La Mariposa Hotel

We could sit on the terrace and enjoy those views, just priceless. There’s a free shuttle to the beach, too. From the room with the sea view to the food, staff, and pool, everything was great. A baby sloth was hanging in a tree in front of the hotel, and red macaws flew past twice a day. Those moments really stayed with us. What a place, one to remember for life.

The hotel is lovely, and the rooms have a good view and nice amenities. Mine felt bare, though, with a small TV and a tired shower. That might not matter much unless, like me, you arrive in a downpour after a very long travel day and find yourself stuck inside. I was confused about where to enter and register. There was no help when I arrived, and I had to climb wet, slippery stairs to check in with very little assistance. I managed, but someone less steady or physically impaired could have a hard time. At check-in I learned there was a special event that evening, and the dining room and most other things were closed. They recommended the nearby Cafe Emilio’s, which turned out to be terrific, with a lovely dinner, view, and service. When I got back, I wanted to sit on my balcony and get to bed early, but wedding speeches and very loud music made sleep impossible. With all the doors closed and my noise machine on, it still felt like I was at the event. I don’t want to take anything away from the couple or all the family and friends who travelled so far to celebrate. I just wish I’d known what to expect. I had to call the front desk several times before anyone answered, and we had to yell over the music. The person I spoke with wasn’t very receptive and told me it would end at 10 pm, so tough luck. I’m sharing this so others know what they might face if an event is being hosted there.

The view from our room was breathtaking. The back wall was all glass from floor to ceiling, though I still find it odd that the bathroom sink is in the living room. At least the bidet is where it belongs, in the bathroom. The room entrance initially worried us, but once we opened the door we were amazed. Finding the room at 4:30 AM after our flight was delayed six hours was awkward. The security guard couldn’t locate it for a while, and my husband eventually found it down a flight of stairs, pretty well hidden. We’ve visited Manuel Antonio several times and usually stayed closer to Biesanz Playa. We’d walked past La Mariposa on the way to town and decided to try it. This may become our new go-to hotel when we return. Breakfast buffet was quite good, with the usual plantains, beans and rice, and sausage, plus made-to-order eggs and good toast options. All the staff were very friendly and accommodating. The groundskeepers told us about the resident sloths, including a baby at the top of our stairs on the first day. The bar staff were kind and kept filling our water bottles. Magaly served us dinner the other night and was fantastic, with great meal suggestions. She was also sweet about my Spanish. I’m learning and am quite bad, but she told me otherwise.

We watched monkeys swinging from our balcony, saw a baby sloth by the lobby, and spotted lots of birds and reptiles. It’s probably the best hotel for wildlife. The view of Manuel Antonio is the best, too. The staff were welcoming and worked hard to make our stay great. Kendall at the bar was one of our favorites. The view from our room was beautiful, but the rooms are dated. There are lots of stairs and a big hill between reception and the restaurants, so it may be worth asking for a room in the main building. The pools were very cold. They’d have been perfect if heated.