i had the chance to go to finca que ama a short while ago and i was greeted by the new owners, bob and jill (neta and arbel are going back to israel). the place will have its name changed to "ama tierra" (my spanish is not great, but it's something like "love earth&quot and it will turn into a yoga/relaxation/accupuncture/massage center during 2006.

a short feedback from my experience there:
- the new owners are very nice but, like most americans, they (well, bob, really)tend to talk and talk and talk and talk non stop. this is a huge contrast with the quiet that surrounds the property, although it's located in front of a national road.
- the price: way too high for what they offer now (no yoga, relaxation or massage center yet). 150 US dollars for a night is way too much for this kind of boutique hotel. the rooms are nice, but not to the point of saying "this is worth $150". the bath is nice, but water has a strange smell (I didn't ask about it nor was I warned about the sulphuric smell of it). Since the room price only includes breakfast (which is ok, no more than that), you have to either go to turubari (the closest tourist trap) for a day tour and lunch that will cost you $55 or pay something close to $20 for lunch and another $20 for dinner... oh, and add to all that 13% sales tax and then 16.39% or so in tourist tax... in conclusion, you end up paying something close to $250 a night with all meals and tax included, which is NOT a fair price, since you are only 1.5 hours away from a nice beach or 1 hour away from san jose, and in both places you can have all this for half the price. yes, i wondered why i stopped there in the first place and i'm still asking myself the same question.
- the facilities: the swimming pool was nice, the main building is nice for the use i gave it, which was basically eating and checking in and out. the main building needs urgent attention to dampness entering the walls and maybe the casitas need the same attention, too. if the new owners don't consider fixing this before the rainy season begins in costa rica, they're going to have problems keeping guests smiling. i have to add this important fact: since the casitas are in the middle of a mango plantation, there are a lot of insects. i managed to see spiders (big and small), ants (big and small) and a cockroach the size of texas. these insects have a tendency to share your expensive room, so consider yourselves warned.

in conclusion, the place is not worth what you pay for it as of January 2006. i don't see people staying more than one night there or returning, unless they forgot a sock under the bed. once the whole yoga/relaxation/accupuncure/massage thing is in place, it might be worth it. in the meantime, don't stop between orotina and san josé, keep on driving until you reach the beach or touch base in san josé before going back home.

eternaltrip,
It has been 5 months since I stayed at La Finca (now Ama Tierra?), but I find it difficult to believe that such a delightful retreat could have changed into the place you are describing in such a short amount of time! Bob and Jill have only just assumed ownership since the first of the year.

So many on Fodor's have had wonderful experiences at La Finca and have given glowing reviews. Yours is the first negative review I have seen. And your remark about Bob, indeed, "all Americans" seems unnecessary. I haven't met him yet, but even if I were to agree with you, it wouldn't seem right to make such a statement online!

I haven't met Bob and Jill, and will sorely miss Neta and Arbel next time we visit La Finca/Ama Tierra. For us, this hotel will always be a place where we remember quiet, peaceful times, fabulous food, (including an excellent breakfast), and good company. The rooms are not luxurious, but roomy, and the whirlpool bathtubs are a nice little luxury--never noticed an odd smell or heard anyone else mention it either. Neta and Arbel loved movies, and while we didn't always watch them when we were there, it was nice to have the DVD player in the room for the times when we wanted to choose from their extensive DVD collection!

As for the rates, we've always stayed during the green season. About $130 per night, including breakfast. Dinner $18. Lunch in Puriscal would cost probably $8 for two. Taxes 16%. It isn't $250 per night.

Those interested should check the website, www.costaricafinca.com for accurate information regarding rates, all inclusive is an option.

I can't think of anyplace we have ever stayed that I thought was so bad that I should warn people not to go there, especially when ownership is changing--the new folks just don't deserve such nasty remarks. I would think it is the same lovely little hotel it has always been.

I agree with Shillmac. I was there Jan. 5th of this year, right before it changed hands and it was a very enjoyable/lovely place. After reading what eternaltrip wrote, I asked my husband if he remembered it being like they had written. He thought as I did that it was very nice, no odd water smells. We thought the breakfast was great. The price was comparable with other nice hotels we stayed at MA and Arenal and we were so excited when we arrived and noticed that there was TV and DVD player. My daughter and her fiance who were travelling with us watched a movie that evening and really appreciated that feature.
I do not know the new owners, so I cannot comment on that, but as far as the property and the food goes, it was wonderful. We had breakfast and dinner there. Both wonderful.

