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

Beautiful location and for the most part the service was great. First the pluses ....beach is super and the staff down by the beach was friendly and welcoming and they do a great job of creating safety (lots of lifeguard drills it appeared!) and overall the sense of a lovely vacation feel. There are golf carts to take you everywhere on the property, which is pretty necessary as the property is steep and quite spread out. You just give a call and someone shows up in minutes. Many of the drivers have a great personality, just made it surprising when a few of them seemed not friendly--and for us there was no need to speak English--I was always happy to try my Spanish! Ditto for the staff in the main restaurant--some were friendly and welcoming and a few others were all business and not very welcoming or patient. On with the plus items...the beds are very comfortable, rooms are private and quiet, and the policy of free mini bar snacks (with free restocking) is wonderful! The monkeys and iguanas --and sloths--on the property are terrific. There is a dinner in the beach restaurant on Wednesdays, Sats and Suns and since we were only there for the Wed dinner, I wish that the staff at breakfast had reminded us of it and also, there could be a small guide in the room that would include the beach dinner evening schedule as well as a map of the nature trail --with distances. We wanted to walk it ourselves, without their guide, but didn't have a good sense of the overall length of the trail. There was a little sense that they wanted to encourage us to sign up for their guided (for a fee) walk. The food in the main restaurant was good, but not exceptional and the dinners are quite expensive. The breakfast has many choices and again, it's good but not exceptional--but nice that it's included in the room price. Overall, however, it's a lovely place, clearly the nicest place to stay in Manuel Antonio, but also quite pricey, which you know if you're reading this! Trip.com had the best price by far, at least for November.

Our stay at Arenas Del Mar gave us some truly unforgettable memories, thanks in large part to the incredible people who made our experience so special. The setting of Arenas Del Mar is beautiful. Being nestled between the lush tropical forest and the Pacific Ocean, with the sounds of nature all around you and the opportunity to see Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife right outside your door, is something truly unique. It is a special place where you can enjoy the beauty of the beach while still feeling connected to the incredible wildlife Costa Rica is known for. Rafael was one of the absolute highlights of our stay. We booked the Nauyaca Waterfalls excursion through the hotel, and he was phenomenal. He was knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about sharing Costa Rica with us. He made the entire day memorable, from the journey there to the breathtaking waterfall itself. He even brought snacks for us to enjoy while we relaxed at the waterfall, which was such a thoughtful touch after our hike. We ended the day with an incredible lunch that was the perfect way to finish such a special adventure. Nauyaca Waterfalls was one of the most beautiful and memorable places we visited during our entire trip. Rafael didn’t just take us to a destination—he helped create a memory we will cherish forever. We are so grateful we had him as our guide. Lexi, who drove us around the property in the golf cart, was another wonderful part of our experience. He was so kind and always willing to stop and show us the incredible wildlife around the resort. Because of him, we were able to see sloths and monkeys in their natural environment. One moment we will never forget was being surrounded by what must have been 10–12 monkeys. We were able to sit there and simply watch them move through the trees, completely in their own world. It was such a magical experience and exactly the type of moment we dreamed of when we planned our Costa Rica anniversary trip. Our experience with the hotel itself was a little more mixed. When staying in such a natural setting, you do have to embrace that wildlife is all around you. Geckos and little crabs can make their way into your space, including the shower, which was definitely an adjustment for me the first night. For some travelers, this may be part of the charm of staying so close to nature; for me, it took some getting used to. Unfortunately, our first impression was not ideal. After a long 6-hour travel day, we were really looking forward to relaxing in our hot tub, only to find that it was not working our first night. The staff did offer to come fix it right away, which we appreciated, but we had already settled into bed after such a long day. Thankfully, it was repaired the following day and we were able to enjoy it afterward. We also found a used Band-Aid left in our shower when we arrived, which was disappointing, especially for a resort at this price point. We also found the food and drinks to be quite expensive compared to other pl

Great responsive service. I emailed them late afternoon the day before my interest in the day pass. They responded quickly and completed my reservations easily. I was greeted with excellent courtesy and transferred down to the beach( very steep roads) very easily with a good introduction ti my beach options which included lounge chairs that they set up where we wanted, bar service at the lounge chairs, lifeguard, ping pong tables, very clean changing areas and showers, towels, cushions, beach toys, volleyball and direct verbal safety instructions about the undercurrent and rip tide and location of rocks. There was a beachside set up of dining tables with excellent food options. We had access to the infinity pool of the hotel as well. The $50 per person fee was just right as we considered just above that amount and made it convenient to address tip at the end. When we were ready to go they had a driver brings us back to the top of the road. The beach was clean, great sand, sloths, tons of hermit crabs and iguanas. The waves are big and you have to time your entry with the tide level so it is not too rough . This is certainly not an area for wading but trying to body surf in it is perfect if you want a challenge.

