This mid-range resort 15 minutes north of Jaco is quite expansive in terms of acreage, with two beaches, several outdoor pools, and eight different types of accommodations. Most guests will find themselves staying in an area called Selvamar, with basic Standard and Superior rooms. This area has a buffet restaurant for all three meals and it’s advisable to get the all-inclusive package due to the resort's remote location. Guests can also opt to stay in one of several condo-style units with kitchens. (A new area called Arrecifes has more modern interiors.) Expect a lot of walking and driving from hub to hub, or guests can wait for the shuttle that makes rounds every half hour. A butterfly park, walking trails, and toucan sightings provide some nature opportunities, but do not rely on consistent Wi-Fi.
This mid-range resort 15 minutes north of Jaco is quite expansive in terms of acreage, with two beaches, several outdoor pools, and eight different types of accommodations. Most guests will find themselves staying in an area called Selvamar, with basic Standard and Superior rooms. This area has a buffet restaurant for all three meals and it’s advisable to get the all-inclusive package due to the resort's remote location. Guests can also opt to stay in one of several condo-style units with kitchens. (A new area called Arrecifes has more modern interiors.) Expect a lot of walking and driving from hub to hub, or guests can wait for the shuttle that makes rounds every half hour. A butterfly park, walking trails, and toucan sightings provide some nature opportunities, but do not rely on consistent Wi-Fi.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is a four-and-a-half pearl hotel located on Playa Mansita beach. The resort’s 310 guest rooms are subtly luxurious, offering marble bathrooms and roomy private balconies or terraces. Excellent on-site amenities include a sprawling infinity pool, an array of first-rate dining options, a swanky spa and fitness center, along with access to pretty (if tiny) Playa Mansita. The property earns top marks in all areas, but everything, from the restaurants to the minibars, is expensive. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the equally fabulous Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is a four-and-a-half pearl hotel located on Playa Mansita beach. The resort’s 310 guest rooms are subtly luxurious, offering marble bathrooms and roomy private balconies or terraces. Excellent on-site amenities include a sprawling infinity pool, an array of first-rate dining options, a swanky spa and fitness center, along with access to pretty (if tiny) Playa Mansita. The property earns top marks in all areas, but everything, from the restaurants to the minibars, is expensive. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the equally fabulous Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.
Located in the heart of Santa Elena, Santa Elena Hostel Resort offers charming budget digs within a block of the town’s tourist district -- restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions are all within a five-minute walk. Like most area hostels, there's not much here beyond a small restaurant and bar, and a garden courtyard with hammocks. The 20 lodge-like rooms range from dorm rooms with bunk beds and en-suite bathrooms to private rooms with flat-screen TVs. Overall, the property feels like a step above most competing hostels, though constant noise and finicky hot water can be problematic.
Located in the heart of Santa Elena, Santa Elena Hostel Resort offers charming budget digs within a block of the town’s tourist district -- restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions are all within a five-minute walk. Like most area hostels, there's not much here beyond a small restaurant and bar, and a garden courtyard with hammocks. The 20 lodge-like rooms range from dorm rooms with bunk beds and en-suite bathrooms to private rooms with flat-screen TVs. Overall, the property feels like a step above most competing hostels, though constant noise and finicky hot water can be problematic.
La Lancha is one of a handful of exclusive Central American hideaways owned by Francis Ford Coppola. This small 10-room rainforest retreat has a lakeside location 40 minutes away from the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal National Park. Rooms are rustic and comfortable with fantastic balconies and hammocks for admiring the views. Hotel highlights include a split-level pool, the beautiful Lake Peten Itza with canoes, and an on-site restaurant and bar serving Guatemalan cuisine and Coppola wines. Some guests have complained about the lack of a hot tub and the thin walls between casitas. There are no TVs, and climbing stairs is required on this hillside property.
La Lancha is one of a handful of exclusive Central American hideaways owned by Francis Ford Coppola. This small 10-room rainforest retreat has a lakeside location 40 minutes away from the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal National Park. Rooms are rustic and comfortable with fantastic balconies and hammocks for admiring the views. Hotel highlights include a split-level pool, the beautiful Lake Peten Itza with canoes, and an on-site restaurant and bar serving Guatemalan cuisine and Coppola wines. Some guests have complained about the lack of a hot tub and the thin walls between casitas. There are no TVs, and climbing stairs is required on this hillside property.
