El Mangroove, Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Costa Rica Reviewed in 2025

➞ What to Do

One of the coolest features of El Mangroove is its fleet of boats, jet skis, and water toys to go along with them. Guests can choose from a huge selection of experiences off the Pacific shores or craft their own, and these tours are always private.

Some popular choices include whale and dolphin watching, sport fishing, wakeboarding, snorkeling, and beach barbecuing. There are some fantastic evening options as well, like sunset-chasing cruises and bioluminescent swimming with stargazing. You can also take a Sea Doo waverunner tour around the coast or do some stand-up paddle yoga.

Several pools allow for landside relaxation, including a beautiful adults-only pool by the beach. There’s a series of family-friendly pools as well. The Bearth Spa has outdoor treatment cabanas among the forests surrounding the property for further pampering.

Rental bikes can be reserved from the concierge to see the local area. The nearby beach towns of Playa Hermosa and Coco offer dozens more restaurants, bars, and shops, plus more beaches and natural scenery.

➞ What to Eat & Drink

El Mangroove has three restaurants and one bar, and while the quantity may be small, the quality of food and drink here is exceptional. The restaurant that starts the day is Makoko, where Costa Rican flavors and favorites meet international breakfast dishes. This is served à-la-carte.

Makoko is closed for lunch, giving way to Matiss for all-day dining. At its poolside spot, guests can enjoy all kinds of handhelds, pizzas, seafood, and other casual dishes, as well as its bar. El Shack Bar is the other spot for mocktails and cocktails during the day.

Matiss opens again for dinner and offers an upgraded menu of mostly seafood. Makoko opens up again as well and offers a more upscale Costa Rican fusion menu described as creative and sustainable. Finally, Malú opens its doors to serve a comprehensive Mediterranean cuisine from Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, and Greece.

➞ Room Guide

The handful of room categories at El Mangroove have unique names, so we’ll attempt to simplify them below. All rooms have a Bohemian-chic design with sleek, modern touches that come together very luxuriously. There aren’t any bad rooms in the resort, but some of the upper categories are definitely worth looking into if you have the budget.

Bark Suites, Nesto Suites, & Root Deluxes: The former two are “standard” rooms, with one king bed and two queen beds, respectively. The latter is a corner room with slightly more space. All offer large outdoor spaces, hammocks, spa-like bathrooms, and many other touches of luxury.

Habitat Superior, Crown Superior, & Canopy Grand: These are the next levels of upgrade, each with a separate king-bed bedroom and sofa-bed living room. All are either corner rooms or on the top floor.

El Mangle & Villas: El Mangle is the presidential suite of the resort, and besides the huge amounts of space and luxurious furnishings, it offers a stunning private plunge pool on its deck. Villas range in size from two to four bedrooms and can be a great solution for families or groups.

➞ Special Experiences

The marine activities offered by El Mangroove’s private fleet of boats and jet skis are certainly the best way to find a special experience at this resort. Unique charters, such as nighttime stargazing and bioluminescent swimming, are experiences you won’t find at many other Costa Rica all-inclusive resorts. Even the more standard ones, like sportfishing and dolphin watching, are more enjoyable and simple.

If those tours are out of your budget, or you’d rather spend your time relaxing, private cabanas can be reserved for a guaranteed great day at the pool. Besides having private, confirmed seating in the shade, you’ll get a private concierge and sample drinks and snacks every hour or so.