Pros

  • Five-minute walk to the tourist district and beach of Playa Espadilla
  • Brightly painted rooms with free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and balconies
  • Suites upgrade to kitchenettes/kitchens and spacious multi-room layouts
  • Outdoor pool deck surrounded by lush tropical greenery
  • Alfresco restaurant/bar with finger foods and free cold breakfast buffet
  • Cheap happy hour specials at bar
  • Free self-parking in a secure, off-street lot
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Cons

  • Slim food selection at the breakfast buffet
  • Pool and parking lot can quickly overcrowd
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Bottom Line

Situated five minutes from Playa Espadilla, the quirky Jungle Beach Hotel at Manuel Antonio is all about location, location, location. The hotel has some of the cheapest rates in town for a five-minute walk to Playa Espadilla. Common amenities at the two-and-a-half-pearl property -- including a small outdoor pool and a basic restaurant/bar -- are decent, though none are especially noteworthy. Continental breakfast is include in the room rate. The 12 rustic rooms range from small (with mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and rain forest-view balconies) to apartment-sized (with all of the above, plus multi-room layouts that include full kitchens, multiple bathrooms, and separate living/dining areas). For a bit more money, Manuel Antonio Hotel offers a more full-featured restaurant and a spot directly across from the beach.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Jungle Beach Hotel at Manuel Antonio

Scene

Quirky, rain forest-enveloped inn with a family-friendly vibe

Built into a steep hillside, the hotel is hidden among a thick canopy of overgrown tropical greenery -- from the street, it’s easy to miss. Once on the property, the unadorned stucco buildings almost disappear completely into the landscape. The motel architecture and toned-down exterior design are typical of many of Costa Rica’s budget hotels. Inside, the decor is decidedly more bold and eclectic. The copious hand-painted murals and a rain forest-meets-beach decor walk a fine line between cheap and charming. The social scene revolves around a single outdoor terrace with a small pool and basic restaurant with dirt-cheap happy hour specials every afternoon. It rarely ever feels raucous, however, and is just as fitting a property for families as budget-conscious couples.

See More Scene

Location

On a busy thoroughfare, five minutes on foot to the beach at Playa Espadilla

Situated amid the tourist-friendly district near the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, the hotel is just a five-minute walk from Playa Espadilla. Another five minutes takes guests to the official park entrance. Dozens of restaurants, shops, beach bars, and other hotels are within that same perimeter, ensuring the area is always buzzing with activity. Downtown Manuel Antonio is five minutes away by car with even more restaurants and services. Getting to the area from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) requires a three-hour drive, and shuttle bus hire is often the cheapest, safest, and most convenient option. Once in town, local bus service is extremely cheap.

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Rooms

Rustic, hand-painted rooms vary widely in size and amenities

Like every other aspect of the hotel, the rooms are rustic, eclectic, and quirky. The common decorative thread that connects them is Spanish-tile flooring and rough, hand-painted wall art inspired by the beach, the rain forest, or both. Entry-level Comfort Rooms are similar to typical budget hotel rooms in size and amenities. All feature two beds, a private bath, and a private (or semi-private) balcony. Two mid-range categories -- King Room and King Room with Bunk Bed -- offer all of the above, but with the addition of an additional bed or bunk bed for family stays. The top-tier rooms -- Villas and Suites -- upgrade to spacious, apartment-style layouts with kitchenettes or full kitchens, separate living and dining areas, multiple bathrooms, and large private balconies. Wi-Fi is free in every room, and we found the connection to be slow, but mostly reliable. Walk-in shower stalls and generic toiletries are standard in every room category.

See More Rooms

Features

A small outdoor pool and a relaxed alfresco restaurant with free breakfast

A small, basic terrace with an outdoor pool and an open-air restaurant is the only common amenity. The hand-painted corrugated metal barrier that lines the space provides a vague beach bar feeling. But, the lack of any color or other decorative elements creates a cold, industrial vibe. The pool is small, even for a relatively small property, and can overcrowd quickly when the hotel is at capacity. A handful of plastic patio chairs line two sides and, although there are no umbrellas, the surrounding tropical greenery ensures constant shade throughout the day. Buffet breakfast is served daily. However, the menu selection is limited to simple baked goods, cold cereal, some fruit, and coffee/tea. From midday on, the kitchen serves finger foods like sandwiches and tacos and offers inexpensive happy hour cocktails. Free Wi-Fi is available property-wide, along with self-parking in a staffed, off-street lot.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Jungle Beach Hotel at Manuel Antonio

Scene

Quirky, rain forest-enveloped inn with a family-friendly vibe

Built into a steep hillside, the hotel is hidden among a thick canopy of overgrown tropical greenery -- from the street, it’s easy to miss. Once on the property, the unadorned stucco buildings almost disappear completely into the landscape. The motel architecture and toned-down exterior design are typical of many of Costa Rica’s budget hotels. Inside, the decor is decidedly more bold and eclectic. The copious hand-painted murals and a rain forest-meets-beach decor walk a fine line between cheap and charming. The social scene revolves around a single outdoor terrace with a small pool and basic restaurant with dirt-cheap happy hour specials every afternoon. It rarely ever feels raucous, however, and is just as fitting a property for families as budget-conscious couples.

See More Scene

Location

On a busy thoroughfare, five minutes on foot to the beach at Playa Espadilla

Situated amid the tourist-friendly district near the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, the hotel is just a five-minute walk from Playa Espadilla. Another five minutes takes guests to the official park entrance. Dozens of restaurants, shops, beach bars, and other hotels are within that same perimeter, ensuring the area is always buzzing with activity. Downtown Manuel Antonio is five minutes away by car with even more restaurants and services. Getting to the area from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) requires a three-hour drive, and shuttle bus hire is often the cheapest, safest, and most convenient option. Once in town, local bus service is extremely cheap.

See More Location

Rooms

Rustic, hand-painted rooms vary widely in size and amenities

Like every other aspect of the hotel, the rooms are rustic, eclectic, and quirky. The common decorative thread that connects them is Spanish-tile flooring and rough, hand-painted wall art inspired by the beach, the rain forest, or both. Entry-level Comfort Rooms are similar to typical budget hotel rooms in size and amenities. All feature two beds, a private bath, and a private (or semi-private) balcony. Two mid-range categories -- King Room and King Room with Bunk Bed -- offer all of the above, but with the addition of an additional bed or bunk bed for family stays. The top-tier rooms -- Villas and Suites -- upgrade to spacious, apartment-style layouts with kitchenettes or full kitchens, separate living and dining areas, multiple bathrooms, and large private balconies. Wi-Fi is free in every room, and we found the connection to be slow, but mostly reliable. Walk-in shower stalls and generic toiletries are standard in every room category.

See More Rooms

Features

A small outdoor pool and a relaxed alfresco restaurant with free breakfast

A small, basic terrace with an outdoor pool and an open-air restaurant is the only common amenity. The hand-painted corrugated metal barrier that lines the space provides a vague beach bar feeling. But, the lack of any color or other decorative elements creates a cold, industrial vibe. The pool is small, even for a relatively small property, and can overcrowd quickly when the hotel is at capacity. A handful of plastic patio chairs line two sides and, although there are no umbrellas, the surrounding tropical greenery ensures constant shade throughout the day. Buffet breakfast is served daily. However, the menu selection is limited to simple baked goods, cold cereal, some fruit, and coffee/tea. From midday on, the kitchen serves finger foods like sandwiches and tacos and offers inexpensive happy hour cocktails. Free Wi-Fi is available property-wide, along with self-parking in a staffed, off-street lot.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.