11 Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

The best view in town—a sweeping panorama of verdant hills, the aquamarine ocean, and offshore islands—is the claim to fame for this array of spacious rooms tucked between the jungle and gardens ablaze with colorful flowers. The four-story main building holds the lobby and restaurant, above which are three floors of ocean-view rooms reached by external spiraling stairways or an elevator. Other ocean-view rooms are in buildings clinging to the hillside. The sundeck and infinity pool are lovely, and you can cling to the edge and watch wildlife from the water. Transportation is provided to and from the beach, four times a day. From the ultimate in romance, request honeymoon suite #4 with a private Jacuzzi. Regardless of where you stay, every room has an ocean view other than the four economy rooms near the parking area.

Perched 1,200 feet above the sea on a promontory south of Punta Leona, the elegant rooms sequestered in the jungle have jaw-dropping views of the surrounding foliage and sea below. Spectacular sunsets should be enjoyed from the Amphitheater Bar. Freestanding suites and villas are gorgeous, and much better than rooms in the main building; if a villa's beyond your budget, try for a deluxe room with a shared pool. Victorian, French colonial, and Hellenistic motifs feature throughout, with Ionic columns, varied artwork, and cookie-cutter trims. The regular pool is rather small, but the Zephyr Palace complex — with its 10 themed rooms — has an impressive infinity pool with amazing views. Few suites in the world are as lavish as the Imperial suite at the Zephyr Palace, with its private gym, sauna, walk-in closet, and big-screen TV that ascends from the foot of the bed. The closest beach, Playa Caletas, is attractive but small and rocky; it's reached via a 15-minute shuttle ride or a 1½-hour hiking trail. You'll be rewarded with a beach bar, shaded palapas, lounge beds, and showers. Though great for romance or relaxation, there's little to offer kids or active travelers.

On hillsides sloping down to two pristine, almost-deserted beaches, chic and elegant rooms are decorated with gorgeous natural fabrics and local art and have huge private terraces with comfortable outdoor seating. From the base of the hill, guests are transported by electric golf cart up winding pathways to the carbon-neutral property. Rooms have fully stocked "Tico minibars" with complimentary local snacks and beverages. Bathrooms are spacious, with round, glass-brick shower stalls, and suites have mosaic-tiled hot tubs on their terraces. Amenities include two pools and a spa, free yoga and exercise classes, and the surrounding forest is alive with wildlife. It's not uncommon to be visited by a monkey at your breakfast table. The main restaurant is practically in the trees, and the menu is innovative and ambitious, and includes some popular gluten-free dishes. There's also a more casual daytime restaurant at the lower pool nearest the beach. The hotel offers free activities including tortilla-making classes, nature hikes, Spanish lessons, coffee roasting class, cooking workshops, and sustainability tours.

At the second entrance to Jacó on the beach's southern end, one of the town's better lodgings includes green-and-cream rooms with private teak balconies and spacious one- and two-bedroom condos. Apartments are clustered in two-story buildings amid massive trees and verdant lawns and have abundant windows, modern kitchens, and pleasant furnishings. The nicest are those nearest the sea (Nos. 14 to 16). Surfboards are available ($35/day), and a horseshoe-shaped bar in the lobby is a welcoming feature, particularly to tired travelers. Las Sandalias restaurant serves some of the area's finest food. 

Their motto, "still more monkeys than people" is not an understatement, as you're likely to see howler and white-faced monkeys on the forest trails surrounding these varied accommodations (including four converted from airplanes). The property feels stuck in the 1980s but has plenty of lodging types to choose from. All units have kitchenettes, room-front parking, and ocean or garden views. The 20 adults-only studios in Costa Verde II are spacious, with large balconies; those in the other buildings are smaller, but all have standard amenities like flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning. Fully equipped apartments are great for families, and the cheaper "efficiencies" near the road are sightly dated but seem to get the most "monkey business," with troops swinging by your patio or jumping on the rooftops. The hotel has four themed restaurants in Manuel Antonio; El Wagon and El Avion are your best options. If you want to skip the hike to the beach, there are three swimming pools where you can cool off closer to "home." Book a room away from the road if you're a light sleeper.

This cluster of bungalows, nestled on the edge of the national park and also just a short walk from the beach, is as close as you'll get to sleeping in the park. The palm-thatched terraces face the small pool and lush greenery of the rainforest, which is regularly animated by troops of squirrel monkeys and other animals. The main building holds three spacious apartments and a fully equipped casita on the second floor with two bedrooms and two baths. Complimentary breakfast and thin-crust pizza are served in a small restaurant. If space is available, last-minute discounts are generally offered for spontaneous travelers.

These three bedroom Balinese-inspired luxury condo suites boast 2,500 square feet of living space with industrial kitchens, slate floors, granite counters, rich hardwoods, and rattan furnishings. Interior design is tailored yet cozy, with microsuede couches, white duvets, bowl sinks, and floral paintings illuminated with recessed lighting. Three balconies and 2½ bathrooms mean there’s plenty of space for the whole family. Accessed by private elevator, each suite includes Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and ocean views from the living room and dining area. They all sleep six, but those on higher levels cost increasingly more for the view. The pool, restaurant, gym, game room, hiking trails, exclusive beach, and room service make it difficult to leave the comfort of the grounds. In 2022, the property added 10 homes and 2 villas for rent. If you fall in love with the place, you can purchase one of the elegant condos.

Sprawling across 159 acres, this mammoth multimillion-dollar resort is surrounded by 1,100 acres of rainforest with colonial-style buildings and gorgeous views of Herradura Bay. You'll find modern amenities combined with traditional Central American decorative motifs, such as barrel-tile roofing and hand-painted tiles. Rooms here have marble baths, wooden furniture, and tiny balconies. Be sure to get one with an ocean view, or you'll be contemplating condos. An enormous pool with islands and swim-up bars, a Ted Robinson golf course, five restaurants, and various diversions (tennis, pool activities, driving range, etc.) are designed to keep you on-site and entertained. The Sibö Rainforest Spa is one of the best in Central America.

With some of the best service in Manuel Antonio and updated rooms, Shana by the Beach is a lovely option with jungle- or ocean-view balconies in every room. The pool area, with happy hour from 3 to 6, makes up for the fact that it's a 10-minute hike to Playa Biesanz. Everything—walls, furniture, paintwork—is blindingly white, in striking contrast to the lush greens of the hillside grounds, and the service is some of the best in Manuel Antonio. Bathrooms are spacious and modern with massage shower jets, and rooms have sleek touches like oversize tufted headboards, glass desks, and white flat-screen TVs. All have balconies with jungle or partial ocean views. The restaurant highlights Mediterranean dishes. Families or large groups can request the three attaching rooms. In low season, rates are often half price.

This sustainable resort sits atop one of the most idyllic hillsides in Manuel Antonio. Scattered through the rainforest in nine buildings, rooms are decorated in earth tones to complement the surrounding nature; spacious deluxe rooms have sea views and private balconies, smaller "superior" rooms have less impressive ocean views, and standard rooms face the jungle. Great lengths have been taken to be eco-friendly, and it's also quite family-friendly, with a separate kids' pool, complete with waterslide, and an in-house movie theater. There is often live music on weekends (except September and October) at Claro Que Sí restaurant (open 2–10 pm), which specializes in Caribbean-style seafood, and the Rico Tico grill, which serves lighter fare. A free shuttle makes scheduled trips to the beach, about 3 km (2 miles) away.