As one of the oldest hotels in Manuel Antonio, the three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel La Mariposa balances Old World charm, authentic Costa Rican design, and modern amenities. Panoramic views from the hilltop alfresco restaurant and two outdoor infinity pools are among the area’s best. All 62 rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and balconies (some with ocean views), but not all rooms have been renovated as of 2017. Upgraded rooms add kitchenettes. Freebies include breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a shuttle to Playa Espadilla. Although it’s pricier, Si Como No Resort, Spa and Wildlife Refuge offers similar amenities, plus a spa and a nature preserve rich with wildlife.
As one of the oldest hotels in Manuel Antonio, the three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel La Mariposa balances Old World charm, authentic Costa Rican design, and modern amenities. Panoramic views from the hilltop alfresco restaurant and two outdoor infinity pools are among the area’s best. All 62 rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and balconies (some with ocean views), but not all rooms have been renovated as of 2017. Upgraded rooms add kitchenettes. Freebies include breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a shuttle to Playa Espadilla. Although it’s pricier, Si Como No Resort, Spa and Wildlife Refuge offers similar amenities, plus a spa and a nature preserve rich with wildlife.
Among area resorts, the three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Si Como No is one of the most accessible in both atmosphere and price. It's not on the beach, but the hillside location grants beautiful water views. The long list of features, including a full-service spa, two restaurants, a movie theater, and two pools with swim-up bars, ensures guests don't have to leave the property. The 58 rooms feel rustic, bordering on dated. All intentionally omit a TV, but otherwise offer modern amenities like minibars (fee), wet bars, and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms add private hot tubs and water-view balconies. Aside from spotty in-room Wi-Fi and slightly dated decor, it’s hard to imagine guests finding much to complain about. Hotel La Mariposa offers similar amenities plus panoramic hilltop views for less money.
Among area resorts, the three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Si Como No is one of the most accessible in both atmosphere and price. It's not on the beach, but the hillside location grants beautiful water views. The long list of features, including a full-service spa, two restaurants, a movie theater, and two pools with swim-up bars, ensures guests don't have to leave the property. The 58 rooms feel rustic, bordering on dated. All intentionally omit a TV, but otherwise offer modern amenities like minibars (fee), wet bars, and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms add private hot tubs and water-view balconies. Aside from spotty in-room Wi-Fi and slightly dated decor, it’s hard to imagine guests finding much to complain about. Hotel La Mariposa offers similar amenities plus panoramic hilltop views for less money.
In a town with an abundance of budget-friendly accommodations, there is no need to seek out a place like Coco Azul. Although the tiny eight-room “hotel” is within walking distance of the beach, the immediate area has a hidden, sketchy sort of feel. And while the owner is wonderfully hospitable, the dusty, moldy, rooms reeking of cigarettes aren’t worth the warm welcome. Plus, if you saw the mangled cars in the parking lot, you probably wouldn’t want to leave yours there for free overnight. Instead, use the hotel’s free Wi-Fi to book yourself a room at any other hotel nearby. You might have to cough up an extra 30 bucks a night for Coco Beach Hotel and Casino, but trust us, it’s well worth the upgrade.
In a town with an abundance of budget-friendly accommodations, there is no need to seek out a place like Coco Azul. Although the tiny eight-room “hotel” is within walking distance of the beach, the immediate area has a hidden, sketchy sort of feel. And while the owner is wonderfully hospitable, the dusty, moldy, rooms reeking of cigarettes aren’t worth the warm welcome. Plus, if you saw the mangled cars in the parking lot, you probably wouldn’t want to leave yours there for free overnight. Instead, use the hotel’s free Wi-Fi to book yourself a room at any other hotel nearby. You might have to cough up an extra 30 bucks a night for Coco Beach Hotel and Casino, but trust us, it’s well worth the upgrade.
