Manuel Antonio National Park Live Cam

Arenas Del Mar is a unique project in Costa Rica; it has given birth to a new age of sustainable tourism and will be the most ambitious, creative and environmentally sound project in Central America. This is a vision that has excited a plethora of enthusiastic people- renowned architects, designers, artisans, artists, and hoteliers as well as important government officials into the encouraging marriage of tourism and ecology. What began as a wonderful vision encompassing the most inspiring property in Manuel Antonio, has evolved into a magnificent project that not only promises beautiful beaches, landscape and a high quality lifestyle, but also the most ambitious ecological undertaking and creative design concepts in Central America.

Arenas Del Mar is over 11 acres (4 ½ hectares) of land situated on and above the beaches of “Espadilla” and “Playitas” and adjacent to the world famous Manuel Antonio National Park, which is only one kilometer walking distance along the white sand beach. Arenas Del Mar is well known for its variety of tropical jungles, and the animals that live there; with its acres of interpretive trails identifying the trees and their unique properties, one can see an extraordinary number of animals, plants, and breathtaking views. You will experience the jungle as a distinct and unparalleled place where the regular occupants include the rare “mono-titi” and howler monkeys, sloths, coatamundis, iguanas, armadillos, and countless species of exotic birds. To enter the project, you must drive 500 meters down a beautiful private road, surrounded by flowers and lush tropical plants. Arriving at Arenas Del Mar you will enjoy the unbroken 180-degree view of Manuel Antonio National Park, its outlying islands and the aqua marine Pacific Ocean.

It is the manifestation of the first 100% sustainable development project in Costa Rica, utilizing all the concepts and requirements of the CST (Certificación de Sostenibilidad Turística- Certification for Sustainable Tourism) manual. The CST was written with the help of Glenn Jampol, whose family founded the Playa Dulce Vida/ Arenas Del Mar project, and who still remains one of the principal owners.

Arenas Del Mar /Playa Dulce Vida has completed the only government approved environmental impact study in Manuel Antonio, including a seismic, geologic and soil study, and has contracted INISEFOR (a university sponsored forestry and biology institute), to locate and position every tree over 10 cm. (4 inches) in diameter on the legal survey map. The study was not required by environmental law, rather it exemplifies the level of our ecological commitment, leading the way for the sustainable tourism of the future. We are using solar heating panels, energy saving “on demand only” water heaters, copper-silver ionization systems to clean the pool water, energy efficient bulbs, and a complex but efficient recycling program including the use of waste water treatment plants which require no leech lines. We have dedicated ourselves to new and low impact building materials, such as recycled plastic roof tiles and rocks found on site. The total construction (footprint) covers only a small part of our property and we are dedicating a portion of our land to a museum and nursery in which we will produce and plant indigenous tropical trees and plants.

A Beachfront Resort In The Rain Forest Of Costa Rica

Arenas Del Mar has an extraordinary development team, comprised of hoteliers and experts from Costa Rica, North America, Finland and Mexico; all of whom have a thorough and profound experience with tourism in Costa Rica, but more importantly are dedicated first and foremost to the creation of the most environmentally advanced hotel in Central America.

Glenn Jampol is a successful international artist with work in major museums and collections throughout the world. Since coming to Costa Rica 17 years ago he has been responsible for creating and maintaining Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn, which is considered to be one of the best and certainly the most artistic hotels in Costa Rica, named by "Elle" magazine, "Tatler/Cunard Travel" and others as one of the best 100 hotels in the world (and the only one in Central America). Furthermore, Mr. Jampol has been lecturing at universities and in several countries as an expert on Sustainable Tourism. His hotel, Finca Rosa Blanca holds the highest ranking in Costa Rica in the Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST), and he is deeply committed to creating the lucrative integration of the most environmentally ambitious and highest quality project in Latin America.

The architect Francisco Rojas is perhaps the most talented working in Central America. Mr. Rojas is famous for his bold and organic rooted ideas and has designed many famous hotels and unique houses in the country. Mr. Rojas, was the chief of project development at the Costa Rican Tourist board (ICT) for many years and is the architect responsible for Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn, perhaps the best known hotel in Costa Rica. Carlos Roesch, the managing director of Arenas Del Mar has been President of the National Chamber of Tourism, director of the Neo-Tropical Foundation and has over 20 years of experience managing hotels. Additionally, Mr. Roesch brings a great knowledge of the complex governmental regulations after having served as the Minister of Tourism, a cabinet post, in the 90's. Working closely with Mr. Roesch and the hotel administration is our Marketing and sales director, Marcelo Ahumada, the founder and current President of Tourtech International, a US based tour and travel marketing company with offices in Irvine California and San José Costa Rica. His vast knowledge of tourism gained by 25 years experience has earned him a prominent position in the Latin American travel industry. The final member of the team is the local resident Kari Kanervo, the project manager, who is an accomplished Finnish craftsman and who has worked extensively in Finland, Germany, England and Costa Rica. He brings the exacting and detailed design tradition of Finland combined with his thorough knowledge of high quality construction to the Arenas Del Mar project. Mr. Kanervo has shown his talent and ability in many projects in the coastal area, most notably the construction of the largest and final phase of Hotel "Si Como No", the most successful hotel to date in the Manuel Antonio area.

Arenas Del Mar is the future for Costa Rican tourism, and it will set the standard for development and ecology. It will prove that protecting our planet and still offering the highest quality hotel experience is not only compatible but also desirable. We believe that in the years to come, this dream will be the model for the rest of the world.