Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort

Really enjoyable introduction to Costa Rica. We had a double ocean view premium suite with a huge terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the beach and frolicking wildlife. It was probably the best room of our trip. We thought breakfast was excellent with a wide choice of a la carte dishes local and international. The restaurant was also very good and we particularly enjoyed the BBQs. Drinks choice was good with interesting cocktails but the wine was expensive for Costa Rica. Its closeness to the national park meant easy trips to both day time and night walks. The park is crowded but our guide tried hard to keep us away from the crowded paths. We saw many birds and animals both at the resort and the national park. Highlights were the 'civet cat', squirrel monkeys and sloths at the entrance to the resort, the pelicans by the beach and at the park the fer de lance snake, the bird life and the various frogs. A really enjoyable stay and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Wow! I am not even sure what the say about this amazing resort. My husband and I travel around the world and have rarely experienced an equal or better resort! The views are fantastic, the service was unbeatable, food and drinks were delicious and the location is stunning! Some of the staff that made our trip wonderful are Minor, Jorge, Christian, Gabriella, Isai, Rafael (guide and fabulous), Jose, Rogelio and Will. Don’t think twice about staying here and plan a day or two to just enjoy the resort! Thank you Arenas Del Mar for the beautiful stay. We will be back. Xo Heidi and Miguel

Arenas del Mar is beautifully located on a very steep hillside. The access road can be somewhat hair-raising at night, especially in the rain. Be prepared! The rooms are spacious, very clean, and well appointed, with wonderful ocean views. Thanks to an excellent golf cart service, it’s easy to get around the resort quickly. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere at the Mirador Oceanview Res-taurant is somewhat plain, especially at night when the surrounding views disappear. Quite different is the Playitas Beachfront Restaurant, where they manage to serve a perfect barbecue — even in pouring rain. Outstanding! Whether a visit to nearby Manuel Antonio National Park is truly worthwhile is debata-ble. There are many tourists, which detracts from the jungle experience. It’s also a matter of luck which guide you get. But without a guide and experience, it’s difficult to spot wildlife. We can imagine that elsewhere in Costa Rica there are areas to explore that are less commercialized.

In 2024 our teen daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Our daughter's wish was to go to Costa Rica and experience the wildlife, culture and beach fun. She dreamed of staying at Arenas Del Mar but, didn't actually expect that would be possible. Somehow, Make-A-Wish and Arenas Del Mar worked together and made our daughters wish come true! We spent 5 nights at Arenas Del Mar in an incredible 2 bedroom 3 bathroom suite with ocean views. We were entertained everyday by the white face capuchin monkeys and even saw squirrel monkeys one morning! We saw sloths, Scarlett macaws, lizards, birds ... But, the monkeys were the stars. The staff were incredible - friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. The resort itself was immaculate. We always felt safe and secure. It was a once in a lifetime vacation for our entire family. Our wish kid will never forget the amazing experience. Thank you Arenas Del Mar!

We had an amazing time at Arenas Del Mar! Every single employee we came in contact with greeted us with a smile, always eager to help. The resort is gorgeous!! The location is amazing, although about a three hour drive from the airport in San Jose. It's nestled in the rain forest, but a beautiful private beach is steps away. There is also access to the larger public beach. The food was great, especially the breakfast! Our room was perfect, beautiful, and spacious. I mentioned to my husband that every area on the property was very clean and well kept. I would definitely recommend staying at Arenas Del Mar if you're looking for a quiet, smaller resort. Nothing but positive things to say! I hope we can make it back someday!!