Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only, Manuel Antonio

Kimkim team favorite · 4.5 (4 reviews) · Luxury
Architecturally stylish hotel with ocean views, a spa, gourmet dining, and infinity pools.

Overview

Nestled in the coastal hillside of the Manuel Antonio Rainforest, Hotel Makanda is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel that offers a stylish stay and a prime location. Guests can expect stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and lush Costa Rican jungle. The hotel's spacious and stylish suites, ranging from the Tropical Suite to the WOW Loft, provide modern amenities and plush furnishings. Guests can indulge at the on-site Arbol Restaurant, relax at the Ocean Club infinity pools with panoramic views, and rejuvenate at Shanti, The Spa at Makanda Hotel.

Kimkim's Take

Brittany
Brittany McNamara kimkim staff
Based on kimkim staff visit, January 2022 (Learn more)
Pros
  • You'll find yourself in a superb location near the national park and with excellent views and beautiful infinity pools.
  • The rooms overlook the jungle and the bay, as do many of the common areas.
  • Monkeys and birds frequently visit the hotel grounds, so it's possible to spot wildlife when relaxing in your room or by the pool.
  • When ready to enjoy the beach, you can take the hotel's golf carts down to the private beach area.
  • Many past kimkim travelers have noted the hotel providing excellent food, as you'll have your choice of local dishes and unique experiences like a floating breakfast. 
Cons
  • Some guests have noted poor noise insulation in the rooms, which may impact your rest.

Authenticity

Hotel Makanda is a luxurious boutique hotel that is deeply rooted in the local culture and environment of Costa Rica. The hotel's architecture and aesthetics are inspired by the local wildlife, with suites designed to offer encounters with Costa Rica's natural fauna. The hotel's furniture designs incorporate local woods and craftsmanship, and giant murals of flora and fauna adorn the walls. 

Location

Hotel Makanda is nestled in a coastal hillside of the Manuel Antonio Rainforest of Costa Rica. It's located near the world-renowned Manuel Antonio National Park, allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of some of Costa Rica's finest beaches. Espadilla Beach is 7 minutes away by car, and the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park is about 10 minutes away.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Hotel Makanda offers a range of stylish and spacious suites that redefine luxury and comfort. Each suite has been thoughtfully designed, combining chic aesthetics with comfort. The suites offer views of the Pacific Ocean and the Costa Rican jungle, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies that make for perfect vista points. The suites, nestled high in the jungle treetops, come with modern amenities, plush bedding, and elegant furnishings. The hotel offers several types of suites, including suites, a penthouse with a private pool, villas, club units with unique perks, and WOW Lofts.

Wildlife

During your stay, you might see monkeys, sloths, butterflies, iguanas, hummingbirds, toucans, macaws, and more. The tropical foliage surrounding the property is home to many of these critters, and previous travelers have had good luck spotting them both from the infinity pools and their room patios. 

Amenities

Enjoy the infinity pools, offering sweeping views of the rainforest and ocean and surrounded by lush gardens and comfortable lounge chairs. The hotel also offers a full-service spa, Shanti, that draws inspiration from nature and provides a range of treatments based on 100% natural Costa Rican oils, seaweed, mud, and scrubs. There's a well-stocked fitness center available should you want to get a workout in. Accessible rooms are available, though the property itself is steep and may be tricky to navigate for travelers with limited mobility. 

Family-Friendliness

The hotel isn't suitable for families as it's an adult-only property. 

Other Highlights

The hotel's on-site restaurant, Arbol, serves local dishes and signature cocktails. Make your morning meal more memorable with a floating breakfast experience. Sunsets from the pool terrace are quite spectacular, and there's a live DJ in the evenings to keep things lively. The hotel provides free golf cart shuttles for navigating the resort and reaching Makanda's private beach, which is only a few minutes away.

