Arenas del Mar
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
In the heart of Manuel Antonio, on a blissful beach, a luxurious and sustainable resort hotel - one of our absolute favourites
It’s as if, where the jungle meets the sea, you discover a
folly created by some eccentric explorer rising from midst of the
trees: tall columns and curving stairways entwined with lianas and
creepers, lights glowing mysteriously through glass bricks. The
reception area is a soaring wooden palanque lined with woven
palms, crimson walls, elegant armchairs and a circular bar. An
organic swimming pool forms a natural oasis; the airy
restaurant’s windows make paintings of the rainforest beyond.
Yet just five minutes away is Manuel Antonio Park, Costa
Rica’s most visited. Go with resident naturalist Eduardo and
you’ll gain fascinating insights into the wildlife, then
return to Arenas del Mar’s own beautiful stretch of secluded
beach: just the waves, birdsong and silence.
Elegant, sophisticated interiors are filled with original
paintings; the
food
is exquisite; a spa offers superb massages and organic treatments;
and there are ocean views from your bed or balcony jacuzzi. And yet
it’s all rigorously sustainable. A unique find.

Reviewed by Christabelle Dilks
Last updated
03 September 2010
Highs
- Fabulous setting: nowhere in Manuel Antonio has beach like this
- Gorgeous design: the suites are beautiful, the restaurant very elegant
- The best way to see local rainforest: Eduardo is an excellent guide, and gives superb morning bird watching tours in the hotel’s own reserve too
- Delicious food, inspired cocktails
- Local staff greet you like friends and treat you like a king
- This is one of Costa Rica’s most exemplary hotels for sustainability and minimal environmental impact
Lows
- No rooms with twin beds. Friends or children can use the sofa bed in the sitting room of the suites, but there’s no air conditioning here: just a fan
- No televisions in the rooms, though there are phones and WiFi. The owners want to create a truly peaceful atmosphere here
- It’s an uphill walk to the rooms from the beach, but an electric cart will be summoned at a moment’s notice
- No lift, though 3 rooms on the ground floor are adapted for disabled guests, and you can be whisked around in the golf trolley
Idyllic jungle-meets-beach location...
Conde Nast Traveler (US)Arenas del Mar: Read more press reviews































