7 Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

Though nothing special, these small beachfront rooms and apartments, many with kitchenettes, are a good deal. You have a pick of accommodations: rooms with air-conditioning and kitchenettes, rooms without kitchenettes, and rooms without air-conditioning. Cement-block beds will certainly keep you from rearranging the furniture, but the rooms are clean and tidy. All units have large terraces overlooking a garden and pool area where there's a grill for your use; second-floor rooms have balconies with partial sea views. Larger apartments can fit five to six people. It's just a few steps from the surf, and Jacó's busy main strip is a block away.

Framing a blue-tiled pool are freestanding cottages with thoughtful and creative touches like luxurious bedding atop artsy bed frames (made from repurposed pallets), colorful throws, polished cement floors, and lofts with twin beds. The oceanfront suite opens onto a private terrace with unobstructed views of the beach. There’s a two-bedroom, two-bath villa with a full kitchen that sleeps five, and an economical room with no view but plenty of character. There are surf lessons and beach toys for kids, and hammocks and margaritas for mom and dad. Yoga sessions take place at 9 am daily ($10). Costa Rican specialties are cooked on an open flame and served in a palapa restaurant. Void of TVs and phones, this is the place to unplug, although there is a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.

A few blocks from the beach, this family-focused property boasts three swimming pools, equipped kitchens, and comfortable rooms of varying size and style. Bright, pastel-hue standard rooms have two queen-size beds and most have kitchenettes; top-floor rooms have a small living room with checkered sofas and a double bed; the cozy split-level rooms with kitchenettes and stone walls are reminiscent of European bed-and-breakfasts. The Dutch owner is dedicated to cleanliness and provides lots of amenities, such as poolside grills, a kids' game room, a large open-air reading lounge, and inexpensive tours. If you don't mind the climb, request an upstairs room with a balcony overlooking the pool.

Within a tranquil rain-forest preserve, the stucco rooms here are nothing special, but are a great escape for nature lovers who want lodging, tours, and wildlife all in one location. Rooms have white tile floors, hardwood ceilings, and large baths. The resort is far from other hotels (and the beach) but has on-site entertainment to keep you busy, such as a large-screen television, a swimming pool, and game room. A selection of in-house tours mean you never have to leave the property. You can follow the river flowing through the protected forest for a pleasant hike and cross a suspension bridge to reach a small replica of a Costa Rican colonial village with a restaurant, cantina, church, and gift shop. This place gets a bit chaotic when cruise-ship passengers visit (several times per week) for tours. An all-inclusive meal plan is available, but you're better off eating your lunch and dinner elsewhere. Request one of the quieter rooms in the 200-section, just beyond the hanging bridges.

This cluster of distinctive A-frame bungalows, nestled on the edge of the national park and also just a short walk from the beach, is as close as you'll get to sleeping in the park. The palm-thatch terraces face the small pool and lush greenery of the rain forest, which is regularly animated by troops of squirrel monkeys and other animals. The main building holds three spacious apartments and a fully equipped casita on the second floor with two bedrooms and two baths. Complimentary breakfast and thin-crust pizza are served in a small restaurant. If space is available, last-minute discounts are generally offered for spontaneous travelers.

Right in front of Hermosa's beach break, a mural of tall palms and peeling waves marks the entrance to this well-priced inn, which offers small apartments and studios. Units have mismatched bedding and lack character but come with TVs, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, granite kitchens, and enough space for two, four, or six guests. Downstairs studios are more affordable but are devoid of natural light and ocean views. For more space, opt for the two-bedroom apartment with a balcony and large windows facing the Pacific. A lawn separates the hotel from the sand, but you're still close enough to watch the surfers from the patio. The tiny pool is a cleansing break from the salt and sand, and there’s a rooftop deck that connects to an open-air kitchen. 

Surfers are the main clientele in these beachfront rooms with high ceilings, clay-tile floors, and sliding-glass doors that open onto semiprivate balconies and terraces, most of which have good views of Playa Hermosa. Second-floor rooms have better views, as do the two spacious corner suites that sleep six with large balconies and two bedrooms. Request Room 207 or 208, with high ceilings, plenty of space, and unobstructed views. Room 104 opens onto the pool and sand. Creature comforts include minibars, Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, and air-conditioning. You can watch the surfers from a nice little pool surrounded by tropical foliage in back. The consistent waves are great for intermediate-to-advanced surfers, but if you're looking for a beach where you can swim or splash on the shore, this is not the place for you.