Wakana Alaçati

For what we paid at Wakana, the stay fell short, and I don't put much faith in its five-star Google rating. The Booking.com reviews seemed closer to our experience. The breakfast was genuinely delicious and generous, but there was far more than we could eat. We sent nearly half of it back each day. Letting guests choose a set number of items might cut down on waste and confusion. The first morning, I waited 30 minutes without knowing how breakfast worked because there was no visible buffet or menu. When I asked the manager, he casually said they'd bring it over. Another 15 minutes passed before a staff member asked what I wanted, though I had assumed it came as a fixed platter. Only then did I see a menu. My friends, a couple sharing a room, were also surprised to learn the “one additional item” limit applied to the room, not each person. That hadn't been made clear. The staff were generally friendly, but seemed short on basic hospitality experience and training. The manager especially didn't set a professional example. He often wore swim shorts and casual T-shirts while other staff wore uniforms, swam in the pool in the morning, then had his own breakfast in the guest area. He also openly drank alcohol during the day, which didn't feel professional for someone in his position. My room was a separate house, not part of the main hotel. I had agreed to take the most expensive room because I was told it was the only one left, but what I got was clearly the least desirable on the property. Getting there meant passing trash bins and cleaning supplies, and the area around it was noticeably dirty. My friends' room wasn't ready around 3-4 PM either. We complained and waited about 20 minutes. In the heat, we hoped for some small welcoming gesture, but drinks came only after we asked. Three beers eventually arrived, though staff could have offered them without being prompted. Both rooms were missing basics like shampoo, even though they'd just been serviced, so we had to ask. One front-of-house staff member, who wasn't the manager, did make a real effort to help us feel welcome. He followed through on changing my room, and from the second day I had a proper replacement that was clearly better than the first night's room. I appreciated his care and reliability. Wakana has potential. The breakfast is excellent, the property could be charming, and that staff member showed real care. But the poor training and management approach made it hard to recommend at this price. With better staff training and more guest-focused processes, it could become a successful boutique stay. For now, I'd advise future guests to keep their expectations in check.