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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#2 of 3 hotels in Playa Panama
Location
4.4
Rooms
4.6
Value
4.1
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.5
Sleep Quality
4.7
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
El Mangroove, Autograph Collection features boutique hospitality at its best. In this beach front hotel in Guanacaste, you will find everything Costa Rica has been missing. A new and fresh hotel concept that is easily accessible, very attainable and naturally irresistible. Laid-back wholesome sexiness, in a service oriented setting, with impeccable amenities, natural furnishings, contemporary design, state of the art technology and upbeat yet chilling ambiances.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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El Mangroove, Autograph Collection, is nestled in a location celebrated for its proximity to beaches and natural surroundings, though some guests note the room layouts as unconventional. While the cleanliness stands out as exceptional, opinions on the hotel's value diverge, with critiques of the cost relative to the amenities, food, and service quality. The serene, forest-like ambiance and modern rooms are highlights, yet room conditions vary, with some appearing outdated.
Guests appreciate the free activities and breakfast but find the amenity seating limited and the spa lacking. Service quality at El Mangroove is inconsistent according to guest experiences.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Mixed
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Everything about our recent stay in El Mangroove was perfect. This chic hotel built with attention to the local nature allows for you to indulge in 5 star luxury and quality while appreciating the beauty of the land. Staying during Covid times had us a little nervous but the hotel went above and beyond on all measures of cleaning in public and individual rooms. The attention to keeping guests safe was the primary priority for all. We had a lovely one bedroom which featured a lovely terrace and interior living room. The room was extremely comfortable and well appointed. The living room had a sofa bed which if traveling with children is very comfortable for a full family of 3-4. The bathroom was amazing loved the large double vanity, huge walk in closest and double shower. The beach is really lovely overlooking the Gulf of Papagayo. It’s great for swimming and shell exploring. The beaches in Costa Rica are open to the public so you might find yourself mixed at times with the locales which is lovely. In general it’s very quiet and extremely safe. The pool is a dream, so many days we often found ourselves going to the beach in the morning and having the pool to ourselves in the afternoon. We loved the serenity of both beach and pool. The restaurant offers a great breakfast buffet in the morning with local and American breakfast selections. The gallo pinto and salsa verde are sooo yummy, some of the best. We did have drinks and snacks poolside, which were delicious. Highly recommend a a strawberry margarita with jalapeño. We did have one dinner on premise our first night since we arrived late in the evening. The meal was very delicious but a bit expensive even for a resort of this level.
Overall can’t say enough great things about our stay. Thank you to the entire staff for making a memorable vacation
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would highly recommend a trip to the El Mangroove. This was our first experience in Costa Rica and the El Mangroove made it amazing. The Valets are the best Concierge’s we had ever experienced as their local knowledge was terrific.
The hotel’s location is perfect - it’s not slammed in the middle of a town but sits just 5 minutes from Hermosa and 15 minutes from Coco. We were able to use the hotel as a location to even do a day drive to Conchal and Tamarindo - we would recommend renting a car if you’re staying at this location as travel from the resort is difficult (and pricey) without your own wheels.
That said - you really never have to leave! The hotel is immaculate and an absolute oasis. We’ve been all over the world and this place was so great we will look to stay at Autograph Collection locations in the future.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Another great autograph collection hotel in the Marriott portfolio. This was our first trip here and I would not hesitate to visit again. The staff goes out of their way to make you feel at home. Almost empty during COVID which added to the relaxation. Easy 20 minute drive from Liberia airport. Security 24/7 at both main and beach entrances. The beach is public but plenty of space for everyone.
Pros - Cleanliness, staff attentiveness (a special callout to Javier at the pool for food/beverage service), food quality, adherence to COVID restrictions (staff mask wearing, cleaning, etc), unique and high end property, rooms were large and quiet.
Cons - Wifi doesn't extend to all of their seating closer to the beach, not enough intervention in guest mask wearing (too many guests walking around without masks with no repercussions), food options are limited (normally not an issue but the hotel isn't close to any other options), furnishings in room are due for replacement, and the fitness center lacks equipment and what is there doesn't even all work.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Room Tip:The 3 buildings run away from the beach so only a few select rooms have a beach/ocean view. The...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a 3yr old and a 10mo and if you have kids DO NOT TAKE THEM HERE. For your sanity. The guppy club is tiny and it’s the only thing remotely even ok for kids. The woman Anais is mother Theresa and deserves an award for working there. She’s wonderful. But for example there’s one pool and nobody is really pleased w kids around in the only pool there. And the beach? We got stung several times as well as other guests that said the same thing in the water. So we haven’t gone back in. We came into the room and there’s some fun stains on the skirt beds and curtains which is worrisome. For breakfast sausage on the kids menu is a HOT DOG. 7am hotdog. I couldn’t believe that. The staff is frazzled and doesn’t really know how to interact on a 5 star resort like they do here. The drinks don’t come with straws unless you pay for them. So plan on that anytime your kid orders an $8 banana strawberry smoothie you’re also gonna pay $2 for a straw. One side of the pool is unreserved so you better run out and reserve a chair because if you put your stuff on the cabana side chairs that aren’t used for days they will find you and request you move all your stuff off of them. I’m so sad because I loved the last autograph we went to but this was brutal and so sad. It’s really a powerful entrance but everything falls apart as you actually get to experience the place. Just go to a Marriott courtyard in Florida if you want a similar experience but with a language barrier. With or without kids I’m not returning.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ConciergeEH, Hospitality Manager at El Mangroove, Autograph Collection
Responded Jan 24, 2020
Thank you for your honest feedback. We sincerely apologize for falling short of not meeting your expectations. Rest assured, the feedback provided will be shared with the appropriate hotel team to ensure we consistently deliver upon guest expectations. We hope you will honor us to be your host whenever your travels bring you back to Papagayo Bay, and experience the improve in our services.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The grounds and buildings are beautiful, and the staff is friendly.
