Pros

  • Five-minute drive to Playa Espadilla and Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Intimate outdoor pool with partial Biesanz Bay views and a bar
  • Eclectic rooms with air-conditioning, TVs, and balconies
  • Open-air lounge with a bar, live music, and free breakfast
  • Wi-Fi is free in all rooms and common areas
  • Free off-street parking
  • Pet-friendly (fee)
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Cons

  • Spotty Wi-Fi
  • Free breakfast offers a minimal selection of toast and fruit
  • Thin walls make for noisy rooms
  • Noisy wildlife and persistent insects can be an issue
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Bottom Line

The three-pearl Mango Moon Villa blends design elements of tropical residential villas and traditional Costa Rican inns. The intimate, garden-style pool area (with Biesanz Bay views) and eclectic, open-air restaurant lounge center the hotel with a distinctly adult-centric vibe.  Each of the 12 rooms is individually decorated. All feature TVs, air-conditioning, free (though spotty) Wi-Fi, and balconies with optional water views. The property is unabashedly rough around the edges (some would call it charming), and insects and noisy wildlife can also be an issue. For less money, the adult-only Hotel Vela Bar offers more modern amenities within walking distance of Playa Espadilla.

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Amenities

  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Villa Mango Moon

Scene

Intimate jungle inn with a funky, adult-centric vibe

From the entrance, the hotel is a blend of a private tropical villa and a traditional Costa Rican inn. The updated Spanish Mission-style architecture is reminiscent of many local upscale homes, but the multi-level, motel-style hallways are a clear indication of its real nature. The location just off bustling Route 618 belies the surprisingly quiet, lush, ocean-view oasis on the backside of the property. Here, the outdoor pool sits under a thick green canopy where sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, and parrots roam freely. Above the terrace, an open-air lounge serves as the social hub which is frequently buzzing with locals and guests -- it's livelier  than one would expect of such a small property. By afternoon, guests line the bar and the wide outdoor balcony to soak up the sea views and occasional live music. While children are allowed, the hotel is geared toward couples seeking a relaxed poolside vacation with daily happy hour specials and a dash of Costa Rican wildlife.

See More Scene

Location

On a moderately trafficked side street, five minutes from the Playa Espadilla tourist district

The adjacent, moderately trafficked side street is dotted with other small hotels and inns. A five-minute walk toward town takes guests to the center of Manuel Antonio with dozens of bars, shops, restaurants, and services including grocery stores and pharmacies. Five minutes by car (or 30 minutes on foot) in the opposite direction, guests will find the bustling tourist district surrounding Playa Espadilla. A minute beyond that lies the official entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park -- arguably Costa Rica’s most popular national park. The nearest international airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), is three hours away by car. Due to Costa Rica’s dangerous roads and sky-high auto rental insurance, shuttle bus hire is often cheaper, safer, and more convenient.

See More Location

Rooms

Tropical-flavored rooms with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and balconies -- but spotty Wi-Fi

Room decor is traditional Costa Rican with chunky, dark wood furnishings, Spanish-tile flooring, and a mishmash of Central and Latin American accents. It’s clear the hotel isn’t new (it was built in 1992), though everything from the fixtures to the furniture to the tilework feels more broken in than old. Subtle updates like vessel sinks and flat-screen TVs add touches of modernity. Each of the rooms -- with names like Iguana Pad and Howler Hangout -- are individually decorated. Every category offers a typical mid-range hotel room layout that includes a sleeping and sitting area, plus a balcony with optional (distant) views of the sea. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs. Free Wi-Fi is also included, although we found the service to be spotty throughout the property. Bathrooms are rustic and cozy with some modern touches (like brushed nickel hardware). All feature walk-in shower stalls and generic toiletries.

See More Rooms

Features

A garden-style outdoor pool and a lounge with free breakfast and live music

The outdoor terrace is almost completely enveloped by lush tropical greenery with peeks of Biesanz Bay. It’s an intimate space with upscale lounge chairs and an outdoor bed lining the pool on a series of stepped platforms that feel more private than they actually are. A tiny adjacent pool bar serves happy hour cocktails most afternoons, although it’s only open seasonally or during high occupancy. A wide outdoor balcony overlooks the entire outdoor space. The balcony and adjacent indoor room collectively serve as the lobby, lounge, and restaurant/bar. Caribbean-inspired tapestries, artwork, and decorative accents crowd the space and provide a sense of eclectic intimacy. Breakfast is served daily. However, the free options are minimal. Additional hot entrees (like juevos rancheros and traditional Costa Rican casado) garner a surcharge. By late morning, the attached bar offers a list of cocktails, wine, and beer. Live music can also be heard on select nights each week. Self-parking and Wi-Fi are both free. The hotel accepts pets for a per-stay fee.

