Stayed at the arenas del mar for 4 days- we were spoilt by an awesome experience in arenal but the hotel was great. The staff were great and at hand whenever we needed them.. The hotel is removed from the main road down a steep hill, and the hotel staff were more than happy to make sure we had transportation in and out. What really made the experience GREAT though was Iguana tours - cant find them on the things to do list. We did white water rafting, horseback riding and a guided tour of the national park all through this team and they were AWESOME! Safe, knowledgeable and most importantly fun- if you are looking for a great set of people to take you through these experiences then look no further.. I cannot say enough fat things about the entire team at iguana!

We had a wonderful time at Arenas del mar in an ocean breeze suite w/ hot tub overlooking the ocean. The staff were terrific, the rooms luxurious, and the location prime! The breakfasts were outstanding and the lunch restaurant served wonderful wraps and frozen drinks. The airport transfer was pricey, as were the dinners, but all in all, a great place to visit to see wildlife in an Eco-friendly setting.

Agree with the bulk of comments set forth on this resort. One of only a few resorts in Manuel Antonia with direct beach access. Ask for Ocean View rooms if you desire a fantastic balcony view of the off shore islands. The beach is a short 5 minute walk (200 feet elevation change) from here or take the golf cart. Ask for Ocean Breeze if you wish to be close to the water. Bonus: In the week of our stay (Nov. 3-10th) we pretty much experienced the same wildlife in the jungle surrounding Arenas del Mar as we did in Manuel Antonio Park - howler, squirrel, and white face monkeys; two and three toed sloth. The staff are accomodating and friendly at all times. The restuarant is fine. This resort specializes in providing a tranquil beach side experience for couples and families. If you seek night life, are 20 - 30s something budget tourists, or desire a vibrant social scene this might not be your watering hole. We walked to a number of restuarants along the Quepos MA road but it is a steep 1 mile envigorating hike from Arenas del Mar. To take a cab or resort van to the strip is $16 round trip. It is a nice 20 minute beach walk to the park. I recommend management place a printed list of available tours around MA (rafting, zip lines, guided park tours, etc.) in the rooms for patrons to review. There is much to do and guests would benefit from the info prior to contacting the concierge.

Just returned from a stay in Costa Rica; we planned a beachfront visit at the end of an adventure trip. Arenas Del Mar was the perfect capper to an awesome experience! The grounds are clean, stunning and sparkling; the staff charming, well-informed, and eager to help. The hotel clings on the cliffs overhanging the sea and abounds with wildlife. Sloths, howler monkeys, and iguanas are common sights. We stayed in an Ocean Breeze Suite in Building #5, waking every morning to the crashing of the waves and sweet breezes. It's well-worth the cost for a cushy suite! The staff members make an effort to learn names and preferences are are absolute joys as people. The restaurants are plush; at the beachside Playitas nothing beats being served a delicious meal at your table that is literally ON the beach! They are justifiably proud of the resort's exceptional strides toward ecological sustainability, and made our stay a truly memorable one. I would LOVE to be so lucky to stay again at this exceptional resort - Bravo!