Review: El Mangroove in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

By the time I arrived at El Mangroove, a unique hotel within Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, I had just spent four days exploring the Costa Rican wilderness: horseback riding and ziplining through the tropical dry forest; chasing down wildlife, such as sea turtles and macaws; and having other active adventures. 

But as wonderful as that all was, I was ready for a little pampering to wrap up my trip. Luckily, as I sipped my welcome drink and confirmed my poolside cabana reservation and upcoming spa appointment, I quickly realized that’s exactly what I would find at the modern, upscale El Mangroove. 

Located on the Gulf of Papagayo in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, the hotel is just 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport, but it provides a complete retreat. The eco-minded property’s open-air design creates little distinction between indoors and out — restaurants, public spaces and even the lobby all flow seamlessly, with few walls in between. 

Amenities at El Mangroove

As a newer hotel, El Mangroove’s 85 suites feature a modern aesthetic with sophisticated furnishings and plenty of upscale touches. My spacious Habitat Superior One-Bedroom Suite featured separate living and sleeping areas; a walk-in closet; and a fabulous balcony surrounded by lush vegetation and outfitted with a hanging, egg-shaped lounge chair. The enormous shower was a heavenly touch, with a high-level window that let in natural light and offered glimpses of the mangrove forest outside (without compromising privacy).

Outside my room, I found even more to love. Just about all of the property’s public spaces — restaurants, lounge areas and pools — face out toward the beach, offering stunning views of the Gulf of Papagayo no matter where you are. 

RELATED: Hotel Review: Origins Lodge in Costa Rica

El Mangroove’s pools are beautifully designed, as well. The long, rectangular, adults-only pool stretches scenically toward the sea, surrounded by plenty of loungers for tranquil relaxation. A short way away is the new all-ages SI&P Zone (opened earlier this year), where a series of smaller, stacked pools cascade down in the direction of the beach. Each level of this area is separated by walkways and loungers, a feature that creates a sense of separation from other guests. Often, my fiance and I would have an entire tier to ourselves, offering the luxurious feeling that we were in our own nearly private pool.

Luxurious cabanas can also be rented at either pool area (for an additional cost) — the one I enjoyed for an afternoon at the all-ages pool was outfitted with a mini-fridge, an L-shaped couch and a television, and came with two additional reserved loungers, dedicated waiter service and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Resort Restaurants 

The food and beverage program at El Mangroove is excellent, with super-fresh, well-executed dishes and creative, delicious cocktails. 

The main restaurant, Makoko, serves breakfast and dinner. To kick off the day, I highly recommend the Gallo Pinto Wrap — gallo pinto is a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of seasoned rice and beans, served here in a tortilla with eggs, plantain and avocado — though other menu options run the gamut from chilaquiles and benedicts to blueberry waffles, a tropical granola bowl and more.

At dinnertime, execution is at an even higher level; creative dishes are beautifully plated and extremely satisfying. The catch of the day is served with “shiitake mushroom cappuccino” (a foamy emulsion), for example, while the umami-rich roasted eggplant appetizer (one of the best things I ate on the trip) came with a mashed potato foam and Japanese tonkatsu sauce. There’s a wide range of additional offerings, including grilled short rib (another standout for me), duck confit and a whole menu of vegetarian and vegan options.

Mattis, open for poolside lunch and a more casual dinner, serves ultra-fresh seafood in a variety of preparations — such as ceviches, tacos and poke bowls — alongside sandwiches, pizzas, salads and grilled items. A third restaurant, Malu, opened just after my stay, offering a Mediterranean-leaning menu.

El Mangroove’s Spa and Other On-Site Offerings

Another standout of the property is its Bearth Spa, which features both indoor and outdoor spaces, including treatment rooms. In addition to offering men’s and women’s saunas and relaxation areas (with plunge pools), the spa has an outdoor deck that leads to a handful of open-air treatment cabanas. These structures have a solid roof to protect from rain, as well as curtains for privacy and an overhead fan to keep bugs at bay. For some treatments, guests can choose between these outdoor settings and an air-conditioned indoor room (though there are some options that require the indoor setting exclusively).

During my 60-minute massage, I basked in the surrounding birdcalls and forest sounds while an early-evening breeze washed over my skin. The soothing soundtrack of nature helped me find a new level of peace and relaxation — I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the hotel’s beachside setting, water activities and excursions are also easily accessible. I opted for a stand-up paddleboarding lesson, but there are plenty of other bookable options: jet skis, kayak rentals, snorkeling, boat tours, fishing excursions and more. (The hotel has two private tour boats that make such excursions a breeze.)

RELATED: What to Do in Beachy Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Back on land, El Mangroove’s activities range from yoga classes to a reforesting excursion and food and beverage tastings. I took part in a coffee demonstration, during which a staff member prepared Costa Rican coffee in four different ways and let us taste the resulting brew that each method produced — an eye-opening exercise that made me rethink my at-home morning ritual.

Best of all, each activity and interaction comes by way of the warm, eager-to-please staff. No matter what clients choose to partake in, they’re sure to end every experience feeling Costa Rica’s trademark “pura vida” spirit.