Shana By The Beach - Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

The internationally renowned Manuel Antonio National Park offers visitors a great variety of hiking trails and biodiversity. It’s one of the only places in the country where you can see all four types of resident monkeys, along with sloths, birds, iguanas and more. Snorkeling and scuba diving can be enjoyed in the waters offshore, as well as sport fishing, which angles deep for large and impressive fish. Canopy tours, horseback riding, and ocean kayaking are also on offer in Manuel Antonio. The town is equipped with most services and amenities, including restaurants, bars and shops.

Shana By The Beach, located only minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park, is set on a piece of land that is equally spectacular in its own right. Perched atop a verdant hillside that overlooks both the ocean and nearby rainforest, the views of sand, sun, surf and forest are unmatched. What’s more, the white-sanded Biesanz Beach is only a short walk away, providing visitors with a convenient oceanfront place to relax.

The hotel itself is composed of 28 contemporary rooms. The minimalist décor – which emphasizes straight lines and white colors – is a refreshing contrast to the brightly colored and biologically diverse world outside the hotel. Accommodations are comfortable and private, and include wireless internet, cable TV, espresso coffee machine, and an iPod docking station. Balconies extend the rooms outside, offering up expansive vistas of the ocean and jungle.

A swanky, large swimming pool lies beneath the hotel. Lounge chairs and shade umbrellas surround its edges, as does a hot tub, where guests can unwind after a day spent exploring Manuel Antonio. Another way to pursue relaxation is at the hotel’s spa, which offers a variety of healing treatments both indoors and outdoors. Yoga and pilates classes are additionally on tap for guests wishing to stretch, flex, and de-stress.

A restaurant caters to the culinary desires of guests with its fresh ingredients and round-the-clock service. Breakfast can be enjoyed on the privacy of your own terrace, or a light lunch around the pool. Intimate dinners overlooking the sea are a favorite, as is the top-notch room service, which runs 24-hours a day. A bar abuts the restaurant, offering premium beers, liquors, wines and more.