We stayed at the Hotel Del Mar for nine days in February 2008. I've been to Manuel Antonio on five different occassions so I'm quite familiar with the area. We usually stay at very budget accommodations, which are very hard to find in this area. We decided to splurge this year and get a place that had air conditioning.

We were really pleased to walk into our room for the first time and see that it was so large. The area around the hotel is very quiet and this is not always the case along the hotel strip leading down to the park.

I'm a wildlife photographer by trade so I visit this region simply for the wildlife and I was so happy that we were on a major monkey route. We saw the endangered mono titi (red backed squirrel monkey) passing right by our hotel balcony at 5am and again at 1:30 p.m. each day. Capuchin Monkeys used the route at around 12:30 p.m. each day. It is common for monkeys to keep a "schedule" as they forage for food since various species don't like to run into each other. It's an easy bet that those monkeys will keep to a similar schedule for the forseeable futre. A two-toed (the more rare kind) sloth was hanging our on a tree right next to where breakfast was served.

Breakfast was very nice and there was a long period of time when it was served. The rooms were quite sheltered by trees so it was cool even without air conditioning.

We were helped a lot by Luis at the front desk. He was so friendly and helpful. His English is perfect and my husband was also able to practice spanish with him (Luis was very patient). Our stay was made so much better because of him. He went out of his way to help my husband who was sick and he was really fun to talk with at the end of the day. If you see Luis please tell him we say hi!

The cleaning staff kept the room mint clean and it was great that we could also order laundry service straight from our room, luxuries we aren't used to staying at hostels.

I should also mention that this hotel is very gay friendly, which was awesome. There was a schedule of gay-friendly activities at the front desk for their guests. The hotel is very inclusive.

I would highly recommend staying here!

I was pretty sure it will be a nice place when i read the travellers review on this website. Once there i was so disappointed...
First the price 104 us dol with tax and service. pretty expensive.
For this price you get a kind of breakfast served at the tiny reception. In the room except a very old a crappy bed and a fan nothing else. For this price no ac no fridge nada... For a 100 they give you room worth for 50 because close to the beach. Anyway, we booked two nights, but after the toilet got jammed 2 times and fixed by my self (so nice when you save for 1 weeks of paradise per year) we leaved for the hotel next door. i whrote a note to the owner and he offered to the front desk to reimburse us. Next door for the same price we found a room very confortable with ac, fridge, tv, pool. I mention that just to tell you that it is not the place that make the price of the hotel del mar but i don t know what.

$40+tax for a double room (double bed) with private bathroom (hot water) and small breakfast. Pay with cash and you can negotiate $40 total.

The place is nice and staff is the nicest, although rooms are very basic so it seems overpriced for what you get. (Also VERY humid, but that has nothing to do with the hotel - that's the climate here). However, location is great - short 5 min walk to the village of Manuel Antonio (restaurants, shops), beaches and the Manuel Antonio National Park (10 min), so no need to depend on taxis.

It's forest all around so be prepared - it gets loud at night and early mornings (especially howler monkeys can keep you awake) but coming to Costa Rica one would think you like nature.

On a side note: money - $$ are accepted everywhere, incl. restaurants, sodas and shops. Change in colons, rates vary (the best rate we got was actually at the hotel, ask and they will exchange you some pocket money so you are not overcharged in the village when paying in $$).

We arrived in Manuel Antonio to find that the place we had planned to stay in (Cabinas Piscis across the road) was damp and dirty so we thought we'd look around and virtually across the road was the Hotel del Mar. The receptionists were very friendly and helpful and were happy to give you advice about restaurants etc. The room my boyfriend and I had was comfortable and clean enough, if a little dated. The room was large and had A/C and a ceiling fan. The location is walking distance from the beach and park although you will need to get a taxi if you want to eat on the road towards Quepos. The hotel is well-known in the area as gay-friendly and it definitely is. I would stay here again. It's great value for the price.