Hotel Makanda by the Sea

Makanda was one of, if not, the most beautiful places we have ever stayed. My wife and I came for our honeymoon in September of 2025 and loved every minute of our stay. While Makanda was a bit quieter at this time of the year it did not dissapoint when it came to service. Gieralyn, Ariana and the rest of the reception staff were incredible and accommodating to every request. Jonathan the driver is a great man we enjoyed talking to, who gave great advice on the area. Security was always nice at the front gate and Joshua gave great room service. We had a wonderful meal the first night and wish we had dinner at Makanda more! We wanted to get around town as much as we could but no dinners met the quality of food at Makanda. We had a couples massage during a lightning storm which was amazing and the views from your rooms or pool terrace cannot be beat. Very active environment as we saw plenty of what Mother Nature and Costa Rica has to offer just from our balcony. Sloths, monkeys, and red macaws to name a few. Would absolutely reccomend Makanda 10/10 as we had the trip of our lives! Thank you to the wonderful staff of Makanda. You made us feel welcomed and special!! Sawyer and Melanie

Eating at the pool terrace was perfect. The views of the ocean and jungle were second to none. Elias was a fantastic bartender. He recommended the octopus and the burger. Both 10/10. He also shared a lot of information regarding the local wild life.

This is the best hotel we’ve ever stayed in. It is beautifully designed and every part is comfortable to relax in. It feels like it is right in the heart of the jungle and we saw multiple sloths and monkeys in the trees. The staff are exceptional. Every single one made us feel welcome and like they were happy we were there. The perfect level of attentiveness and friendliness. They would always go out of their way to help. There are two pools (salt water and normal water) and each has a well designed lounging area. The sun loungers are in pairs and positioned perfectly so that you feel like you have privacy. Our Ocean Club room was stunning. Fantastic view, great design and very comfortable. Exceptionally relaxing to sit on the balcony and watch the view when it rains (we visited in rainy season). We were originally in a different room but asked to move (we felt we were too close to the pool, with music during the day) and the team were so helpful. Leo and his team should be so proud of the exceptional hotel they are running. We will certainly be back one day!

This was an anniversary trip that didn’t disappoint. We had room S19 which was a large suit with its own infinity pool. We were greeted by monkeys during breakfast on our deck and a sloth within a tree 20 feet from our room!! The view of the ocean/jungle was incredible!! Food price was on the higher side but you are rewarded for it! Staff were all very nice and helpful! From booking day trips or help finding local places for traditional meals, the staff went out of their way! On our anniversary we returned after lunch to find champagne, cheesecake shaped like an Apple, and a very nice card hand written from the staff!!! That touch is not found frequently!! We will definitely be back!!!

In today’s world where “star inflation” and social media hyperbole has caused 2-star resorts to become 4-star and 3’s to become 5’s, it is so refreshing to experience the epitome of an authentic 5-star resort - Makanda By The Sea located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Makanda is perfectly nestled in the lush Costa Rican tropical rainforest, artfully constructed with majestic, unencumbered, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Attention to detail permeates every aspect of this amazing property. It starts with a caring staff…whether it’s Ariana at the gorgeous front desk, Roger at the absolutely stunning poolside dining experience, Elias at the magnificent infinity pool swim up bar, or Andreas at the Makanda private beach, the staff is there for your every need and they connect with you personally as an individual. The architecture and exquisite design elements of Makanda are simply stunning. Artistic inlaid tile and stone create an adventurous Wizard of Oz, yellow brick road like experience when you to navigate around the property. The artistry of the buildings, various structures, restaurants, spa, and even parking areas seamlessly work with the natural beauty of the rainforest. My suite was nothing short of incredible. The interior design was simply next level. From the light fixtures and led accent lighting to the exotic hardwood floor to the textured wood paneling to the horsehair woven rug to the remote controlled curtains, I was enveloped in luxury. An amazingly comfortable king sized canopy bed, oversized chairs in the main room and bathroom, along with outdoor furniture complete with a hanging swing for two on my balcony provided first class sleeping and seating opportunities. Oh, and that balcony with a handcrafted, sculpted railing, it looked over the rainforest and Pacific Ocean and provided the perfect view of glorious sunsets. The bathroom was stunning, two vessel sinks on top of a unique counter, high tech mirrors, and an excellent rain shower with additional shower options. Extras in the room for good measure included your own espresso machine, a Bose Bluetooth speaker, and an enormous flat screen. Then there was the food and drink. Fresh, flavorful, and incredibly delicious would be a massive understatement! A fresh juice of the day greeted you at breakfast (passion fruit, banana as an example), followed by succulent fruit, and Costa Rican coffee. The seafood, fish, pastas, meats, breads, sides, and desserts were “unfortunately” just over the top delicious! Thankfully, if you didn’t want to take advantage of the always ready golf cart and driver, you could try to walk off your decadent food indulgence! The mango colada was only out done by the banana colada…both served in a copper chalice and topped with toasted coconut pieces. The icing on the proverbial cake was the surrounding flora and fauna. No tropical rainforest would be complete without exotic flowers that looked like they grew out of a Georgia O’Keefe painting and wildlife that you only see on the Discovery Channel. I became a little kid every time I spotted a sloth in a tree or in the netting above the parking. Whether it was the squirrel monkeys swinging above the pool bar at sunset or the white faced monkeys actually cooling off on the edge of the infinity pool, you knew that you were in a magical place. The fact that brilliantly colored McCaws would fly over in pairs almost on the hour, truly reminded you that romance was actually in the air! Pura vida in Costa Rica means carefree, optimistic, and an stress-free approach to living that values nature and gratitude for life's joys. Makanda By The Sea is pura vida. I can’t wait to return! - [ ]