Hotel San Bada Adult-Only Rooftop Pool
Hotel San Bada Adult-Only Rooftop Pool

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa, Manuel Antonio

Family-friendly hotel adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park with ocean views, multiple pools, and easy beach access

Overview

Hotel San Bada's location is nearly perfect: it's next door to the entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park and a 2-minute walk to the beach on a private path. The property opened in 2010 with a colorful exterior and rustic, farmhouse-style decor. The 67 rooms, some of which could use a refresh, have jungle or beach views. A family-friendly pool has artificial waterfalls, and an adults-only rooftop pool has a bar. Other amenities include a restaurant, sushi bar, and spa services.  

Pros
  • You'll enjoy a superb location next to the national park's entrance and within walking distance to numerous beaches.
  • There are multiple outdoor pools: one is a family-friendly option with waterfalls and a swim-up bar, one is for small children, and the other is a rooftop adults-only pool and bar.
  • The breakfast buffet is quite extensive at the restaurant, and you also have the option to eat at the sushi bar, which has ocean views. 
  • All rooms have balconies with either partial ocean views or jungle views.
  • As a hotel guest, you'll have access to a private hiking area with waterfalls (located off-site).
Cons
  • The hotel is on the street leading to the national park and its parking lot, so it can get busy with tourist traffic.
  • The property's common areas could use some updating.
  • The rooftop pool tends to be crowded and has just a few lounge chairs.
  • Rooms on the fifth floor above the lounge and pool can be loud.
  • Travelers said the gym's equipment is outdated and sometimes broken. 

Kimkim's Take

Brittany
Brittany McNamara kimkim staff
Based on kimkim staff visit, March 2022 (Learn more)

Authenticity

The hotel is large, yet feels tucked away in the jungle. The exterior is bright and colorful, with unique architecture and mosaic tiles. You can enjoy the Costa Rican jungle by relaxing in the pool areas surrounded by tropical plants or enjoying ocean views from the adult-only rooftop.

Location

Hotel San Bada's location is ideal for experiencing Manuel Antonio. It's directly next to the national park's entrance (closer to the official parking lot) and a quick walk to the beach via a private trail. As a bonus, the property is relatively flat—not set on a steep hill like many area accommodations.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The hotel is large; it has 67 rooms, many featuring partial ocean views. If you're not looking out to the water, your scene is the jungle and national park, as every room has a private balcony. Rooms are warm and inviting, with wooden furniture, comfortable beds, cable TV, minifridges, and air-conditioning. Suites have Jacuzzi tubs, and one option has an open-air loft. Bathrooms are clean and spacious—some recently renovated.

Sustainability

The hotel holds a ​​​​Certification for Sustainable Tourism. The following are a few sustainability initiatives you may notice: the residual energy from the air-conditioning heats the hotel's water; all cleaning products are biodegradable and environmentally friendly; and the hotel uses a water treatment to filter out bacteria.

Wildlife

The hotel allows travelers to see the park's wildlife from their rooms and around the grounds. Howler and capuchin monkeys, iguanas, hummingbirds, parrots, toucans, and lizards roam the property. It's possible to see a bare-throated tiger heron's nest from the rooftop pool area.

Amenities

Hotel San Bada has three pools. The large main family pool is at the center of the property, with a bridge, fountain, and swim-up bar. Adjacent to the main pool is a shallow kids' pool with three artificial waterfalls. On the hotel's sixth floor, a small rooftop pool has ocean views and a poolside bar. There's a spa and a 24-hour gym. Elevators make upper-floor rooms accessible, and there are rooms with grab rails, lower sinks, and floor-level showers for travelers with reduced mobility.

Family-Friendliness

The hotel is popular with families, featuring a kids' pool, children's menus, and a free stay for kids under age 12. Superior or Deluxe Rooms are best for families with two beds and the option for a room with a bathtub. Kids will also enjoy the opportunity to see wildlife around the property.

Other Highlights

Hotel San Bada has two on-site restaurants, Congo and Perezoso Sushi Bar. Congo serves a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner in an open-air dining room by the pool. On the hotel's rooftop with ocean views, Perezoso Sushi Bar is open for lunch, happy hour, and dinner, serving an a la carte menu and an all-you-can-eat night. Both restaurants have a full bar.

Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 3.5-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506-2-7775333
Hotel address icon Next to Manuel Antonio National Park Entrance

Traveler Reviews

18 total ratings, 15 with reviews
3.7 out of 5
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
3.8
Location
4.6
Staff
4.6
Cleanliness & Comfort
3.8
Paul
Paul S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Feb 11, 2024
OUTDATED...food needs sign ificant improvement...wonderful staff Read more

OUTDATED...food needs sign ificant improvement...wonderful staff

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2024
K
Kiko S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Feb 10, 2024
Pros: Wonderful staff, great location, breakfast buffet, swim up bar, quiet
Cons: dated premise, spotty Wifi (at checkout the credit card machine went offline), our bathroom had soap scum and hair, common areas are hot, quiet (we were here on a weekday so the vibe might pick up during the weekend idk)
Our meals were fine at the hotel, very nice and friendly staff. We also ventured out and can recommend El Chante (low key 80/90's American pop music), Morpho Beach Bar (walkable) and El Avion... Read more

Pros: Wonderful staff, great location, breakfast buffet, swim up bar, quiet
Cons: dated premise, spotty Wifi (at checkout the credit card machine went offline), our bathroom had soap scum and hair, common areas are hot, quiet (we were here on a weekday so the vibe might pick up during the weekend idk)

Our meals were fine at the hotel, very nice and friendly staff. We also ventured out and can recommend El Chante (low key 80/90's American pop music), Morpho Beach Bar (walkable) and El Avion (nice sunset views in an old airplane hanger)

Authenticity & Character
Was expecting more from 4 star hotel
Location
Could not be easier getting to the National Park and beach.
Staff
Friendly and tried to be helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2024
Chris
Chris G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2024
The hotel was nice and staff were great, but everything does feel a little run down. The pool wasn’t fully operational and wifi was spotty or out. Read more

The hotel was nice and staff were great, but everything does feel a little run down. The pool wasn’t fully operational and wifi was spotty or out.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Access to the park can’t be beat and it is walkable to the beach. I would feel unsafe taking the access tunnel to the beach alone. But it might be better to stay closer to Quepos for restaurants and excursions outside the park.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The staff kept everything cleanly but the hotel feels a bit rundown. The pool fountains and hot tub were broken, the room door had large gaps, the patio door can be opened even when locked and a lot of visible tile/caulking repairs in the bathroom
Stayed in January 2024
Piper
Piper L.
Sunnyvale, CA | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2023
Hotel right at the edge of the national park, nice to have pool downstairs where you could order food and we enjoyed the restaurant at the top of the hotel with the great view. Read more

Hotel right at the edge of the national park, nice to have pool downstairs where you could order food and we enjoyed the restaurant at the top of the hotel with the great view.

Authenticity & Character
Being by the national Park you could see monkeys in the trees at the hotel.
Location
Staff
When we asked for someone to come up and work on our hot water problem, they did.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in July 2023
G
Guillermo T.
West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023
Great location for park and beach. Rooms are a bit worn, but functional. Pool Bar was great, the whole staff was amazing at both bars had great bartenders, I believe Estrella was one gal and Josue upstairs. Read more

Great location for park and beach. Rooms are a bit worn, but functional. Pool Bar was great, the whole staff was amazing at both bars had great bartenders, I believe Estrella was one gal and Josue upstairs.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in June 2023
Tara
Tara Z.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023
Excellent location right near entrance to Manuel Antonio NP. Comfortable room facing the ocean was great for early morning bird watching and howler monkey listening. Included breakfast was an excellent buffet. Read more

Excellent location right near entrance to Manuel Antonio NP. Comfortable room facing the ocean was great for early morning bird watching and howler monkey listening. Included breakfast was an excellent buffet.

