Kimkim favorite
Hotel Playa Espadilla, Manuel Antonio
Simple hotel nestled in the jungle yet close to the beach with bright rooms, beautiful ambience, and outdoor spaces.
Cindy S.
This was my favorite stay out of the three I visited! The receptionist here is amazing! The food wasn't great, but there are so many restaurants... Read more
Daniel N.
Fab hotel in a great location. Staff, cleanliness, private little nature walk, pool and a great restaurant. Would definitely go back and highly recommend it.
DIANA T.
I loved it here. So close to the national park and beach. It is surrounded by the park so you hear all the beautiful sounds of... Read more
J
James K.
Great vibe, great location, lovely little pool, just a really good fit for us. Monkeys, lizards and exotic birds on the grounds all the time. The... Read more
J
Joann B.
walking distance to the forest and the beach. Many restaurants within walking distance. Hotel was clean - lots of precautions. Pool was nice with swim up... Read more
Overview
You'll find Hotel Playa Espadilla just steps away from both Espadilla Beach and the entrance to the national park. The property offers a pretty cool vibe with an outdoor pool, private cabanas covered in beach grass, and an open-air restaurant and bar with wooden tables under trees and twinkly lights. Rooms and suites are spacious but straightforward, with colorful art and warm details. Other amenities include a garden with a nature trail, free WiFi, and an on-site souvenir shop.
Pros
Pros
- The hotel is just down the street from Espadilla Beach and within walking distance of the national park and several restaurants.
- The property has a great atmosphere, with its outdoor pool area featuring grass-covered cabanas and the gardens a nature trail.
- The open-air restaurant and bar create a nice ambiance with high-top tables, wooden furniture, and twinkly lights strung through trees.
- The restaurant serves international food, and the bar hosts a daily happy hour.
- There's an on-site souvenir shop and tennis court.
- There's no gym or spa.
- The rooms feel a bit dated.
Kimkim's Take
Authenticity
Hotel Playa Espadilla does a good job of blending into the natural surroundings. You'll find muted lodges with wooden accents and wraparound balconies connecting all second-floor rooms. A jungle of tropical plants, palms, and tall trees surrounds the property, making the outdoor dining area especially inviting.Location
Though it's not a waterfront accommodation, Hotel Playa Espadilla is just a 1-minute walk to the main beach, Playa Espadilla. In the other direction, a 2-minute walk takes you to the national park's entrance, where you can easily connect to the Park Trail. You'll also be within walking distance of several restaurants and cafés, many overlooking the beach.Rooms & Bathrooms
You have your choice between standard rooms and suites. All are basic, with tile floors and wooden beds. However, they're relatively spacious and comfortable, with colorful art and bed linens to add a bit of warmth. All rooms come with cable TV, air-conditioning, minifridges, and coffee makers, and though the bathrooms are clean, they're a bit small, and the water temperature can be tricky. One quirky detail about the rooms is that the doors stay open unless you lock them.Other Highlights
The ambience of the hotel's outdoor spaces, especially the open-air restaurant, is its main highlight. You can sit at high-top wooden tables and eat your dinner under tall trees strung with lights. The outdoor pool area is also atmospheric, with cabanas covered in beachgrass. The food at the restaurant is tasty and international but uses Costa Rican flavors to mix it up.Sustainability
Because the property sits within the jungle, part of the grounds includes primary and secondary forests protected under the Espadilla Wildlife Refuge. The hotel uses energy-saving techniques and alternative energies (such as solar) and earned five stars in the Blue Flag and Green Flag (drinking water management) programs.Hotel Information
3-star Hotel
Manuel Antonio Park road, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, Costa Rica
Traveler Reviews
8 total ratings, 7 with reviews
5.0 out of 5
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
4.9
4.9
Location
5.0
5.0
Staff
4.9
4.9
Cleanliness & Comfort
5.0
5.0
Cindy S.
Riverside, CA
| Reviewed on Jun 30, 2023
This was my favorite stay out of the three I visited! The receptionist here is amazing! The food wasn't great, but there are so many restaurants literally 2 mins away walking. I loved the pool, breakfast was included, the bar was awesome, their laundry service is a fair price, and the ambience in general is really nice here.
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Daniel N.
United Kingdom
| Reviewed on Apr 12, 2023
Fab hotel in a great location.
Staff, cleanliness, private little nature walk, pool and a great restaurant.
Would definitely go back and highly recommend it. Read more
Staff, cleanliness, private little nature walk, pool and a great restaurant.
Would definitely go back and highly recommend it. Read more
DIANA T.
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
| Reviewed on Feb 09, 2023
I loved it here. So close to the national park and beach. It is surrounded by the park so you hear all the beautiful sounds of nature. The grounds are manicured beautifully and the staff is so nice. The food for all meals was great too. Would definitely stay here again.
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J
James K.
Seattle, WA
| Reviewed on Aug 12, 2022
Great vibe, great location, lovely little pool, just a really good fit for us. Monkeys, lizards and exotic birds on the grounds all the time. The restaurant doesn't have the deepest menu, but the food is _fantastic_. Would stay here again, no question. One small warning: in the restaurant, particularly at breakfast, avoid the corners of the sitting area furthest from the kitchen. The flies there are insufferable. Deeper into the seating area, things are fine.
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J
Joann B.
Tipp City, OH
| Reviewed on Jun 10, 2022
walking distance to the forest and the beach. Many restaurants within walking distance. Hotel was clean - lots of precautions. Pool was nice with swim up bar. Food - breakfast and other meals fantastic. The best fish tacos ever and I don't usually like fish tacos.
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R
Roger D.
Sunland Park, NM
| Reviewed on May 31, 2022
Excellent hotel, nice bar and dinner room
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Shochet M.
Broomfield, CO
| Reviewed on Feb 22, 2022
Perfect location to jump off for a Manuel Antonio park visit or a snorkeling / dive trip. We spent 2 nights there and were very comfortable. The room was large and clean, and the grounds have wildlife but we ran out of time there to explore due to an all day snorkeling trip we took. We really liked this hotel and Manuel Antonio in general. We ate dinner at Oceano and it was so good!
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