Recently listed third on TripAdvisor’s Top Ten Beach & Sun Destinations in Central and South America, and within a relatively small corner of Costa Rica, tourists can find the excitement and adventure of a vacation in the tropical forest, surrounded by one of the country’s most beautiful natural environments, without sacrificing life’s modern conveniences. There’s a magic to Manuel Antonio that is hard to explain. One thing, however, is absolutely certain: once you’ve been here you’ll want to come back again.
Quepos is a sleepy town, built in the thirties as a banana port. The town features colonial architecture and great fish restaurants along a quiet seaside plaza. Quepos Costa Rica is most famous for its fabulous fishing, white sandy beaches, and beautiful mountain outcroppings jutting into the crystal clear waters of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Manuel Antonio, with its 1700 acres of land mass and 135,906 acres of marine reserve, is the smallest of the 20 national parks Costa Rica has put aside for total protection. Even so, it is the country’s second most visited conservation area, after the Poas Volcano. The Park is a little gem of greenery with emerald coves and a tree lined shoulder reaching an island of serenity. It is home to White Face and Spider Monkeys, Sloths, Toucans and Iguanas.
Location: Central Pacific Coast
Distance from the Airport:
3 hours from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Weather:
It is a tropical area, where you can expect rain from May to December. During dry season, rain can appear.
Pros:
One of the most beautiful locations in the country, with a great variety of accommodations, restaurants and amenities.
Cons:
Mostly, the hotels are not beachfront. It is a tourist area, which implies some expensive services and crowded during high season.
An extraordinary beachfront resort situated in the beaches of Manuel Antonio.
This incomparable Costa Rican hotel was designed and built with an ambitious combination of deluxe accommodations coupled with the highest level of certified sustainability.
Arenas Del Mar is a beach and nature resort located adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. "Unique and spectacular beach and nature experiences combined with highest levels of comfort and sustainability in a local Costa Rican setting" define the concept of Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort.
This Manuel Antonio resort caters to tourists that are looking for more than just another high end resort experience. Arenas Del Mar Hotel offers a luxurious lodging experience in harmony with Costa Rica's nature in a spectacular beach and rainforest setting. Guest rooms, apartments and suites offer spectacular ocean views, upscale dining in two hotel restaurants with a focus on fresh local products and personalized service that exceeds expectations.
Arenas Del Mar is the perfect base from which to explore the area around Manuel Antonio and Quepos on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Tours and activities offered in the area include whitewater rafting, mangrove kayak and boat tours, guided rainforest hikes, ocean kayaking, catch and release sport fishing, Canopy Tours and horseback riding excursions.
Sustainability is a key component of the concept at all levels of the operation and the Certification for Sustainable Tourism-a program designed by the Costa Rican Tourism ministry-served as a guide for the building and continues to drive the operation of the hotel. Arenas Del Mar minimizes the impact on the surrounding nature, while maximizing the positive economic impact on the local community through employment and support for schools and Costa Rican culture.
Other hotel facilities include a luxurious spa located below the main restaurant with breathtaking views of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean, a gift shop featuring local art and souvenirs and a state of the art business center near the hotel lobby.
Rooms, Suites & Apartments
Arenas Del Mar Beach & Nature Resort has 38 guest rooms set in seven three story buildings that are located overlooking the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Pacific Ocean, private beaches and surrounding rainforests.
All rooms are equipped with: king size beds, spacious bathrooms, superior closet space, ceiling fans, air conditioning, flat screen cable televisions, wired internet access, telephones with direct access to international calls, fully equipped mini-bar, coffee makers, safe deposit boxes, luggage racks, irons and ironing boards and large private decks with breathtaking views.
The rooms were designed to offer maximum comfort while taking into consideration the surrounding environment. The buildings housing the guest rooms were altered to fit around existing trees, water is heated with solar panels and grey water is reused for irrigation.
The Ocean Breeze Apartments are one of the most luxurious and unique lodging options in Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast, offering more than 1650 square feet (150 square meters) of living space with spectacular ocean, rainforest and beach views.
All apartments offer two air-conditioned bedrooms with one king size bed in each room, very spacious decks, as well as a large living area with ceiling fans, a full size pull-out sofa, mini bar and three full bathrooms. These apartments can host up to 5 people comfortably.
The private hot tub on the deck of the apartment is the perfect spot to relax and observe spectacular Pacific sunsets.
The Ocean Breeze Suites have one air-conditioned bedroom with a king size bed, a very spacious deck as well as a large living area with ceiling fans, a full size pull-out sofa, mini bar and full bathroom. The private hot tub on the deck of the suite is the perfect spot to relax and observe spectacular Pacific sunsets and these can host up to 3 people maximum. Several Ocean Breeze Suites do not have the full size pull-out sofa bed and will host up to 2 people maximum.
The Ocean Breeze Superior Rooms are air conditioned bedrooms with one king size bed. They feature an ample deck space overlooking the ocean or rainforest and a spacious bathroom. The Superior Rooms can host up to 2 people maximum.
The Rainforest View Suites are spacious one bedroom suites with a king size bed and a comfortable living room area. All suites are fully air-conditioned and feature one spacious bathroom and a large Jacuzzi situated in an outdoor terrace. The Rainforest View Suites can host up to 3 people maximum.
Culinary Highlights
Arenas del Mar features two gourmet restaurants famous for their use of seasonal ingredients and local foods featuring Costa Rican Cuisine with an international flavor.
Category: 4 *
Located between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park, only 5 minutes from the beach and a 3-hour drive from San José.
The hotel offers: 40 Rooms each with 2 Double rooms or 1 King size bed, private bathroom with shower, air conditioning, ceiling fan, cable television and private balcony with beach or jungle view.
Other facilities: Swimming pool, natural trails, restaurant, bar, gift shop, art gallery, I Internet café and a 46 seat private laser movie theater equipped with a state of the art THX /DVD.
Category: 5*
Enthroned atop a majestic bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by 400 acres of lush tropical rainforest, Hotel Parador “Boutique Resort”, is located in the most remote and pristine area of Manuel Antonio, yet within minutes from the World Famous Manuel Antonio National Park, the small sport fishing town of Quepos, and the local airport. Exciting tours such as canopying, rafting and jungle cruises are all close by. Just 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel, hidden in a secluded bay you will find the most breathtaking white sand beach surrounded by tranquil turquoise waters and jungle.
The hotel offers: 90 Deluxe rooms each with 2 queen size beds or 1 king size bed, cable television, air conditioning, telephone, private bathroom with hot water, bathtub, hair dryer, bathrobes, mini-bar and balcony.
Other facilities: Swimming pool, jacuzzi, wet bar, bar, gift shop, restaurant, private parking and meeting rooms.