Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort Member of the Cayuga Collection

Ever spend 5 days when the weather, the accommodations and the people were all perfect? My sister and I planned a “vacation”—and instead we got the time of our lives. Arenas Del Mar gave us 5 days of fun, great food, mind blowing views, extremely comfortable accommodations within sight and sound of the waves from our suite, perfect tours and adventures and the staff is just as wonderful as prior reviewers have exclaimed. As one of the restaurant managers responded to us when we complimented the staff on our first evening, “Yes, they’re all wonderful, but they each bring their own personality to the job.” The staff was unstoppable in their care of us--from the fun golf cart rides from place to place within the hotel compound, to inquiries as to how our tours went, what our families were like and what they could do to help us in any way. Christian even made sure our van ride back to SJO for an early morning flight had blankets and pillows. I want to put Minor, the kind and sociable bartender, on my Christmas card list! Giavanni, of the concierge team, helped us choose an offsite restaurant by explaining El Lagarto was the place she picked for her birthday dinner each year, and of course she made sure we got the perfect table. Alex, a server, was so kind and caring that we’d look to wave to him from across the dining room. Every single staff member went out of their way to make our stay a perfect vacation and they made it seem effortless and sincere. A few specifics: I research the heck out of hotels before I go anywhere and Arenas Del Mar kept coming up as the best place for us. When they say the hotel is on the beach, they mean it. No other hotel near Manuel Antonio has such a prime location—on the beach but still close to town. We were in Suite 302B in Unit 3, a spacious Ocean View Premium suite. Great view, incredibly comfortable beds, two seating areas on the balcony which we used a lot and easy proximity to the beach and the lower restaurant and bar, Playitas. We were no more than a 2 minute walk from the suite to the beach. When I read about the hotel’s golf cars in previous TripAdvisor reviews, I just assumed my sister and I would walk instead, but the golf parts were part of the fun! The golf cart drivers would appear at our unit within moments of our call to the front desk and they were always available at the lobby area to shuttle us back. Frankly, all our transportation needs were met effortlessly—from the drivers to and from the airport arranged by the hotel, to the golf cart shuttle out to the parking area to meet the guide and daily transportation for our tours, to the hotel van that took us to offsite restaurants. (Thank you Wally!) The hotel van was always timely, inexpensive and billed to our room. So easy! The tour book from the hotel was exciting and wide-ranging. It took time to narrow down all the choices and before we arrived the concierge team patiently responded to multiple emails to help us chose our 4 adventures—a p

Arenas Del Mar was the best vacation we have ever had. The service, scenery, nature, rooms, food and overall experience were top-notch. We can’t say enough great things. We cannot wait to return and make this a family tradition for years to come.

Food was the best we ate in the whole of Costa Rica, we had every meal in the hotel - breakfast, lunch on the beach and dinner during our 3 night stay. Enjoyed watching the monkeys, sloths and the Scarlet Macaws, as well as huge Iguanas and lots of crabs. Enjoyed sitting on the beach each afternoon after our morning excursions watching the waves. It was a bit rough for us to feel confident enough to go for a swim. It was extremely hot and humid during our visit so we got round the hotel using the readily available golf buggies. The hotel is very spread out and housed in different buildings so if mobility is an issue for you be sure to ask for a ground floor room, ours was up 6 flights of stairs. Also not easy to walk elsewhere, albeit we enjoyed a short walk along the gorgeous beach. Staff were very good and we thoroughly enjoyed our short stay.

My family and I had an amazing time at Arenas del Mar! Even though we only stayed for two nights, it was hands down the highlight of our Costa Rica trip. We booked an Ocean Breeze and an Ocean View Premium Suite, and both were absolutely worth it—the views of the beach were stunning. The location was perfect. We loved having access to two private beaches, and the rainforest trails were incredible—we saw sloths, monkeys, and so many birds just while walking around. The food at the restaurant was delicious, and the staff made navigating our dietary restrictions effortless. But what really made this place special was the service. The staff weren’t just competent, they were genuinely warm and welcoming, always there when we needed anything. Their kindness and attention to detail made our stay unforgettable. We would highly recommend the tortilla making tour, sunset walk, boat tour around Manuel Antonio (this one especially), and tour of Manuel Antonio National Park with Mauricio! We only wish we could’ve stayed longer...

This was the best part of our trip to CR for sure! Great hotel with a wonderful beach, animals at the hotel (sloths, monkeys, macaws) plus close to national park. The service was outstanding and the food was great-we ventured out for one meal and missed the hotel for sure. The breakfasts were THE BEST! The room with a plunge pool and perfect ocean view was great too-nice AC in the room. If we returned to CR, we would stay here the whole time!!

The reviews are correct- this is a wonderful resort on a very, very big hill. the staff at Arenas Del Mar are fabulous and kind. They remember who you are and engage with you on a personal basis when you approach them. They are, indeed, ready with golf carts whenever you want to go anywhere. My husband and I are in average shape, and we were able to walk most places without the carts, but when we didn't want to walk because we had been at the beach or had a few drinks with lunch, they were there for us. We had a fabulous time. The beach is beautiful. I wouldn't go in the water - it's a VERY rough surf - but it's beautiful and listening to it while you eat or read is a perfect way to spend the afternoon. The only downside of this resort is a downside of Manuel Antonio in general- it's not a realistic idea to walk into town or around most of town. The roads are narrow, and the drivers are terrifying. The resort will call you a car to go anywhere you want, and if you ask the people at the place you are at to call the resort, they will send a car to get you. They'll add about $10 USD to your hotel bill for the ride. This is a part of the service they provide, and we had an amazing time because the staff at the resort were so good at what they did.