We had a day pass to the beach at this beautiful hotel. The service was five star, as well as the property and drinks.

Here is the updated review incorporating that exact location detail: --- ### ⭐️☆☆☆☆ **Terrifying Experience — Beware the Wildlife & Pass On This Resort!** We booked Arenas del Mar expecting a relaxing, luxurious tropical getaway in Manuel Antonio. Instead, our vacation turned into a total nightmare starring a **Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana** and Elizabeth. While the resort markets itself on being "immersed in nature," they fail to mention that the local wildlife acts like aggressive predators—and in our case, launched an outright assault. Elizabeth was simply relaxing and eating lunch at the poolside chaise lounge chairs where food service is provided, when a massive, prehistoric-looking Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana violently attacked her right at her chair, ripping her fingers apart. It was horrifying, bloody, and completely ruined our entire stay. To make matters worse, the resort displayed a completely nonchalant attitude toward such a traumatic and serious injury. While we understand Arenas del Mar is situated in the rainforest, guests should at least be able to eat in designated guest areas without suffering severe bodily harm from territorial, aggressive reptiles. There needs to be strict wildlife deterrence around dining and pool spaces, clear warnings, and actual safety protocols in place. I would strongly recommend passing on this resort. If you value your safety and want to relax or eat a meal without fear of a prehistoric creature attacking you and causing real harm, look elsewhere. Elizabeth is physically hurt and traumatized!

We arrived at Arenas Del Mar last night December 1st, 2025. We had a wonderful dinner, red snapper and fettuccini with mushroom and a bottle of Pinot Noir with Cost Rican Imperial Beer. Service was excellent. This morning we woke up to an iguana sitting outside our balcony and nearby monkeys on trees and roofs. Yes, we are glad that we selected an ocean facing balcony room, (503B). The view is stupendous. Breakfast was magnificent, service quick, coffee, fruit, eggs to go including refried beans ( much better here than in USA. I enjoyed the cost rican coffee (take home) coconut banana pancakes and we had a chia bowl full of nuts, service was excellent. The concierge was very helpful this morning in planning our trip to Manuel Antonio national park and a sunset walk. Arenas Del Mar also has attentive attendants who will take you anywhere in a cart. Definitely a “5”. Very happy

Absolutely stunning location. Breathtaking views and unbelievable natural surroundings. The hotel is simple yet feels luxurious because it blends in with the surroundings so well. The food was unbelievable- best vegan food I ever tasted! Breakfast was unreal. (There was even plenty on the BBQ evening for me.) Beaches unbelievable- Ocean amazing. The forest and ocean and cliffs together are so dramatic. Loads of monkeys and lizards and birds and crabs & a sloth seen at the hotel. So beautiful. The staff were really friendly with excellent service. I had a fantastic massage looking over the forest and ocean. We tried surfing from the hotel and it was excellent. The instructors were great. Room had everything we needed but could be more luxurious as it was very small. Could hear the family next door. Trip was very expensive but it was absolutely worth it. This place is fantastic.

We had an amazing stay at Arenas del Mar. Everything was excellent—the rooms, the food, the beautiful location, and the atmosphere. Staying in the middle of the rainforest while being right next to the ocean is a truly unique experience. What really makes this hotel special is the people. Every staff member was friendly, caring, and always happy to help. A special thank you to Rogelio, our bellboy, who did so much more than his role required. He not only drove us around the property but also acted as our guide. He was always proactive, checked if we needed anything, anticipated our needs, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our stay. We would also like to thank Krishne from Customer Service. He truly showed us what luxury hospitality looks like. His outstanding customer orientation, professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care made all the difference. He was always proactive and did everything possible to ensure we had the best possible experience. Thank you to the entire team for making this trip so memorable. We can’t wait to come back!

Our stay at this beautiful oceanfront hotel in Costa Rica was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm, genuine hospitality that made us feel instantly welcome. The location is spectacular, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from nearly every corner of the property. Waking up to the sound of the waves and enjoying stunning sunsets each evening was an unforgettable experience. Our room was spacious, spotless, and thoughtfully designed, offering both comfort and incredible ocean views. The staff consistently went above and beyond to ensure every detail of our stay was perfect. The dining experience was outstanding, featuring fresh local ingredients, delicious seafood, and excellent service. Whether relaxing by the pool, walking along the beach, or simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, every moment felt special. If you’re looking for a place that combines natural beauty and authentic Costa Rican charm, this hotel is an absolute gem. We left with wonderful memories and look forward to a return visit.