First Impression: Wow, the property is stunning. They really put a lot of effort into relaxing spaces and intricate touches to each part of the hotel.
Length of Stay: 24 hours – We arrived into Liberia in late afternoon which meant we needed a hotel with close proximity to Liberia airport that offered pool/beach access.
Location & Accessibility: Gulf of Papagayo, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica – it was a 30 minute drive from the airport to the hotel. Very easy to access from the main roads. We had a rental car so it was easy to follow directions as there were signage along the main highway and roads leading to El Mangroove. They offered complimentary on-site valet parking for our rental car.
Budget: In total, we paid just around $400 for a one night stay with room charge, F&B, and taxes. Originally it was supposed to be in the $300 range for the day but the food and beverages drove the cost up. There is an option to add all-inclusive to your stay which might be worth it since the F&B charges will add up during your stay unless you eat off-property.
Facilities: The property itself is very accessible, we stayed at the furthest building from the beach and it was a short walk to get access to the beach. The restaurants are located right near the pool, so everything congregates in one area. During our stay, it was very quiet on the property as it was between the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) so it felt very peaceful. I could see if the property was busier, you would notice it more in the popular areas like the pool.
Hospitality: We were welcomed the second we arrived on the property. The valet greeted us and offered to help bring in our luggage, at check-in it was a smooth process and we were shown our room in a timely manner. Everyone was very friendly and helpful when we had questions. We stayed a short time (24 hours) so we didn’t get to know any of the staff while we were there but we had no issues with hospitality.
Pool & Beach: The pool is the focal point of the hotel and they really designed the location around the pool view into the beach. At sunset, it was stunning! The pool had one side devoted to cabana suites that you could pay to reserve. The other side was first come, first served. There are other relaxing spots in between the pool and beach to kick back in a beach chair. Once off property, there might be some locals selling items but they were friendly and didn’t bother you if you said you weren’t interested. The beach was great for walking, very isolated and peaceful. There were only a handful of people on the beach at sunset.
Room Layout: We stayed in the Nesto Suite which offered two queen beds, a open area living room, desk, and bathroom amenities. If it’s your first time to Costa Rica, you might be surprised by the room layout but it’s very typical in Costa Rica to have an entry area that’s not air conditioned. Once in the bedroom and bathroom, you have air conditioning. I like the open air entry areas, they are great for relaxing and you can hear the sounds of the jungle without the blast of the AC.
I really liked the little touches to the room. On the door there was a dreamcatcher that you could put up if you wanted privacy. The art around the room matched the style of the hotel. While our room location was towards the end of the property furthest from the beach in building 3, it was an easy walk to the pool/beach area and I really liked that they had light up trees.
On-Site Amenities: The property was absolutely gorgeous. As part of the resort fee, you receive access to the property but also valet parking, Wi-Fi, local calls, bike rentals and kayak rentals. Since we stayed a short period, we only used the valet parking and Wi-Fi.
Overall Impression: One of the best perks of this hotel is the proximity to the Liberia Airport while staying in a gorgeous location. We wanted to be on the beach in time for sunset to get the full Costa Rica experience. Our flight landed at 4:20pm, after getting our rental car we were on the property an hour later. It offered a relaxing spot to stay after a long day of traveling. I could see us staying here another day to familiarize ourselves with the resort more.
Beautiful Christmas decorations on the property 
Checking in and front desk area 
Poolside view of the beach 
Bedroom 
Living Area 
Sunset on the beach 
Hotel restaurant – open air dining next to the pool 
El Mangroove – loved the designs around the property 
Dinner at the on-site restaurant
Review Disclosure: I booked this hotel using personal funds with no discount or gifts from the hotel.
