Hotel Plaza Yara, Manuel Antonio

Located in Manuel Antonio's El Cerro neighborhood, Hotel Plaza Yara offers a casual boutique hotel experience in harmony with nature. The lobby is an art gallery that showcases works by regional creatives, and the rooms, corridors, and public areas are full of original art, mosaics, and ornaments. Outside, two swimming pools and a Jacuzzi are surrounded by jungle greenery. The hotel's strategic location is within a short drive of Manuel Antonio National Park and the world-renowned beaches of Manuel Antonio.  

Pros

• The property is quiet and relaxing while still within easy reach of Quepos and Manuel Antonio.  
• All of the hotel's rooms are spacious suites.
• The hotel doesn't have many rooms, so the pools don't get very crowded.
• In addition to cleaning, the staff leaves complimentary snacks and treats in guest suites.

Cons

• There aren't any beach views from the hotel.
• The hotel serves breakfast but no other meals.

Authenticity

Despite being close to town, the hotel feels tucked away in nature and is surrounded by lush trees and gardens. Rooms are situated in large buildings rather than separate villas, reducing the hotel's footprint and enhancing the boutique ambience. Room decor is rustic and features custom furniture made from local woods and original artwork and ornaments.

Location

Hotel Plaza Yara is centrally located between the town of Quepos (1.2 mi/2 km) and the town of Manuel Antonio (0.9 mi/1.4 km), allowing travelers to have access to two downtown areas within a five-minute drive. There are a few restaurants within a five-minute walk of the hotel and plenty of shopping and dining areas in either downtown area. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from the popular Espadilla Beach (2.4 mi/3.9 km) and a 12-minute drive from Manuel Antonio National Park (3.1 mi/5 km). 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Hotel Plaza Yara offers only suite-style rooms. The suites are spacious and feature custom-made furniture, including two plush, comfortable queen-sized beds. Suites also have a kitchenette and a living area with cushioned chairs, a coffee table, and a sofa. Suites include cable TV, air-conditioning, and free WiFi. Travelers will also enjoy the suite's large furnished terrace or balcony (depending on the floor) with jungle views and likely wildlife sightings, including monkeys, sloths, toucans, and iguanas.

Wildlife

Monkeys, parrots, and sloths are some animals travelers can expect to see across the grounds and from suites' terraces.

Amenities

Hotel Yara features two pools and one Jacuzzi. One small pool is for lounging, and another large one is for lap swimming. Travelers can enjoy lounging on one of the hotel's lounge chairs while watching monkeys and macaws dart through the trees. No gym or spa is on-site, but guests will enjoy the hotel's art gallery. The hotel is almost entirely wheelchair accessible.

Family-Friendliness

At Hotel Plaza Yara, children under 12 stay free. Each suite is spacious and large enough to fit a family of four. Children of all ages and interests will enjoy watching wildlife throughout the hotel and interacting with the hotel's dog and cat mascots, Yara and Abana. The hotel has no on-site restaurant, but the complimentary breakfast includes kid-friendly options such as egg dishes and banana pancakes. The grounds are stroller-friendly.

Other Highlights

Breakfast is included in the room's price and is served a la carte. Traditional Costa Rican breakfast dishes are served, but the hotel also offers fruits, pancakes, and omelets. The hotel doesn't have a bar, but reception does have soft and canned alcoholic drinks for sale. El Arado is the hotel's partner restaurant and bar. El Arado is located across the street and offers lunch, dinner, and a full bar. The venue can be called for food or drink delivery to the pool.