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Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana

2 outdoor pools, pool loungers
Coffee shop
Exterior
Front of property
Exterior

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View map
Palm Beach Estates, Cabo Velas, Guanacaste, 50308
  • Place, Grande Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Tamarindo Beach
  • Place, Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course
  • Airport, Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)
    ‪145 min drive‬

Room options

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

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(6 reviews)
  • 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

  • Garden view
  • 75 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Refrigerator

Standard Double Room, Refrigerator

Standard Double Room, Refrigerator

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(6 reviews)
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Villa

Deluxe Villa | Terrace/patio

Deluxe Villa

  • Garden view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside

Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside

Deluxe Villa, Kitchen, Beachside

  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside

Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside

Deluxe Double Room, Balcony, Beachside

  • Garden view
  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside

Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside

Superior Double Room, Terrace, Beachside

  • Garden view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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

Superior Studio, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

Superior Studio, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

About the area

Playa Grande

At Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana you'll be within a 10-minute walk of Grande Beach and 3 km (1.9 mi) from Las Baulas National Marine Park. Highlights at this beachfront hotel include 2 outdoor swimming pools, a full-service spa and a restaurant. .A day of pampering can include Swedish massages, sports massages and facials. The bistro, Bistro Cantarana, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the hotel's own lounge bar, you can stop for a drink. Spend the day at the beach where you'll find surfing/body boarding, and enjoy the on-site pool loungers. Plus you'll find free Wi-Fi in public areas, a coffee shop/cafe and laundry facilities. There's also free self parking, along with the convenience of an airport shuttle. .With a stay at this 3-property class Palm Beach Estates hotel, you'll be 19.2 km (11.9 mi) from Tamarindo Beach.

What's nearby

  • Grande Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km

Getting around

  • Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.) - 94 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurante Brisa Mar - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Rural - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Medusa Bar - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Nari - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪Tamaonda - ‬31 min drive

About this property

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana offers its guests 2 outdoor swimming pools. Along with a restaurant, there's a coffee shop/cafe on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces.

Spa services, a library, and a terrace are also featured at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is available for a fee. Self parking is free.

This 3-star Cabo Velas hotel is smoke free.

  • 24 guestrooms or units
  • Towels for the beach
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Television in lobby
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Coffee shop
  • Dining venue
Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana offers 24 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and a safe. 42-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include a shower and bathrobes. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)). Housekeeping is provided on weekdays only.

Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa. Services include sports massages, Swedish massages, facials and body treatments.

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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 transport

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

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 lift

More

  • Mosquito nets
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • 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 and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out
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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

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

Access methods

Access code, front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: 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.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • 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

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher in all accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions and guests can access their rooms with a mobile device.

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for massage services. For reservations, contact the hotel before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in 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

What is the cancellation policy at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

Is parking available at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Yep, Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana has a free self car park.

Are there any beaches close to Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Yep, Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana is a short 6-minute walk from Grande Beach. Fun beach activities include surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. You can also find boat tours.

Is there a spa on site at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Yep, there is an onsite spa at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana. You'll enjoy heaps of services like facials and body treatments, as well as sports massages.

Does Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana have a pool?

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana has 2 outdoor swimming pools. Grab your bathers and lounge poolside while enjoying on a lounger.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

No, but there's an airport shuttle that runs 24 hours a day for a fee.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana?

Yep, they've got a lounge bar and an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dining venue is closed seasonally each year from September 1 until October 31.

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

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.

Hotel El Manglar & Cantarana Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 205 out of 342 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 92 out of 342 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 29 out of 342 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 342 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 342 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kyle

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We came to El Mangar from very busy Tamarindo and I wish we could have came here first! The property is pristine, the front desk at reception were kind,attentive and so helpful and you got a feel of you are welcome here, it has been amazing! The area is safe , secure and quiet , in the morning you can hear the waves from the beach :) room: small and cozy , this is the cleanest hotel we have stayed in after being in Costa Rica for a week, I am very particular about rooms, yes there may be some paint chipped but that is nothing, the rooms are clean! A/C works wonderful, actually had to raise the temp because we got too cold. Showers - hot water ! Parking : directly across from the hotel, on a quiet road ( which is more like a small lane ) , your vehicles are parked directly across and infront of the reception area in a small parking area. There is a parking pass that you have to display but this gives you peace of mind that your vehicle will be safe! There is a nice walkway to the beach, it’s about a 2 minute walk through a really neat forest setting, the trail is clean and flat, I do appreciate the beach being a 2 minute walk as you’re not surrounded by hotels and staring at a big resort right beside you , the beach is clean and not overall busy. The cafe next door has amazing food! I am so glad we came to stay here ! ❤️ we have had such an amazing time and I wish it wasn’t only for one day.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Fernando

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Every time we stay at El Manglar, it’s a beautiful experience. The place is incredibly relaxing, right next to a stunning beach. The rooms are well-equipped and conveniently located near restaurants.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Great location friendly staff
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Christoph

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great staff and service. Especially the outdoor kitchen. The window in the room was too small and did open only slightly. The construction site on the other slide of the road was very loud and annoying. Also very expensive.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This place was INCREDIBLE! Everything about it was perfect. The staff was helpfull and very friendly. The acces to the beach super easy. We had dinner at the bistro and it was so good! We had the Villa #3 for 2 nights and we were super sad to leave. We will come back next year for a longer stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Vanessa

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The staff was amazing. The room had a lot of ants, so much so I slept with the kitchen light on and there was no coffee in the morning anywhere until 8am. But it’s close to the beach and remote for a getaway.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Sébastien

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

Great value for money

Excellent location, wonderful beach access.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter Scott

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Travelled with partner
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

CAROLINE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We stayed Aug 1st—12th.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Ella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amie Ann

Travelled with family
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, Montréal

Travelled with family
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

10/10 Excellent

Leialoha

Travelled with family
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

Diego

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
On voulait un hébergement près de la plage dans le coin de Tamarindo, on est content d'avoir résidé au El Manglar plutôt que dans la ville de Tamarindo. La plage est à 5 minutes et l'espace piscine est super bien aménagé pour se reposer. On a utilisé l'espace cuisine pour nos déjeuners et des repas simples. On a eu quelques difficultés d'accès au Wifi à partir des chambres, mais pour nous c'était un avantage car ça forçait nos ados à descendre dans l'espace commun.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deepthi

Travelled with family
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

Rene

Travelled with partner
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

Líndsay

Travelled with family, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was very quiet just what we needed it. Such a nice place great staff. My second time in Manglar.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Janet

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Barun

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Not safe for children. We were assigned a room that had a balcony with a big gaps between the balcony railings and was not safe for our 4 year old. We went for our anniversary and had made a request for special arrangement which was not accommadated. Also, any of our requests were not accommodated as we booked through a 3rd party, Expedia, perthe staff. Had webooked directly, they would have taken care of our requests. Property was great, but staff and our check in process and experience could have been much better
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Luis, Santa Cruz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We love staying at El Manglar. Its so close to the beach making it super easy to walk to go surfing or spend time in the gorgeous beach of Playa Grande.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

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

8/10 Good

Emiliano

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025