Shana Hotel & Spa

We loved our stay at Shana. It is a spectacular setting. There are monkeys all around and they really do come to the balconies every late afternoon and try to open the screen doors! A beautiful pair of macaws flew overhead daily. There are flowers everywhere and the sea sparkling below. The rooms are great - basic but clean and attractive. The restaurant is very good - we were impressed with the included breakfast. The staff is excellent. Everyone is very friendly and smiley. A special shout out to Warner, who seemed to be at the pool every time we were, serving drinks and getting everyone settled. He made us feel very special, always with a warm greeting and a big smile. His service and lovely personality elevated the Shana experience to 5*. Thanks, Warner, and thanks Shana!

We were moved between two rooms within one night and both were unsafe. The first room had leaking pipes in the wall, dripping AC, loose electrical wires in bathroom, smelled like mold and was quite literally falling apart (parts of cabinets on the floor!). The second room had a large hole we found behind our daughters bed where a bat flew out and kept swooping at us our first (and only!) night there. We had to terminate our stay and drive all the way back to San Jose (ruining our vacation and paying for new flights) for our Daughter to get the health department required rabies vaccines (totalling $1700US and requiring 4 trips to the ER). The hotel owner took a full week to reply to us and only offered us a refund of half so we have filed a dispute with our credit card company. They photographed us in our car as we left (trying to prove we stayed one night) even though we never slept a wink. The only reason we had to stay was because we didn’t feel safe driving all the way to the airport (hours) during the night and no manager would be available to speak to us until 6:30am. This hotel has quite literally caused us thousands of dollars of damage and, yet, they are fighting for money for nights we were not even able to enjoy. They ruined our long awaited vacation and in no way made us feel any of the Pura Vida we had come to love about Costa Rica. They should be ashamed.

We stayed at Shana by the beach Hotel over spring break 2025 for four nights and were incredibly impressed—not just with the stunning views and beautiful hotel design, big rooms, very comfortable beds, but also with the warm and accommodating staff. The hotel is gorgeously designed, with thoughtful amenities and even monkeys on the property, which delighted our whole family! We loved the walk down to the beach. While it may seem a bit steep for some, we thought it was excellent exercise and a beautiful way to enjoy the surroundings. The beach itself is gorgeous and calm We also visited nearby beaches like Playa Hermosa, and Uvita (not far from Nauyaca Waterfalls), While all had their charm, the lagoon near Shana Hotel was by far the most family-friendly—calm, clear water with no strong waves, making it perfect for kids and adults alike. Plus, the abundance of beautiful birds and monkeys added to the experience. Compared to larger chains and all-inclusive resorts we’ve stayed at in the past, Shana by the beach felt much more cozy and personal. The breakfast was consistently good, with lots of fresh fruit and variety. Our family of four—including two kids aged 4 and 6—found plenty of delicious options every morning. We’re so grateful for the warm welcome, great service, and unforgettable experience. Thank you, La Shana team—we can’t wait to return the next time we’re in Costa Rica!

Stayed as part of tour group. Hotel is not sound proof. Noisy, loud sound of people walking above you. Received a unrequested handicap room that wasn't in the best shape. Room smelled like Mold, was dated and not in the best shape. Definitely, not a 4 or 5 star hotel room! Had dinner once at their restaurant it tasted fine but found it to be overpriced. On a positive note their Wifi worked well in the room and it was easy to get a ride up or down the hill if needed.

This hotel gets a great review because of our waiter Warner. He took care of us in every way for the entire 4 days. We never ran out of drinks or food, and he made us feel like we were the only people at the resort. He gave us tips on things to do, directions to places and treated us like family. Warner is the best!