5 Star Hotels in Manuel Antonio National Park, Puntarenas Province

"This hotel is an absolute dream! The rooms are beautifully appointed, comfortable and private. The pools are gorgeous, especially the saltwater infinity pool where you can relax and watch the most magnificent sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. Food is excellent, and drink selections at all the bars are fantastic, made with natural fruit and premium spirits. Don’t forget to check out the small private beach, where you’ll find white-faced capuchin monkeys swinging from the trees. A stay at Makanda will make Manuel Antonio even more magical!"

"Overall, the property was beautiful, clean, and well maintained. The wildlife was a highlight of the stay. We saw monkeys, a sloth, lizards and many different types of birds, which made the experience feel especially unique. The hotel itself was peaceful and never felt overly crowded, which was a major plus. The main drawback was the service, which was consistently slow throughout the stay. From check-in to being seated and served at lunch and dinner, there were noticeable delays. At the wet bar, I waited about 15 minutes before the bartender was able to take my order. It did not seem to be a reflection of the staff themselves, but rather that the property appeared understaffed, especially at the restaurants and bars. Checkout was similar, with only one person at the front desk managing both phone calls and guest departures. The food and drinks were very good and clearly well prepared, though they felt overpriced given the level of service. Overall, the property itself was lovely and the setting was memorable, but the staffing and service experience did not quite match the price point. Note: If you plan to drive, be extremely careful as there were a lot of cars parked on the side of the road by beach goers, making it narrow and dangerous with oncoming vehicles."