We have travelled to various places across the world and especially in central and south America. This is by far the most disgusting place we have ever stayed. Every aspect of our experience was disappointing. Our room was infested with bugs and we even found a dead scorpion. The bathroom was very dirty and toilet didn't flush properly. Food was terrible and they kept increasing the price on us. Staff is incompetent, has terrible manners, and DOES NOT care! They made us wait an hour for every request we made (extra towels, blankets, ride to dining hall). The location is DEAD. Nothing to do. The beach nearby is littered with trash. The pool smelled bad and turned green because no one cleaned it. Bottom line: DO NOT STAY AT MONARCH RESORT!!! You will regret it!!!

We had a fantastic time this past week (11-26 to 12-3 2011), weather was perfect, staff was attentive, resort clean with natural surroundings and we caught some fish and had them cooked up at the Papillion restaurant at the resort. I brought my pole everywhere we went just in case, all beaches are public and offer fantastic surf casting fishing.The chef prepared the fish 2 different ways and both were incredible. The rooms are huge (800 square ft) with kitchens, they are condos that they rent out as a hotel. We ate breakfast in our room every morning, the fresh fruit is the best down there, and their eggs for some reason taste better then ours. We used the boat tour guide from Monarch, Luis, who was a great guide, he spoke fluent english. We asked if he could drive us around on his boat for 3 hours and he took us to 3 different beaches and we swam, snorkeled a coral reef across the bay, fished off the boat and enjoyed the ride on the waters. What a sight, we even saw a school of roaster fish hitting top water with the birds trying to catch them. I just want everyone to enjoy it as much as we do so please do not hesitate to ask the girls at the front desk for anything, they are there to help. We also used the spa they offer there and got side by side massages in the top of the pavilion (above the restaurant/bar). It was great, the breeze coming through the building was awesome. It kept us cool while birds were all around, chirping and I was in a state of bliss/unconsciousness. How peaceful it was. Anyway I definitely suggest the boat tour if you do nothing else. All the restaurants were exquisite in the area, I ate fish all week (fresh,fresh,fresh!). Being only 20 minutes from the Liberia airport you can not beat this area. They just built new terminals at the airport so the prices are dropping to get there. Also they built a new hospital 10 minutes away, this area is booming.

The staff was really nice. The food was generally good, but I'm pretty easy to please in that regard. The all inclusive is a ripoff. We were required to have it because we were using RCI. It still bothers me. If you want a positive all inclusive experience there are much better places nearby.

The rooms were very large, but had very little in the way of dressers or anywhere for people to store there clothes.

The beach is accessible, but the access it a little muddy. Hopefully they'll cover it with rock. The pool seemed very nice, but we were going on tours and trips to the beach, so we didn't use it.

At the resort, we saw plenty of lizards, the snorkeling was good, and there were howler monkeys close by, although we didn't seem them. We also saw and heard lots of birds. If you go snorkling, walk down to the beach, turn left and head to the point. That's where we saw the most fish and water clarity was better.

For a number of years it has been my desire to visit the country of Costa Rica , it's geography but mainly it's people. Having a brief discussion with my brother and to my surprise, he arranged a vacation for myself and my sister to spend two weeks in this beautiful country.
We stayed at the Monarch Resort in Guanacaste (Close to Liberia) Costa Rica. Right on the beach. It's on Playa Panama and all I can say is WOW! We spent the first few days just resting.
The Monarch Resort is a very interesting place. It is amongst a dry jungle right next to the beach. You get visited by Howler Monkeys. You can see Iguana's , Parrots and other birds, like Cranes, Frigates as well as other interesting creatures.
The food at the resort was excellent, and the Ticos make you feel more than welcome in Ticolandia.
If you are looking for rest, relaxation and inner renewal this is the place to come.
The Monarch is under new ownership and John the owner is very attuned to the environment and the people who live and work here. He wants to ( I dare not say develop) but incorporate future building that will not detract from the current landscape and its habitat but enhance a green or Eco-friendly environment for future jungle, coastline preservation.
Although we go home to the USA tomorrow surely a piece of my heart will always reside here.
Philip, Brian, Marian R- Monrovia CA, Eureka Ca, Spokane WA