Shana Hotel & Spa

Our family of four (kids ages 5 and 7) had a wonderful stay at Shana by the Beach this past week. The hotel is in a great location (a 10 minute walk to Biesanz Beach, which is so great for the kids) with lots of forest around it…meaning lots of visits from animals. During our stay, we saw capuchins, a toucan, geckos, and more! I also can’t speak highly enough of the staff. Yasmin, Javier, and the woman who works the grill making omelets and pancakes during breakfast…I didn’t catch her name!) all helped us start our day right! They were super friendly and accommodating. Breakfast was delicious! Similarly, the wait staff at the pool, Sydney, I particular, were a highlight each day we were there! They went above and beyond to make sure we felt taken care of and even helped me practice my Spanish. We were all sad to say good-bye! True hospitality which was a difference maker in our trip. Not sure when/if we’ll make it back to Manuel Antonio, but would definitely stay at Shana again!!

Stayed three nights at Shana. Some highlights: really enjoyed the adults pool, which was really refreshing after a day of exploring in the heat. The views from the pool were stunning and you could see all kinds of wildlife from the comfort of a pool lounger (though there were not quite enough loungers to go around). Service at the pool was attentive. We spent many hours relaxing and enjoying the pool area. Shana's location is also pretty good, fairly easy access to the national park and to Quepos -- it would be great if they would operate a shuttle service so that folks wouldn't have to leave vehicles in unguarded areas (PSA: never ever ever leave your car unattended outside of a guarded parking lot as break-ins are extremely common). In general, it would be great if the resort did more to facilitate folks going to the national park, which is the primary reason to visit this area of the country (help with tickets, info about parking, what to bring, etc.). We were disappointed that the hotel did not give us any warning about construction on the road (which caused long delays) and they didn't warn us in advance of extensive and noisy construction happening at the resort itself. I went back and checked all of my communications at booking and after and have no record of any such notification. The construction noise did wake us up multiple days. Spa services were okay and affordable. Restaurant was solid, nothing particularly exciting but there was pretty good variety and the sushi was surprisingly good. Rooms were average size and average quality, the linens were really low quality, scratchy with cheap pillows and not very comfortable mattress -- this is a huge negative in my book because getting caught up on sleep is a very high priority on vacation. Service was generally fine, nothing spectacular but friendly enough. Lodging in Manuel Antonio is very tricky and the mid-range to upper mid-range is not great, so while I wouldn't run to book Shana again, I would stay here in a pinch for the solid restaurant and incredible views.

Our stay at Shana by the Beach was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. Every detail—from the well equipped rooms to the lush, serene grounds—felt thoughtfully curated and elevated the entire experience. We were greeted with the sweetest surprise upon arrival: a Happy Anniversary display complete with swans in our room, which immediately set the tone for a memorable stay. When we requested a room change, the staff was incredibly accommodating and made the process seamless and stress-free. What truly stood out was the service. Every single staff member we encountered was warm, attentive, and genuinely eager to help. The restaurant service was impeccable, and the overall hospitality throughout the hotel was top-notch. Big shout out to the front desk staff, the hotel manager and to Don Xavier in the restaurant. The spa experience was equally impressive—the massage was professional, deeply relaxing, and of outstanding quality. Shana by the Beach exceeded our expectations in every way. We left feeling relaxed, celebrated, and already looking forward to returning. Highly, highly recommend.

We had an enjoyable experience. Johnny who worked there was helpful. I'd recommend when traveling in the south of Costa Rica. Thanks Shana!

Exceptional service, family friendly atmosphere. Beautiful accommodations with jungle view. Watched monkeys and toucans everyday! Staff are top notch! Would definitely stay at Shana on our next trip.