"Upon arrival was greeted by the unmistakable smell of wildfire smoke, causing me to tear up and aggravating my asthma. Complaints to management greeted by dismissal (“no big deal, happens all the time”); they refused to move me to another safer property. I ended up checking out, bailing on what was to be a 4 day vacation, feeling sick and exhausted."

"Wonderful experience. Grounds are great for small families who have toddlers. Beach is probably the best compared to playa hermosa or playa coco. People were kind and not feeling too pressured to tip (we still did but it was nice not to feel constantly obligated.) Driving around the area is also easy so do not be intimidated. Room service felt the most affordable and easy!"

"Our family of four had a wonderful stay at El Mangroove in Guanacaste, on the Papagayo Peninsula. This is our third trip to Guanacaste, and we previously stayed at another resort and a rental property. The El Mangroove did not disappoint. We found the rooms spacious, clean, and very reasonably priced, especially during the high season. While the rooms lack the stunning views of other resorts on the peninsula, the amenities make up for the limited views, in our opinion. The restaurants on the property had excellent food, and our favorite was the lunch menu at the pool and the breakfast buffet. The entire staff, from check-in, to restaurant waiters, to housekeeping, to the sports desk, were very accommodating and super friendly. We really enjoyed our excursions with Azul Ocean Adventures, booked through the El Mangroove. We did the beach hopping tour with Esteban and Gracie and had a blast. We snorkeled and saw sea turtles and several types of fish, and then got to see a whale shark, a very unique experience. Our son got to swim next to the whale shark, truly exhilarating. Our boys also did some wakeboarding, cave exploring, and caught a nice yellowfin tuna. Esteban prepared sashimi from the tuna, which we ate on board, and then the restaurant prepared the tuna for appetizers and a main course for the four of us later that evening – what an experience! We also took a sunset cruise with Esteban, several jet ski rides, one longer tour with Gracie, and had massages at the spa. The El Mangroove concierge staff helped with off-property excursions as well, transfers to / from the airport, and local restaurant recommendations and reservations. Our favorite off-property restaurants were Hacienda Blu and Peninsula CR Steak and Seafood. In summary, we had an amazing experience at the El Mangroove, from the people, to the adventures, to the food, and would highly recommend it for families traveling to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!"

"We stayed in the beautiful and extremely spacious, well appointed Grand Canopy Suite, with a master bedroom, two bathrooms, large living and dining area, and two balconies - one facing the beach, the other the resort. Our unit was immaculately clean with well working air-conditioning throughout and fans on the balconies. The resort blends seamlessly into its surroundings and the use of natural materials like stone, bamboo, and wood made for a great, warm ambiance throughout. The beach is beautiful and public and we enjoyed mingling with the local families who enjoyed their Valentines Day outings. The property is also excellent for bird watching, and we spotted mantled howler monkeys in the trees. All the staff were very welcoming and attentive. The breakfast buffet at Makoko was generous, with many delicious hot and cold options and an omelet station. We dined at all three restaurants and food was outstanding at each. Our favorite dinner was at Malú; special shout out to Anthony Salazar for going above and beyond with spot-on recommendations, wine pairings, and top tier service. The resort was quite busy during our stay, with plenty of guests engaging in sun-bed hogging, especially at the main pool. The one major downside for us personally was the loud music emanating from the barefoot bar/restaurant Matiss, at times continuing past 11 pm."

"Wonderful experience! I was there for my birthday and everyone acknowledged my special day beginning with Josue at check-in who arranged for us to have a cabana at the pool. There was birthday cake and a lovely note when we got to our room. The food was decent and not terribly overpriced. The pool area is beautiful and relaxing. The beach wasn't very sandy but beautiful nonetheless. The layout of the room was a little odd with a seating area separated from the bedroom with a sliding door. But all the amenities you would expect were there, and a list was provided if you wanted anything else. While we were at the pool cabana, we received a number of drinks and snacks, and I got another birthday cake. The staff sang me happy birthday during dinner and brought me her another cake, haha. I felt very cared for and appreciated during my very short stay. No other hotel has gone out of their way like this (and I always travel on my birthday). Thank you El Mangroove."