Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort

My husband and I just returned from a fabulous honeymoon here. The location cannot be beat- it is SO perfect and beautiful. Our room was very clean and spacious- we booked an Ocean Breeze Suite and had two bathrooms with rainfall showers, a large bedroom, a big balcony with an ocean view, and a little sitting area. There are lots of things to see on the property- iguanas, sloths, Halloween crabs, monkeys, birds… it’s definitely worth doing the night walk on the property! We had excellent tours to the Rainmaker, Manuel Antonio, and the Barú Wildlife refuge (shout out to Maria Teresa and Julien!) As a celiac, I felt very safe eating here- almost the whole menu is GF and the staff are very knowledgable. Service was very good (shoutout to Karen and Carolina!) My top recommendations for food are: 1. Breakfast: Chilaquiles 2. Lunch: Casado 3. Dinner: vegetable casserole (more like a curry) While our stay was excellent, there were a few moments that made it feel a bit less than five stars; the resort charges for pretty much everything, and the prices (excluding the spa) for food and drink are steep. A coke is 3.50. Lunch entrees are about $40. The free breakfast is AMAZING, but the lunch and dinner felt, at times, overpriced and inconsistent. There is a high food tax, a 10% service fee, and tips are encouraged. The food was good, but not over $2,000-for-eight-days good. Especially at breakfast, wait times can be very long. If you stay at the resort, you can’t just charge things to the room- (you have to wait for a check so you can tip), and waiting for the check could take 20-30 minutes. On another note— it is a $25 fee to order room service. They also ask you to make a reservation at the restaurant each night, which kind of ruins the ability to be spontaneous. There were also long wait times for golf carts, and if you’re at the bottom of the resort like we were, it’s a VERY steep (and often) wet walk to get to the top. We waited over 10 minutes for golf carts three times, and only got a pickup after messaging the front desk. If you plan to go to the beach in the morning, be prepared to wait for towels. One morning, we had to wait over an hour for towels, even though the beach was open and there was a lifeguard. Many of the public bathrooms lacked hand-towels, as well. All of this is to say that Arenas Del Mar is amazing, but not perfect. If you are not uber- wealthy, it might be better to do an all-inclusive. But, if you have the cash to spare, it’s an incredible spot!

Here is the updated review incorporating that exact location detail: --- ### ⭐️☆☆☆☆ **Terrifying Experience — Beware the Wildlife & Pass On This Resort!** We booked Arenas del Mar expecting a relaxing, luxurious tropical getaway in Manuel Antonio. Instead, our vacation turned into a total nightmare starring a **Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana** and Elizabeth. While the resort markets itself on being "immersed in nature," they fail to mention that the local wildlife acts like aggressive predators—and in our case, launched an outright assault. Elizabeth was simply relaxing and eating lunch at the poolside chaise lounge chairs where food service is provided, when a massive, prehistoric-looking Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana violently attacked her right at her chair, ripping her fingers apart. It was horrifying, bloody, and completely ruined our entire stay. To make matters worse, the resort displayed a completely nonchalant attitude toward such a traumatic and serious injury. While we understand Arenas del Mar is situated in the rainforest, guests should at least be able to eat in designated guest areas without suffering severe bodily harm from territorial, aggressive reptiles. There needs to be strict wildlife deterrence around dining and pool spaces, clear warnings, and actual safety protocols in place. I would strongly recommend passing on this resort. If you value your safety and want to relax or eat a meal without fear of a prehistoric creature attacking you and causing real harm, look elsewhere. Elizabeth is physically hurt and traumatized!

