El Mangroove, Autograph Collection

We had really been looking forward to visiting this hotel and were especially excited to spend time at the beach. Overall, we had a good experience, but there are a few things families should be aware of before booking. If you’re traveling with small children and are looking for a traditional, kid-friendly beach area right at the hotel, this may not be the best fit. The beach area here is not quite what we expected, and there wasn’t much space for the kids to comfortably enjoy the water. We opted to stay in the Villa, which was beautiful and gave us plenty of space. One thing to be aware of, however, is that while the villa has four bedrooms, only the two rooms on the main level are connected. The other two bedrooms are separate and located on the floor above, so this may not be ideal for families with younger children who need to be close by. Because we stayed in a villa, we were assigned the last villa on the property. The only access to it was via a gravel path, so be sure to bring appropriate shoes if you’re staying in one of these villas. The hotel does offer golf cart transportation, which was helpful, but it became a bit of a nuisance having to call several times throughout the day just to get back and forth between the hotel and the villa. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the hotel’s restaurants, pool, or beach, this is definitely something to keep in mind when choosing your accommodations. Having a private pool was a nice bonus, but unfortunately, the pool was not heated. The kids were excited to jump in, but they got out just as quickly because the water was so cold! Pool service was also very, very slow. If you’re planning to order food or drinks, I would recommend ordering well before anyone is actually hungry. The concierge did arrange a boat excursion for us, which ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. It was considerably more expensive to book through the hotel, so I would recommend looking into arranging a boat trip independently if you want to save money. That said, the experience itself was absolutely worth it. We were taken to a secluded beach where the children could finally enjoy the water and have plenty of space to play. Overall, we had a good experience and enjoyed our time here, but I do think the staff could do a little more to make guests feel welcomed and cared for. With more attentive service and a few improvements to the guest experience, this could be an exceptional family destination.

Beautiful and clean resort, friendly staff, and delicious food made for a great stay at El Mangroove. Staff who helped make our trip memorable were Jean-Carlos at the Malu, Gerant at Makoko, and Noelle at the front desk. The breakfast buffet was delicious, with local and traditional dishes. It was always fresh and well-stocked. There were plenty of beach chairs, clean beach towels, and even free sun lotion poolside. We appreciated that there were two distinct pool areas: “Activity” and “Relax” zones. The room was cleaned daily, and we looked forward to the nightly cookies provided by the turndown service. The beach area was clean, and we took advantage of the free water sports and went snorkeling and paddleboarding. The gym was well-equipped and modern, and we loved the fresh fruit and granola bars provided. We will definitely return to the hotel.

What a beautiful place. For context we are well travelled and stay in 4/5* hotels We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa / residence which was stunning with great space, so worth the upgrade from a hotel room if there’s a family (we are 2 adults and 2 teens) The villa was spotless, with full kitchen, laundry room, walk in closet space in both rooms, free first fill minibar, plus a gorgeous outdoor space with small pool and outdoor kitchen + roof terrace + swings! The beds and linens were high end luxurious Aircon powerful, we turned it down Restaurants lovely, we had a feast at the breakfast buffet trying all the local dishes and enjoyed the tacos as the bar The staff are all SO lovely. Mario, Diego, Anthony, Gerant, Javier without exception were all welcoming and delightful hosts. We felt so welcome The beach area is a gorgeous spot for sunsets but I wouldn’t say it’s the best day time beach spot if that’s your thing (it’s not ours) Thank you for such a warm welcome to your country team El Mangroove, we wish we could stay longer Pura Vida

The hotel itself is decent. The rooms are a little dated, - especially the bathroom - but relatively clean. However, there is one major issue that, in our opinion, should be made much clearer when booking a resort in Costa Rica: the rooms do not have balconies, and even more surprisingly, there is no window that can be opened. This means there is absolutely no access to fresh outdoor air from the room. We were only staying for one night, so we could manage, but for a longer stay this would have been unthinkable for us. Breakfast is decent and the outdoor areas are pleasant, but unfortunately they do not seem to be maintained to the standard one would expect. The pool towels are old, and in the morning the pool was full of leaves and dust. The only place that was looking nice is the adult pool area - which is too bad because family would like to enjoy it as well. The sea itself could be beautiful — and is actually fantastic for jet skiing because the water is so flat — but the designated swimming area is extremely small and crowded by small boats, which takes away considerably from the beach experience. The beach itself is also barely developed. Overall, this is a property that seems to have real potential but is not being operated or maintained to its full potential. The staff are very kind and genuinely seem to be doing their best, but it feels as though they are not necessarily being given the resources needed to deliver the level of experience expected from this type of hotel. After I complained about the fact that the room had no opening window, I was offered a 50% discount on one breakfast. I appreciated the gesture, but I think that a full breakfast taken off the bill would have been more appropriate to show goodwill. Not because of the few extra dollars involved, but simply as a way of showing a genuine desire to have us leave on a positive note.

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.