Shana Hotel & Spa

I honestly didn’t even know about this hotel before my trip. I used Pacific Trade Winds to plan my vacation, basically told them where I wanted to go, and they sent me a link with this hotel once they put everything together. From the pictures I knew it was going to be a nice place, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. One of the surprises was the walk down to the beach they have access to. It’s a short hike, but really beautiful. The water at the beach itself is kinda rocky though, so for sure bring shoes. I probably would’ve known that if I had actually read more about the hotel, but this was a last-minute trip. The people selling food and renting chairs on the sand was also a nice surprise. Breakfast was also really good. Shoutout to Edgar—I believe that was his name—who always seemed to have coffee ready for me. Also the pizza was delicious. My room had an amazing view. It wasn’t technically an ocean-view room, but I could still see a little bit of the ocean, so I wasn’t complaining. And definitely listen to them when they warn you about the monkeys. They literally tried opening my doors because I had food sitting on the table. Crazy bunch. The adult pool was also really nice and a good place to relax. Overall, I really enjoyed the stay and was pleasantly surprised by the whole place. Are there things they could work on sure, but nothing that would stop me from coming back to this beautiful place.

The resort was beautiful and the service was impeccable. Javier, Yasmin, Elieth, Lizandro, and Sidney went out of their way to get to know us, make us feel comfortable, and attend to our requests. The hike from the beach is very steep, can feel long especially after swimming, and the beach itself can get rocky. An improvement suggestion for the room: The flush system in the bathroom is slow and you have to press for a long time to get it to work (seems like it could be fixed). Also, for the price point: I expected the resort to have a gym/fitness center, offer yoga classes and onsite activities , and a sauna/steam room. The jacuzzi didn’t really work and was barely warmer than the pool. Shana could do more to live up to its resort status.

​Overall, Shana provided a decent experience with a remarkable backdrop but it falls short of being a true mid-to-high-tier property. While the staff is a genuine highlight, the hotel itself needs significant updating and more luxe touches in its decor and general upkeep. You are paying a premium price, but you are not getting premium quality. ​The Positives ​Outstanding Staff: The team is hardworking, friendly, and responsive. Special shout-outs go to Johnny for organizing a tour, Jairo for exceptional help with bags and car lifts, Edgar and Elieth for wonderful breakfast service, and the pool staff who worked tirelessly in the hot sun. ​Great Amenities for Families: The pools are a major hit with families, and the adult-only pool offers a quieter, high-quality escape. The spa is also a nice feature. ​Food & Location: Breakfast offered a decent selection, and the hotel restaurant is convenient since most meals were eaten on-site. It is also just a 10-minute ride into town. Breach access: Short walk to a private beach. ​Room Recommendation: If you do stay here, book an ocean view suite in the more updated rooms. Be specific. ​The Drawbacks & Caveats ​Needs Maintenance & Updating: Throughout the property, decor and upkeep feel dated and lack the refined touches expected at this price point. ​Accessibility Challenges: If you have mobility issues, note that there is a very steep hill to navigate up to reception and breakfast. While staff will cart you around, it is a notable hurdle. ​Final Verdict ​If you are looking for something simple and family-friendly in a beautiful location, Shana can work. However, given our experiences at other properties, this was our least favorite hotel in its tier and is difficult to fully recommend without these important caveats

Such a fantastic hotel, the views, the staff, the wildlife, the rooms, the private beach, the restaurant- everything was amazing. We stayed in a jungle room and would 100% recommend these rooms to enhance your stay here. The staff can’t do enough to help you, they’re all lovely. If you’re considering staying here, book it, you won’t regret it!

I really want to give 5* but my bed was rock hard, and the black bathroom was spooky with poor lighting and a too short water fosset so water was spilled. But everything else was amazing! The hotel area is lovely with lots of trees and flowers, and beautiful paintings, the restaurant was great, the waiters were nice, the two pools beautiful and lovely, and the pool area has the most beautiful and amazing view of the jungle with lots of monkeys (3 species), lots of butterflies, a sloth, iguanas, and tucans and macaws flying by. Monkeys came up to the restaurant and the pool area regularly. We spent 4 nights here, but could easily have spend 4 more on a softer bed. The path down to the Biasanz beach is easy both up and down. Best place in CR :-)