El Mangroove, Autograph Collection

A Rare Surprise: EL Mangroove Exceeded Every Expectation I'll admit it—I arrived at EL Mangroove with fairly low expectations. After reading some mixed reviews and knowing the property was priced lower than some of the other luxury resorts in the area, I expected a nice stay, but not necessarily a memorable one. As someone fortunate enough to have stayed at Four Seasons properties and other world-class luxury hotels around the globe, I can honestly say EL Mangroove completely exceeded my expectations and delivered one of the most enjoyable family vacations we've ever had. The first thing that struck me was the setting. The grounds are absolutely impeccable—lush, beautifully maintained, and thoughtfully designed. The layout of the property deserves special recognition. Unlike many larger resorts, everything is easy to navigate, with dedicated spaces that work wonderfully for both families and adults. You never feel crowded, and yet everything you need is only a short walk away. Our room was fantastic—spacious, beautifully designed, and exceptionally functional. There was ample storage for a family, high-end finishes throughout, and a modern aesthetic that felt both sophisticated and relaxed. The design of the entire property strikes a perfect balance between sleek luxury and artistic Costa Rican character. One of the things we came to appreciate most was the intimate size of the resort. Being steps from the beach, pools, restaurants, and activities meant we spent less time navigating the property and more time actually enjoying it. What truly sets EL Mangroove apart, however, is the people. Every interaction felt warm and genuine. Nicole at the front desk deserves special recognition. She greeted us every day with a huge smile and such authentic warmth that she instantly made us feel at home. The pool team—Roberto, Scot, Samuel, and Jorge—were extraordinary. My son celebrated his birthday during our stay, and these gentlemen made him feel special all week long. Samuel, in particular, went far beyond what anyone would expect. After learning that my son loves soccer, he surprised him with a local soccer jersey. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture that absolutely made our trip and created a memory our family will never forget. That jersey will be a treasured keepsake for years to come. We also arrived after a difficult overnight flight, exhausted from a red-eye. Rather than simply telling us our room wasn't ready, the team showed genuine empathy. They set us up in a comfortable cabana where we could relax, recharge, and enjoy the morning while waiting. Our room was ready within just a few hours, and that small act of hospitality made a huge difference after a long travel day. The food was another pleasant surprise. Every meal was consistently excellent, and as a parent, I especially appreciated that the kids' menu wasn't an afterthought. Our children loved it, which made dining easy and enjoyable for the entire family. The location is also ideal for exploring the region. Whether you're interested in rainforest adventures, the unique dry forest landscapes, beaches, wildlife, or local excursions, everything is conveniently accessible. We found it to be an excellent home base for experiencing Costa Rica. Housekeeping was consistently excellent, our room was always spotless, and my kids looked forward to the nightly turndown treats each evening. At the end of the trip, what stood out most was that EL Mangroove accomplished something few hotels manage: it delivered luxury without pretension. It combines beautiful design, an incredible setting, outstanding food, and thoughtful amenities—but it's the genuine hospitality of the staff that elevates the experience from great to unforgettable. I arrived expecting a good hotel. I left wondering why more luxury resorts don't operate this well. We would return without hesitation. 5/5 stars.

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Would Not Recommend We had an absolutely horrible experience at this hotel, especially considering this was our honeymoon. We made multiple attempts to have our issues resolved during our stay, but unfortunately, nothing was done to make the situation right. Our room had a strong sewer gas smell and the air conditioning was not working properly. On our honeymoon night, we were forced to pack up and move all of our belongings to another room, which was incredibly stressful and completely unacceptable. We spent over $50,000 on our wedding and chose this hotel expecting a special and memorable experience for our wedding and honeymoon. Instead, we were given a regular room after having to leave the villa we had booked and were never able to use. Despite the inconvenience and the fact that we paid for accommodations we couldn’t use, the hotel couldn’t even offer to comp the villa charge. What makes this even more disappointing is that we were not the only wedding guests experiencing problems. Several of our other wedding guests also reported strong sewer gas smells and air conditioning issues. After spending so much money and trusting this hotel to help make such an important occasion special, we were incredibly disappointed. The lack of urgency in addressing our concerns and the failure to provide any meaningful compensation made an already terrible experience even worse. Overall, this was a horrible hotel experience, and unfortunately, it overshadowed what should have been a beautiful and memorable honeymoon. We expected much more from this property and would not recommend it based on our experience.

Definitely not the Marriott Autograph Collection experience you’d expect. It’s pretty surprising Martiott has allowed this hotel to continue to use the Autograph name given the rundown, & deteriorated condition. It’s also surprising that owners would have spent money on what is really a very stunning addition of family pools & new restaurants & left the original structures in such poor shape. The rooms are in dire need of a complete renovation. Furniture, woodwork & surfaces are stained, scratched, or pieces broken off. AC units barely work(&extremely noisy), sliding doors barely slide & make a terrible noise when opening or closing. Shower heads only partially work. Al in all rooms are not a nice place to spend time in. The resort condition as with the rooms is in about the same condition. The new edition being the exception. It appears there is no desire on managements part to maintain anything. Just about everything here is in some form of decay & in need of long overdue repair or replacement. We did really enjoy our massages but like the rest the of the place the spa itself was a maintenance disaster. They have what looks like a nice outdoor spa pool, outdoor shower & sun loungers but it’s closed & has been for some time according to the staff. Speaking of spa facilities, they add a 10% service charge to all spa treatments (as well as to be expected sales tax) When asked if this was for the masseuse we were told no, this charge was for the spa facilities. I’ve been to plenty of resort spas with far nicer facilities & have never paid a facilities fee for a massage As for restaurants here-extremely expensive for the quality & very uninspired menu choices. We had one dinner on property & chose to eat off property for the rest of the time at far nicer & more reasonably priced places. (big shout out to Ginger 10 minutes away) Being Marriott Gold Level Member I’ve been fortunate enough to stay at quite a few different Marriott properties. Sad to say this has to be one of the most disappointing stays. Marriott, someone really needs to get on the ball here at El Mangroove, it’s a hot mess

We just stayed in one of the villas and it was amazing. The resort was beautiful and the staff were awesome. I would highly recommend and we would definitely stay here again

My wife and I had an amazing stay at El Mangroove. The staff made us feel welcome with their kindness and great hospitality. The location is beautiful, right in the Gulf of Papagayo, surrounded by nature and offering the perfect balance of relaxation and luxury. The entire staff was friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, making our stay truly enjoyable. Costa Rican breakfast was delicious, especially the gallo pinto with eggs and fresh cheese—something we really enjoyed during our stay. A special thank you to Nomad Tours Costa Rica for all the great recommendations during our transportation from La Fortuna to Peninsula Papagayo. We also had an incredible experience at Buena Vista Adventure, where we enjoyed ziplining, hanging bridges, and relaxing in the hot springs. Everything was perfectly organized. Thanks to Ronald and Julio for making this experience so special!