Arenas del Mar

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.

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