We only stayed one night - would have been happy with more! The concierge, Engleberth, went out of his way to leave detailed instructions including a video of how to get to our room in case he was no longer there when we arrived (front desk closes at 9:30pm). He also helped get a forgotten item to us the next day. Super friendly and helpful staff. The adjoining restaurant served great breakfast. Conveniently, we rented surfboards on site as well. Gracias! Pura Vida!
LOVED El Manglar!!!! This place was the perfect spot for our beach/surf vacation. We stayed in a villa and it was lovely. Plenty of space and an awesome patio area with a hammock looking out to the pool. The beach was a minute walk away along a private path. This is one of the quieter sections of Playa Grande and at times it felt like we had our own private beach. Hotel staff were super nice. We met Javier, one of the brothers who owns the hotel, and he was fantastic. We loved everything about this place and can't wait to go back!!!
It was our first time in CR and we booked the room late in the game so we didn't have a good pick. This room was available for cheap so we didn't expect much. The room was basic but good enough but there were 2 main problems that couldn't be fixed. One was the dismal shower situation. We were told there would be hot water, which there wasn't and the shower head was not working so that only a few thin streams of water were coming out, not to mention the showerhead was perpendicular to the floor and couldn't be adjusted to any angle. It was very tough to get clean in a shower with freezing water and not enough water coming out, not fun at all, and the most difficult shower situation I have faced. Second issue was since they were doing construction on the sewer lines there was a constant stench of sewage in our bathroom, I think it was coming from the drain pipes. Really, really gross. Also the water was shut off for several hours a day because of the construction. It would have been nice to know about this ahead of time. Maybe once they get the renovations finished these issues will be fixed but I would never go there again. It has potential and the staff was friendly but poop stench and cold showers are rough even at cheap prices.
The hotel is definitely enough to cover the basics and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Tamarindo. The neighborhood is quaint and breakfast nextdoor at Cafe Mar Azul is wonderful. The instructions about toilet use and beach access left a bit to be desired, but overall the stay was fine. The girl at the front desk also did inform us that Orbitz had charged us more than they would which was great because that prompted me to request a refund from Orbitz. That said, we were charged again directly by the hotel upon checkin and they then had to refund us in cash a day later because they weren’t sure how to process a return. The beach is beautiful and has a wonderful variety of shells to see. Also, about 5k up the north shore (can walk) are black sand beaches. The hotels proximity to the National Park for the possibility of seeing a leatherback turtle lay eggs at night is also ideal. Last but not least, be sure to stop at Taco Star just north of the hotel beach for amazing tacos!
I️ really loved the hotel. The vibe is so calm and peaceful. The property is absulutely beautiful. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The negatives? The hot water or the water in general may run out on you while you shower. But if you give it a few minutes it starts to run again but it tends to run slow. There’s a beach and a few restaurants right next to the property but if you want to explore other areas it can be difficult. During the day, water taxis are readily available from a short walk away from the hotel. They cross the river and take you to Tamarindo for $1 - $3. However, these taxis stop running after 5PM. The automobile taxis are around $25 per ride to other areas like Playa flamingo & tamarindo! Your best bet is to rent a car. The WiFi may not work in your room if you are upstairs. But it does work pretty well downstairs. There’s a bit of construction happening at the hotel at the moment. It starts around 8AM when I️ was there but if you are an early bird, this will not bother you. If you like to sleep in late, the noise will probably wake you up. Overall, I️ recommend this hotel for it’s authentic pura vida vibes. The hotel ground is breathtaking. The rooms are comfortable and simple. If you have a relaxed personality and can just go with the flow then it’s the perfect hotel for you.
Located in Palm Beach Estates within a 15-minute walk of Grande Beach, Hotel El Manglar is within a few miles (5 km) of Las Baulas National Marine Park. This 18-room, 3-star hotel has a restaurant, a full-service spa, and an outdoor pool.
Enjoy a bite to eat at the hotel's bistro, or relax with a drink at the bar/lounge. You can get a quick energy boost at the coffee shop/cafe. For your convenience, a cooked-to-order breakfast is served for a fee on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM and on weekends from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
32-inch TVs are available for entertainment, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Beds sport premium bedding and bathrooms offer free toiletries. Refrigerators, coffee makers, and safes are also available. Limited housekeeping is available.
Guests staying at Hotel El Manglar enjoy access to a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and free WiFi in public areas. There's free parking, and an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) for USD 95.00 per vehicle one way. Front-desk staff can assist with dry cleaning/laundry, luggage storage, and tours or tickets. Other amenities at this beach hotel include a library, express check-in, and express check-out.
