LA Mariposa

What LA Mariposa does

LA Mariposa (Hotel La Mariposa) is an independent, privately held boutique resort located at the highest clifftop point in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, operating continuously for more than 45 years. The flagship property offers ocean-view accommodations (rooms, suites, and apartments) anchored by Le Papillon, an on-site restaurant that has operated for the same 45+ year horizon and serves as a core brand asset. The company has expanded its product surface beyond the main hotel to include Casa Manuel Antonio, a four-bedroom private villa, and ÉLAN Ballena Beach, a private condominium in Uvita, both marketed as vacation rentals.

The business operates across five revenue streams: room revenue, Le Papillon food and beverage, wedding and event services, excursions and tours, and airport transfers, with the vacation rentals adding a sixth. Distribution is mixed: direct booking via the company's multilingual website (English, Spanish, French) and phone, third-party OTA distribution through a partnership with Booking.com B.V., and walk-in traffic. The customer base is composed of individual leisure travelers segmented across couples and honeymooners, families and groups, destination wedding clients, nature and adventure tourists visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, and a smaller business/MICE segment.

The business model is asset-heavy hospitality with no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The company holds multiple 2023 industry recognitions — TripAdvisor Travelers Choice, Sluurpy Award, TripExpert Certificate of Excellence, and KAYAK Travel Awards — and references 230+ five-star reviews as a reputation signal. Operational scale is modest at 27 employees, and no revenue, ADR, or occupancy figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

LA Mariposa

Legal name

Hotel La Mariposa

Website

https://lamariposa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boutique resort hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica offering clifftop ocean-view accommodations, on-site dining, destination wedding services, and adventure excursions for couples, families, and international leisure travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Resort Hospitality

NAICS

Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Beachfront & Waterfront Villas (THAMAEAE), Luxury Villa Resorts & Branded Villa Communities (THAMAEAI), Coastal & Island Eco-Resorts (THAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Hospitality services
• Hotel accommodations
• Destination weddings
• Ecotourism tours
• Vacation rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Room Revenue: Primary revenue stream from hotel room rentals including standard rooms, suites, apartments, and private villa. Rates are per room based on single or double occupancy, with additional guest fees of $60 plus 13% taxes per night for extra occupants.
2. Restaurant Le Papillon: On-site restaurant offering breakfast (6:30-9:30), lunch (11:00-16:30), and dinner (16:30-21:30). The restaurant features international and Costa Rican cuisine, fresh seafood, vegetarian options, and an extensive wine selection. Open to both hotel guests and external visitors.
3. Wedding and Event Services: Comprehensive wedding planning and event hosting services including beach and cliff ceremonies, catering, photography, floral arrangements, and spa services. The hotel serves as a wedding venue for both ceremony and reception.
4. Excursion and Tour Packages: Organized activities and tours including canopy/zipline adventures, mangrove boat tours, Manuel Antonio National Park guided hikes, whale watching catamaran sails, sport fishing charters, horseback riding to waterfalls, white water rafting, and ATV off-road tours. All coordinated through the hotel's concierge desk.
5. Airport Transfer Services: Ground transportation service from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to the hotel, priced at $220 USD per trip for up to 4 persons in air-conditioned minivan. Domestic flight arrangements also facilitated.
6. Vacation Rental Properties: Private villa (Casa Manuel Antonio with 4 bedrooms/4 bathrooms) and private condominium (Elan Ballena Beach with 2-3 bedrooms) offered as exclusive vacation rentals with access to hotel amenities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hotel La Mariposa is a clifftop resort hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica offering ocean-view accommodations (rooms, suites, apartments, a private 4-bedroom villa, and a private beach condominium), on-site dining at Restaurant Le Papillon and Sunset Bar, full-service destination wedding and honeymoon packages, and concierge-booked ecotourism excursions. The property integrates accommodations, F&B, events, and tours into a single hospitality destination targeting international leisure travelers.

