Jungle Beach Hotel at Manuel Antonio

Built into a steep hillside, the hotel is hidden among a thick canopy of overgrown tropical greenery -- from the street, it’s easy to miss. Once on the property, the unadorned stucco buildings almost disappear completely into the landscape. The motel architecture and toned-down exterior design are typical of many of Costa Rica’s budget hotels. Inside, the decor is decidedly more bold and eclectic. The copious hand-painted murals and a rain forest-meets-beach decor walk a fine line between cheap and charming. The social scene revolves around a single outdoor terrace with a small pool and basic restaurant with dirt-cheap happy hour specials every afternoon. It rarely ever feels raucous, however, and is just as fitting a property for families as budget-conscious couples.

Situated amid the tourist-friendly district near the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, the hotel is just a five-minute walk from Playa Espadilla. Another five minutes takes guests to the official park entrance. Dozens of restaurants, shops, beach bars, and other hotels are within that same perimeter, ensuring the area is always buzzing with activity. Downtown Manuel Antonio is five minutes away by car with even more restaurants and services. Getting to the area from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) requires a three-hour drive, and shuttle bus hire is often the cheapest, safest, and most convenient option. Once in town, local bus service is extremely cheap.

Like every other aspect of the hotel, the rooms are rustic, eclectic, and quirky. The common decorative thread that connects them is Spanish-tile flooring and rough, hand-painted wall art inspired by the beach, the rain forest, or both. Entry-level Comfort Rooms are similar to typical budget hotel rooms in size and amenities. All feature two beds, a private bath, and a private (or semi-private) balcony. Two mid-range categories -- King Room and King Room with Bunk Bed -- offer all of the above, but with the addition of an additional bed or bunk bed for family stays. The top-tier rooms -- Villas and Suites -- upgrade to spacious, apartment-style layouts with kitchenettes or full kitchens, separate living and dining areas, multiple bathrooms, and large private balconies. Wi-Fi is free in every room, and we found the connection to be slow, but mostly reliable. Walk-in shower stalls and generic toiletries are standard in every room category.

A small, basic terrace with an outdoor pool and an open-air restaurant is the only common amenity. The hand-painted corrugated metal barrier that lines the space provides a vague beach bar feeling. But, the lack of any color or other decorative elements creates a cold, industrial vibe. The pool is small, even for a relatively small property, and can overcrowd quickly when the hotel is at capacity. A handful of plastic patio chairs line two sides and, although there are no umbrellas, the surrounding tropical greenery ensures constant shade throughout the day. Buffet breakfast is served daily. However, the menu selection is limited to simple baked goods, cold cereal, some fruit, and coffee/tea. From midday on, the kitchen serves finger foods like sandwiches and tacos and offers inexpensive happy hour cocktails. Free Wi-Fi is available property-wide, along with self-parking in a staffed, off-street lot.