Xandari Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
An art-filled resort of 24 villas on a former coffee estate above the Central Valley, with a private forest reserve, five waterfalls and its own farm produce.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.6/5 · 734 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
Read reviews on Google MapsAbout Xandari Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
3.3/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 56.3%
Green flags
- Nature, biodiversity and regeneration, level 3/4.
The property includes a private forest reserve with rivers and five waterfalls. It runs a Plant-a-Tree reforestation programme for guests, staff and school children, and keeps labelled botanical gardens of native Costa Rican plants (official site, current).
Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source - Waste and plastic, level 3/4.
Food and garden waste is composted on site. Staff sort paper, glass, aluminium and cardboard for recycling, and refillable bottles and low-packaging products are preferred.
Source · 2026-10-29
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 3/4 · Several evidenced systems, such as protected habitat on site, native restoration and a wildlife programme, with no synthetic pesticides on the land | 22.5 / 30 points | The property includes a private forest reserve with rivers and five waterfalls. It runs a Plant-a-Tree reforestation programme for guests, staff and school children, and keeps labelled botanical gardens of native Costa Rican plants (official site, current). Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | Energy conservation is listed as a practice, with no specific system named. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| 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 | Rainwater harvesting is listed among its practices, and the pools use salt chlorination instead of chlorine. No volumes are published. 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 | Food and garden waste is composted on site. Staff sort paper, glass, aluminium and cardboard for recycling, and refillable bottles and low-packaging products are preferred. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 2/4 · A named own garden or named local farms supply part of the menu | 7.5 / 15 points | The resort says its farm-to-table menu uses produce from its own plantations grown by natural methods. No named local suppliers or plant-based policy are published, so this is one system. Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source · Corroborating source |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 2/4 · One specific practice, such as a historic building reused, local natural materials, or passive cooling design | 7.5 / 15 points | Villas use locally made furniture and Costa Rican crafts, and the round Prima villa has a traditional palm roof. Source · 2026-10-29 · Corroborating source |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 2/4 · Specific practices, systems and named suppliers published | 2.5 / 5 points | The initiatives page lists specific practices such as composting, recycling and salt chlorinated pools, and cites a CST Elite certificate that was not checked in the ICT directory. “Organic compost is created from food and garden waste and used on site.” 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
1.8/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 20%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| 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 overview page says the restaurant uses produce from its own plantations grown with natural methods, with no plant based menu stated. “featuring produce sourced from our own plantations using all-natural methods.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | The overview page says fruits and vegetables are grown organically on site, which is a claim without a spraying policy. “fruits and vegetables grown organically on-site” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as eco friendly products | 3.75 / 15 points | The initiatives page says biodegradable and non toxic cleaning products are used throughout, with no products named. “Biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout hotel” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| 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 |
| Air and quiet | 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 |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 2/4 · Optimised chlorine dosing, saltwater chlorination or supplementary ozone or UV treatment | 2.5 / 5 points | The initiatives page says pool water is purified with salt based natural chlorination instead of conventional chlorine. “The pool water is purified with a system of natural chlorination using salt.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
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
2.3/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 32.5%
| 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 resort names its founders but gives no detail of present ownership, and it belongs to the wider Xandari Resorts group with head office in Kochi. “Much of the art on the walls comes from one of the founders of Xandari, a prolific artist in several media” 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 initiatives page says local employment from Tacacori is favoured and most other staff come from surrounding villages or Alajuela. “Most other employees are also relatively local, from surrounding villages or Alajuela.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 2/4 · A named community programme, such as a school, fund or training | 10 / 20 points | The initiatives page names regular donations to local associations and school support in Tacacori. “Regular donations are made to the Asociación Pro Ayuda al Niño y Adolescente en la Salud” 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 |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The overview page says Costa Rican crafts and products are used throughout the hotel, without naming makers. “Costa Rican crafts and products are used and featured in all aspects of our hotel” 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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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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