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Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana

3.0 star property
Beachfront hotel with 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa

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Hotel El Manglar sits in Palm Beach Estates with easy access to Tamarindo Beach. Travelers can split their time between riding waves on white sand beaches and unwinding at the outdoor pool. The spa offers sports massages for post-adventure recovery.
VIP Access

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Laundry
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included

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Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 9 of 9 rooms

View all photos for Superior Villa, 1 King Bed, Kitchen, Pool View

Superior Villa, 1 King Bed, Kitchen, Pool View | Terrace/patio

Superior Villa, 1 King Bed, Kitchen, Pool View

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
  • 60 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen, Garden View

Terrace/patio

Superior Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen, Garden View

Highlights

Balcony
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Private bathroom
  • 75 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Refrigerator

Standard Double Room, Refrigerator | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Standard Double Room, Refrigerator

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Private bathroom
Bathrobes
Minibar
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Private bathroom
Bathrobes
Minibar
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Villa

Deluxe Villa | Terrace/patio

Deluxe Villa

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Bathrobes
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside

Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Bathrobes
Hair dryer
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside

Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Bathrobes
Hair dryer
  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside

Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside

Highlights

Deck/patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Bathrobes
Hair dryer
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Studio, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

Superior Studio, 1 King Bed, Kitchen | 2 bedrooms, minibar, in-room safe, soundproofing

Superior Studio, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

Highlights

Furnished patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
2 bedrooms
Private bathroom
  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
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About the neighborhood

Map
50308, Guanacaste, Cabo Velas, Palm Beach Estates

What's nearby

  • Grande Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Las Baulas National Marine Park - 6 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Tamarindo Beach - 36 min drive - 19.2 km
  • Playa Langosta - 43 min drive - 22.3 km
  • Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course - 50 min drive - 27.6 km

Getting around

  • Daniel Oduber Intl. Airport (LIR) - 96 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante Brisa Mar - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Nari - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪Pico Bistro - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Rural - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Agua Salada - ‬31 min drive

About this property

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana

Hotel near Tamarindo Beach
Consider a stay at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana and take advantage of an airport shuttle, a terrace, and a coffee shop/cafe. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location and surfing. Indulge in a Swedish massage, a facial, and a body treatment at the onsite spa. The on-site restaurant, Bistro Cantarana, offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and pool views. In addition to a garden and a library, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi, with speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices).
Other perks include:
  • 2 outdoor pools along with sun loungers
  • Free self parking
  • A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), express check-out, and an outdoor pickleball court
  • Concierge services, luggage storage, and charcoal grills
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff and location
Room features
All guestrooms at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana boast comforts such as air conditioning and bathrobes, in addition to amenities like free WiFi and safes.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and shampoo
  • 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels
  • Wardrobes/closets, refrigerators, and limited housekeeping

Similar properties

Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

Hotel Cantarana

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 142 reviews
Hotel Cantarana

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free secured, uncovered self parking on site

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • Bistro Cantarana

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Basketball
  • Full-service spa
  • Library
  • Outdoor pickleball court
  • Scooter/moped rentals
  • Surf lessons
  • Surfing/bodyboarding
  • TV in common areas
  • Yoga classes

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (weekdays only)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • On the beach
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Facials
  • Sports massages
  • Swedish massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • No elevator

More

  • Mosquito nets
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 42-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Minibar
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Mobile key entry
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:30 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 40
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 9:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from September 1 to October 31:
  • One of the dining venues
  • Bar/Lounge

Access methods

Access code, front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 10 per pet, per night, plus a deposit of USD 150.0 per stay

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 120 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)
  • Pet deposit: USD 150.0 per stay
  • Pet fee: USD 10 per pet, per night
  • Late check-out fee: USD 40 (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Reservations are required for massage services; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Hotel El Manglar Playa Grande
El Manglar Playa Grande
Hotel El Manglar Hotel
Hotel El Manglar Cabo Velas
Hotel El Manglar Hotel Cabo Velas

Frequently asked questions

Does Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana have a pool?

Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools.

Is Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. There's a deposit of USD 150.0 per stay and a fee of USD 10 per pet, per night.

How much is parking at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:30 PM.

What time is check-out at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Check-out is at 10 AM. Late check-out is available for USD 40 (subject to availability).

Does Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle. A fee of USD 120 per vehicle applies.

Where is Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana located?

