels.
