El Faro Beach Hotel, Manuel Antonio

Authenticity

El Faro Beach Hotel is unique in that the builders used old shipping containers to construct the property. Although that matches Costa Rica's eco-friendly goals, it creates a somewhat cold and industrial vibe, not warm like many accommodations; perhaps swimming in the infinity pool or sipping cocktails at happy hour while the sun sets will make up for it!

Location

Although still within walking distance of the beach, El Faro is up a steep hillside within the national park boundary. Getting down is simple, but trekking back up to the hotel might be tricky for some. As a trade-off, you get stellar ocean views and only need to walk a few minutes before reaching the start of the Park Trail. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Rooms are small, narrow, and simple, with stark black and white decor. It doesn't quite match the warm and welcoming vibe of Costa Rica, but all rooms do have excellent ocean views, plus free WiFi, air-conditioning, minifridges, and balconies. Bathrooms are also small, but some come with a nice soaking tub.

Sustainability

Investors decided to use recycled material to craft the hotel to lessen its impact, as it's directly next to one of the country's most popular national parks. The rooms are narrow because they're built from old shipping containers, as is the entire hotel, featuring a sustainable and minimalist approach to decor.

Wildlife

El Faro Beach Hotel is very close to the entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park, and wildlife is abundant in the area, such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, iguanas, and other reptiles. Travelers have spotted wild deer and sloths wandering around and said howler monkeys woke them up. 

Amenities

El Faro Beach Hotel has two pools. One is an infinity pool with ocean views, while the other is close to the bar/restaurant area so that travelers can enjoy food and drink by the pool. There's no gym or spa on-site. There are elevators on the property, though travelers report that they work only sometimes. The hotel offers wheelchair-accessible rooms with a lowered sink, raised toilet, and grab rails, but the steep hill on which the hotel is located might make wheelchair access difficult.

Family-Friendliness

El Faro Beach Hotel is somewhat family-friendly. There's a kid-appropriate shallow end in one of the pools and kids' menus in the restaurants. Children 12 and above are considered adults; cribs are available for babies up to three, and those ages 3 to 11 are charged a reduced fee. The steep hillside location may present a challenge for very small children or families traveling with strollers. The best rooms for families are the King Suite, triple rooms, or quadruple rooms. 

Other Highlights

El Faro Beach Hotel has two restaurants: Garden by the Park, which offers local cuisine, and SunSpot, which offers international cuisine. Both serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and have open-air balconies overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Manuel Antonio National Park. An adjacent bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails, though travelers report it's only sometimes open. Some travelers have reported spotting wildlife from the restaurants' terraces.