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Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 4.5-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506 27770442
Hotel address icon Main Road to Manuel Antonio, 3 Kilometers
Free parking
Free wifi

Traveler Reviews

4 total ratings, 4 with reviews
4.5
Feature ratings
Authenticity & Character
4.8
Location
5.0
Staff
4.0
Cleanliness & Comfort
4.5
Lisa
Lisa W.
Canada | Reviewed on Dec 10, 2022
Incredible hotel. The Views of the ocean and surrounding rain forest were amazing. People were great! We had our wedding anniversary dinner in their incredible dining room and they provided us with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and turned out the lights and lit our deserts with candles and played Perfect by Ed Sheerhan and it was perfect! Be ready for lots of stairs if you don't get a ground floor suite! The suites were to die for from all of the amenities and the views! Read more

Incredible hotel. The Views of the ocean and surrounding rain forest were amazing. People were great! We had our wedding anniversary dinner in their incredible dining room and they provided us with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and turned out the lights and lit our deserts with candles and played Perfect by Ed Sheerhan and it was perfect! Be ready for lots of stairs if you don't get a ground floor suite! The suites were to die for from all of the amenities and the views!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in December 2022
A
Abby S.
New Orleans, LA | Reviewed on Apr 16, 2022
The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at. The pool was beautiful with a spectacular view. The staff were extraordinary. The food at the restaurant was delicious. We enjoyed the private beach. There were more animals around the pool than we saw anywhere else during our entire trip (monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans, macaws). Whatever we wanted all we had to do was ask. Our villa was absolutely breathtaking. My son's room was a glass cube with an amazing view of the pacific and sloths and... Read more

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at. The pool was beautiful with a spectacular view. The staff were extraordinary. The food at the restaurant was delicious. We enjoyed the private beach. There were more animals around the pool than we saw anywhere else during our entire trip (monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans, macaws). Whatever we wanted all we had to do was ask. Our villa was absolutely breathtaking. My son's room was a glass cube with an amazing view of the pacific and sloths and monkeys swinging by all day.

Tips for future travelers

Don't hesitate.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in April 2022
F
Frederico F.
Portugal | Reviewed on Apr 03, 2022
Superb location and views, awesome design, great pools.
Poor service at the restaurant - certainly doesn't match the price and profile of the hotel. Also, poor noise insulation in the rooms - you can hear everything that's going on outside and in other rooms.
The music in the pool areas should be avoided and certainly affects your experience. We asked for a volume decrease, which happened during our presence by the pool, but the volume was turned up again as soon as we left.
Would not return...
Read more

Superb location and views, awesome design, great pools.
Poor service at the restaurant - certainly doesn't match the price and profile of the hotel. Also, poor noise insulation in the rooms - you can hear everything that's going on outside and in other rooms.
The music in the pool areas should be avoided and certainly affects your experience. We asked for a volume decrease, which happened during our presence by the pool, but the volume was turned up again as soon as we left.
Would not return here unless a deep review of the service happened.

Tips for future travelers

Request a room far from the pool areas. Our room was next to the pool, and we could not rest/relax during the day due to the music.

Authenticity & Character
Location
awesome sea view
Staff
Staff in restaurants were not professionals, and some were unfriendly. The staff from front office and transport cars were nice, though.
Cleanliness & Comfort
room insulation in the rooms.
Stayed in March 2022
K
Kathryn P.
Amesbury, MA | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2022
We had a lovely room overlooking the jungle and the bay. The grounds of the hotel were very unique and we felt like we were definitely on vacation each time we stepped outside. You see monkeys and birds all around the property - monkeys even showed up for breakfast - just be alert because they'll try to steal your food! The staff was very helpful and accomodating. There is even a private beach area at the bottom of the hill that staff will gladly take you to and from via golf carts. We... Read more

We had a lovely room overlooking the jungle and the bay. The grounds of the hotel were very unique and we felt like we were definitely on vacation each time we stepped outside. You see monkeys and birds all around the property - monkeys even showed up for breakfast - just be alert because they'll try to steal your food! The staff was very helpful and accomodating. There is even a private beach area at the bottom of the hill that staff will gladly take you to and from via golf carts. We happened to be there at the end of the rainy season so the walkways are slippery if you're not wearing shoes with soles that grip. The food is excellent as well. Makanda was just was a wonderful getaway from reality.

Tips for future travelers

Bring shoes with soles in case of rain....also pack a rain coat.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stayed in December 2021

Like what you see?

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Hotel Information

Hotel stars icon 4.5-star Hotel
Hotel phone icon +506 27770442
Hotel address icon Main Road to Manuel Antonio, 3 Kilometers
Free parking
Free wifi