Manuel Antonio is a family-friendly destination, chock full of activities and perks adored by all ages. Kids and adults alike will love hiking through the national park and time spent on the beach. Luckily, kimkim recommends quite a few family-friendly hotels in Manuel Antonio, so you can ensure everyone is happily entertained.
## Discovering the Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Manuel Antonio: A Detailed Guide
Planning a family vacation to the stunning region of Manuel Antonio requires careful consideration of accommodation. Finding the perfect hotel that caters to both adults and children can significantly enhance your travel experience. Manuel Antonio boasts a diverse range of hotels, each offering unique amenities and experiences. This guide delves into some of the best family-friendly options, providing an extended look at what makes them ideal for your next adventure.
## Parador Resort & Spa
For families seeking an exceptional mid-range hotel experience in Manuel Antonio, the Parador Resort & Spa emerges as a premier choice. While it is indeed a large hotel, the meticulously maintained and expansive grounds, cascading down the hillside, create an atmosphere of surprising intimacy. This careful design allows guests to feel secluded and relaxed, despite the hotel’s generous size. Each of the property’s 129 rooms is thoughtfully appointed with modern amenities designed to ensure a comfortable and convenient stay. These include essential features such as air conditioning, crucial for the tropical climate, and minifridges, perfect for storing snacks and beverages for the whole family.
For those seeking an elevated experience, the premium rooms offer the added luxury of private balconies, providing breathtaking sea views that stretch out to the horizon. The suites take luxury a step further, encompassing all the features of the premium rooms while also boasting private Jacuzzis, offering a tranquil space to unwind after a day of exploring. Families requiring more space and flexibility will find the Penthouse, Family Suite, or La Casita options particularly appealing. These accommodations function more like fully equipped apartments, complete with multiple bedrooms, ample seating areas, and either full kitchens or convenient kitchenettes. This setup allows families to enjoy the comforts of home while on vacation, making meal preparation and relaxation a breeze.
Another significant advantage of staying at Parador Resort & Spa is its convenient proximity to the tranquil and secluded Biesanz Beach. A leisurely seven-minute walk will bring you to this hidden gem, where you can rent kayaks and snorkel gear, inviting you to explore the vibrant underwater world. The resort also thoughtfully provides a direct shuttle service to Espadilla Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the area, making it easy to access its golden sands and exciting surf.
On-site, guests can indulge in a variety of amenities designed to enhance their stay. The beautiful outdoor pools, complete with stunning ocean views, offer a refreshing escape, while the dedicated kids club provides engaging activities for younger guests. The mini-golf course is another fantastic option for family fun, offering hours of entertainment for all ages. When hunger strikes, you can conveniently dine at La Galeria, the resort’s main restaurant, which offers a diverse menu featuring both a breakfast buffet and an a la carte selection of local and international culinary delights. For a more casual experience, you can grab snacks and refreshments at the lounge bar or the swim-up bar, allowing you to enjoy your favorite treats without leaving the pool. The resort also offers unique dining options, including a wine cellar for the connoisseurs and private dining for special occasions, ensuring that every culinary desire is catered to.
## Hotel Costa Verde
For travelers seeking a truly unique and memorable experience, Hotel Costa Verde stands out as an exceptional choice, although its quirky nature may not appeal to all tastes. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by an array of eye-catching banners, billboards, and repurposed old airplanes that have been ingeniously transformed into restaurants and villas. This eclectic collection, combined with the hotel’s sprawling 20-acre grounds, creates the impression of a self-contained and whimsical town. As you explore the property, you’ll discover walls and light fixtures crafted from recycled glass bottles, along with handcrafted wood furniture, showcasing a commitment to sustainability and artistic innovation. This distinctive and playful atmosphere is sure to capture the imaginations of curious young minds, making it an especially entertaining option for families with children.
The accommodations at Hotel Costa Verde are as diverse and intriguing as the rest of the property. A wide selection of rooms, cabanas, bungalows, and cottages are scattered across the 20 acres of lush forests and vibrant jungles. Each unit is thoughtfully designed and equipped with a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient stay, including private patios or balconies, perfect for enjoying the surrounding natural beauty, cable TV for entertainment, air conditioning to combat the tropical heat, reliable WiFi for staying connected, and convenient kitchenettes that allow families to prepare their own meals and save money. Many of the furnishings incorporate recycled materials, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to environmental responsibility. For a truly unforgettable experience, consider staying in the cockpit cottage, accessible via a hanging bridge, offering a unique and adventurous accommodation option.