We only stayed one night - would have been happy with more! The concierge, Engleberth, went out of his way to leave detailed instructions including a video of how to get to our room in case he was no longer there when we arrived (front desk closes at 9:30pm). He also helped get a forgotten item to us the next day. Super friendly and helpful staff. The adjoining restaurant served great breakfast. Conveniently, we rented surfboards on site as well. Gracias! Pura Vida!
LOVED El Manglar!!!! This place was the perfect spot for our beach/surf vacation. We stayed in a villa and it was lovely. Plenty of space and an awesome patio area with a hammock looking out to the pool. The beach was a minute walk away along a private path. This is one of the quieter sections of Playa Grande and at times it felt like we had our own private beach. Hotel staff were super nice. We met Javier, one of the brothers who owns the hotel, and he was fantastic. We loved everything about this place and can't wait to go back!!!
Thank you so much for staying with us and for your kind words about our hotel and our team! We look forward to your return visit! Pura Vida!
It was our first time in CR and we booked the room late in the game so we didn't have a good pick. This room was available for cheap so we didn't expect much. The room was basic but good enough but there were 2 main problems that couldn't be fixed. One was the dismal shower situation. We were told there would be hot water, which there wasn't and the shower head was not working so that only a few thin streams of water were coming out, not to mention the showerhead was perpendicular to the floor and couldn't be adjusted to any angle. It was very tough to get clean in a shower with freezing water and not enough water coming out, not fun at all, and the most difficult shower situation I have faced. Second issue was since they were doing construction on the sewer lines there was a constant stench of sewage in our bathroom, I think it was coming from the drain pipes. Really, really gross. Also the water was shut off for several hours a day because of the construction. It would have been nice to know about this ahead of time. Maybe once they get the renovations finished these issues will be fixed but I would never go there again. It has potential and the staff was friendly but poop stench and cold showers are rough even at cheap prices.
The hotel is definitely enough to cover the basics and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Tamarindo. The neighborhood is quaint and breakfast nextdoor at Cafe Mar Azul is wonderful. The instructions about toilet use and beach access left a bit to be desired, but overall the stay was fine. The girl at the front desk also did inform us that Orbitz had charged us more than they would which was great because that prompted me to request a refund from Orbitz. That said, we were charged again directly by the hotel upon checkin and they then had to refund us in cash a day later because they weren’t sure how to process a return. The beach is beautiful and has a wonderful variety of shells to see. Also, about 5k up the north shore (can walk) are black sand beaches. The hotels proximity to the National Park for the possibility of seeing a leatherback turtle lay eggs at night is also ideal. Last but not least, be sure to stop at Taco Star just north of the hotel beach for amazing tacos!
Hola, We're so pleased you enjoyed your stay with us. Thanks so much for writing about your experience here, and we appreciate your compliments! Nothing pleases us more than to know our guests are looking forward to their next visit and we look forward to seeing you again. Sincerely, Evelyne Lariviere Operations Manager Hotel El Manglar
I️ really loved the hotel. The vibe is so calm and peaceful. The property is absulutely beautiful. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The negatives? The hot water or the water in general may run out on you while you shower. But if you give it a few minutes it starts to run again but it tends to run slow. There’s a beach and a few restaurants right next to the property but if you want to explore other areas it can be difficult. During the day, water taxis are readily available from a short walk away from the hotel. They cross the river and take you to Tamarindo for $1 - $3. However, these taxis stop running after 5PM. The automobile taxis are around $25 per ride to other areas like Playa flamingo & tamarindo! Your best bet is to rent a car. The WiFi may not work in your room if you are upstairs. But it does work pretty well downstairs. There’s a bit of construction happening at the hotel at the moment. It starts around 8AM when I️ was there but if you are an early bird, this will not bother you. If you like to sleep in late, the noise will probably wake you up. Overall, I️ recommend this hotel for it’s authentic pura vida vibes. The hotel ground is breathtaking. The rooms are comfortable and simple. If you have a relaxed personality and can just go with the flow then it’s the perfect hotel for you.
Hola, Name We're so pleased you enjoyed your stay with us. Thanks so much for writing about your experience here, and we appreciate your compliments! Nothing pleases us more than to know our guests are looking forward to their next visit and we look forward to seeing you again. Sincerely, Evelyne Lariviere Operations Manager Hotel El Manglar
Thank you very much for your awesome feedback Melissa, we really enjoyed having you with us, thank you for pointing out our amazing staff, we look forward to see you soon hopefully sooner than later! Pura vida, team Manglar.