Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort

This hotel is an absolute GEM!! The staff is attentive and superb. The rooms are modern but charming and the views from everywhere on the property are breathtaking. The bed is one of the softest, most comfortable beds we had ever slept in--better than at many Four Seasons hotels. Do not miss this place at Manuel Antonio. Arenas Del Mar is off the beaten path but pure luxury in the heart of abundant rainforest surrounding.

My husband and I recently returned from a 9 day adventure through Costa Rica. We spent the first three nights at Arenas del mar. We took a chance booking at a new resort, and I have to admit that we were a little apprehensive after reading a few sub-par reviews posted shortly before we left. For those of you who feel the same way, I can assure you that you made the right choice! Arenas del mar is a magnificent hotel and will soon be the premier place to stay in Manuel Antonio. After a long ride from San Jose, we were greeted at... more

General Info about our trip: My wife and I just got back (stayed there 1/12-1/15 and couldn't wait to review this place for everyone). We really didn't know what to expect with this place, with the varying reviews, but couldn't find anything wrong anywhere we looked. We seriously felt at times that we were the only people there, and realized that people do not know how awesome this place is yet, and thought it was our obligation to spread the word. It is potentially the nicest resort in all of Manual Antonio area - we saw a few of the... more

This place is awesome!! I am actually writing this review from my two bedroom apartment suite on the last day of our stay here. The place is so nice I did not want to wait to give a review. I had booked our trip back in October and was concerned when there where still no reviews in the middle of December. Well as you can see, the place is now going well and the reviews are starting to flow in. I cannot say enough about this place. The staff is some of the friendliest we have ever had. The food is great and the location is the... more

We took a huge chance on this property because when we booked there were no reviews as of yet. First of all the property and rooms were beautiful. We booked a 2 bedroom suite, which was very pricey, but felt the room was worth it. It was very close to the beach and thru the trees, we could see the waves crashing in. The pool by the beach was open, along with the restaraunt and bar. They did not have breakfast but said there was coffee and breads/muffins at 6 am. There really wasn't a day it was on time. More like 6:30-7am. They do... more

A few weeks ago I had the chance to visit this exclusive new hotel (which I chose after staying at the owners other hotel near San Jose earlier this year). I was very nervous about spending our vacation at such a novice property but my worries quickly disappeared upon arrival at this incredible place. My wife and I have been to Costa Rica several times and have stayed at a number of high-end resorts and lodges (including a few previous trips to Manuel Antonio) - this is by far one of the best. It really is a whole new Manuel Antonio.... more

First the good. What a beautiful resort. Great views of the ocean, decent bathrooms, REALLY comfortable bed, nice staff (REALLY nice), two decent pools and a nice, clean beach with warm water. (The private beach in front of the hotel is the token gay nude beach in Manuel Antonio.) The bad... because the hotel has only been open for a month, the operations are still a bit clunky. (The welcome drink they gave us -- mint and pineapple smoothie-- was yummy, but mine had a rubber band in it.) The first room we were put in had a strange dirt... more

Just arrived back from our trip to Costa Rica and we are wondering if we stayed at the same hotel as the guests above. Overall the service was very spotty and there were a lot of issues that need to be addressed to get this property up to an elite status. During the majority of our stay the hotel was approximately 25 % occupied. There was no map of the property, no privacy signs for the room. The room itself was still dirty from construction. There was dust in the corners of the rooms, closet and bathroom. The tile had several stains... more

My wife and I just returned from a four-night stay at Arenas Del Mar in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Quite simply, it was one of the most fun and relaxing times we’ve had in our lives. And much of that was due to this hotel. We loved it! The room: We stayed in an Ocean View suite, which has a bedroom, separate living area, two bathrooms, and a large deck (with a Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean). The most important part of any hotel room for me is the bed (I’m tall, allergic to dust, and very picky when it comes to beds). The bed was... more

Words can hardly do justice to the experience we had at this wonderful beach resort. From the moment we arrived we were greeted with such warmth and hospitality, it was a welcome change from the norm of service nowadays. What’s nicest about the resort is its privacy; No cars are allowed on the property and the main buildings are only accessed by golf carts that whisk you around to the main entrance or beach. Our room was very private and we felt like the only ones in our building, situated a mere 200m from the beach. How peaceful it... more