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Perfectly placed within a private rainforest reserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Hotel Makanda by the Sea offers an adults-only luxury retreat where nature, privacy, and contemporary design come together. Set across more than 12 acres of tropical jungle, the boutique resort provides a peaceful escape surrounded by lush gardens, exotic wildlife, and breathtaking ocean views. The collection of villas, suites, and studios is designed to blend seamlessly with the natural environment, featuring modern tropical interiors, private balconies or terraces, and many accommodations with private plunge pools or Jacuzzis overlooking the rainforest and sea. With its secluded hillside setting, infinity pools, and intimate atmosphere, Makanda creates the feeling of a private sanctuary while remaining close to the natural wonders of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
The resort’s experiences celebrate the beauty and adventure of Manuel Antonio. Guests can relax at the adults-only pool, enjoy cocktails and fresh cuisine at the on-site restaurants, or unwind with a treatment at the Jungle Spa, where wellness experiences take place surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. The hotel’s location provides easy access to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated destinations, where travelers can explore rainforest trails, spot monkeys and tropical wildlife, and discover pristine beaches.
Hotel Makanda by the Sea
1 Km West From Plaza Vista Commercial Center
Manuel Antonio, Quepos
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
60601
Nearest Airport: SJO
Without a doubt, this is a beautiful hotel with all the comforts that one would possibly need. My husband and I came there to celebrate my birthday and it turned out to be a beautiful, memorable stay. Our room with the outdoor jacuzzi had beautiful views of the ocean, clean room and bathroom, and a spacious closet. Everyone working there was courteous and welcoming. The coconut welcome drinks and the complementary bottle of sparkling wine a dessert upon arrival was a nice touch. We ended up ordering room service when we got in from the airport and the service was prompt. Food was fresh and delicious. While food is great, It is important to note that everything from food, to drinks by the pool, is very expensive. While I do not mind paying for quality, I simply cannot justify a drink for $28. That said, food was fresh and always came beautifully presented. Breakfasts are served in a beautiful area, I do wish that there was a better breeze there, it tends to get very humid. Good selection for breakfast and I appreciated the different daily juices that they make, mint and pineapple was the best. We met a server Roger for breakfast service, he, along with others, were awesome. Another part to note is that walking around the resort is not for someone with walking difficulties, if so, will need to rely on the golf cart for transportation. That is simple to get, we just used WatsApp to text the reception and send requests. We also ended up going down to their beach; you will need to request the ride there as well; walking down the path independently is very steep. When you arrive at the beach, you still need to make your way through some rocks, but I found that to be a pretty cool experience since it’s a very private, wild beach area, no fancy beach club there. During our time there, Alex was the one who took care of the beach area, set up the beach chairs where we wanted on the beach and made us drinks. He was super friendly, very nice to talk to, and was so helpful. During our stay at Makanda we saw a lot of monkeys and even a sloth who was eating leaves off the tree. I had the pleasure of using the spa services as well, that too, was a wonderful experience in a beautiful setting. Overall, nice stay
MarinaR0011 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This hotel is one of the most beautiful and romantic hotel I have stayed in. The staff was so nice and accommodating. We went in low season and we were fortunate to have an upgrade of our room and early check in. The pools are stunning and the food is delicious as well. The hotel is located very close to Manuel Antonio National Park. We were recommended by a friend to stay at this hotel and we will continue to recommend other friends to stay here as well. I can’t wait to come back!
Paradise02274759837 - Miami, Florida
We stayed at Makanda for our honeymoon. The hotel is absolutely breathtaking. Everything from the bathrooms to the restaurant spaces are just gorgeous and super clean. The layout, the pools, the food!!! Amazing amazing!!! The rice crisps with tuna were our favorites. We had a private pool in our room and on our second day there we found 6 Cappuccin monkeys playing in it. It was just magical. We could barely hear any people noise from our room which was awesome. The staff was incredible. They brought a complimentary bottle of champagne with a mini cheesecake in the shape of an apple that was just divine. It really felt like a jungle retreat. It did take a bit to get there but it was 2,000% worth it. We would return in a heartbeat!
Adalgisa M
We came for my mother’s 80 birthday. Our villa 5 was beautiful, had ocean views a private pool with hot tub and daily visits from white face monkeys. There’s private beach access and the salt water pool was our favorite. Restaurant has a tasty menu. But one of the special perks of the stay was the staff. Everyone made us feel so special and were there for our every need. We saw more monkeys and sloths on the grounds than any of our tours. We both agree our stay was worth the cost.
hjb1719 - Anchorage, Alaska
Makanda by the Sea was absolutely beautiful! The room was stunning, comfortable, and beautifully designed. The service was superb from start to finish, and the staff were attentive, friendly, and welcoming. One of the highlights of our stay was being able to see so much wildlife right on the property. We spotted toucans, agoutis, monkeys, and even a sloth! It truly felt like staying in a tropical paradise surrounded by nature. Overall, our experience was amazing, and I would definitely recommend Makanda by the Sea to anyone looking for a beautiful, peaceful, and unique stay in Costa Rica. We will definitely be back!
Tywanna S
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My husband and I stayed here and it was absolutely amazing. Often the pictures on the website are an exaggeration of what you get, but that was definitely not the case here. In fact, the pictures really do not do it justice. Breakfast was served in the room a la carte each day and we could sit out on the balcony and just enjoy the privacy and clean air. It was wonderful!
The staff was very helpful, and the resort felt very private,
with few people staying there. We felt like royalty the entire time.
-H. Robertson
My wife and I stayed at Makanda and frankly, we fell in love with the place. Its very laid back and beautiful. The suites are huge and lovely. At the end of every day, we'd float around in the swimming pool with a drink in one hand, watching the sun set, with a troop of Howler monkeys in the trees over our heads. Talk about romantic! The area had enough to keep us busy (we did a guided tour of Manuel Antonio Park, a zip line tour and a mangrove boat tour) and there are several top restaurants nearby, including the one at the hotel, which is outside, near the pool. I recommend Makanda by the Sea very highly.
-K. Perlman