Built by a Dutch master builder who fell in love with Costa Rica and set out to build his own eclectic "parador" -- Spanish for stopping place -- this is the largest full-service resort in Manuel Antonio, perched on the Punta Quepos promontory with genuine European architectural detail rather than generic resort styling.
The property's Mediterranean-Spanish styling isn't a design trend -- it's one man's personal vision.
"Parador" translates to "stopping point" or "resting place" in Spanish -- a nod to Spain's historic parador hotel network, reinterpreted on a larger scale in the Costa Rican rainforest.
Guest reviews consistently note antiques and artwork throughout common areas that reflect Costa Rican history and culture, giving the resort a distinct character among Manuel Antonio's larger properties.
The resort's own positioning, backed by awards for sustainable tourism -- a real design philosophy, not just marketing language, given the property's scale and wildlife-rich setting.
Three to four restaurants ranging from a design-your-own omelet breakfast station to a 7-course tasting menu -- genuinely wide-ranging for a resort this size.
Breakfast with a design-your-own omelet station, transforming into fine dining by evening with ocean views and live piano music.
Casual buffet dinners -- children under 12 eat free here.
Each of the two main pools has its own restaurant serving lunch and drinks -- everything from poolside pizzas to sushi.
Private dining rooms and 7-course tasting menu options for special occasions.
The 12-acre rainforest setting isn't landscaping dressed up for photos -- it's a genuine habitat woven through the resort grounds.
This is the detail most likely to surprise a first-time guest who assumes "resort on the coast" means beachfront.
Despite its coastal position, Parador sits on a rock outcropping with cliffs down to the ocean -- there is no direct beach at the property itself.
A roughly 10-minute walk (steep in places) down a public path reaches Biesanz Beach, one of the area's calmer, more swimmable beaches.
The resort's own shuttle ferries guests to the main Playa Espadilla beach area, stopping at shops en route -- taxis are also available on request.
Room rate typically includes the daily breakfast buffet; other meals à la carte. Observed ranges from public booking data -- confirm directly for your dates.
Dry season plus holidays; the resort's 130-room scale gives it more peak availability than smaller boutique properties nearby.
Good value window with thinner crowds.
Lowest rates of the year. Manuel Antonio sees more rain than Guanacaste in this window.
Ranges reflect nightly pricing across public booking platforms in 2025-2026 and vary with room category, occupancy and lead time. A planning guide, not a quote.
The closest properties with full deep-dives, by distance.