Authenticity & Character
Location
right near national park; no need to drive
Staff
friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in February 2023
Elizabeth
Elizabeth R.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Feb 24, 2023
Nice, older hotel with excellent pool for the entire family and a separate 6th floor pool on top. Rooms very spacious and comfortable. Nice bar and excellent breakfasts.
This hotel is located right next to the Manuel Antonio park so it is very conveniently located for quick access to the park and quick access to many, many restaurants in walking distance on the street.
The concierge also very accommodating and helpful.
Read more

Nice, older hotel with excellent pool for the entire family and a separate 6th floor pool on top. Rooms very spacious and comfortable. Nice bar and excellent breakfasts.
This hotel is located right next to the Manuel Antonio park so it is very conveniently located for quick access to the park and quick access to many, many restaurants in walking distance on the street.
The concierge also very accommodating and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
located right next to Manuel Antonio park and the animals can also be seen on the grounds of this hotel
Staff
very friendly staff who assisted with taxis and getting around town
Cleanliness & Comfort
very clean comfortable and spacious rooms
Stayed in February 2023
Amanda
Amanda S.
Highlands Ranch, CO | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2023
We loved the location of this hotel but it was run down and in need of a renovation. The gaudy, fake/cheap look of it reminded me of Orlando, Florida. We had a "superior" room on the 4th floor that overlooked an impoverished housing area behind the hotel. Room didn't feel clean and had mosquitoes in it. Toilet was the only one on our trip we could not flush toilet paper down. Ate at the "Congo" restaurant and got diarrhea (also the only time this happened on the trip). We actually... Read more

We loved the location of this hotel but it was run down and in need of a renovation. The gaudy, fake/cheap look of it reminded me of Orlando, Florida. We had a "superior" room on the 4th floor that overlooked an impoverished housing area behind the hotel. Room didn't feel clean and had mosquitoes in it. Toilet was the only one on our trip we could not flush toilet paper down. Ate at the "Congo" restaurant and got diarrhea (also the only time this happened on the trip). We actually ended up buying day passes at another hotel to get away from this one.

Authenticity & Character
see above
Location
right next to manual antonio national park and walking distance to the beach
Staff
nice staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
see above
Stayed in February 2023
Joseph
Joseph M.
Grand Lake, CO | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023
Conveniently located right next to Manuel Antonio National Park entrance for easy access. Nice kind staff. The hotel itself seemed a little more dated and not as well maintained as other properties we visited. The rooms were more traditional than modern. Nice pool area with snack/drink bar. Property is not on the beach but there are marginal views of ocean from 5th and 6th floors. Beware of rooms on 5th floor - raccoons (or Coati) fighting in attic at 3:00-4:00 am for all three nights of our... Read more

Conveniently located right next to Manuel Antonio National Park entrance for easy access. Nice kind staff. The hotel itself seemed a little more dated and not as well maintained as other properties we visited. The rooms were more traditional than modern. Nice pool area with snack/drink bar. Property is not on the beach but there are marginal views of ocean from 5th and 6th floors. Beware of rooms on 5th floor - raccoons (or Coati) fighting in attic at 3:00-4:00 am for all three nights of our stay. Issues with hot water availability. Not really our preference of smaller, quiet, serene boutique hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Spanish flair styling, thatched roof Congo restaurant, rooftop sushi restaurant. Nice balcony at back of bedroom facing distant ocean views.
Location
If we are staying at the beach, we want to be on the beach. If access to Manuel Antonio National Park is your priority, stay here.
Staff
Housekeeping did a great job cleaning our room and creating "towel animals" in our bedroom - fun! Front desk was very helpful. Especially, Kenneth ... always kind, greeting us every day and at my request, was able to arrange for bouquet of flowers for my wife on Valentine's Day. Ema or Eva at pool provided great service - try the Congo Temptation. Rooftop restaurant staff needs some training on hospitality.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was clean and comfortable. Room was well stocked. Good air conditioning. Biggest problem was the raccoons (or Coati) fighting in the attic every morning between 3:00-4:00 am. We reported it to the front desk, they acknowledged the problem and reported it to maintenance.
Stayed in February 2023
Bradley
Bradley C.
Savage, MN | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2023
Great location next to Manuel Antonio Parque and a short stroll to the beach. Attentive staff at check-in and helpful to us throughout our stay. Enjoyed the main and sixth floor pools, plus the view of the Pacific from the rooftop eating area. Clean, comfortable rooms. Read more

Great location next to Manuel Antonio Parque and a short stroll to the beach. Attentive staff at check-in and helpful to us throughout our stay. Enjoyed the main and sixth floor pools, plus the view of the Pacific from the rooftop eating area. Clean, comfortable rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in January 2023