Riu Guanacaste Hotel Sardinal, Sardinal - Reviews, Rooms Options & Prices 2025

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Key details

About the Resort

Sardinal De Carrillo, El Ocotal, Cr, Sardinal, Costa Rica

Riu Guanacaste offers a 5-star all-inclusive resort experience directly on Mata Palo Beach, featuring an expansive pool complex and a variety of restaurants. This property combines leisure and entertainment with an on-site casino, shops, and multiple dining options.

Rooms & Amenities

The 701-room Riu Guanacaste is designed for comfort and relaxation, featuring air conditioning, a mini-bar, and an in-room safe. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities including a wellness center, Renova Spa with various treatments, and a gym.

Dining Options

Dining options include a buffet restaurant and several themed restaurants offering diverse cuisine prepared by skilled chefs. Guests can also indulge at the beachside bars and cafes for a casual dining experience.

Leisure & Entertainment

Leisure activities at Riu Guanacaste encompass a large pool area designed for social engagement, alongside sports activities such as introductory scuba diving. For nocturnal entertainment, the resort features a casino and disco.

Business & Local Area

Business travelers will find five modern conference rooms available for meetings and events. Riu Guanacaste is situated 21.5 miles from Liberia and offers a range of ecotourism activities in the nearby volcanic areas and national parks.

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Price and Room Availability Calendar

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Getting around

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City Center

Sardinal 2.1 mi

Airports

Liberia (LIR) 18.8 mi

Tamarindo (TNO) 23.1 mi

What our guests says about facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Diverse Dining Options

During my stay, I was impressed by the variety offered at the buffet and à la carte restaurants. The buffet had different selections daily, which were always fresh, catering to every taste. The Italian restaurant stood out; its antipasti bar was a good start to every meal!

Henry123. USA, 2024-01-12Read full review on

Comfortable Accommodations

I found the room spacious and well-kept, offering a mini bar that was restocked regularly. The large balcony provided a great spot for relaxation with beautiful views of the surrounding area. The air conditioning worked perfectly to keep the room comfortable.

FloydAB. Canada, 2024-02-20Read full review on

Relaxation and Fun

I enjoyed the lovely pool area that was spacious and inviting. Loungers were plentiful, and the ambiance was relaxing. I even got to check out the new waterpark, which was a thrilling addition to our stay—definitely worth a visit!

TomTravel. UK, 2024-03-15Read full review on

Evening Entertainment Options

The evening shows were engaging and provided a fun end to our busy days at the resort. One night, we enjoyed an amazing neon party with vibrant music and dancing. The entertainment staff truly put in the effort to make each evening nice!

BillWanderer. Australia, 2024-04-25Read full review on

What’s included

General

Wi-Fi
Gift/Newsstand
Hairdresser

Sports & Fitness

Exercise gym
Kayaking

Dining

Continental breakfast
Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Buffet breakfast

Children

Children's pool

Spa & Leisure

Outdoor swimming pool
Casino
Night club
Garden area
Spa & wellness center
Turkish bath
Jacuzzi

