Kura Boutique Hotel
An adults-only, eight-suite hotel on a ridge above Uvita that has banned single-use plastic since opening and composts its kitchen waste for its own greenhouse.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.8/5 · 183 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
3.0/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 48.8%
Green flags
- Waste and plastic, level 3/4.
No single-use plastic bottles or straws since opening, supplier packaging reduction, sorted recycling and onsite composting of restaurant leftovers.
Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 2/4 · A named area of habitat kept undisturbed, or one named native planting or conservation activity | 15 / 30 points | The nature page describes support for local groups that keep the Marino Ballena beaches Blue Flag clean, plus seminars in local schools. No protected land or measured results are published. “We support the local entities that have been set up to make sure our beaches hold onto this accolade.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as solar hot water, a stated photovoltaic share, or buildings designed to need no air conditioning | 7.5 / 15 points | The FAQ (2026) and the 2025 press backgrounder state solar-heated water. Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Water | 10% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, or taps and showers at or under 8.5 litres a minute | 5 / 10 points | The 2025 press backgrounder states wastewater is collected for garden irrigation. PDF only, verified verbatim from the PDF text. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 3/4 · Composting plus recycling plus no single use plastic in rooms and food service | 7.5 / 10 points | No single-use plastic bottles or straws since opening, supplier packaging reduction, sorted recycling and onsite composting of restaurant leftovers. Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 2/4 · A named own garden or named local farms supply part of the menu | 7.5 / 15 points | Onsite organic greenhouse grows herbs and vegetables for the restaurant, fed by Takakura compost. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | The everyday sustainability page calls teak furniture a sustainable material, which is a claim without sourcing detail. “Teak wood is fast growing and considered a sustainable building material.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 2/4 · Specific practices, systems and named suppliers published | 2.5 / 5 points | The sustainability pages publish specific practices such as a greenhouse, Takakura composting and a named local guide, but no certificate or measured data. “Supported by our Japanese Takakura composting system, our little garden yields the likes of microgreens, kale, peppers, basil, spearmint and more.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.9/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 22.5%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as pure water | 6.25 / 25 points | The FAQ says the tap water is potable on the public supply. No filtration is described, though single use bottles are banned. “The water at Kurà and across most of Costa Rica is 100% potable.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 2/4 · Named organic or own garden produce in some meals, and plant based meals available | 10 / 20 points | The hotel grows herbs and greens in an on site organic greenhouse and sources hormone free meat from nearby farmers, with vegan options. “Onsite we have an organic garden greenhouse which grows some of the herbs and veggies we use in our tasty dishes.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | The greenhouse is described as pesticide free, but no property wide no spray policy is given. “Growing in the safety of a greenhouse, there are no pesticides involved either.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The FAQ bans smoking in the suites but keeps a smoking area on the grounds and the suites have air conditioning. “Smoking is not permitted in the Suites and Costa Rica has passed strict non-smoking laws which prohibit smoking in public places.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 5 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
2.4/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 37.5%
Green flags
- Community benefit, level 3/4.
The hotel funds classrooms and supplies at a Uvita school through a non profit, helps clean the local fair, and uses local micro business guides and Boruca masks.
“We work with a non-profit organization to support a school in Uvita.”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 1/4 · Ownership stated without detail | 7.5 / 30 points | The about page names Martin Wells and Alejandra Umana as the founders without stating the share held locally. “Martin Wells and Alejandra Umaña were looking for a new challenge.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 2/4 · A stated share of staff from the island or nearby communities | 12.5 / 25 points | The community page says the hotel hires exclusively Costa Rican staff from the local area, with year round employment. “We hire exclusively Costa Rican staff from the local area.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 3/4 · Several programmes plus named local suppliers and makers | 15 / 20 points | The hotel funds classrooms and supplies at a Uvita school through a non profit, helps clean the local fair, and uses local micro business guides and Boruca masks. “We work with a non-profit organization to support a school in Uvita.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | Boruca masks from a local tribe decorate the resort, with no named makers. “the Boruca masks you’ll see around the resort also come from a local tribe” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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