This was our first stop on a weeklong trip to Costa Rica. WOW, this place is amazing. The property is gorgeous, a mini paradise tucked in the rainforest. The rooms are beautifully appointed, very comfortable beds, a/c, lovely bathrooms and porches and they give free internet and international calls which is unheard of. The service is great and were very helpful in choosing day excursions. The restaurant and bar are in a lovely setting and the food in large part is quite good. We had two dinners and a lunch at the hotel. Lunch was actually our favorite meal with the Tuna poki. The private beach at the hotel is wonderful, warm water and a nice secluded area. Manuel Antonio is a very touristy town and quite built up but at Arenas you have no idea what is going on. It is a quiet paradise, I can not say enough good things about it. We would love to return.

Like many reviewers, we were in Costa Rica for our honeymoon, and were sent to Arenas del Mar as part of a package tour. And like many reviewers, we found it to be the absolute greatest location we visited during our trip.

From the bed (a Simmons Beautyrest World Class, if you're wondering - the best I've ever slept in) to the food (breakfast > lunch > dinner) to the drinks ($5-6 normally, 1/2-price at the bar from 5:30-6:30pm) to the people, everything about Arenas del Mar is *the best*. There's nature all around you: the beach is steps from your door (a rarity in Manuel Antonio), there are animals everywhere you look, and the waves gently lull you to sleep at night. The water is warm and inviting, the sunsets are gorgeous, and everyone seems to want you to have a good time. It was without a doubt the best way for us to end our honeymoon, and left us craving more.

Be aware that howler monkeys may wake you early in the morning. But that's the price you pay for spending a few days in paradise.

A lovely, (eco-friendly - proving that being eco conscious doesn't mean you have to give up on comfort, nor amenities; it's all about choices) piece of perfection! What an exceptional place, with an exceptional staff to go along with it! The restaurants were excellent, right down to the beautiful presentation of the entrees on the plates! I love seafood and veggies, my husband is a steak and potatoes guy, and we were both extremely pleased by the many varied choices on the menus. Each morning, breakfast came with a delicious selection of local sweet breads, and local fruit. Lunch: (I loved the veggie wrap!) was beach side, and delightful! Dinners were of the five star caliber, and the staff was knowledgeable and friendly (loved them!). Our trip was in early November and the weather was perfect! Sunny mornings, that sometimes would wind down with a soft relaxing tropical shower. Aaahhhh...what a nice end to the day. Ours was a romantic getaway. We were looking for a quiet little spot by the ocean, where we could unwind, enjoy quiet dinners, walking on the beach and taking in as much, or as little, of any "touristy thing to do" that we wanted. This was such a perfect choice for us!! While we didn't feel the need to leave this relaxing and romantic oasis at all, we did take in zip lining (although, I was terrified... it was thrilling; I'm sure that it helped that my husband was so at ease about it), and a tour of the nearby national park. Both trips were extremely enjoyable and well run, and we were glad that we did them. The staff at the front desk was always eager to help us in the planning and booking of these excursions, and the staff as a whole was always readily available to help us with anything else that we needed. We can not say enough wonderful things about them! Our room was extremely clean, comfortable, and spacious. We had a wonderful deck (with a tub) that overlooked the ocean allowing us to be lulled by the sound of the waves as we slept. Another exciting aspect of our trip was seeing quiet a bit of wild life right on the resort grounds. During our stay, we had regular sightings of white faced monkeys, Iguanas and various other lizards, two and three toed sloth (one mother sloth had her baby tucked tight to her belly - such a wonderful thing to see), and one morning revealed the tracks of a female sea turtle who had a very special task to accomplish before heading back into the sea. Our stay was special and so was the staff. (Ask Danny for his signature cocktail "Danny's Fruity Passion" Delicious!) We really got to know them and appreciated their commitment to making our stay so memorable. We look forward to coming back, with our teenage kids, on a family vacation - I'm sure that trip will involve white water rafting and other equally exciting activities. This is now "our" getaway destination, as a couple, and I'm sure, will prove to be a destination of choice when we getaway as a family.
Also worth mentioning - the grounds of the resort are extremely clean, and extremely safe.
To the Staff: Thank you for a wonderfully memorable vacation!
Sincerely,
John & Rochelle (Rachel)

I cannot say enough about the overall excellence of this property. It is comfortable, beautiful and brings you amazingly close to nature. My 10 year old son and husband loved playing in the waves of the Pacific while I could relax on the shaded part of the pristine and uncrowded beach. We all enjoyed the pools and the food. Sloths, monkeys and lizards abound. We really did not need to leave the property; we saw more animals and got much closer to them then we did going to the National Park! The food was great and the STAFF IS TREMENDOUS! I have never stayed at a place where people were so genuinely kind and considerate. This is true for everyone we met in Costa Rica. It is a special place. It was so great to see the staff as excited about seeing the animals as we were. Costa Rica is a place to be proud of and the unpretentious way the residents show that pride is really touching. I want to especially thank Elaine at the Front Desk. She was poised, perceptive, attentive and took such good care of us. She is a treasure. Everyone working in the restaurants were also just so wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!