Hotel Makanda by the Sea

What Hotel Makanda by the Sea does

Hotel Makanda by the Sea is an adults-only luxury boutique hotel operating a single 33-key property (20 suites and 13 villas across nine categories) on the rainforest hillside above Manuel Antonio National Park in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The hotel targets couples and romantic-escape travelers with ocean-view accommodations starting at $660/night (minimum 807 sq ft), select private-pool and jacuzzi villas, and a property positioned within an active ecological corridor featuring daily wildlife encounters. The operating model is a multi-revenue-stream hospitality business: nightly accommodation (the primary revenue line), on-site F&B (Árbol Restaurant, Ocean Club, complimentary à la carte breakfast for direct bookings), Shanti Spa (a separately branded rainforest spa at myshantispa.com), and a curated tours and activities desk covering Manuel Antonio National Park, ATV, catamaran, zipline, rafting, and private yoga among other offerings. Seasonal packages and wedding/event hosting supplement core room revenue.

Distribution is direct-to-consumer via makanda.com with no booking fees, supported by a 24/7 WhatsApp concierge for reservations and guest requests, and secondary OTA distribution through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Google. The technology stack is light: WhatsApp-based messaging, smart-house automation in select villas, Smart TVs, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The company is privately held, owner-operated, has no disclosed parent, no institutional investors, and no published financial figures. The 22-person team supports a 33-key service-intensive operation, with brand reputation validated by MICHELIN Guide, Tablet Hotels, Condé Nast Johansens, official five-star certification, and consecutive Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best awards (2025 and 2026), with an average guest rating of 9.3/10 across major platforms.

Name

Hotel Makanda by the Sea

Legal name

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Website

https://makanda.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hotel Makanda by the Sea operates a 33-key adults-only luxury boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, serving couples and romantic-escape travelers through direct booking, OTAs, and on-site dining, spa, and curated tours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Boutique Hospitality

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Villas & Residences Resorts (THAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA), Coastal & Island Eco-Resorts (THAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Luxury boutique hotel
• Adults-only resort
• Spa and wellness
• Fine dining hotel
• Eco tourism Costa Rica

Headquarters

HQ city

Manuel Antonio

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Accommodation (Suites & Villas): Primary revenue stream from 33 luxury suites and villas ranging from $660/night. Revenue generated through nightly room rates with varying price points based on room category (standard suites vs. private pool villas vs. penthouse). Breakfast included with direct bookings.
2. Food & Beverage (Árbol Restaurant & Ocean Club): On-site dining at Árbol Restaurant (fine dining), Pool Terrace, and Ocean Club bar. Revenue from breakfast (included for direct bookings), lunch, dinner, cocktails, and specialty dining experiences.
3. Shanti Spa Services: Multi-level rainforest spa offering massage, treatments, and wellness services. Revenue from spa treatments and services.
4. Tours & Activities: Organized tours and activities including Manuel Antonio National Park tours ($75), ATV tours ($110-$140), Jet Ski ($130-$160), Waterfall tours ($130-$140), Zipline ($85), White Water Rafting ($89-$105), Parasailing ($85-$140), Mangrove tours ($75-$85), Surf lessons ($85), Catamaran tours ($89), Private Yoga ($100), Horseback riding ($85), and various other activities. Transportation included with most tours.
5. Special Packages & Offers: Seasonal packages including 'The Makanda Getaway' (September-October 2026), 'Tropical Escape' (May-November 2026), 'Local Escape' (10% off for Costa Rican guests), and Relaxation Retreat packages. Often include breakfast and hotel credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hotel Makanda by the Sea operates an adults-only luxury boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, offering 33 ocean-view suites and private-pool villas across nine categories, complemented by fine dining at Á rbol Restaurant, wellness treatments at Shanti Spa, the cliffside Ocean Club infinity pool, and curated tours and activities throughout the surrounding rainforest and Pacific coast.

