Beachfront Villas Near Manuel Antonio
If you are searching for beachfront villas near Manuel Antonio, here is the honest version of what BaliBala is: four private stays set in shared jungle gardens at Playa Matapalo, with the beach just steps from the property and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio about a 50-minute drive north along the coastal road.
You will hear the waves before you see them. The sand is a short walk through the trees, and guests regularly report having it almost to themselves.
Beachfront villas near Manuel Antonio: steps from the sand, not on it
Beachfront is a word worth being precise about. BaliBala does not sit on the sand. It sits a few steps back from it, in a pocket of open jungle where the garden ends and the path to Playa Matapalo begins. The waves are audible from every stay, and the beach is a short walk away.
That setback keeps the tents and the house inside the trees, where monkeys cross the property daily and macaws are frequently seen from the decks, and it means you walk out onto a long, largely empty stretch of Pacific sand. Beach towels and chairs are provided, so you can go down empty-handed.
One guest, Franziska, put it simply in her review: "Tent super close to the beach, you can hear the waves."
Four private stays, one pocket of jungle
Three luxury safari tents and one award-winning house share the same gardens and the same beach, and each is fully private. The tents were shipped from South Africa and built from four layers of canvas, chosen for strength, shade, and comfort in a tropical setting. Inside each one: two lockable bedrooms, a king bed, a queen and a high twin, a fully equipped kitchen, and two open-air hot-water showers under the canopy. Each tent sleeps five.
Two of the tents, Safari Tent with Pool 1 and Safari Tent with Pool 2, have a deep plunge pool built into the deck. The Safari Tent Hideaway has no pool, and that is its appeal: the same tent, garden on every side, and the deepest quiet of the three.
Deliberately absent everywhere: TV and air-conditioning. Ceiling fans, mosquito nets, deep shade, and ocean air do the work instead.
The No-Footprint House
The house is the architectural signature of BaliBala: a teak-built home from the No Footprint House series by architecture studio A-01, a sustainable prefab design recognised internationally, including a public-vote win at the Dezeen Awards and an International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum.
It sleeps four across two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and stays entirely self-contained with its own private entrance, its own gate separate from the safari tents, and private parking. Outside, a private pool sits within a fully fenced garden. The waves are audible from the house, and the beach is a short walk away.
Manuel Antonio, and the rest of the coast
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is about a 50-minute drive north along the coastal road, which makes it a comfortable morning trip: sloths, capuchins, and toucans on compact rainforest trails that end in beaches inside the park. Go early, take water, and book a guide at the entrance if you want the wildlife pointed out.
South along the same road are Dominical, the area's surf town, and Uvita, the gateway to Marino Ballena National Park and the Whale's Tail sandbar, walkable at low tide. Nauyaca Waterfalls sit inland from Dominical. Corcovado is a full day trip: roughly 1.5 hours to Sierpe, where the boats leave and run down the mangrove river to the peninsula. Go with a licensed guide and book ahead.
A car is recommended: public transport is not available, and the national parks are worth the drive. BaliBala is not in a town, and that is its gift.
Travelling with children
BaliBala sits in open jungle, a few steps back from the sea. Wildlife moves through the property, the buildings are open to the air, and none of the accommodations are fully childproof environments. Adults need to supervise children here.
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two pool tents: the pool is deep and unfenced. Families with younger children should look to the No-Footprint House, where the private pool sits within a fully fenced garden, or the Safari Tent Hideaway, which has no pool. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
As for the sea: Playa Matapalo is open Pacific, and its surf can be strong. It is a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling rather than confident swimming, and conditions change day to day. Some spots around Uvita and Bahía Ballena can be more sheltered depending on tide, season, and daily conditions. Ask the hosts when you arrive.
Hosted personally
There is no self check-in at BaliBala. You will be personally welcomed by Linda or Flory, our local host. Linda is an Airbnb Superhost, and across 37 Airbnb reviews the hosting averages 4.89 out of 5 (as of Aug 2026).
Ask ahead and breakfast can be arranged at your stay. For tours, surf lessons, horseback riding, kayaking, ziplining, transport, and restaurant tables, we are happy to connect guests with trusted local providers, so your stay helps support the community around Playa Matapalo. Reservations run through Airbnb, and each stay links straight to its listing.
The beach is just steps from the property; the waves are audible from every stay
About a 50-minute drive to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Four private stays: three safari tents sleeping 5 each and one house sleeping 4
Private pools at the No-Footprint House and both pool tents; the Hideaway has none
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two pool tents: the pool is deep and unfenced
Hosted by Linda, an Airbnb Superhost, 4.89 across 37 reviews (as of Aug 2026)
Playa Matapalo, Savegre, Puntarenas, on the coastal road between Quepos and Dominical
Personal welcome by Linda or Flory; bookings run through Airbnb
All four stays sit steps from Playa Matapalo; the two pool tents suit couples, friends, and families with children 10 and over, while the No-Footprint House and the Hideaway are the picks for younger children.
No-Footprint House
4.78 · 18 reviews · Guest FavouriteA teak-built home from the internationally awarded No Footprint House series, open-air sustainable architecture with a private pool, steps from Playa Matapalo.
4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Entire villa
See this stay
Safari Tent with Pool 1
5.0 · 11 reviews · Guest FavouriteLuxury glamping at its best: a two-bedroom safari tent with a deep plunge pool built into the deck, two open-air hot-water showers, and a garden that ends where the beach begins.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
Children under 10 are not permitted in this unit: the pool is deep and unfenced.
See this stay
Safari Tent with Pool 2
5.0 · 4 reviewsThe second pool tent: two bedrooms wrapped in jungle, a plunge pool built into the deck, and open-air showers, in its own quiet corner of the garden.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
Children under 10 are not permitted in this unit: the pool is deep and unfenced.
See this staySafari Tent Hideaway
New listingThe quiet one: the same two-bedroom luxury glamping comfort, without a pool, a garden hideaway for guests who want nature at full volume.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
See this stayIs BaliBala actually on the beach?
Not on the sand itself. The property sits a few steps back in open jungle, the waves are audible from every stay, and Playa Matapalo is a short walk away. Beach towels and chairs are provided.
How far is Manuel Antonio National Park?
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is about a 50-minute drive north along the coastal road.
Which stay should a family with young children choose?
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two pool tents, because the pool is deep and unfenced. The No-Footprint House has a private pool inside a fully fenced garden, and the Safari Tent Hideaway has no pool. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
Can we swim at Playa Matapalo?
Playa Matapalo is open Pacific and its surf can be strong, so it is a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling rather than confident swimming. Conditions change day to day, and the hosts can point you to options around Uvita that may be more sheltered depending on tide and season.
How do we book?
Reservations run through Airbnb, and each stay page links straight to its listing. For questions about which stay fits, or about booking more than one tent for a group, message the hosts.
Where to stay
Ready when you are
Compare the four stays and book on Airbnb, or message the hosts with a question about dates, travelling with children, or combining more than one tent.