My problem is with the cost vs. value. There is a lot of up-selling. To start, they charge a $33/day mandatory resort fee. I know plenty of other hotels do this too, but we all know it is just a brazenly dishonest way of charging more than advertised per room.
The cabanas are on the shady side of the pool and they require an additional $100 fee per day. The hotel doesn't allow the umbrellas on the sunny side of the pool to be opened during January (ostensibly because of barely-there "wind"), so there is a caste system if you need or want shade. This made me feel like the hotel doesn't care about their guests' comfort and enjoyment, just squeezing more money out of us. Very few people opted for the cabanas when I was there, so the cabanas mostly sat empty while their guests fried in the 93° heat.
The food was decent but, again, overpriced. Breakfast buffet is $25. A la carte is $20. The staff was not at all knowledgable about potential allergens in the buffet food.
The rooms look beautiful but are not intelligently designed for use. For example, the strange indoor patio is crammed with hard-edged furniture that I bumped into several times. (I am a bit of a klutz, but still.)
If money is not an issue for you, you may well love this place. It's very pretty. If, like me, you expect the value to match the price, you might be better off in a different hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ConciergeEH, Hospitality Manager at El Mangroove, Autograph Collection
Responded Jan 24, 2020
Thank you for choosing to stay at with us and providing your honest feedback. Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority and we sincerely apologize for falling short of meeting your expectations. As a teachable moment, we have shared your feedback with the appropriate hotel team to ensure the necessary guidelines are in place to improve our service, every detail mentioned will be taken into account. Once again, thank you for your valued feedback and we hope to serve you again whenever your travels bring you back to Papagayo Bay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The buildings and grounds are beautiful. Our room was fabulous, with a great view. Nature? You bet: A family of Howler moneys cavorted one afternoon, and we just watched the show from our balcony. The people? Where do they find so many folks like this? Intelligent. Anxious to please. The pool is lovely. The beach is fun. The food is delightful. Be aware that transportation is limited. If you want to venture to hither and yon, or even just yon, you'd be well-advised to rent a car or arrange for a car and driver. We were content to veg out and take the shuttle van to the many nearby restaurants; just $10 round-trip per couple. We arrived somewhat biz-depleted with a viral bronchitis hangover. We left feeling like two kids, happy, healthy, and ready for the next round. This is a GREAT PLACE!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Ask for a room with a balcony facing the ocean.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was a pleasant experience in a quiet area. The buildings are well maintained and the hotel clearly has taken pride and care in their overall atmosphere and environment. Some low points would be the loud room AC which didn't seem to maintain the set temperature. As well, the elite breakfast, while appreciated, was surprisingly limited and ordered off the room service door tag. Staff and property made the best with Covid restrictions, and had sufficient facilities (restaurants, etc...) open in spite of the low occupancy. The water at the beach was disappointing as the water was turbid and I was stung by invisible jellyfish every time I went in, but the black sand beach and lounge chairs at the property and around the pool were plentiful, comfortable, and in good condition. The spa, which was very quiet, was a gem, and staff were attentive and allocated the full treatment time. The dinner menu was surprisingly expensive for the quality/quantity- with a car, I would highly suggest visiting restaurants at Coco beach instead.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Upper level to avoid people walking by outside your room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a very memorable stay at the El Mangroove. This hotel is very clean and if you are looking to be pampered and feel luxurious then look no further. This is also a very environmentally conscious hotel where you can experience the Costa Rican culture. The staff were really nice, very patient, friendly, and always ready to offer assistance. We really enjoyed our 4-night stay here. The beach is within easy reach and there is plenty of space for people to spread out in the pool area. The website actually does not show a lot of photos of the outdoors. There are 2 pool areas: one for adults only and a bigger area for families. The outdoor cabana massage is excellent too! We were very pleased with the room we had. We had wall-to-wall views of the mangrove trees and we saw a lot of monkeys in the trees outside the windows for most of the days we were there. The breakfast buffet was so good and we enjoyed the food in the 2 onsite restaurants although a little pricey. Still, we are really glad we stayed here. We will definitely stay here again the next time we visit.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Don't expect large hotel rooms in Costa Rica. We got one of the largest rooms and still...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a beautiful resort that is very modern and hip. Our only disappointment was the beach. It’s more of a bay with no waves, lots of anchored boats, roped off area for swimming and dark sand almost black. Only 2 rooms in the whole resort (3 buildings) have an ocean view so don’t expect that. We rented a wave runner and explored all the private cove beaches close by that you can only get to from the ocean by boat - that was really cool and better than hanging out at the hotel beach. The pool is really nice as is the restaurants. Kayak, bikes, internet and valet is included in the resort fee so that’s nice. It’s in a good location to do day trips which we did all days but one. Also a nice spa with a steam room you can use even without a treatment. We had a couples massage that was great!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived here an afternoon of a hurricane which turned out to be a tropical storm. Staff was extremely friendly and professional at check in. We were greeted with fresh juice and cold towels.
