Makanda by the Sea

An adult escape above the ocean

The ocean lies below Makanda by the Sea’s forested hillside, giving this adults-only boutique resort a setting made for lingering over the view. Spread across twelve acres about 100 meters above the ocean, it brings gardens, contemporary interiors and a romantic mood to Manuel Antonio. Guests must be at least eighteen, making the atmosphere a deliberate choice for an adult getaway.

An oceanview pool gives you somewhere to spend the quiet part of the day before dinner at Arbol Restaurant. Its menu blends locally sourced traditional ingredients and fresh seafood with international dishes such as couscous, spring rolls and homemade ravioli. Daily breakfast and yoga lessons are complimentary, and room service gives you another way to keep the evening private.

Time for two at Shanti Spa

Shanti Spa extends the invitation to slow down, with Hot Stone, Swedish and Deep Tissue massages, a jacuzzi and natural sauna. Couples can choose tailored body-treatment packages lasting up to three and a half hours, giving wellness time a substantial place in the trip. Personalized attention from the hotel team adds a welcoming side to the more secluded pleasures of gardens, ocean views and a quiet dinner together.

Choose your own private retreat

Gardens and carefully considered interiors draw the outside setting into the stay: vaulted ceilings, hardwoods, marble counters, graceful curtains and comfortable bedding give the rooms their polished character in this forested hillside setting. Accommodation stretches from single rooms and studio suites to honeymoon suites and private villas, with pools or jacuzzis in selected categories. Match the room to the level of privacy and outdoor space you would enjoy.

A romantic trip with room for exploring

A romantic trip need not be entirely quiet. Ziplining, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, horseback riding, waterfall rappelling and surf lessons bring more active possibilities beyond the resort. For a gentler change of scene, consider a guided Manuel Antonio National Park visit, a riverboat cruise, estuary kayaking or sunset sailing. Returning to the hillside for dinner or a spa session gives those outings a different ending from staying down by the beach; plan transport, since the beach is not within walking distance.

Celebrate on the hillside

For a wedding in Manuel Antonio, the hilltop setting brings another possibility. An on-site wedding planner, culinary team and professional acoustic systems support celebrations at the resort. Ask how those services fit the occasion you have in mind, while keeping the adults-only age requirement in your plans.

A romantic hillside stay for adults

• The hotel is adults-only, with a minimum age of 18. That is central to its romantic atmosphere and suitability: families traveling with younger guests will need a different property.
• Twelve acres on the Manuel Antonio hillside, about 100 meters above the ocean, bring elevated coastal views and garden walks. Choose it for the rainforest-and-ocean setting, while allowing for transport to the beach.
• The beach is not within walking distance. The oceanview pool gives you water-side leisure at the hotel, but a day on the sand is an outing to plan.
• Arbol Restaurant blends local ingredients and fresh seafood with international dishes. Daily breakfast and yoga lessons are complimentary, and room service adds flexibility for private time.
• Shanti Spa offers Hot Stone, Swedish and Deep Tissue massages, with a jacuzzi and natural sauna. Couples’ tailored treatment packages can last up to 3.5 hours, giving wellness time a substantial place in the trip.
• Rooms, suites and villas have different features, with private pools or jacuzzis in selected categories. Hardwood, marble and vaulted-ceiling details contribute to the refined atmosphere, but compare the chosen category’s actual amenities.
• An on-site wedding planner, culinary expertise and professional acoustic systems support celebrations. The adult age rule still applies when considering the property for an occasion.
• Active tours and quieter river, estuary or sunset outings let you vary a romantic stay. The resort suits adults who enjoy exploring and still want gardens, dining and spa time as reasons to return. Personalized attention from the hotel team adds a welcoming side to the romantic retreat.