Product overview

Hotel Makanda by the Sea is an adults-only luxury boutique hotel offering 33 accommodations across nine distinct suite and villa categories, ranging from standard suites (Tropical Suite, Deluxe Suite Ocean Club, WOW Loft, Pacific Jacuzzi Suite) to premium villas (Honeymoon Junior Pool Villa, Honeymoon Grand Pool Villa, Luxury Villa for Four, Luxury Villa Private Pool, Sky Penthouse Private Pool). All accommodations start at 807 sq ft and include private balcony, king-size bed, Nespresso machine, minibar, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, with select villas featuring private pools and jacuzzis. The property integrates dining at Árbol Restaurant (fine dining with pool terrace and Ocean Club raw bar), wellness at Shanti Spa, recreation at the Ocean Club cliffside infinity pool, and access to Wild Makanda Beach. Guests can book curated tours and activities, floating breakfasts, and day lunch baskets. The hotel's concierge team handles reservations for all offerings, with à la carte breakfast included in direct bookings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tropical Suite
• Deluxe Suite Ocean Club
• WOW Loft
• Pacific Jacuzzi Suite
• Honeymoon Junior Pool Villa
• Honeymoon Grand Pool Villa
• Luxury Villa (Four People)
• Luxury Villa Private Pool
• Sky Penthouse Private Pool
• Á rbol Restaurant
• Shanti Spa
• Ocean Club
• Wild Makanda Beach
• Floating Breakfast
• Day Lunch Basket
• Tours and Activities
• Gym and Fitness

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.3/10 guest rating across major platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Booking.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBooking.com serves as a major distribution partner for Makanda's reservation management, customer service, and analytics. Guest data is shared with Booking.com for reservation processing. This is a standard OTA partnership common in hospitality.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• The Brando (French Polynesia): Ultra-luxury private-villa resort on a private atoll with high sustainability standards and exceptional guest ratings. Comparable on small-scale, villa-centric ultra-luxury model and recognition-driven pricing power, though in a distinct geography and price tier.
• Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa (Mexico): Beachfront luxury resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya with villa-style accommodations and spa-led programming. Comparable on luxury beachfront villa product and spa-driven revenue mix, though serving a different geographic feeder market.

Direct peers

• Tulemar Resort: Resort property in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica offering a mix of villas and suites in a beach-and-jungle setting. Comparable on target customer (families and couples), location, and multi-category room model.
• Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort: Luxury boutique resort also located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, combining rainforest and beach access with sustainability-driven positioning. Directly comparable on geography, scale, and luxury eco-resort identity.
• Hotel Belmar (Monteverde): Independently owned luxury hotel in Costa Rica's Monteverde cloud forest with sustainability focus and curated on-site dining. Comparable on independent ownership, sustainability messaging, and experiential luxury model.
• Lapa Rios Lodge: Costa Rican eco-luxury lodge on the Osa Peninsula offering rainforest immersion and high-end rates. Comparable on eco-luxury branding, wildlife-corridor narrative, and small-scale luxury hospitality.
• Nayara Springs: Adults-only luxury resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica with private plunge-pool villas and high-end recognition. Comparable on adults-only positioning, villa-centric room product, and ADR tier.
• Gaia Hotel & Reserve: Boutique resort in Manuel Antonio with adults-only sections and a wellness/spa focus. Closely aligned with Makanda on adults-only positioning, wellness amenity mix, and Manuel Antonio micro-market.

Broad incumbents

• Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo: Large, internationally branded luxury resort on Costa Rica's Pacific coast serving a similar affluent inbound traveler but at much greater scale. Comparable on geography and luxury positioning; broader audience including families and groups.

Emerging players

• Casa Chameleon Hotels (Costa Rica): Boutique collection of small Costa Rica hotels focused on intimate stays, design, and natural settings. Comparable on independent, design-led boutique positioning with personalized service ethos.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hotelmakanda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hotel-makanda-by-the-sea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hotel Makanda by the Sea