What a special place! Once we arrived, we felt welcome and comfortable and well cared for! We enjoyed our greeting beverage on lounge chairs overlooking the beach from high above and had a nice time who was hanging out with an iguana who was enjoying the view with us!! The meals were delicious, the room big, clean and stylish with an outdoor tub!!
We also booked excursions and were led on a wonderful private tour of Manuel Antonio Park. Danny knew SO much about the wildlife, the park history and local information. He was a fantastic guide and showed us toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, sloths, butterflies, insects, agoutis, snakes, and iguanas. It was a perfect morning out - not strenuous and just the right amount of time!
We also enjoyed our trip to the market with Maurizio. The service at Arenas Del Mar was fantastic and the setting was very special!! We LOVED our stay!!

I don’t even know where to begin when describing how amazing of a time and how well I was taken care of here.

The atmosphere: Holy s***. It doesn’t get better than this. The view from one of the restaurants is considered one of the 1000 places in the world you need to see before you die, and I can see why. Every where you look it is lush and mindbogglingly beautiful. The amount of wildlife on the property is not overstated, either. They literally take you around the grounds, winding along the cliff side, through the rainforest.

The food: Chef’s kiss. I highly recommend being brave and trying out their typical Costa Rican options. You’ll get to try all sorts of exotic fruits and flavors.

The staff: Idk if it’s the culture, or staff training, or what… but every single staff member went above and beyond for me and seemed to be genuinely interested in me and invested in making my experience as wonderful as possible. And they succeeded. From the administrative staff, golf cart guys, and my tour guides… everyone was awesome.

The tours: I can only speak of the ones I went on, which were: whitewater rafting the Naranjo River, private surfing lesson, the coffee tour, and a private tour through Manuel Antonio national park. I had a great time doing all. All were worth the money. Extra kudos to Alvaro and Milak at the surf school who took great care of me when I got seriously nauseous!

Experience as a solo traveler: I was the only solo traveler I saw during my 5 day trip, so I would recommend being very comfortable with yourself and traveling alone before going here. Because it was the rainy season, there were fewer guests overall, and therefore a couple of my tours ended up being private. Depending on your mindset this could be either lonely or a total luxury!

Rainy vs Dry season: I was glad to never have to wait for a beach lounger or a table. I was told it’s MUCH more crowded and hot in the dry months, and much more expensive. I happened to get lucky with the weather during my trip - it mostly rained at night. There was one afternoon/evening with a major storm… which is the norm… and I wouldn’t have been happy with that every day. It’s a gamble in that regard. It is however the best time for whitewater rafting if you’re into that.

Overall… this place was a dream. It was worth every cent. Just go!!!

Our family of four had the most SPECTACULAR time spending a week at Arenas del Mar - such a special trip overflowing with ongoing moments of adventure, connection, and fun in the sun! From the very first moment we arrived, Arenas del Mar’s incredible staff allowed for us to enjoy every day to the fullest!! We are forever grateful for them and their warmth, generosity, and kindness.

The ability to move around the resort with ease and simplicity was a huge benefit to our family with a 4 and 2 year old. Starting our mornings with the complimentary breakfast was amazing - fueled our day with the most delicious food and fresh juices. Between the daily dips in the pool and exploring alllll the fun on Playitas Beach, there was always something to do to keep our kiddos engaged in the beautiful environment. Pair this with the staff who were continuously so attentive and friendly - what a combination! Gracias Jorge, Danny, Alejandro, Darian, Christian, Carolina, Cesar, Gabriella, Grace, Alexis, Will, Minor, Karen, Felix, Brian, and so so many others. You truly helped made our trip so special.

Some top moments for us - spotting local wildlife up close (sloths, monkeys, halloween crabs, lizards, macaws, iguanas, toads, hermit crabs); finding, cracking open, and drinking coconuts; surfing on Espadilla Beach; hours of playing and swimming in water in the pool and on Playitas; sipping on the freshest fruit smoothies and drinks; the roasting coffee class with Cesar; and riding in the golf carts around Arenas (our son’s favorite).

We will absolutely be visiting again and cannot wait to create more magical moments at Arenas del Mar. Gracias gracias gracias!!