4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica evaluation

Stretching between two sandy seashores on the tip of a tropical peninsula alongside Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica is a bit slice of paradise the place you’ll be able to spend your days sipping coconut water in a personal cabana by one of many huge swimming pools, taking part in rounds on a world-class golf course, communing with nature in an open-air yoga pavilion or simply taking a dip within the tranquil waters of Culebra Bay.

Because of a latest $35 million refresh, the lodge now has a number of up to date eating places, a brand new seashore membership, an adults-only infinity pool and a treetop Wellness Shala for experiences like sound baths and breathwork periods.

This is what makes this sprawling resort such a incredible trip getaway — and an inside have a look at all of the facilities in retailer for friends.

4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica location

The 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo is about 23 miles northwest of Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quiros Worldwide Airport (LIR). A number of U.S. airways fly right here from their hubs, together with Alaska Airways from Los Angeles and San Francisco; American Airways from Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Value, Miami and New York; Delta Air Strains from Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis; JetBlue from New York; and United Airways from Houston, Newark and San Francisco.

To get to the resort, you’ll be able to organize a personal switch service, although this could price lots of of {dollars} every method relying on the automobile. As a substitute, you would possibly wish to take into account a taxi service from the airport, which ought to run about $60-$100 every method, or renting a automotive from one of many quite a few businesses out there on the airport for the reason that lodge doesn’t cost for parking.

The drive to the lodge takes round 40 minutes alongside protected, well-paved and well-lit roads. The ultimate quarter-hour of the journey are inside the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo luxurious lodge and residential growth itself, so there may be not a lot visitors.

4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica reserving particulars

4 Seasons doesn’t have its personal points-based loyalty program, however you’ll be able to nonetheless earn a number of factors per greenback spent on a direct reserving in case you use a card that earns class bonuses on journey or, particularly, lodge purchases.

The 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica can be a member of Amex Wonderful Motels + Resorts, so these with The Platinum Card® from American Specific or The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific who make a reserving by amextravel.com can get pleasure from advantages like complimentary every day breakfast for 2, room upgrades based mostly on availability, a $100 on-property credit score to make use of throughout their keep and assured late checkout.

4 Seasons additionally joined Chase’s luxurious lodge reserving portal, The Edit. When you’ve got an eligible card and make your reserving by Chase Journey℠, you’ll be able to count on perks together with every day breakfast for 2, availability-based room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout based mostly on availability, a $100 property credit score for use throughout your keep, and a welcome present. These with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can redeem Final Rewards factors for stays booked at The Edit properties, too.

Different playing cards you should use for The Edit bookings embody:

Charges on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica begin at round $1,450 per night time.

Standout options of the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

• Monumental rooms with screened-in ocean-facing balconies are wonderful for unwinding after a day within the solar.
• Two seashores, three swimming pools, a soothing spa, a golf and tennis membership, children and youths golf equipment, and loads of actions guarantee there’s one thing to maintain everybody occupied.
• The connoisseur eating places embody Bahia for Costa Rican classics, Virador Seashore Membership for Mediterranean fare and Pesce for upscale Italian.
• Yoga and sound bathing periods within the new open-air Wellness Shala are really distinctive experiences.

Drawbacks of the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

• There are some newer resorts coming, however this resort stays the traditional that units the usual for Costa Rican luxurious.
• Off-site excursions would possibly take some time to get to, given the lodge’s secluded location.
• The worth level is past most vacationers’ budgets, however in case you can e book by way of a portal or journey adviser that unlocks further perks, you will get much more worth out of your keep.

The vibe on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

As you crest a hill and pull as much as the entry gate on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, you get your first glimpse of the lodge beneath. It suits proper right into a dip of the peninsula the place a slender isthmus separates two sandy, crescent-shaped seashores. The curving, earth-colored buildings had been designed to mix into the jungly environment by Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher and are surrounded by lush landscaping.

