Manatus Hotel

Mr. David Peek
"Superb small hotel, very quiet. 12 adjoining bungalows overlooking the river. Very good food, A la Carte menu. Excellent guides, small boats for touring the hidden canals, usually by ourselves with guide. "

R and Y Smith (03/04/2019)
"As my husband said, you have to re-calibrate your expectations, and accept that standards are going to be different. It maybe the best in the area and has air con in bedrooms but it is not luxury. The staff who greeted us on arrival at the landing strip and hotel landing dock, including the owner Roberto were pleasant, friendly and helpful. The hotel is set out like old colonial rest houses with bungalows in 3 groups of 4 in grounds connected to reception and restaurant by covered walkways. Hexagonal slab paving from walkway to our room was a trip hazard with loose and uneven slabs. The room itself was large with good air con and two queen size beds though it was quite dark because you’re forced to keep the curtains closed most of the time as other people walk right past the windows on their way to and from their bungalows. Voile or net curtains could help matters here. A coffee machine with good coffee was welcome and the fridge in room was stocked with water and beer at a cost that seemed reasonable by hotel minibar standards. The lighting was dim for reading or writing unless you were lying on the bed but the overhead light there was good. No aircon in shower and toilet area makes it very uncomfortable to get ready when it’s hot and the floor tiles were slippery with wet feet. It was odd that they have notices asking you not to waste water but with no plug in wash basin it forces you to keep the tap running when washing your face unless you want to end up with soap in your eyes. There was no hot water in the wash basin and the available light for shaving or putting on any make up was very poor. The outside shower area was very run down and we didn’t bother to use it as it with the enclosed walls, there was no breeze and it was even hotter than indoor one. There is no private outside space, only a seat outside the from door. Some food was good but there was not enough salad or fresh vegetables and what vegetables there were seemed frozen and over cooked. Most people only seem to stay a few nights but the menu could become very repetitive for longer stays. Tap water was provided at meals but if you want a cocktail beforehand, they seemed to taste synthetic, not a patch on Caribbean Island ones and were expensive and not worth it. Service at mealtimes could be slow if more than a few people were there. Included animal and bird watching tours by boat were good good but would have been better with a much earlier than 8.30 start when the animals are active and the temperature is relatively low. Danilo who drove boat was great at spotting animals and Luis was a good guide. We must say thanks to the other passengers for their sharp eyes too. The visit to Tortuguera village was too long. After a visit to the beach where turtles lay eggs in season, it seemed to be a payoff to village shop owners to drop tourists in their midst for an hour in the hope they’d spend. There was not much worth buying and every member of the group we were with was back at landing stage early. If any of the other nearby lodges or hotels introduce Aircon in the bedrooms you may want to look at those for comparison. "

Mr. Michael Benn
"Truly amazing. AC was a godsend. Food and guides (Lius and Luis) great. Could have stayed here for weeks. Flight in was part of the experience. Highly recommend the flight. The activities included were wonderful, extra ones we booked (kayaking, turtles etc) were really fun. Fab location for wildlife spotting . As with everywhere, bar shut at 10pm. Not sure if this is seasonal or cultural. "

UK Family aged 60/60/26/23 (02/03/2019)
"Pretty much perfect. Just 12 outstandingly comfortable rooms along the waterfront, very good food, great staff."