Shana Hotel & Spa

We had such a great experience at Shana by the Beach. The staff was great (Sidney at the pool was such a great server). The short trail hike to the beach was really convenient. The grounds are kept really well. The wildlife was so fun to watch. Watch your papaya around those white faced monkeys, they're quick! Overall, such a great resort!

Wish I could give this place 10 stars or more. We were treated like royalty from the moment our transport dropped us at the gates of Shana by the Beach. We felt cared for and pampered. Our room was huge, spacious and impeccably clean and a glorious retreat from the intense sun. Any question we had or need that arose was given immediate attention. When we returned from one of our excursions totally drenched by a sudden torrential downpour, the staff provided extra towels to warm us up and a sheltered ride to our room. The grounds are beautiful, the nearby beach a tropical alternative to the refreshing pool. All meals we experienced on site were of the highest quality. The breakfast options were the best we experienced in all of CostaRica, and that’s saying something because we had amazing breakfasts throughout our travels. We would especially like to recognize Jolel for his kindness, patience and assistance in planning our activities. We found it very difficult to leave Shana because it felt like we had been in paradise.

We had a very good 10 night holiday at the Shana by the Beach hotel. The good points were:- 1. Excellent Service - Javier at breakfast was particularly attentive: the pool staff were excellent as was guest services, Johnny Navarro, nothing was too much bother for him as he advised and helped us arrange our trips out. 2. Our room - was cleaned well and it was quiet. We regularly saw capuchin and squirrel monkeys and butterflies from our balcony. 3. Two good pools, - perhaps the music could have been a bit quieter but Happy Hour ran from 3-6pm with 2 drinks for the price of one and complimentary popcorn. 4. We had 2 evening meals in the hotel and the food was very good ( beer, pizza and salad 19,,700 colones) Slightly disappointing points:- 1. The hotel is a bit isolated with a long, hard slog uphill to the main road for restaurants and bars. We would take a taxi up ($10/ 5,00 colones) and walk back, approximately 25 mins 2. Whilst this may not be of importance to everyone, I was pretty disappointed with the wildlife within the hotel - (not the holiday overall). Yes, there as a daily 4pm visit to the pool area by a capuchin troop, but you rarely saw birds close up although Vultures, Hawks, Frigate Birds, Scarlet Macaws and Toucans flew over 3. The front of the hotel was a very steep and narrow drive with cars parked all down one side. and a planted boarder at the other. There was a golf cart always ready to drive you up and down if you couldn't face the walk Outside the hotel A nice 8-10 minute walk through jungle path down to the beach. Again, apart from butterflies, we rarely saw any wildlife here, although Howler, Capuchins and sloths regularly visited the beach. The beach was good with very fine sand but beach shoes are advisable if going into the sea. There are beach umbrellas beds and bars available at a cost. It can get a bit crowded at high tide as the water encroaches upon the seating space. Outside the Hotel We booked 4 trips with Johnny:- Mangrove Kayaking was very good White water rafting (we opted for gentle) was very good. Manual Antonio National Park with Alajandro as a guide was good Jungle Night Walk was also good.

Overall a great hotel and we enjoyed our stay. Pool was lovely, especially the small adult pool. Breakfast was very busy but reasonable variety and staff were helpful. Very spacious rooms, well appointed but looking quite tired - I think an update might be planned? Great location - plenty of monkeys, birds etc Would return

A wonderful place with excellent services and very attentive staff, always quick to respond to guests’ needs. The hotel is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and offers beautiful views of the ocean. The atmosphere is truly special: you can hear the birds, feel the warm breeze, and sometimes even enjoy a visit from playful monkeys while having your meal on the restaurant terrace. A memorable experience, perfect for relaxation and connecting with nature.