Product overview

Hotel La Mariposa is a resort hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica offering a portfolio of accommodations and hospitality services. The core product is the hotel itself with various room types (Standard, Premier, Suite categories) featuring ocean or garden views, air conditioning, WiFi, and balconies. Premium add-on offerings include Casa Manuel Antonio (a 4-bedroom private luxury villa with infinity pool) and ÉLAN Ballena Beach (private 2-3 bedroom condominiums in Uvita). On-site dining includes Restaurant Le Papillon (open-air restaurant with international and Costa Rican cuisine) and the Sunset Bar. Additional services include wedding and honeymoon packages, and ecotourism excursions (canopy, rafting, hiking, sport fishing). The property is located at the highest point of Manuel Antonio with views of the Pacific Ocean and Manuel Antonio National Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Papillon: The on-site acclaimed restaurant at Hotel La Mariposa, situated approximately 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, offering international and Costa Rican cuisine with an internationally renowned chef.
• Casa Manuel Antonio
• ÉLAN Ballena Beach

Products and services

• Hotel Accommodations

Quantifiable outcome

• 230+ five-star reviews for Casa Manuel Antonio private villa
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Booking.com B.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel La Mariposa has partnered with Booking.com B.V. (located at Herengracht 597, 1017 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands) to offer online reservation services. While the hotel provides website content and guests make reservations directly with the property, all bookings are processed through Booking.com's platform. Guest information including names, contact details, payment details, guest preferences, and traveling companions is shared with Booking.com for reservation fulfillment, confirmation emails, pre-arrival communications, and international 24/7 customer support in over 20 languages.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort: A boutique luxury resort in Manuel Antonio with beach access, rainforest setting, and sustainability focus. Directly competes with La Mariposa for the same high-end couples and family travelers in the Manuel Antonio destination, with similar pricing and ocean-view positioning.
• Costa Verde: A multi-format lodge in Manuel Antonio with rooms, apartments, and bungalows set in rainforest. Targets similar family and adventure travelers as La Mariposa, with strong eco-tourism appeal and shared destination market.
• The Preserve at Los Altos: A luxury residential resort in Manuel Antonio offering private villas and condominiums with full hotel services. Comparable to La Mariposa's villa and apartment inventory model, serving the same upscale leisure market in the same destination.
• Tulemar Resort: A luxury resort in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica offering private villas, bungalows, and treehouse-style accommodations. Tulemar is one of the most direct comparables to La Mariposa given its location in the same Manuel Antonio micro-market, similar luxury positioning, and large private villa inventory.
• Hotel San Bada: A boutique hotel near Manuel Antonio National Park entrance with ocean views and adventure tour packages. Comparable to La Mariposa on tour/excursion integration, Manuel Antonio location, and mid-luxury leisure positioning.
• Parador Resort & Spa: A full-service resort in Manuel Antonio offering rooms, suites, and spa services across a clifftop/rainforest setting. Directly competes with La Mariposa for both leisure and small group business, with comparable amenities and destination exposure.
• Gaia Hotel & Reserve: A luxury adults-oriented hotel in Manuel Antonio featuring private suites, nature reserve, and wellness programs. Comparable to La Mariposa on premium positioning, Manuel Antonio location, and emphasis on nature-based luxury experiences for couples and honeymooners.
• Makanda by the Sea: An adult-only luxury boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio focused on romantic getaways, weddings, and ocean-view villas. Highly comparable to La Mariposa's honeymoon and wedding segments, with similar pricing tier and cliffside ocean positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo: A globally-branded luxury resort on Costa Rica's Pacific coast offering a broader, full-service hospitality experience. While located in a different region (Gulf of Papagayo), it competes with La Mariposa for the same high-end international luxury traveler considering Costa Rica and represents a broader benchmark for premium Costa Rica hospitality.
• Los Sueños Resort & Marina: A large resort and marina complex on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast offering hotel, condo rentals, and a wide range of recreational activities. Comparable to La Mariposa on Costa Rica Pacific coast destination appeal, ocean-view accommodations, and activity-centric leisure offerings, though at a larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HotelLaMariposa
• Facebookfacebook.com/hotelmariposa
• Instagraminstagram.com/lamariposahotelcr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-mariposa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LA Mariposa