No sooner do you arrive within the foyer than you’ll have a freshly tapped coconut in a single hand and a scented cool towel within the different. Welcome to paradise. Though “pura vida” is a byword in Costa Rica for constructive vibes and a relaxed outlook, the employees will probably be prepared at a second’s discover to rearrange something from a personal rum tasting to a sundown sail or a much-needed therapeutic massage on the bilevel spa, to not point out reservations at one of many on-property eating places, which now embody the Mediterranean seashore club-style Virador.

Household vacationers are more likely to predominate your fellow friends, and also you would possibly spot a marriage or company occasion going down, however simply e book one of many personal cabanas on the new adults-only infinity pool and you will be assured of a restful day. That’s, in case you do not thoughts a go to or two from the resident iguanas.

Rooms on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

There are simply 199 rooms and suites on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica. Rooms are available in three classes in the primary buildings flanking the swimming pools, differentiated primarily by location and think about moderately than facilities or dimension.

My Cielo room was on the third flooring of one of many most important buildings closest to the swimming pools and had a view into the jungle cover and over Playa Virador, the seashore on the Pacific aspect, from its screened-in furnished balcony, which was a nice place to whereas away a day as troops of (innocent) white-faced monkeys paraded by.

Inside, the decor included regionally sourced picket flooring, sliding doorways and shutters, neutral-toned textiles, and artwork produced by close by Indigenous communities. There was a signature 4 Seasons mattress wearing spotless white linens and flanked by nightstands with loads of plugs.

There was no scarcity of locations to take a seat or chill out, together with a divan on the finish of the mattress, an armchair and ottoman by the window, and a breakfast desk with its personal chair and an cute welcome amenity of contemporary fruit designed like a miniature native roadside stand.

Throughout from the mattress, there was a protracted credenza housing the minibar (stocked with quite a lot of espresso, after all, and a Nespresso machine, to not point out connoisseur Costa Rican Sibo chocolate bars) with a wall-mounted flat-screen tv above it.

Again towards the entrance door, there was loads of closet house alongside one aspect of the entry hallway, and to the opposite, the toilet, which was separated from the bed room by a set of picket shutters and tiled in a mixture of brown limestone and white marble.

With a deep soaking tub, a separate walk-in bathe stocked with Natura Bisse merchandise, a water closet and a protracted counter with two sinks, there was loads of room to unfold out.

Although the room was close to the steps and elevators, we did not hear different friends within the passageway exterior or within the lodging above or beneath us. As a substitute, we left the sliding doorways to the balcony open and fell asleep to the sounds of the forest and the ocean.

Foods and drinks on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Whether or not you need smoothies accompanied by sultry sea breezes or a library tasting of uncommon rums, the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica has you lined.

Bahia

With its lavish breakfast unfold and tree-shaded patio, Bahia units a leisurely tempo for the day as you sip specialty espresso drinks and tropical fruit smoothies whereas birds and butterflies flit above.

If you cannot make up your thoughts, go for the buffet, the place you’ll be able to pattern the whole lot from fresh-cut fruit to made-to-order eggs ($49 per particular person). Or, go a la carte with a standard Costa Rican breakfast with eggs any type, gallo pinto beans and rice, hearty molcajete sauce, candy plantains, and regionally produced, gentle Turrialba cheese ($25).

Come afternoon and night, the centerpiece is an open woodfire grill allotting plates like yellow corn coronary heart of palm flautas over smoky tomato sauce ($19) and zarandeado octopus marinated in an earthy ancho chili adobo sauce with Peruvian aji verde ($34).

Virador Seashore Membership

One of many new additions to the resort after its most up-to-date renovation, Virador Seashore Membership is simply steps from the sand and appears like a beachy day membership proper out of St. Tropez with wicker chairs, chandeliers and a breezy vibe.

