Papagayo Golden Palms Beachfront Hotel
A single-story beachfront hotel among gardens on Playa Manzanillo, close to Liberia airport
Papagayo Golden Palms Beachfront Hotel, on Playa Manzanillo in the Gulf of Papagayo
Papagayo Golden Palms is a single-story beachfront hotel on Playa Manzanillo, on the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste. The junior suites sit low among tropical gardens and Guanacaste trees, with the bay just beyond. It suits families and couples who want a relaxed beach base close to Liberia airport, with a pool, a spa and kayaks right there.
Why we choose it
- A short way from the airport. The hotel puts itself 30 minutes from Liberia airport, so the first afternoon of the trip is spent at the beach, not in the van.
- Families are welcome. The Junior Suite Queen sleeps 4 in 2 queen beds, and the hotel says plainly that it loves having families with children.
- Out on the bay. The hotel has private access to the beach in front, and guests take its kayaks out onto the water.
Rooms and views
There are two kinds of junior suite. The Junior Suite King, which the hotel calls its Beachfront Junior Suite, has one king bed for two. The Junior Suite Queen has 2 queen beds and looks onto the gardens and the Guanacaste trees.
Both have air conditioning, a TV, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, a hair dryer, Wi-Fi and a terrace of their own. Because the whole hotel is on one level, there are no stairs between the room and the pool, which grandparents and small children both appreciate.
On the property
Arenas Restaurant cooks Costa Rican food with local seafood and produce, with views along the coast. Breakfast is from 7:00 to 10:00, lunch from 12:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 21:00, with snacks in between, which helps when the kids are hungry at odd hours.
Howler's Pool Bar is new and sits right by the large pool. Nimbu Spa offers massages, facials and body therapies, and there are gardens and terraces around the suites. The hotel can arrange transfers, but we set yours up as part of the trip.
Location and getting there
Playa Manzanillo is on the Gulf of Papagayo, on the same stretch of coast as Playa Panama, in the north of Guanacaste. Fly into Liberia and we arrange a private transfer that meets you at arrivals. For more on this part of the coast, read about Playa Panama.
Hotels we book in Playa Panama
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Papagayo Golden Palms Beachfront Hotel | Casa Conde Beachfront Hotel | Occidental Papagayo | Vista Bahía Beach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Private jacuzzi in room | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Spa | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
If this hotel is full, we would look at
Your Costa Rica, starting in Playa Panama
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