Situated on a bluff, Hotel Costa Verde boasts breathtaking views from all corners of the property. The panoramic vistas are particularly impressive from the top of the property, where you’ll find an old helipad that has been transformed into a stunning terrace. The property offers a wide range of amenities to keep guests entertained and relaxed, including three outdoor pools. Two of the pools are designed with families in mind, while the third is reserved for adults only, providing a tranquil escape for those seeking a more peaceful experience. Nearby, a sun deck and lounge offer the perfect space to soak up the sun and enjoy refreshing beverages. When it comes to dining, guests have five different eateries to choose from, including two on-site restaurants offering open-air dining experiences, and three other options located along the road near the hotel’s entrance. Accessing the beach requires a pleasant 10-minute walk via a fairly steep path, adding a touch of adventure to your beach excursions. The hotel is also conveniently located within walking distance of a variety of offsite restaurants and cafés, providing additional dining options and opportunities to explore the local area.
## Hotel San Bada
When it comes to location, it’s hard to beat Hotel San Bada, which enjoys an enviable position right next door to the renowned national park, placing it even closer than the official parking lot. Its proximity to the beach is another major advantage, with a private path leading to the sands in just a two-minute walk. Unlike many of the other hotels in the area, Hotel San Bada is situated on relatively flat terrain, making its grounds more accessible for guests with mobility issues or families with strollers. The hotel’s exterior is bright and colorful, showcasing unique architecture and vibrant mosaic tiles that add to its overall charm.
While the design and amenities of the rooms are fairly standard, each of the 67 rooms boasts a private balcony offering stunning jungle or beach views. The rooms are designed to be warm and inviting, featuring wooden furniture, comfortable beds, cable TV, minifridges, and air conditioning to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, the suites offer Jacuzzi tubs, and one option even includes an open-air loft, providing a unique and memorable accommodation experience. The bathrooms are clean and spacious, and many have been recently renovated to ensure a modern and comfortable feel.
Hotel San Bada offers a range of entertainment options for guests of all ages. The family pool is a popular spot, featuring artificial waterfalls, an accessible ramp, and a swim-up bar, allowing families to relax and have fun together. There’s also an adults-only rooftop pool with a terrace and bar, providing a tranquil escape with stunning views. Other amenities include a surprisingly extensive breakfast buffet, offering a wide variety of options to start your day, an on-site restaurant serving delicious meals, a sushi bar for those craving Japanese cuisine, and spa services for guests seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
## La Mariposa Hotel
If breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views are a priority for your family, La Mariposa Hotel is an excellent choice. Perched on the highest point in the region, this hotel offers unparalleled vistas of the lush rainforest jungle and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. With 65 rooms, La Mariposa Hotel is a sizable property, but it still manages to maintain an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. The rooms are truly exceptional, thanks in large part to the stunning views they offer. Some units even feature wraparound porches and Jacuzzis, providing the ultimate in relaxation and luxury.
While the standard category rooms may not be the best fit for families, the two- and three-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes offer ample space and a convenient place to prepare meals. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of a grocery store and a few restaurants, making it easy to stock up on supplies or enjoy a meal out.
Although La Mariposa Hotel is located farther from Espadilla Beach and the national park, the hotel operates a scheduled shuttle to the main sites four times daily, making it easy to access these popular attractions. It’s also just a 20-minute walk (up and down a few hills) from Biesanz Beach, providing another option for enjoying the sand and surf. If you prefer to relax on-site, you can enjoy the hilltop open-air Le Papillon Restaurant, the inviting lounge/bar area, and the refreshing outdoor infinity pools. The hotel’s design incorporates bright neutral colors, lush green tropical plants, and charming thatched roofing, creating a serene and relaxing atmosphere.
## Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge
For families seeking a resort that offers endless entertainment and activities, Si Como No Resort is an ideal choice. This resort truly lives up to its name, meaning “Yes, of course!”, providing everything you need for a memorable and fun-filled vacation. With its extensive range of amenities, including two restaurants, two swimming pools (one with a thrilling waterslide), a movie theater (currently on hold due to COVID), and a full-service spa, you may never want to leave! When you’re ready for a change of scenery, you can easily walk through a nature reserve across the street or hop on the hotel’s shuttle to the beach or national park.
The resort’s buildings are thoughtfully designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment, utilizing neutral colors and warm hardwood finishes. Spread across 10 acres, the property offers ample opportunities to spot local wildlife from your balcony or while exploring the nature trails. While the rooms may feel a bit dated, they all offer at least partial ocean views, as well as stunning views of the surrounding jungle. They are generally spacious, bright, and inviting, featuring unique wooden ceilings, air conditioning, and minifridges. Notably, the rooms do not have TVs, which is a deliberate choice to maintain the tranquil atmosphere of the resort. For families seeking more space and enhanced views, the deluxe rooms or suites are an excellent option, offering bigger balconies with near panoramic vistas.
By exploring these diverse and family-friendly hotel options in Manuel Antonio, you can ensure that your next vacation is a truly unforgettable experience, filled with comfort, convenience, and endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Each hotel offers its unique charm and amenities, catering to different preferences and needs, allowing you to select the perfect base for your family’s Manuel Antonio adventure.
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