The menu comes courtesy of Israeli chef Khaled Natour, so among the many share plates giant and small you would possibly pattern the fluffy pita-style kumaj bread ($10) with smoky baba ghanoush, tangy shanklish and silky hummus ($28-$60 relying on variety of dips); juicy rooster shish taouk marinated in spicy harissa ($25); grilled artichoke and beets in a savory citrus dressing ($17); and crispy, cinnamon- and pistachio-laced baklava with sugary rosewater syrup ($19).

Pesce

For particular events, the resort’s coastal Italian restaurant, Pesce, is the place to make a reservation. White tablecloths and floral preparations set a semiformal tone, and the big tables are perfect for prolonged household teams (certainly, you would possibly spot a multigenerational gathering or two celebrating a life occasion collectively).

The menu feels largely acquainted, with a number of surprises, like an ultrafresh zucchini carpaccio salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano, citrus and pistachio ($22); bubbly-crusted pizzas contemporary from the oven, together with one with fontina, wild mushrooms, truffle paste and arugula ($30); pistachio pesto linguine with guanciale and creamy stracciatella ($26); and fillet of branzino with capers, olives, cherry tomatoes and potatoes in a white wine-butter sauce ($37).

Make sure to order the specialty vanilla souffle ($18) forward of time because it takes some time to arrange.

Anejo

Down a grandiose staircase from reception, full with a gold-tiled backdrop, Anejo feels just like the nerve middle of the resort. Within the morning, you’ll be able to drop by for smoothies and low together with pastries, acai bowls and different sundries like breakfast burritos from the bar counter.

Come afternoon and night, the menu shifts to small plates resembling soft-shell crab sliders ($23), salmon teriyaki salad ($22), tuna ceviche in black leche de tigre sauce ($22), and numerous sushi and sashimi dishes.

The cocktail menu incorporates tropical twists just like the Corcovado with Tanqueray gin, ardour fruit, basil, lime, lemongrass syrup, pineapple, star fruit and membership soda ($16); rum flights ($55-$180); and even a complete part of libations impressed by the assorted epochs skilled by Indigenous peoples within the area, together with an Previous-Normal-like Botanico with Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, Jerez PX sherry, fig syrup and angostura bitters ($20). All of which you’ll get pleasure from in numerous seating vignettes, together with a number of cushioned swings.

The remainder

Up on the golf and tennis membership, friends can get pleasure from informal Costa Rican street-style meals at Palapita and steakhouse fare at Nemare. Simply adjoining to Anejo, in the meantime, La Reserva appears like a personal rum cellar and hosts espresso, chocolate and rum tastings, cocktail-making lessons, and experiences the place you infuse rum with the spices of your selecting.

After all, you can too order room service 24 hours a day, and there may be pool and seashore service out there all through the day.

Facilities and repair on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Though the 4 Seasons lies on the tip of a peninsula in a gated luxurious growth half-hour from the closest city, there’s nonetheless loads to do each on and off the property.

Swimming pools and seashores

The lodge has two giant most important swimming pools, that are adjoining to 1 one other and bordered by loungers and shaded daybeds which can be out there on a first-come, first-served foundation, with loads of towels, sunscreen and snacks supplied by the devoted employees. It’s also possible to reserve particular sunbeds for $75 and cabanas for $750.

The latest addition is a smaller, roped-off, adults-only infinity pool the place you should pay to order loungers or cabanas, which additionally include devoted service, together with complimentary water and fruit plates.

On the Pacific aspect of the peninsula, Playa Virador is lined with rows of seashore chairs and has a swimming space appropriate for babies. Enterprise far sufficient down it and also you come to a staircase that takes you as much as a strolling path linking the resort to the remainder of the peninsula.

On the bay aspect of the resort, Playa Blanca additionally has loads of seashore chairs, plus a volleyball courtroom, kayaks and paddleboards for hire, and an outpost of SurfX the place you’ll be able to e book browsing classes and excursions.

