It all started in 1992 with a trip to Costa Rica. Notary Waldemar Steiner and his wife Herta Steiner, a writer, visited the Latin American country for the first time. A friend invited them, and despite the simple conditions they found there, they immediately fell in love with this beautiful piece of land, framed by the Pacific and the Atlantic. It quickly became apparent to both of them that this would not be their last visit. On other trips, they explored the country, both now retired, in search of a challenge.

Inspired by motivational speakers, they finally made the decision together to step deeper. They decided against the usual and chose the unusual, blessed the challenge of starting all over again and becoming owners of a conference center in the sunny country of Costa Rica.

They found a suitable location in the south of the Central American country. In 2002 they built the Pura Vida restaurant and the swimming pool. In 2004 their family house followed before the hotel construction began a year later. In 2005 the time had come, and they inaugurated the hotel officially.

"The Hotel and Resort Cristal Ballena has become a beautiful hotel. Our guests feel good and we are pleased with it. Andreas and Angelika, our son and his wife, have lived with us for many years, and we run the hotel together," adds Herta Steiner, the founder, and widow of Waldemar Steiner, who passed away a year ago. The heritage is the shared legacy of a seemingly crazy idea and the couple's lifelong dream come true!

Cheers to the motto of both of them: You have to live a dream!