The budget Hotel Las Tres Banderas feels every bit the 20-year-old hotel that it is with basic amenities and a rough around the edges vibe. Aside from the well-reviewed traditional Polish restaurant, free continental breakfast, outdoor pool, and pet-friendly nature (rare in Manuel Antonio), there’s little to set it apart from the area’s many budget and mid-range alternatives. Most of the 17 rooms feel basic, but do come with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and mini-fridges. Suites upgrade to larger layouts with living rooms and kitchenettes/kitchens. It's about a nine-minute drive to Manuel Antonio National Park. Hotel La Colina offers comparable nightly rates, plus optional ocean views and beautiful grounds.
The budget Hotel Las Tres Banderas feels every bit the 20-year-old hotel that it is with basic amenities and a rough around the edges vibe. Aside from the well-reviewed traditional Polish restaurant, free continental breakfast, outdoor pool, and pet-friendly nature (rare in Manuel Antonio), there’s little to set it apart from the area’s many budget and mid-range alternatives. Most of the 17 rooms feel basic, but do come with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and mini-fridges. Suites upgrade to larger layouts with living rooms and kitchenettes/kitchens. It's about a nine-minute drive to Manuel Antonio National Park. Hotel La Colina offers comparable nightly rates, plus optional ocean views and beautiful grounds.
Don't be fooled by the name -- Nammbu isn’t beachfront and doesn’t have any bungalows. Instead what you'll find is a simple three-pearl property masquerading as an upscale resort. Its rooms, while spacious and somewhat modern, are bare bones with little storage. Nammbu’s mosaic tile infinity pool is its nicest feature, however, reaching the beach requires descending a massive staircase and crossing a busy road. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, but the connection is slow and spotty. Overall, the property is quiet, and there isn’t much to do at the hotel or in the immediate area. Travelers looking for a property with a bit more character might prefer Lodge Las Ranas, which is a five-minute drive from the lively town of Samara.
Don't be fooled by the name -- Nammbu isn’t beachfront and doesn’t have any bungalows. Instead what you'll find is a simple three-pearl property masquerading as an upscale resort. Its rooms, while spacious and somewhat modern, are bare bones with little storage. Nammbu’s mosaic tile infinity pool is its nicest feature, however, reaching the beach requires descending a massive staircase and crossing a busy road. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, but the connection is slow and spotty. Overall, the property is quiet, and there isn’t much to do at the hotel or in the immediate area. Travelers looking for a property with a bit more character might prefer Lodge Las Ranas, which is a five-minute drive from the lively town of Samara.
The 98-room, upper-middle-range Los Lagos is the Disneyland of Arenal, with a water park, small zoo, and hotel all rolled up into a 1,050-acre property. It appeals to families with young children, but may turn off international travelers looking for that “authentic” Costa Rican experience. Rooms are functional but rather bland and cramped -- you can tell that they're mainly meant as recharging stations for families who want to spend most of their time in the pools, zip-lines, or trying to make the alligator blink. The hotel is a 10-minute ride from La Fortuna, but couples with bigger budgets wanting a fancier water-based experience may want to venture a little farther out to the posher, less frenetic Nayara Hotel or Tabacon Hot Springs.
The 98-room, upper-middle-range Los Lagos is the Disneyland of Arenal, with a water park, small zoo, and hotel all rolled up into a 1,050-acre property. It appeals to families with young children, but may turn off international travelers looking for that “authentic” Costa Rican experience. Rooms are functional but rather bland and cramped -- you can tell that they're mainly meant as recharging stations for families who want to spend most of their time in the pools, zip-lines, or trying to make the alligator blink. The hotel is a 10-minute ride from La Fortuna, but couples with bigger budgets wanting a fancier water-based experience may want to venture a little farther out to the posher, less frenetic Nayara Hotel or Tabacon Hot Springs.
This 36-room gated property on a side road a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna is an adequate mid-range option featuring a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and its own private rainforest trail. Clean, adobe-style rooms have air-conditioning and TVs (not a given for the area) in two-story buildings that are screened off from everything else by towering vegetation (and for the first floor, that includes views of the volcano; only second-floor rooms have guaranteed volcano views). There are few options immediately nearby, and hotel neighbors (like Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul) tend to be more modest. Activities on the property are a bit limited and many guests feel the restaurant is overpriced; those who want more features might consider the similarly priced Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has on-site hot springs and a working farm.