Located in Palm Beach Estates, this beachfront hotel is in a national park, 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Grande Beach, and 1.9 mi (3 km) from Las Baulas National Marine Park. Conchal Beach and Ventanas Beach are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 185 out of 303 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 82 out of 303 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 25 out of 303 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 303 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 303 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leialoha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved this sweet little hotel. Simple, clean, comfortable, amazing beach access. Lovely staff, great location. We could have stayed longer!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Noemy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well located, excellent service surround by nature. Lovely place.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deepthi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is located in a very quite place. Thry have a shared kitchen where you can make your own food. Resturents are not nearby.Drive is not that great due to roads. Overall nice experience
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great help at the front desk. Friendly staff!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Miranda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A beautiful quiet stay as close to the beach as you can get. The staff are amazing and really make this a special place.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a lovely stay at this charming and intimate hotel. It is in a perfect location to enjoy the most beautiful beach.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff were warm and friendly. The location was excellent. Very relaxing vacation!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shawn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great little place to stay with very friendly and helpful staff. Great food and great beaches nearby. Much better than being in Tamarido.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved it. Can’t wait to go back.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Mónica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice place.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel El Manglar is amazing. Even though it was the cheapest place we stayed along the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, the staff and the high standard of the hotel, made it one of the most boutique and chic. The staff was very attentive and friendly and gave lots of recommendations. The grounds were beautiful and the pool was nice with lots of areas outside to hang out. Our room although small was very comfortable, clean and stylish. This part of Playa Grande is a little off the beaten track but there were still a few good restaurants as well as a little store nearby. We ended up renting bikes and I definitely recommend this as a way to explore the area if you don't have a car. The hotel also had its own cafe and restaurant, yoga and a beach access as well as surf boards to rent. It was a very relaxing and beautiful stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

kenneth

Liked: Cleanliness
All wonderful Added another night
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Liked the outdoor kitchen.

10/10 Excellent

Bruno

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Best place to stay in Grande. Walking distance to surf, quiet, nice common areas, safe, good parking. I’ve been coming back for years!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

6/10 Okay

Jenny

Liked: Staff & service
We had a basic double room. It is very small, has only a small window that didn't open and had no hooks or place to put bags or wet clothes. For the ptricr
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Close to the ocean and very nice hotel

Everything was very nice and a one minute walk to the ocean. The facilities are very good including a very comfortable bed and good shower and bathroom. I wish there were hooks in the bathroom to hang towels, there was just one small towel bar. The air conditioning worked well and the staff was friendly. good Swimming Pool, good everything.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel El Manglar is maybe my most favorite hotel EVER! The grounds are beautiful!! The staff is so kind and helpful. Dylan and Georgia at the front desk were just incredible! The beach is stunning and the private path to the beach is magical! Our villa was comfortable and very clean. It had a king size bed, large shower, nice little kitchen and sitting area. Both the sitting area and kitchen had French doors that opened to the porch. We enjoyed our Costa Rican coffee and banana bread each morning on the porch. We had everything we needed! We loved the hammock on our private porch too! We surfed every day and I conveniently rented my surfboard from the hotel. We also enjoyed swimming in the lovely pool after a surf session. The owners of this hotel have created a paradise environment in Playa Grande. Dylan even arranged a tour of the estuary where we saw all kinds of wildlife including iguanas, crocodiles, the mangrove hawk and a family of Howler Monkeys. The food at the hotel's restaurant (a short walk from the hotel grounds) was delicious and fresh with great service (Luis). There is also another restaurant next door that serves great food and the homemade banana bread. I can't wait to go back!!! Hotel El Manglar is dreamy!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The power goes out regularly and who cares. This is an awesome spot.😀
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Teuta

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A lovely, unique property with a nature feel. A minute walk to the beach, surf boards and boogie boards can be rented from them. Catch a yoga classes on certain days. There is even a kitchen in the outdoor common area which guests are free to use. This is convenient with a market around the corner if you dont want to eat out. Great simple place if you dont mind not having all the frills. We loved it here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed staying here. The staff is super sweet and helpful and the grounds are well maintained and plenty of shade and places to relax when you need time out of the sun. We had everything we needed and the wave out front was never crowded, we never felt the need to travel elsewhere for surfing…love it! The area is very quiet and safe. If you want hustle and bustle it’s about a mile walk up the beach to the river, where you can take boat across and walk into Tamarindo, but only during the day - the boat doesn’t run after about 4pm so be mindful of the time! Thank you for a great experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

tientse

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This property has no hot water. The water is not cold… but it will not get hot. Besides that we enjoyed our stay here
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice hotel but the roads were horrible to get there. We actually crossed 2 streams and very rocky conditions. The staff, especially the girls were so friendly and ready to help. There was no drawers to put our clothes. We lived out of the suitcases. We really liked the private assess to the beach which was like 500 feet away. Lost power a few times but came back on in 10 minutes. The restaurant adjacent to the hotel is excellent and very affordable. The food is delicious.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Noisy accommodation

Good accommodation but not a ‘villa’ and quite a dark apartment. Primary problem was development noise (hammering / drilling) next door stopped us sitting outside or using the pool. Also the gardener was using a leaf blower whilst we were at the pool - too much noise - we had to leave the pool - give him a broom !!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amie Ann

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We truly enjoyed our stay in our Villa. It was quiet, beautifully landscaped with very friendly and helpful staff. We enjoyed the very close Cafe Mar Azul beach vibe restaurant. We enjoyed seeing and hearing monkeys nearby. It was a very short walk in a beautiful pathway to the stunning beach with amazing sunsets.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maxime

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Tout était parfait, merci à Yorya pour son aide précieuse et sa bonne humeur contagieuse, nous voulons absolument y retourner. Pura vida!
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2025