Hotel Makanda by the Sea

My husband and I were looking for a luxurious, private romantic retreat- and the private pool and room 6 were exactly what we needed. Makanda by the Sea is beautiful and lush. We enjoyed every aspect of our room, the bedding was lush and comfortable, the furnishings were beautiful. We loved have a refrigerator and freezer so we could spend the entire day by our private pool. We fell in love with the robes in the room! I so enjoyed seeing the monkeys come by every morning. The food was delicious! Every possible need you could think of is well attended to, and you can focus on enjoying each other!

This hotel is amazing. Since we arrive we were greeted by Jamie (I think that's his name) who was very attentive and offers us pineapple smoothies and make us feel very welcomed. The room was incredible with the most spectacular view of the ocean. The pool by the restaurant is amazing, deep and you can hear the music under the water ! Wow! We will definitely come back again ! Thank you

This hotel was a hidden gem! Gorgeous property and rooms. Great views, and wildlife (cappachino and howeler monkeys, sloths). Most friendly and accommodating staff, Alberto, Leo (both) and Coco, we're the BEST!! Highly recommend!!

Makanda By The Sea provided an extraordinary experience for us. Nestled right into the jungle at Manuel Antonio National Park, the vista and setting were exceptional. The mix of plants, trees, flowers, birds, monkeys, sloths and other living things mixed among stone and lava provided a remarkable natural backdrop of Costa Rica’s beauty for a gorgeous and well-appointed five-star property run by an expert, friendly and caring staff. The new Arbol Restaurant has eye-catching wood decor, the Infinity Pool is simply one-of-a-kind, and the private beach is delightful. Our villa was one of the best values that we’ve ever been offered on our travels, a beautifully decorated room with a truly comfy bed framed by scenes overlooking the jungle and ocean that made for many lasting memories. Our patio even had a hammock for a wonderful rustic touch! Good food and a wide variety of beverages including a rotating selection of hand-squeezed fruit juices each morning made for excellent dining and poolside relaxing. Service, specialties and accommodations all were top-notch. This was not our first visit to a Costa Rican luxury resort, but it was far and away the best, and so Makanda now will be our destination again in the near future! For prospective visitors, know that gratuities are not included on bills so have dollars or colons handy, and you must try the Makanda Cheesecake, one of the most cleverly presented and delicious desserts we’ve ever had! Pura Vida!

Makanda is a first class boutique resort. The entire property is beautiful, and is kept pristine by the staff on a daily basis. The service levels are very high, with all the employees willing to help you in any way they can. Leo was incredibly welcoming on our arrival, and was extremely helpful throughout our visit in giving recommendations and helping us book activities. Albert and Darwin were also great resources for local activities and restaurants. Both pools have amazing views of the Pacific, and create a perfectly relaxful setting. This property is truly unique and we hope to return in the future. For families travelers, we booked Villa 8, which is a spacious 2 bedroom, 1 bath, with a nice size living and dining area, and a full kitchen. The views are spectacular throughout the property, including from this villa. It was nice having our own private pool (shared with a 1 bedroom villa downstairs to our unit) to cool off in. The daily breakfasts are delicious, with a nice selection to choose from. We often pre-ordered our breakfast to be ready by 7am, as we had various activities starting shortly after....again, the restaurant staff was very accommodating. Last tip: if you like tacos, definitely hit Sanchos (just a 5 minute drive)...some of the best we have ever had.l