As usual, I agree with Shillmac's response. People's experiences differ and it is good to have opinions on this forum, as it helps others. BUT it is very odd that in only a few short weeks of the new owners taking over ALL OF A SUDDEN there are odd smells,dampness, and the hotel needs a facelift. As Shillmac suggested prices can be checked directly with the hotel and people can decide before booking if the price is
acceptable to them. I just think the "like most Americans" talking comment was quite rude (and I'm not even American). Opinions are one thing, but there is a line between giving your opinion and personal attacks. It definitely reads like someone with an axe to grind either with the new owners personally or a rival hotel as opposed to a traveler's opinion. Just MY opinion.

we just returned from costa rica and spent 4 nights with jill and bob at the finca que ama now called the ama tierra. we had a delightful time....the setting is lovely the food yummy..... the view out of this world.... we did several day trips from there... one to turubari for a guided hike and then we did the zip lines that were a blast...from what we hear some of the best in the country.... one day we took a tour of a cigar factory really great and then explored one of the small towns and had lunch..... it was a great day...came back for a dip in the pool and another yummy dinner...jill and bob were so helpful and friendly... we even sang one night while jill played the guitar and sang such fun>>>> give it a try its different and a special part of costa rica

I recently visited "ama tierra" and had wonderful time. Jill&Bob were in the process of assuming ownership of La Finca, and did they ever do a wonderful job of welcoming my family and myself to the retreat. Great food +++A plus, nice location with great views, nice pool to cool down in, and great hospitality! Would highly recommend this resort and would stay there again in a heartbeat. Thanks again, Pura Vida!!!

My wife and I stayed at La Finca Que Ama for two nights during the first week of February 2006. Both Neta and Arbel as well as the new owners, Bob and Jill, were there. We had a wonderful time.

We stayed at the hotel as part of the Costa Rica Package that the previous owners of La Fica put together. All hotels that were part of the package were delightful, and La Finca Que Ama stood out for the personal attention we received. Jill asked us one morning what we wanted for dinner and it was cooked up for us. When we found out that Jill is a Yoga instructor, we expressed interest and she did a 45-minute class just for us.

In response to eternaltrip: 1) We did not experience Bob or anybody else "talking" like described. Both owners are very eager to please and go to great lengths to do so. 2) Turrubari is certainly no "tourist trap." The activities there (canopy tour, butterfly pavillion, lunch, orchid garden, iguanas, snakes, maze, forest trails, etc.) are hard to find in one place even in Costa Rica, and here you get it all for one price, together with knowledgeable guides. 3) Insects? Welcome to the tropics! 4) The price listed on the web site is in line with the size of the rooms and the amenities of the property (solitude, views, quality of the food), and La Finca is certainly the best hotel close to Turubari. We were glad to have stayed there as part of our package.

Uwe and Karen Schroeter,
Albuquerque, NM

Wow, such a harsh critic! We had a great time there, even got to learn salsa dancing, have a wonderful massage, do pool-side yoga, eat great food with beautiful views. and the park was a fabulously fun day of zip-lines, orchid garden, a wonderful lunch, and tour of the herb garden. bob and Jill were alot of fun, and I also agree the diss on Americans was truly mean-spirited. I travel alot and have met wonderful people from the US, as well as obnoxious people from every country!! I loved the small , quiet hotel, rooms very comfortable. Drank the water from the tap every day, no odor, no problems at all.

eternaltrip, sorry la finca was not the place for you. But I agree with shillmac, we were just there in June 2006, and had none of the problems you mentioned. The water smelled perfectly fresh and normal (and I am known in my family to have a very picky nose!) There was not any dampness problem in the main building...and we even saw a lightening storm at dinner! As for insects, we saw them all over Costa Rica. They are part of the tremendous diversity of flora and fauna, etc. Normally I don't like insects at home, but the ones in Costa Rica never bothered me...in fact only had one land on me the whole time, and that was a mosquito at Arenal.

True that La Finca is a bit isolated in terms of eating...but I had inquired about this in advance, and that is why we planned to have both breakfast and dinner at La Finca. Neta, who was the owner at the time, offered to pack us a light lunch to go if necessary when we were leaving.