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Things You Should Know About Villa Mango Moon

Also Known As

  • Hotel Mango Moon

Address

100 Meters Past La Mariposa Hotel, Manuel Antonio 60610, Costa Rica

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Villa Mango Moon

Scene

Intimate jungle inn with a funky, adult-centric vibe

From the entrance, the hotel is a blend of a private tropical villa and a traditional Costa Rican inn. The updated Spanish Mission-style architecture is reminiscent of many local upscale homes, but the multi-level, motel-style hallways are a clear indication of its real nature. The location just off bustling Route 618 belies the surprisingly quiet, lush, ocean-view oasis on the backside of the property. Here, the outdoor pool sits under a thick green canopy where sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, and parrots roam freely. Above the terrace, an open-air lounge serves as the social hub which is frequently buzzing with locals and guests -- it's livelier  than one would expect of such a small property. By afternoon, guests line the bar and the wide outdoor balcony to soak up the sea views and occasional live music. While children are allowed, the hotel is geared toward couples seeking a relaxed poolside vacation with daily happy hour specials and a dash of Costa Rican wildlife.

See More Scene

Location

On a moderately trafficked side street, five minutes from the Playa Espadilla tourist district

The adjacent, moderately trafficked side street is dotted with other small hotels and inns. A five-minute walk toward town takes guests to the center of Manuel Antonio with dozens of bars, shops, restaurants, and services including grocery stores and pharmacies. Five minutes by car (or 30 minutes on foot) in the opposite direction, guests will find the bustling tourist district surrounding Playa Espadilla. A minute beyond that lies the official entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park -- arguably Costa Rica’s most popular national park. The nearest international airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), is three hours away by car. Due to Costa Rica’s dangerous roads and sky-high auto rental insurance, shuttle bus hire is often cheaper, safer, and more convenient.

See More Location

Rooms

Tropical-flavored rooms with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and balconies -- but spotty Wi-Fi

Room decor is traditional Costa Rican with chunky, dark wood furnishings, Spanish-tile flooring, and a mishmash of Central and Latin American accents. It’s clear the hotel isn’t new (it was built in 1992), though everything from the fixtures to the furniture to the tilework feels more broken in than old. Subtle updates like vessel sinks and flat-screen TVs add touches of modernity. Each of the rooms -- with names like Iguana Pad and Howler Hangout -- are individually decorated. Every category offers a typical mid-range hotel room layout that includes a sleeping and sitting area, plus a balcony with optional (distant) views of the sea. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs. Free Wi-Fi is also included, although we found the service to be spotty throughout the property. Bathrooms are rustic and cozy with some modern touches (like brushed nickel hardware). All feature walk-in shower stalls and generic toiletries.

See More Rooms

Features

A garden-style outdoor pool and a lounge with free breakfast and live music

The outdoor terrace is almost completely enveloped by lush tropical greenery with peeks of Biesanz Bay. It’s an intimate space with upscale lounge chairs and an outdoor bed lining the pool on a series of stepped platforms that feel more private than they actually are. A tiny adjacent pool bar serves happy hour cocktails most afternoons, although it’s only open seasonally or during high occupancy. A wide outdoor balcony overlooks the entire outdoor space. The balcony and adjacent indoor room collectively serve as the lobby, lounge, and restaurant/bar. Caribbean-inspired tapestries, artwork, and decorative accents crowd the space and provide a sense of eclectic intimacy. Breakfast is served daily. However, the free options are minimal. Additional hot entrees (like juevos rancheros and traditional Costa Rican casado) garner a surcharge. By late morning, the attached bar offers a list of cocktails, wine, and beer. Live music can also be heard on select nights each week. Self-parking and Wi-Fi are both free. The hotel accepts pets for a per-stay fee.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

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.