Costa Verde has been a Manuel Antonio fixture for about twenty-five years, and it is best known for its aircraft. A Boeing 727 fuselage, perched in the jungle canopy, has been converted into a suite, and a converted C-123 cargo plane houses one of the restaurants, along with the Cockpit Cottage, the Sky Loft and the Cockpit Cabana. It is not only a gimmick. The hotel sits on a cliff of coastal rainforest between the national park and the Pacific, with 70 rooms, studios, bungalows and a Casa Quinta, three cliffside pools with terraces, and four restaurants and bars, including a wood-fire grill with live music. Family rooms are available, some rooms and the penthouse are adults only, and the front desk runs from early morning to late evening. Guests score it 9.2 from more than four hundred reviews and it is rated four stars, and free self-parking and fast wifi are included. It is a lively, characterful, mid-priced choice, in a prime position on the Manuel Antonio road.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on the road to Manuel Antonio at about kilometre five, with Playa Espadilla about a thirteen-minute walk away and the national park around thirteen minutes by car. The walk down to the beach is pleasant, but the return is steep, so many guests take a taxi back up. Quepos is a few miles away, and local buses pass along the road. An airport shuttle is available for a fee, and San José is about three hours by car.
The rooms and who they suit
The range is wide, from efficiency studios to bungalows, a Casa Quinta, and the aircraft-themed rooms, so decide what you want before booking. Families should look at the Family Area rooms, and couples and groups of friends will enjoy the Cockpit Cabana and the adults-only options.
The 727 suite is the showpiece, but it is priced accordingly, and a standard room is a better value if the plane is only a photo opportunity. Expect stairs between the rooms, pools and restaurants, and ask for a ground-floor room if mobility is a concern.
Good to know
Check-in is from 3pm to 10pm and check-out is at noon. Breakfast at the restaurants is a surcharge, so compare rates with and without it. Reviewers praise the cleanliness, the staff and the setting, while one reviewer found the restaurants pricey, and others mention the stairs and the steep walk back from the beach.
Pets are not allowed. The hotel hosts weddings, so weekends can be lively. Rates are mid-range and rise in the dry season, from December to April, with lower prices from May to November, when the forest is greenest. It is the right choice for travellers who want character, three pools and a short walk to the beach without paying resort prices.
Why stay here
- ✓Three cliffside pools
- ✓Four restaurants and bars
- ✓Boeing 727 fuselage suite
- ✓Family Area rooms
- ✓Adults-only rooms
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Free fast wifi
- ✓Walk to Playa Espadilla
Good questions
Can I walk from Costa Verde to the beach?+
Yes. Playa Espadilla is about a thirteen-minute walk, but the return is steep, so many guests take a taxi back up. The national park is a short drive away.
Is breakfast included?+
Breakfast at the on-site restaurants is a surcharge, so compare the rate with and without it. Check the rate details when you reserve.
Is the airplane suite worth it?+
It is a one-of-a-kind stay, but it is priced for the novelty. A standard room or bungalow is better value if you only want the setting.
