Los Altos Resort

The beach sunsets were beautiful, and Jeremy was such a sweet, accommodating person to have there. The beach is a little rocky, so water shoes are a good idea, but there are beach chairs. We also loved the restaurant, pool, beach, and spa. The food was incredible, with top ingredients, and they even keep their own bees for honey. We were greeted warmly on arrival and shown to a gorgeous villa, with a private butler to help with anything we needed. There was a small electrical problem, so we had to move to a suite for one night, but the staff handled it so well that we wouldn't change a thing. This was our second stay in Manuel Antonio, and this was easily our best hotel choice.

Wildlife was a real highlight: monkeys and iguanas right on the grounds, and we loved having a full kitchen and handy USB plugs throughout our Treetop Suite. Still, for a four-star stay, the layout and service had enough problems that we'd probably choose an Airbnb next time. We booked four nights at Los Altos mostly because Tulemar wasn't available. The open bedroom layout has motion-sensor lights that came on with any movement and woke our baby at night. Showers had no handheld heads, and because the property is strictly non-smoking, you have to leave the hotel to smoke. The shared private beach is small and rocky, and the main pool feels too small for the hotel's capacity. The game room was outdated, poorly maintained, and mostly unusable, with damaged pool table felt, a damaged basketball, and broken air hockey. No self-service laundry was a big miss for a beach resort. Breakfast is only a la carte, with no buffet, and room service adds a steep $15 surcharge that can cost more than the food. Housekeeping was great on day one but later missed fresh towels and toilet paper. We also had trouble communicating with the front desk about drink coupons and with the concierge about Manuel Antonio bookings. Local Airbnbs offer private pools, reliable housekeeping, and even private chefs, which made them more appealing to us.

The private beach was lovely, with a bar and sun beds for both shade and sun, and the staff were all wonderful. Every person we dealt with did what they could to make the stay great. Breakfast came in generous portions, with high-quality local food and other dishes, plus fruit and pastries in a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view. We saw sloths, monkeys, hummingbirds, macaws, and more on the hotel grounds, and the national park is only a 10-15 minute drive away. This is an expensive resort, but for good reason. I'd highly recommend the townhouse, with its private pool and spectacular view. A wonderful five-star stay.

The children's noise at the pool is why this is four stars instead of the five I would otherwise have been happy to give. At one point I counted 16 children, all apparently under seven, and the constant yelling made it impossible to enjoy the peaceful setting. Kids splashed pool water into our drinks a few times, and their parents did nothing. For a place presented as a wellness retreat, I don't think children belong here. At this price, I didn't expect that noise at the pool and beach. Thankfully, children aren't allowed in the villas. That said, the grounds are more beautiful than you can imagine: forest, plants, and a private beach that never gets old to explore. There are birds everywhere, including toucans and macaws throughout the day, and monkeys and squirrels visiting every few hours. The beach is great for swimming, with lunch and cocktails available. Jeremy works there and took great care of us. The on-site restaurant was delicious, picture-perfect, and staffed by helpful people who treated us well. The pool and its food and drink options were excellent, too. Staff can drive guests around in golf carts if walking is difficult, though the paved paths are easy to walk. There's a well-equipped gym with free weights for different fitness levels. Jeferson, our butler, was very helpful and knew the area well. He could suggest nearby shops and restaurants just outside the grounds, an easy and safe walk. We had no security concerns. We stayed in a villa and were amazed by the wildlife from our deck. Thanks to all the hardworking staff. We appreciated you very much.