Arenas Del Mar

Arenas del Mar is the only luxury resort with direct beach access in Manuel Antonio, on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, built on former plantain farmland that's since been reforested with some 7,000 native trees. Just a quarter of the 11-acre property is built on, the rest acts as a wildlife corridor connecting to Manuel Antonio National Park next door, home to howler and capuchin monkeys, sloths and around 180 recorded bird species. The 38 rooms and suites, reached by golf cart, have king beds, private decks and locally-made organic toiletries. Two beaches sit on the doorstep: Espadilla, stretching toward the park entrance, and the less crowded Playitas, reachable only through the resort.

Four resident naturalist guides lead walks through the reserve and into the national park, and activities range from surfing lessons to night hikes for owls and tree frogs. The kitchen runs a Dock to Dish programme sourcing seafood from local fishers, alongside vegetables grown in the resort's own hydroponic garden. Staff, almost entirely Costa Rican and mostly hired locally, spend two days a month cleaning the park's trails and the beach, and help fund a nearby school's supplies.