Wellness

Subsequent to the foyer, there’s a giant, multilevel wellness complicated that features indoor and outside gymnasium areas with each cardio tools and weight machines by Technogym in addition to areas for stretching, yoga and different lessons.

The spa, in the meantime, options males’s and girls’s locker rooms with steam rooms and outside Jacuzzis and chilly plunges. Among the many signature remedies is an hourlong, customizable Rainforest Therapeutic massage carried out with a mixture of important oils tailor-made to the visitor’s preferences ($230) and numerous facials using high-end manufacturers, together with Biologique Recherche and Isun. There’s additionally a small hair and nail salon.

On the alternative aspect of the resort, overlooking the whole complicated from a perch among the many bushes, the lodge’s new Wellness Shala was designed by Costa Rican architects Luis Alejandro Cuesta and Javier Creuheras of Arquitectura Mixta, and impressed by the whorl-like currents of the winds within the surrounding province of Guanacaste. The curvilinear house, which feels just like the architectural illustration of a freeform yoga pose come to life, is nothing in need of breathtaking, particularly throughout open-air yoga and sound bathing periods carried out by visiting consultants.

Golf and tennis

There may be complimentary shuttle service upon request to Papagayo’s golf and tennis membership, which is a few five-minute drive from the lodge. There, friends can tee off on an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature course, which doubles as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary due to native vegetation and water-saving irrigation, or rally on one of many three tennis or three pickleball courts.

Youngsters golf equipment

It is a family-friendly resort, and all of the extra so due to the child-focused areas and actions. For youthful tykes, the Youngsters for All Seasons Membership has been fully redone by Athens-based Polyanna & Associates to resemble a mangrove forest come to life, together with exercise areas, a playground and a small pool.

The separate Tuanis Teen Heart, in the meantime, has organized actions in addition to loads of online game consoles and lo-fi leisure (foosball!) to maintain adolescents occupied.

Excursions and actions

The sky, or ocean depths, are the restrict right here. The lodge can organize the whole lot from all-day browsing getaways to scuba journeys, rainforest zip lining and helicopter excursions. There are additionally rainforest excursions, e-bike treks, night time wildlife walks, picture safaris, whitewater rafting, horseback using, stargazing and extra. Throughout a half-day tour to Palo Verde Nationwide Park, a 90-minute drive away, friends take a river tour recognizing crocodiles, howler monkeys and numerous birds, adopted by a personal rum-tasting and -mixing workshop, lunch at a historic hacienda and a cultural tour ($1,050).

If you examine in, you’ll be supplied with a calendar of each complimentary and paid actions for the present week to pick from with the intention to reserve a spot if want be.

Accessibility on the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

The resort’s public areas together with reception, the spa and the eating places on the primary stage are all accessible by way of wheelchair due to ramps and elevators, although there are some doorways to navigate. There are elevators to the assorted ranges of the wellness middle in addition to from reception to the primary pool space, after which to visitor rooms in every of the primary buildings.

Primary seashore wheelchairs able to maneuvering on sand can be found on each seashores, and there’s a chairlift into one of many most important resort swimming pools.

There are a number of rooms with Individuals with Disabilities Act-compliant options, although it’s best to name the resort to e book particular lodging that fit your particular person wants.

Testing

The 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica has set the usual for luxurious seashore holidays in Costa Rica because it opened in January 2004, due to its gorgeous setting and nature-inspired structure.

Since then, it has undergone a number of main renovations to replace its options and incorporate new ones, together with a swinging Mediterranean-inspired seashore membership and a state-of-the-art wellness pavilion, to not point out an unmatched slate of actions that can preserve friends occupied (and completely satisfied) whether or not they wish to lounge by the pool or spot wildlife in Costa Rica’s close by nationwide parks.

And though the worth tag to remain right here is excessive, after a number of days, experiencing Costa Rica’s pura vida 4 Seasons-style feels priceless.

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