Hotel Makanda by the Sea

10/10 for the location. Secluded & intimate. Wow. It’s honestly hard to put into words just how incredible this property, its staff, and its atmosphere are. From the moment my fiancée and I arrived, we knew we had found somewhere truly special. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, and it shows. From the carefully designed lighting that adds an extra layer of ambiance to your room, to the staff remembering your name almost immediately, to a reception team that was incredibly responsive to every request — everything about this property feels intentional, personal, and luxurious without ever feeling overdone. I have never seen a room so well designed. Our arrival set the tone for the entire stay. We were immediately escorted to our room, where our bags had already been taken care of. A fresh coconut water and cold towel were waiting for us, while the inviting music and atmosphere around the main pool instantly put us into vacation mode. It was the kind of welcome that makes you realize within minutes that you’re somewhere special. And then there was the food — so, so, so good. Every meal was something we genuinely looked forward to. But perhaps one of the most incredible parts of our stay was the wildlife. We saw monkeys, sloths, macaws, and so much more. The staff went above and beyond to help us spot wildlife every day, and their genuine excitement in sharing these experiences with us made them even more memorable. A special thank you to Andres, Luis, Heiner, Joshua, and Bayron and Joel. You were absolutely amazing and played such a huge role in making our stay so special. Your hospitality, warmth, and attention to detail will not be forgotten. We are equally grateful to the reception team, housekeeping and cleanliness, and every single person behind the scenes who worked so hard to make our experience nothing short of magical. And one more thing: book the spa. Seriously. It was fantastic and the perfect addition to an already incredible stay. We stayed here in September/October, and as we left, we found ourselves already talking about when we could come back. That, to me, says everything. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. We cannot wait to hopefully return one day. The value was unmatched. Pura Vida! 🌴❤️

I've had the privilege of staying in some truly world-class hotels and resorts, and I can say with confidence and sincerity that the trip I just experienced with my wife celebrating our 15-year Wedding Anniversary at Makanda was the best trip of our entire lives. After 22-hours of travel, we arrived on site and entered the beautiful lobby filled with aromatics, monkeys playing on the skylight, gorgeous uplighting, and two smiling people handing us fresh coconuts. That level of service and attention to detail did not stop for the entire duration of our stay. We were upgraded to the Sky Penthouse, but before we even knew it, the excitement on the staff's faces gave something away. They were clearly holding back the news, because they wanted another team member on hand to film our reaction as we walked into the room. The website photos of the rooms and resort are 100% accurate to the level of style and attention to detail the resort brings to every twist and turn. The food comes out as literal works of art. Drinks are as pretty as they are delicious. You'll get roasted coconut chips and fresh fruit in your drinks and Happy Hour chips are hand-cut and brought out every day. Being on site during rainy season meant we got so much one-on-one time with the staff. They were excited to show us sloths and birds and monkeys in the trees that we may have missed; they knew our stories and we knew theirs. They were so proud of the views from "their offices" and shared in the same wonder and awe of the gorgeous surroundings as my wife and I did. They helped us reserve a scooter for the week, a couples massage, book transportation and tours, set dinner reservations, swap out the provided Crocs in the room with different sizes, and anything else you needed was only a WhatsApp message away (they responded in minutes every time). The pools were spotless, our room was clean and modern and lavish. Everywhere you walked you were greeted and treated as if the staff was excited to have you stay on the property. We saw more wildlife at Makanda than anywhere else we went. My wife especially loved the white-faced monkeys that walked on our roof and took a dip in our pool every day around 2:30pm. Bottom line: Makanda is the #1 resort in the area for not just one, but many reasons. They excelled in everything we experienced. We are truly grateful for the memories we made on their property. It was a trip we will never forget.

Took a trip to celebrate a birthday and was impressed by the responsiveness and hospitality from the staff. They assisted in preparing convenient transportation and making a special birthday celebration package on arrival. The room had an amazing ocean view and everything needed for our stay. The staff helped with planning our nearby excursions as well as facilitating transportation into the nearby town with ease. The hotel property was carefully taken care of and it was fascinating to see the nature and wildlife. We enjoyed the pools on the property that had amazing views as well and The Arbol restaurant which served amazing fresh food. The staff made a constant effort to make us feel cared for and we are grateful for the special experience we had.

Makanda by the Sea was unforgettable! Stunning sunsets, incredible massages, lunch by the beach, and endless wildlife; monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, and beautiful birds! Jonathan made golf cart trips between our room, the pool, and beach seamless. Carlos was a superb waiter who made us feel like family. Their excitement to share the wildlife and their beautiful Costa Rica made our stay even more special. The food was delicious; especially the snapper at dinner and ceviche for lunch. We cannot recommend Makanda highly enough!

We absolutely loved our stay at Makanda. It truly feels like a peaceful escape immersed in nature, with sloths, beautiful birds, and wildlife all around you. The boutique atmosphere and unique room designs make the experience feel incredibly special and unlike anywhere else we’ve stayed. The team was so accommodating when we had an unexpected late arrival, and every team member we encountered was attentive, genuinely welcoming, and warm. Elias especially went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. Every interaction with him was thoughtful and attentive, and he truly made our time at Makanda feel extra special. The on-site restaurants were excellent, and we enjoyed several delicious meals during our stay. The crocs were a must while walking around the property, too! The property is definitely steep, but the beautiful views are absolutely worth it. Overall, Makanda is the perfect combination of nature, comfort, privacy, and exceptional service. It was one of the highlights of our trip and is absolutely a must-see when visiting the area. We cannot wait to return!