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Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Upmarket beach hotel
- Direct beach access
- Night time wildlife treks, waterfall hikes
- Water sports & yoga

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Overview

The Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort is located within walking distance of the hugely popular Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica’s central pacific coast and is, quite simply, the most luxurious offering in the area. What sets this high-end property apart from the many other hotels in the immediate area is that it’s set within its very own private nature reserve and provides direct access to the beach. Staff are friendly and attentive and there’s an extensive choice of activities plus some superb facilities including a clifftop pool from which to soak up the sunsets, a second swimming pool also in scenic surroundings, a spa, a gift shop and two restaurants offering rich, sumptuous meals made with locally sourced, organic ingredients. The resort not only boasts a unique and breath-taking ‘rainforest meets beach’ location, but also successfully combines ecotourism with adventure, comfort and relaxation.

There are 38 chic and elegant rooms and suites, all with a classy yet homely feel. Rooms have wonderful views of either the Pacific Ocean or the reserve’s lush rainforest; all ocean-view rooms come with their own private covered balcony. Amenities common to all rooms include a ‘Tico Bar’ stocked with local snacks and drinks, ceiling fans and air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and complimentary toiletries. There’s direct beach access from all seven accommodation buildings, a feature unique in the area to Arenas del Mar.

There’s a broad range of activities and experiences in the area, some focussed on animals and nature, others more about wellbeing, mindfulness and relaxation. Popular pursuits include learning about local wildlife during waterfall hikes, bird watching trails and night time animal spotting treks. There are also river rafting expeditions, snorkelling sessions, kayaking adventures through the mangroves, surfing lessons, yoga classes, beach exercises, tortilla-making classes and more. Some activities are somewhat physically challenging, while others are a lot more chilled out so there really is something for everyone.

The private nature reserve covers an area of 11 acres and has a number of trails running through it which provide the chance to spot some of the native wildlife such as sloths, exotic birds, iguanas and monkeys. For relaxing back at base between activities there are some great on-site facilities including the aforementioned spa and two superbly positioned swimming pools.

The hotel is family friendly and welcomes children of all ages. Many of the on-site facilities and activities are suitable for younger ones and can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. The hotel’s restaurants also offer special children’s menus.

Suggested Itineraries for Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 545 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • It really was absolutely amazing. Faisal was wonderful (our driver for the majority of the trip) – such a lovely person and made everything feel so easy and relaxed. The whole experience was incredibly well put together and completely seamless from start to finish. The Sahara Desert was definitely the highlight for me – truly unforgettable – but honestly every part of the trip was special.

    MissingMandy S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 05 May 2026

  • I just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing holiday.
    We absolutely loved it, even though Jessica was ready to give up walking for good ????
    Our guide, Mustafa, was great. Really helpful, friendly and informative.
    We loved all the accommodation, and especially the first night and the Riad.
    All of the staff at every location were so friendly and helpful.
    Thanks again for organising such a great trip.

    MissingRebecca H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 09 April 2026

  • Thank you yet again for another meticulously organised and executed holiday (our 5th with you). Every aspect worked perfectly.
    Please could you pass on our sincere thanks to your agent in Sri Lanka; Lakshita, our driver and guide, absolutely made the trip for us - he was so keen for us to have the best experience possible. He was organised, kind, interested, punctual, the car was always spotless, and he was an excellent driver. His extensive knowledge was really appreciated by us and was exactly what we had hoped for in a guide. I think the highlight for us was our day in Anuradhapura (7 hours of absorbing history and culture), but there was so much to learn and absorb every day. He also made several suggestions for things that he thought we might like that weren't in our itinerary, and then booked them for us. These included an ayurvedic massage after climbing Sigiriya, a cultural show (an hour of touristy fun!), reef snorkelling with turtles (a real highlight for me - I wish we could have stayed all day), a lagoon boat trip and visit to a cinnamon island, a turtle sanctuary visit, and a gemstone factory visit. He also managed to get us a private tour of Lunanguga, which Peter thoroughly enjoyed. We also really enjoyed the tea factory tour.
    Our guide for the hike was also really excellent, and he and Lakshita made sure that our day was perfectly tailored to our (my) ability.
    All our accommodation was also perfectly selected. Our favourite was the Ceylon tea trails bungalow (just perfect!), but The Villa Bentota came a close second as a perfect way to relax at the end of the trip. Our villa and the grounds at Uga at Ulagalla were also beautiful.
    (Our only slightly disappointing day was the whale watching - no whales wanted to be seen on that particular day, plus I was very sea-sick despite taking meds! The tour organisers offered us a repeat day the following day, which we declined! Having said that, being out on the water was still enjoyable, up to a point...).
    I'm sure I've missed out something - we basically loved it all and felt that the balance of the itinerary was perfect for us (we used the 'rest' day in Galle to do the snorkelling, lagoon, and turtles)
    Thank you very, very much.

    Missingfiona g reviewing Sri Lanka Highlights - Classic on 27 March 2026

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