Hotel el Delfin — Hotel in Santa Rosa

We had a great time at El Delfin! So much to say...||Three of us shared a private room with A/C, two full beds, private bath and shower. It was room 6, the furthest from the bar, so it was very quiet. The beds were comfortable. They only had one sheet, no blankets, but it was very hot so we didn't need anything more. Decent pillows, but only two per bed. ||Our shower was bad -- low water pressure. The shared showers were actually better. ||Each private room has a hammock outside it for lounging. The shared rooms (hostel style) were located closer to the bar and might have been noisier at night.||The hotel is right on the beach! Like, literally the tide comes up the sand right to the deck chairs. It was totally cool. The bar is on the beach and there are lots of chairs and tables to sit at in the shade. It is VERY HOT but the ocean breeze is cooling. The black sand beach will scorch your feet, so wear sandals. In the early morning and late afternoon is the only time you can go barefoot.||The ocean is dangerous here. Please ask the staff about the best time to play in the surf (low tide) and be mindful of the riptide. It can sweep you out to sea if you are not careful. There were some surfers but the waves weren't really ideal for that. (El Paredon beach is better for surfers and the beach at Port San Jose is better for weak swimmers.)||The pool is small and simple, but enjoyable. Very refreshing and cool.||The food at the hotel was delicious! The drinks were even more delicious! ||You are given a bracelet when you check in and all food and drinks are charged to your room. You pay when you checkout. Make sure you have enough money!||They had a live band on Saturday night called The Payson and they were great! ||There was free drinking water at reception and the bar. In the morning, coffee was also free. ||We met Erick at the hotel who was an approved tour guide and helped us to arrange a 5am tour of the mangroves and a one-hour horseback ride. Please check the prices on the boards before you book. We didn't know what the price was supposed to be and he charged us more. I guess we were supposed to negotiate maybe?||The hotel has a pool table but I'm not sure if you had to pay to play. They also have a ping-pong table.||The hotel is centrally located and literally steps away from the main street with stores and vendors with street food. Lots of shops selling beachwear and inflatable toys. ||I would definitely return to El Delfin for...

I know my visit was long ago now (2009) but my experience was amazing, and they deserve all the credit! :) The Hotel el Delfin was recommended to me by a wonderful local woman I made friends with in Pana.... she loved the hotel, and said we should all go for a week (us and her husband) and then a 2nd week for just us girls. After two weeks, both Angel and Maria had gone home to Panajachel, but I was loving everything so much that I decided to stay on alone. Please know that my Spanish was/is VERY BASIC, anything extra came directly out of the Spanish/English dictionary I carried everywhere. That did not matter AT ALL; I made friends with the night guard and his bueno perro ;) and everyone was kind and patient. I figured out what I liked to eat and how to order it (the kitchen makes every meal from scratch) and sometimes I had a short wait, but it was ALWAYS worth it; delicious! Some new ideas of food I knew, and other things I had never had (fresh as the minute ceviché!). I LOVED the beautiful clean perfect pool the MOST (there are many sharks in the water on the beach due to a unique deep drop off on in the sea on the shores of Monterrico), the open air showers, and my budget room was a GREAT VALUE (and I am thankful for the mosquito nets....nature wants what is wants). There is a turtle sanctuary a nice walk up the beach also. No real ‘shopping’ when I was there, but that’s not what I vacation for, so I didn’t mind at all. I know this has been long, but here comes the very best part of all. Into about week 3 I hurt my foot terribly (all my fault, drunk and careless), and the very nice older lady owner immediately, and without my knowledge or request, called her son, a doctor, in Guatemala City, and made SURE I was cared for and had the needed medication and treatment protocols!!! How nice was that?!? I stayed an extra 2 weeks for my foot to heal, and all I want is to GO BACK!!! Yay Hotel...

I stayed in room 2 at El Delfin for 5 nights mid-January and I had the most amazing time. The hotel is right on the black sand beach of Monterrico. My private room was good size with separate EC and shower room. There were no luxury items in the room, but I wasn’t looking for that - I got a clean, functional and safe place right in the centre of this small and friendly town. ||Monterrico is not a place to go to if you’re looking for an active holiday. Time passes quietly, there is always siesta time somewhere, a perfect place to pass the time with book in one hand and beer/cocktail in the other. The hotel bar and restaurant serves great food and drinks from early morning until 10pm, huge portions. Waiters and bartenders are attentive, friendly and very polite. There is a system in place where everything is recorded on the room and I could pay into it when I wanted, very good value. On the weekend they had a live local band. ||There is a pool which I didn’t actually use because it seemed more of a family play area. Other activities included table tennis, bicycle rental and my favourite - falling asleep in my own private hammock. Reception arranged a sailing trip in the mangroves. ||I enjoyed Monterrico so much that I’m going back next year and I can’t wait to stay at El...