This 36-room gated property on a side road a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna is an adequate mid-range option featuring a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and its own private rainforest trail. Clean, adobe-style rooms have air-conditioning and TVs (not a given for the area) in two-story buildings that are screened off from everything else by towering vegetation (and for the first floor, that includes views of the volcano; only second-floor rooms have guaranteed volcano views). There are few options immediately nearby, and hotel neighbors (like Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul) tend to be more modest. Activities on the property are a bit limited and many guests feel the restaurant is overpriced; those who want more features might consider the similarly priced Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has on-site hot springs and a working farm.
Hotel and Villas Nacazcol is a down-to-earth, three-pearl hotel located a 10-minute drive from Playa del Coco. The property's 185 guest rooms, suites, and villas are dated but adequately equipped, offering coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Its grounds feel more like a small neighborhood than a typical hotel property, featuring two sizable pools, a handful of aging sports facilities, and two low-key, poolside restaurants. Free a la carte breakfast is included in the room rate, and guests also have access to a beach club near Playa Panama with two additional pools. Travelers who would prefer to stay right on the beach might consider Bahia Pez Vela Resort, an all-villa property on nearby Playa Ocotal.
Hotel and Villas Nacazcol is a down-to-earth, three-pearl hotel located a 10-minute drive from Playa del Coco. The property's 185 guest rooms, suites, and villas are dated but adequately equipped, offering coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Its grounds feel more like a small neighborhood than a typical hotel property, featuring two sizable pools, a handful of aging sports facilities, and two low-key, poolside restaurants. Free a la carte breakfast is included in the room rate, and guests also have access to a beach club near Playa Panama with two additional pools. Travelers who would prefer to stay right on the beach might consider Bahia Pez Vela Resort, an all-villa property on nearby Playa Ocotal.
La Mansion Inn is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel that's a hit with honeymooners and offers decor and features not usually found in Manuel Antonio. The owner was a friend of famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau and the underwater theme is evident in the lobby aquariums. Rooms are spacious and pleasant, with ample natural light and flat-screen TVs. The dimly lit and ambient Bat Cave bar is built into a natural cave. Outside, the Terrace Restaurant and pool offers panoramic, uninterrupted views of both Manuel Antonio Beach and the harbor. Kids under the age of 12 are discouraged from staying. Families should check out Hotel San Bada, which has a waterslide and faster access to Manuel Antonio National Park.
La Mansion Inn is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel that's a hit with honeymooners and offers decor and features not usually found in Manuel Antonio. The owner was a friend of famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau and the underwater theme is evident in the lobby aquariums. Rooms are spacious and pleasant, with ample natural light and flat-screen TVs. The dimly lit and ambient Bat Cave bar is built into a natural cave. Outside, the Terrace Restaurant and pool offers panoramic, uninterrupted views of both Manuel Antonio Beach and the harbor. Kids under the age of 12 are discouraged from staying. Families should check out Hotel San Bada, which has a waterslide and faster access to Manuel Antonio National Park.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is a four-and-a-half pearl hotel located on Playa Mansita beach. The resort’s 310 guest rooms are subtly luxurious, offering marble bathrooms and roomy private balconies or terraces. Excellent on-site amenities include a sprawling infinity pool, an array of first-rate dining options, a swanky spa and fitness center, along with access to pretty (if tiny) Playa Mansita. The property earns top marks in all areas, but everything, from the restaurants to the minibars, is expensive. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the equally fabulous Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is a four-and-a-half pearl hotel located on Playa Mansita beach. The resort’s 310 guest rooms are subtly luxurious, offering marble bathrooms and roomy private balconies or terraces. Excellent on-site amenities include a sprawling infinity pool, an array of first-rate dining options, a swanky spa and fitness center, along with access to pretty (if tiny) Playa Mansita. The property earns top marks in all areas, but everything, from the restaurants to the minibars, is expensive. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the equally fabulous Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.