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

A peaceful retreat just five minutes outside bustling Jacó, this all-suites hotel is surrounded by lush rainforest and has tastefully decorated rooms with fully equipped kitchens and patios overlooking the pool, mountains, and gardens. Named after Costa Rica’s famous poisonous "blue jeans" frog, the solar-powered property has five rooms on a private second floor, and five rooms on the ground floor that open onto a two-tier swimming pool. Spacious rooms sleep five with two queen-size beds and one twin. An additional six suites are separate from the main building and cater to couples with private Jacuzzis. Although there’s no restaurant, the hotel serves a full Costa Rican breakfast and has an arrangement with local eateries for food delivery. Management can organize a variety of tours and activities, and to soothe your tired muscles, there’s an on-site spa offering massages, wraps, facials, and aromatherapy. Bikes, games, books, and a small store are a bonus for guests. 

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.

Combining Costa Rica’s vibrant architecture with modern design, this tranquil property reminiscent of tropical-deco decor, offers spacious rooms and colorful beach bungalows with indoor-outdoor rainfall showers and private gardens. Tucked behind 8-foot walls, each room was designed with privacy and luxury in mind and includes a collection of books, huge flat-screen TVs, and a minibar. The two mosaic swimming pools are sparkling clean and surrounded by waterfalls and mini-palapas for shade. The open-air restaurant specializes in organic cuisine, serving such dishes as grilled fish, tuna tartare, fish tacos, pasta, and salads. Many ingredients (for the food and the natural spa products) are grown on-site.

On the quiet southern end of Jacó beach, this property is clean and comfortable and just far enough from town to offer a peaceful night of sleep. Although it has a beachfront location, the poor layout means most rooms face a hallway or parking lot, with only a few on the second floor catching a glimpse of the water. Fortunately the ocean views from the pool and restaurant compensate for the architectural blunder. Rooms lack character but have everything you need for a pleasant stay, including flat-screen TVs, strong air-conditioning, coffeemakers, Wi-Fi, and nice showers. Simple meals at the tiki bar are served under a thatched roof and range from red snapper and stuffed chicken to pasta and burritos. Surfboards and bikes are available for rent, and waves break right out front. Request Room 23 or 15 for the most space and best location, or if you're on a budget, one of the discounted rooms without a view. Day passes are available to nonguests for $30.

The name says it all at this property with artfully crafted studios and apartments tucked into the lush hillside of Manuel Antonio. Natural light floods the vibrant rooms boasting balconies and large windows overlooking the rainforest and tile pool. Each is cheerfully decorated and equipped with modern perks like smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, and even full kitchens in the larger rooms. A complimentary Costa Rican breakfast is served creekside, or you can hold out for lunch at the Sloth Snack Bar for burgers, wraps, salads, and ceviches. Guests have access to amenities at their sister property, Los Altos, just up the hill.

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.