We had adjoining junior suites each with a living room. My junior suite had a hammock and a couch. The living rooms are not air conditioned and have almost floor to ceiling windows with only screens. You look out into the forest. It feels as if you are in a treehouse. Rooms are air conditioned with showers that have a window in which you can look out.
The staff is extremely helpful with any questions or concerns. They assisted with transportation and helping with reservations. They had great recommendations for dinner and excursions.
Shuttle to restaurants or coco beach are available. The drivers are very friendly and extremely reliable. Staff knew our name.
There are two restaurants both with good food. Matisse is a little less pricy. Breakfast is included and is sizeable. American and Spanish breakfast items are always available and breakfast begins service as early as six in the morning.
Each guest gets a day at the pool with use of a cabana which os a nice amenity.
What I really liked was the security. There’s always a security guard at the beach and at the entrance. Whenever we left with a shuttle our room number was given to the security guard which I appreciated.
The only issues I had with this hotel was it’s proximity to outside places to eat. There were maybe 2-3 restaurants within ten minutes which needed a car to get to. I also felt it needed a few more options for people with young kids outside of the pool areas. There is access to four pools, a beach, kayaks and long boards. There are board games and a pool table available.
I would stay here again. Hotel is beautiful, service is wonderful and rooms are very nice.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Thank you for considering El Mangroove Hotel for your upcoming Thanksgiving holidays! I’d be happy to provide more details to help with your decision.
1. **Local Beach Waters**: Playa Panamá, where El Mangroove is located, offers beautiful, calm waters due to the sheltered cove. While the water is not as clear as you might find in the Caribbean, it is still clean and pleasant, ideal for swimming or relaxing by the shore.
2. **Pristine Quality**: The beach here features black sand due to its volcanic origins, which gives it a unique and exotic feel. While it differs from the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, Playa Panamá’s tranquil ambiance and soft waves make it a lovely spot for families.
3. **Sea Adventures for Families**: For a family of four, we recommend trying out snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking—these are all available right from the beach. You can also take a boat tour to nearby islands for dolphin watching or go on a sunset cruise, which is a great way to enjoy the scenic views.
4. **Food & Drink Quality**: El Mangroove is known for its high-quality dining experiences, with two on-site restaurants—Makoko and Matiss. The menus emphasize fresh, local ingredients with a mix of international and Costa Rican flavors. The cocktails and drinks are top-notch as well, perfect for unwinding by the pool or beach.
5. **Attractive Sites Nearby**: Within a short distance from the hotel, you can explore Playa Hermosa or Playa del Coco, both of which are less than a 15-minute drive. These areas offer more beaches, shops, and dining options. For those interested in a bit of adventure, hiking trails and zip-lining are also nearby, although a bit further than a 1-hour drive.
For your excursions, we recommend booking through the hotel’s concierge. They can arrange **kayak** and **snorkeling** tours with trusted operators to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need additional recommendations. We look forward to welcoming you!
Regards
Antonio Cubillo
Guest Relations Manager
El Mangroove Hotel
Yes. All ages are allowed. My niece and nephew joined and they enjoyed their time. The main pool is for adults only but there are other pools for all ages. There is no kids club. Beach was a highlight.
Hi there, surfing, snorkeling, and paddling through the mangroves can all be arranged at the resort with their local team. If it is not off the shore then they will take you out to the nearby island (sorry I forget the name), they have two boats for guests.
The beach is public (as are most in CR) and there are other vendors there, but you know those come with their own risk.
There's also Santa Rosa National Park nearby, you can surf or dive there, not 100% sure about snorkeling though, sorry.
There are more places to choose from in the Playa Panama area.
PRICE RANGE
$491 - $823 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
El Mangroove by Enjoy Hotels
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteGulf of PapagayoPlaya Panama
NUMBER OF ROOMS
121
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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