Special Stay: Si Como No Hotel, Manuel Antonio

Last updated on June 11, 2025

Si Como No is one of those hotels that ticks plenty of boxes for kids and adults alike. Our sons declared it the best hotel they’ve ever been to – largely because of the water slide and all the animal sightings – and we found plenty of reasons to fall for it too. 

It’s a destination hotel where you could easily spend most of your time, doing day trips here and there. It’s proof of how easy a family trip to Costa Rica can be – and how a local resort can be as easy (and far more authentic) than a big chain.

Here’s a full review of Si Como No and what you can expect from your visit. And don’t miss our full Costa Rica itinerary.

Check the latest prices at Si Como No.

Highlights

• A hotel that hits the sweet spot between what kids and adults need.
• The aesthetic pool and slide combo was the kids’ dream come true. And the perfectly placed swim-up bar meant adults could easily supervise kids while enjoying happy hour.
• Gorgeous, tropical grounds and stunning views from every corner: a blanket of wild rainforest leading out to the ocean.
• Free entry to the butterfly garden across the road.
• Excellent food and views from Rico Tico restaurant (Thai curry was a highlight)
• Super convenient for Manuel Antonio National Park, which is just 5 minutes away.

Best bits for kids

• The waterslide and pool (obviously!)
• Jet baths in the room, providing bubble-filled entertainment.
• Pancakes galore at breakfast.
• Spotting wildlife both on the hotel grounds and nearby Manuel Antonio National Park
• On-site cinema room showing nightly kids’ films

Best bits for grown-ups

• Early mornings on the balcony with coffee, howler monkeys in the background, and even a couple of toucan sightings.
• Relaxing with those epic jungle and ocean views in all parts of the hotel, from bed, to the sun loungers to dinner.
• Adults-only pool for people looking for a break from kids
• Sipping cocktails at the pool bar with the kids happily occupied.

Good to know

• The vibe around the pool can change depending on who’s staying. Our first day was super chilled, but the second was much busier with a larger family group. Still lovely though!
• You need to keep an eye on the pool area, especially younger kids around the slide. The slide is fast, so you definitely don’t want to get hit by someone at the end.
• Claro Que Si restaurant has sports TVs and no ocean view, which gives a different feel to Rico Tico. It’s great food, but we preferred enjoying the views from Rico Tico.
• Cinema screenings start at 7 pm, which might be a bit late for little ones.

Style and vibe

From the moment you enter the lobby and see the combination of its architecture and breathtaking view, you know Si Como is special. The relaxed, boutique resort takes full advantage of its spectacular setting with lush, tropical grounds and viewpoints across the hotel. There are jungle-ocean views from every room.

It’s a resort that caters perfectly to families, but that also appeals to adults. There are plenty of opportunity for peaceful moments and the style is quietly luxurious.

The focus here is squarely on nature and sustainability, and it’s a hotel that feels uniquely Costa Rican, both in terms of design and hospitality. It’s a world away from the impersonality of bigger chains.

Location

The hotel is set amid the rainforest with spectacular views stretching down to the Pacific. It’s right next to Manuel Antonio National Park, so you’re immersed in the area’s incredible natural beauty from the moment you arrive. Animal sightings, from howler monkeys to toucans and reptiles, are pretty much guaranteed.

Rooms

All rooms at Si Como No have balconies and breathtaking jungle-ocean views that you can appreciate through full-length windows. The hotel has been recently renovated with fresh décor and traditional accents, including local art and stained glass details.

Our room was comfortable and spacious with a king bed, plus a pull-out sofa for the kids. The bathroom was exceptional with a sunken jet bath that the kids adored. Waking up to that rainforest view was a daily treat.

Facilities

The pool at Si Como No is a showstopper, complete with a winding waterslide that thrilled the kids no end. For the grown-ups, the swim-up pool bar offered the perfect perch to supervise while enjoying a happy hour cocktail. To be honest, I also loved the slide!

There’s also an adults-only pool and bar for when you want a mellower grown-up vibe.

For evening entertainment, the hotel has a cinema room where they show movies starting at 7pm – a fun option for families (but sadly a little late for ours as they were going to sleep around 8pm).

A lovely added extra is the complimentary entry to the butterfly garden across the road. It’s a sweet excursion where we spotted bright blue morphos and monarchs. There’s also a café amid the garden.

There’s an onsite spa at the hotel, which I didn’t manage to try, but is well reviewed.

Food and drink

There are two restaurants: Rico Tico and Claro Que Si, as well as Mogotes Pool Bar. We loved Rico Tico for its relaxed vibe and stunning views. Breakfast was a mix of buffet and à la carte — think delicious huevos rancheros and stacks of pancakes. The veggie Thai curry was a standout at dinner. 

Claro Que Si is less picturesque, but the food is excellent, and it has a kids’ menu that matches Rico Tico’s. Claro Que Si is more relaxed with TVs showing sport. It’s at the entrance, so attracts many non-hotel guests too.

Plus there are some other restaurants in walking distance, including the popular El Avion restaurant, which has an actual C-123 Fairchild cargo plane in the center!

Things to do nearby

A visit to Manuel Antonio National Park is an absolute must. Yes, the park and the surrounding area have a bit of a reputation for being touristy and busy, but we still found it completely worth it. The sheer beauty of the rainforest, its unique location beside the beach, and prolific wildlife, make it a special destination within Costa Rica. 

We did a private 2-hour tour via Get Your Guide, which was ideal for us as it meant we could go at the kids’ pace (they often get restless on a group tour). But if you have older kids then a group tour would be great.

Whatever you do, I highly recommend visiting the park with a guide. Without one, you’d miss out on a lot of wildlife. There’s an argument that there are so many tours happening in Manuel Antonio that you could simply look out for what the groups are looking at, but this only works for bigger and nearby animals. For things like sloths that are high up in the trees or small spiders and snakes, you really benefit from using the guide’s high-powered viewing scope.

Other things to do in the area include zip line tours, ocean kayaking, SUP, boat trips, night walks, parasailing, white water rafting, horse riding, cooking classes and chocolate tours.

You can also do excursions to places outside of Manuel Antonio, like Nauyaca waterfall (I really wanted to do this, but the kids weren’t up for it!).

Do we recommend it?

Absolutely. Si Como No perfectly balances fun, relaxation and cultural experience in a setting that feels truly special and pleases the adults as much as the kids. It’s a place where you could spend a whole week, enjoying the hotel while also exploring all the nearby Costa Rica attractions. Check the latest prices at Si Como No.

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