Manatus Hotel

This hotel is right on the river where you can only get somewhere by boat. You arrive by boat and travel and hour or so to this hotel. We stayed two nights, just our 2nd and 3rd in Costa Rica. Rooms , all the same, are spacious and the bathroom has an outside garden area with shower - which was so special. We did 3 boat excursions altogether - the first on our arrival afternoon was just across the water to the village on the Caribbean coast. Interesting little place siting on this vast sea turtle nesting beach. The spider monkeys put on a spectacular show for us there. Excursion the following morning was slow and magnificent. The wildlife we saw was endless and all we wanted - a sloth up close and so many iguana and caiman and so on too numerous to list. However excursion that afternoon was out of this world as it was raining we were able to see several turtles newly hatched make their torturous journey to the sea - 2 made it under our supervision good luck to them . This was a full board hotel (as there is nowhere else to go) and the meals were very pleasant and the service was excellent too.

A stunning setting at the edge of the national park. The lodges are all situated by the lagoon, the setting is great. The staff were all super helpful and very friendly. They made our stay. Our guide Louise was the best. We did 2 tours to see wildlife. We saw amazing birds, Iguanas, a Cayman, a sloth high up in a tree, a crocodile very briefly! But to see all of these animals in their natural habitat is a chance of a lifetime. My husband and son did the night tour to see the sea turtles on the beach and actually got to see a turtle laying eggs. It was a super special experience. There is also a lovely pool to cool off after doing your tours. The area can be a bit buggy at night though so best to cover up and use insect repellent. Overall is super experience and the boat trip out to the main road at the end was amazing fun also.

We loved this hotel. Amazing location with rainforest on one side and the river on the other. Waking up before breakfast for a swim in the pool and just to take in the sounds of the forest was blissful. The rooms are very clean and include both indoor and outdoor showers. The staff are lovely and create a friendly family atmosphere. The boat trips around the national park, seeking out wildlife, was an absolute joy. Certainly recommend.

We loved everything about our stay at Manatus. The staff was fantastic, always willing to please. Considering the limited number of options and amenities that are available in the Tortuguero area, we were very pleased to stay at a hotel that included delicious meals, multiple canal tours, and daily visits from howler monkeys right outside our door. There are only 12 bungalows which was a perfect fit for us, not crowded and plenty of personal attention from the staff. The rooms themselves are very comfortable. The beds are firm and comfy and the A/C blows cold - a luxury we were very glad to have in July. There was a TV but we did not use it - the sound of the howlers was entertainment enough! Depending on what time of year you visit, consider splurging for the late-night turtle nesting tour led by Manatus staff. We were there as the season (July-October) was just starting, but were lucky enough to see a large turtle crawl across the beach and enter the water after laying her eggs, and then just when we thought we were done we were alerted to another one that had just gotten started. With the guide using a red light for minimal distraction, we were able to watch from just a step away as she laid her eggs in the nest she'd dug. Then she spent a long time attempting to cover it all up, no easy task for a large and likely exhausted turtle. Quite an amazing scene, and we were there to see it!

What an amazing experience! From the boat ride in, through kayaking, visiting the town and sea, boat tours, night hike, forest hike, pool time, drinks and meals, no one in our family will forget our time at Manatus. Our guide and captain, Luis and Ronnie, were outstanding. Jhon and Harold were also great in the restaurant and bar. Thanks so much for a truly special time!

A nice small hotel for Tortuguero, they only have 12 rooms. Staff are great, it’s all very clean. Tours are included and pretty good. The highlight was seeing baby turtles hatch on the beach, which was amazing. We didn’t see a lot on the canal tours and almost nothing on the night walk round the property - but it’s nature and you can’t guarantee anything (and the baby turtles rushing to the sea was worth everything), on our last morning I did spot some toucans in the grounds. The showers are amazing, easily the stand out point of the rooms. Food is decent and fine for a couple of days (the menu is the same for lunch and dinner) but if you stayed longer it might get a bit dull. The barman’s cocktails are really good! Have one of the ones with Guaro! A few minor niggles: 1) the amount of light in the room at night - all from the aircon unit. Its display really lights the room up, you can almost read by it!! I finally managed to turn that off but it has a bright light behind it. In the end I stood on a chair and covered it up 2) the waste situation is annoying - if you have non recyclable waste there is literally nowhere to put it in the entire property, so you end up putting it in the toilet paper wastebin. If you have recyclable waste then you have to take it down to the dock - it’s not far at all but from the furthest room it’s a few minutes, this is also the only place to get drinking water 3) coffee. Most people stay 2 nights, some stay 3. You get a coffee maker in your room with one single use sachet of coffee. This does not get replaced. So you get coffee in your room for one day only. Finally - let them do the transfers. We organised a private transfer there from Cahuita and it wasn’t great. We should’ve spent the extra and got them to do it. Pre communication with Jenny was excellent as well