Room features

In-room air conditioning
In-room safe
Mini-bar

Bathroom

Hair dryer

Media

Cable/ Satellite television
Telephone

Location

Sardinal De Carrillo, El Ocotal, Cr, Sardinal, Costa Rica

Map view

Sardinal De Carrillo, El Ocotal, Cr, Sardinal, Costa Rica

City landmarks

Farm

The Monkey Farm

1.9 mi

25 meters from Ocotal Beach

Los Almendros de Ocotal

2.2 mi

Beach

Ocotal Beach Club

2.1 mi

Monkey Trail

The Congo Trail

2.5 mi

Cementerio Nuevo Colon

2.3 mi

Iglesia de Nuevo Colon

2.5 mi

Guacamaya Beach

3.0 mi

Church

Iglesia Catolica de Playas del Coco

3.7 mi

Gallery

Rojas Bros Boruca Indigenous Arts

3.8 mi

Coco Beach Hotel

Alessandra Cola Art

3.7 mi

Restaurants

Langosta Feliz Marisqueria

2800 ft

Restaurant

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience

78%

liked the resort and would come back again

Stunning beach

Friendly staff

Mediocre food

Frustrating dining system

7.8/10

Very good

Rooms

7.3

Location

9.3

Service

8.0

Dining

7.3

Felix

United States of America, December 2024

7.2/10

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

Facilities

Sarah

United States of America, November 2024

7.8/10

I had a fantastic time at the resort, which features stunning grounds and a beautiful beach. The food offered was delicious, but I encountered some issues with the a la carte reservations and the comfort of the beds. Despite minor drawbacks like the uncomfortable pillows and occasionally slow service, I genuinely enjoyed my stay and would definitely consider returning.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were large and clean, but the pillows felt more like cushions and were quite uncomfortable.

Service

7.0

Service was generally quick and helpful, but there were some delays with requests after reporting issues.

Location

9.0

The location is beautiful with stunning beachfront and lush surroundings, truly a tropical paradise.

Dining

8.0

Dining was mostly excellent with a great buffet selection, though the long lines at the a la carte restaurants were frustrating.

Facilities

8.0

The facilities were good, with plenty of loungers at the pool and access to a lively bar; however, some entertainment options were hit or miss.

Robert

United States of America, October 2024

8.0/10

I had a pleasant stay at this resort overall. The landscaping is stunning, and the rooms are generally clean and comfortable. However, I did encounter some issues with noise, especially from the entertainment area. While the food selection was good, there were noticeable hygiene concerns at the buffet. Overall, I would consider returning for a good price deal.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were clean and comfortable, with a nice touch of a stocked refrigerator. However, noise from the entertainment theater was bothersome.

Service

8.0

The staff was friendly and attentive, responding quickly to housekeeping requests. However, there were moments of inconsistency in service.

Location

9.0

The resort is located in a beautiful area with volcanic black sand beaches and lush landscaping. There is plenty of wildlife around, which adds to the charm.

Dining

7.0

The food options were diverse with a tasty selection, especially at the sushi and Toucan restaurants. However, I noticed some hygiene issues at the buffet that were concerning.

Facilities

8.0

The facilities were overall well-maintained, particularly the pool area, although the entertainment was quite loud at times.

Rob

United States of America, September 2024

8.8/10

I had an amazing time at this resort! The food was better than many 5-star places I've been to, and I particularly loved the buffet with its variety of fresh options. The staff was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make our stay memorable. The rooms were clean and comfortable, but I did have some minor issues with smaller pillows. The beach was beautiful, especially in the mornings, but the restaurants could get a bit crowded with long wait times. Overall, it was a great experience for the price!

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were kept very clean and comfortable, but the pillows could have been bigger.

Service

9.0

The service was exceptional, with staff members who genuinely cared about our experience.

Location

10.0

The location was great, right by a beautiful beach with volcanic sand and within easy reach of local activities.

Dining

8.0

The buffet dining was fantastic with a wide variety of fresh food, while the specialty restaurants required a bit of patience due to wait times.

Facilities

9.0

The facilities were excellent, especially the pool area, which was clean and never too crowded.

Marvin

United States of America, August 2024

7.4/10

I recently stayed at the RIU in Costa Rica and while I found the resort nice overall, I wouldn't say it's a five-star experience. The beach is stunning and offers a private area exclusive to hotel guests, which I really enjoyed. The pool was lovely and the staff were incredibly friendly. However, the food left something to be desired, and the complexities with the reservation system for à la carte dining were frustrating.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were clean and well-maintained, but they felt a bit dated and could use some updates.

Service

8.0

The service was friendly and helpful, although there were a few frustrating moments regarding the dining reservations.

Location

9.0

The location is fantastic, right on a beautiful beach with private access, offering an incredible tropical atmosphere.

Dining

6.0

I found the dining options to be quite average, with the à la carte system causing some hassle and limited seafood selections.