www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just a heads up. The great little spot to stay on the cheap behind The Cocal has been sold. I had reservations for 5/29/19 and they emailed that I had to cancel.

I also had reservations for December and received a request to cancel.

That's too bad. I always found the Mango Mar to be a great value. Since they are canceling existing reservations, the new owners must be going to either:

* really jack up the rates
* do some serious renovations (and then jack up the rates)
* just raze the existing structure and build something a lot larger as it is a great location

Same here...what's a back up hotel that would work coming

I canceled my reservations at Mango Mar for June and just got the 3 days at the Cocal. I wanted to stay a few nights real close to the action and then a few closer to Playa Hermosa.

Sad to hear. I was just there, checked out May 7 (after the first post above). No indication anything had changed at the hotel as of last week. Same staff, same policy, same breakfast...
Will miss it as a great option in Jaco

Back in Jaco. Staying at Cocal because Mango Mar is definitely closed. I asked at Cocal front desk. Cocal has bought Mango Mar. There is now a walkway cut in the concrete wall between the properties near the beach. The entrance by the car park that used to have a chain now has a gate that matches the fencing at Cocal.

It is closed and a total redo is in progress. Rooms will be converted into two bedroom suites. Appears it will be a premium option, not the more budget friendly option.

Recently returned from Jaco. There is also construction happening on the street on the other side of the Cocal. The road that is to your left if you are looking at the ocean from the smoking area on the beach. They appear to have bought at least one if not more of the buildings along that road and are converting them into rooms for the Cocal. The doors, numbers, lights, etc. look identical to the Cocal. I saw housekeeping and other Cocal staff going back and forth between the hotel and those other buildings.

The front desk at Cocal also confirmed that they had purchased a building over there with six units. They brought it up when I mentioned I had liked staying at Mango Mar because it was quieter.