Rancho Coral Beach Bungalows — Hotel in Parrita

We were really looking forward to staying at Hotel Rancho Coral after viewing all the photos here and on the hotel's website. But when we arrived in the evening on a Friday night, we did not find the well-maintained hotel and busy restaurant you see in the pictures, which are a great misrepresentation. The lively vibe was completely nonexistent. This is not a boutique hotel like they claim to be. We were creeped out by our room, the eerie atmosphere, and the entire property. ||||The property was dark—few lights on and not in an eco-hotel kind of way. There didn't seem to be any other guests booked for the night, no other cars in the lot, and only one staff member appeared to be on-site. Before arriving, we were sent a memo that said we needed a reservation to dine at the hotel's restaurant "in order to ensure space," yet there were only two people there who just seemed to be hanging out, not even dining. It was all so bizarre. As if they were putting on an act that this was going to be a popular and busy place. ||||The photos depict bright, cute, clean, and campy rooms. Our room was rundown and ugly, and we did not feel safe or comfortable. No safe-box. The lock on the door seemed inadequate. A mirror that was not even real glass. More like the reflective material used for a funhouse mirror. The kitchenette was not what we expected from the photos either. We couldn't believe the price they were charging for this place after all the truly great hotels we stayed at in Costa Rica for the same amount and cheaper. ||||We trusted our guts and left after a few minutes. We ended up close by in Jaco and got a nice clean room at a fabulous hotel with a gorgeous pool, a lively bar/restaurant, well-maintained property, fully staffed, and security for less money! They even upgraded us to a more deluxe room without us asking.||||Maybe long ago, in Hotel Rancho Coral's heyday, this may have been a gem of a hotel, but it's not now. I wish we had seen more honest reviews before wasting our time. This was not...

I cannot rave about the Rancho enough. My friends and I have been coming here every year since 2011, except during the pandemic. Is it perfect? No. The first year, it rained so hard that the electricity and water went out. When it finally came back, the water ran brown for a couple days. There are mosquitos in the room. The beds are a little lumpy. And yet, we love it and keep coming back. The Rancho is our magical home away from home. Everyone is so so nice. The daily breakfast is delicious. They’ve planted some coconut trees around the grassy in front so now we can sit in an outdoor living room under the shade of coconut and almond trees and look at the ocean. I drink a fresh fruit smoothie every day. It’s an easy walk down to the surf break near La Sirena. There’s a sloth family living in the mango tree in the yard. You can watch the sunset and the sunrise from a log on the beach. The rooms are air conditioned and totally adequate. The guacamole and chips is a great mid day snack, as well as the avocado toast. I could go on and on and on about how much I love this place. If you want fancy, go up the road to Calletas. This place is for the unpretentious and...

I guess after 3 years of coming to the Rancho Coral it's past due for me to share my love of this special place on planet Earth which I consider myself lucky to have stumbled upon. Rosie, Tommy and of course their sweet little cherub Billie have become my Costa Rican family and I am grateful for the kindness and welcoming they show me each time I come to this oasis. Rancho Corral is a portal to what it means to be human for those ready to be human again. The natural beauty is untouched, unsculpted, as it was 1000 years ago. If you let it, it will bring back to life that vestige of humanity within you which has been plastered over with all the superfluous aspects of modern life. Of course we can't always escape the modern world entirely so connect to the wifi, hold your breath and drive back to your chaotic life when you need to, but reemerge from the depths back to the sounds of Scarlet Macaws and crashing waves. Don't expect turndown service with a mint on your pillow, valet parking or a concierge to get you tickets to the hottest new restaurant. Everything your soul really needs to recover it's humanity is here. I hope you...