Woman relaxing on float in infinity pool surrounded by lush greenery at Hotel Makanda, Manuel Antonio.

Published: September 2023 · Updated: March 2026

Ocean Views at Makanda by the Sea — What You See from Your Room

Most ocean view hotels in Costa Rica offer a glimpse of water between buildings or from a rooftop bar. At Makanda by the Sea, the Pacific is the backdrop to everything — visible from your private terrace, from the infinity pool, and from the restaurant where you have breakfast. This is what that actually looks like.

The view from the suites and villas

Makanda sits on a jungle hillside above Manuel Antonio, 150 meters above sea level. From this elevation, the Pacific stretches uninterrupted to the horizon — no roads, no buildings, no beach crowds in the frame. The foreground is rainforest canopy: cecropia trees, flowering heliconias, and the occasional flash of a scarlet macaw crossing the valley.

All 33 accommodations — 20 suites and 13 villas — are oriented toward the ocean. Suites have private furnished terraces. Villas have private pools facing the same view. The difference between waking up to this and waking up to a garden courtyard is not subtle.

The infinity pool

The main infinity pool at Makanda is positioned so that the water appears to meet the horizon. At sunrise, the Pacific reflects the early light. In the late afternoon, the sun drops directly into the ocean from this angle — visible from the pool deck, from the sun loungers, and from the swim-up bar.

This is an adults-only setting. There are no children, no pool noodles, no competing noise. The atmosphere is closer to a private residence than a resort.

Ocean views and rainforest — why this combination works

Manuel Antonio is one of the few places in Costa Rica where you have both from the same property. The coastline further north — Guanacaste, Tamarindo — is drier and more open. The south Pacific is wilder but more remote. Manuel Antonio sits at a geographic inflection point: rainforest-covered hills that drop directly to the coast, giving elevated properties like Makanda simultaneous access to jungle and ocean.

In practical terms this means that from your terrace, you hear howler monkeys and see the Pacific at the same time. It is not a common experience.

Adults-only and what that means at this property

Makanda has been adults-only since it opened. The decision was deliberate — it shapes the atmosphere in ways that affect every hour of a stay, not just the pool. Mornings are quiet. Evenings at Árbol Restaurant are calm. The shared spaces — pool, terrace, spa — feel private even when the hotel is at capacity.

At 33 accommodations, Makanda never feels large. The ocean views are not a selling point layered onto a standard hotel product — they are part of the physical design of the property, visible from almost every position on the grounds.

Planning your stay

Makanda by the Sea is located 3 kilometres from Manuel Antonio National Park, 5 minutes by car from Playa Espadilla, and approximately 2.5 hours from San José by road.

All bookings are direct through makanda.com. Review our Reservation Policy before arrival — it covers deposits, payments and cancellation terms in full.

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Official secure booking on makanda.com