Absolutely stunning location. Breathtaking views and unbelievable natural surroundings. The hotel is simple yet feels luxurious because it blends in with the surroundings so well. The food was unbelievable- best vegan food I ever tasted! Breakfast was unreal. (There was even plenty on the BBQ evening for me.) Beaches unbelievable- Ocean amazing. The forest and ocean and cliffs together are so dramatic. Loads of monkeys and lizards and birds and crabs & a sloth seen at the hotel. So beautiful. The staff were really friendly with excellent service. I had a fantastic massage looking over the forest and ocean. We tried surfing from the hotel and it was excellent. The instructors were great. Room had everything we needed but could be more luxurious as it was very small. Could hear the family next door. Trip was very expensive but it was absolutely worth it. This place is fantastic.

Our stay at Arenas Del Mar gave us some truly unforgettable memories, thanks in large part to the incredible people who made our experience so special. The setting of Arenas Del Mar is beautiful. Being nestled between the lush tropical forest and the Pacific Ocean, with the sounds of nature all around you and the opportunity to see Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife right outside your door, is something truly unique. It is a special place where you can enjoy the beauty of the beach while still feeling connected to the incredible wildlife Costa Rica is known for. Rafael was one of the absolute highlights of our stay. We booked the Nauyaca Waterfalls excursion through the hotel, and he was phenomenal. He was knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about sharing Costa Rica with us. He made the entire day memorable, from the journey there to the breathtaking waterfall itself. He even brought snacks for us to enjoy while we relaxed at the waterfall, which was such a thoughtful touch after our hike. We ended the day with an incredible lunch that was the perfect way to finish such a special adventure. Nauyaca Waterfalls was one of the most beautiful and memorable places we visited during our entire trip. Rafael didn’t just take us to a destination—he helped create a memory we will cherish forever. We are so grateful we had him as our guide. Lexi, who drove us around the property in the golf cart, was another wonderful part of our experience. He was so kind and always willing to stop and show us the incredible wildlife around the resort. Because of him, we were able to see sloths and monkeys in their natural environment. One moment we will never forget was being surrounded by what must have been 10–12 monkeys. We were able to sit there and simply watch them move through the trees, completely in their own world. It was such a magical experience and exactly the type of moment we dreamed of when we planned our Costa Rica anniversary trip. Our experience with the hotel itself was a little more mixed. When staying in such a natural setting, you do have to embrace that wildlife is all around you. Geckos and little crabs can make their way into your space, including the shower, which was definitely an adjustment for me the first night. For some travelers, this may be part of the charm of staying so close to nature; for me, it took some getting used to. Unfortunately, our first impression was not ideal. After a long 6-hour travel day, we were really looking forward to relaxing in our hot tub, only to find that it was not working our first night. The staff did offer to come fix it right away, which we appreciated, but we had already settled into bed after such a long day. Thankfully, it was repaired the following day and we were able to enjoy it afterward. We also found a used Band-Aid left in our shower when we arrived, which was disappointing, especially for a resort at this price point. We also found the food and drinks to be quite expensive compared to other places we stayed during our Costa Rica trip. Overall, we are grateful we experienced Arenas Del Mar. While the hotel itself had some areas that did not fully meet our expectations, the beauty of the location, the incredible wildlife encounters, our unforgettable day at Nauyaca Waterfalls, and especially the kindness of people like Rafael and Lexi made our stay memorable. Costa Rica was the perfect place to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and the memories we made at Arenas Del Mar will always be a special part of our journey. Pura Vida!

We had an amazing stay at Arenas del Mar. Everything was excellent—the rooms, the food, the beautiful location, and the atmosphere. Staying in the middle of the rainforest while being right next to the ocean is a truly unique experience. What really makes this hotel special is the people. Every staff member was friendly, caring, and always happy to help. A special thank you to Rogelio, our bellboy, who did so much more than his role required. He not only drove us around the property but also acted as our guide. He was always proactive, checked if we needed anything, anticipated our needs, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our stay. We would also like to thank Krishne from Customer Service. He truly showed us what luxury hospitality looks like. His outstanding customer orientation, professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care made all the difference. He was always proactive and did everything possible to ensure we had the best possible experience. Thank you to the entire team for making this trip so memorable. We can’t wait to come back!