Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve evaluate

Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo, a protected tropical wonderland alongside the nation’s Pacific coast, has lengthy been residence to 2 luxurious properties, the 4 Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo and the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort. However as of late February, there is a new contender for the area’s high luxurious lodge.

Constructed right into a cliffside, Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve combines the peninsula’s panoramic ocean views and beautiful biodiversity with the impeccable service, consideration to element and deep sense of place that distinguishes the Ritz-Carlton Reserve model. The result’s a bucket-list property that simply made TPG’s checklist of probably the most thrilling lodge openings of 2025.

Learn on for a have a look at this unique resort and the way Marriott Bonvoy factors will help you keep there.

First impressions

At Nekajui, cultural immersion begins the second you arrive. The resort welcomes visitors into an art-covered casita, designed within the type of Guanacaste Province’s conventional haciendas. Past the casita’s 200-year-old door lie Nekajui’s courtyard and its outstanding ceiba tree, which the indigenous Chorotega folks believed possessed a therapeutic power.

After crossing via the courtyard, you may enter one other hacienda-inspired area the place a citrus-tinged chilly brew of soursop leaves awaits. My husband and I sipped ours whereas admiring Nekajui’s artwork assortment, which options greater than 550 works by Latin American artists.

The rooms

Nekajui includes 107 visitor rooms and suites, and every of the resort’s many room varieties offers a particular expertise. All the lodging are spacious, with the base-level Ocean Reserve room measuring 872 sq. ft. All of them characteristic luxurious touches, which may embody balconies, plunge swimming pools or out of doors showers. And between their sweeping views and use of native supplies, they’re designed to deliver as a lot of the skin in as doable.

I stayed in an Ocean Vista Suite, which, at 1,711 sq. ft, supplied greater than sufficient area for my household of three. An ocean-facing balcony occupied a lot of that area, with room for a family-sized desk, an outsized lounge chair, a plunge pool and an outside bathe.

Inside, a king-size mattress confronted floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the ocean, and a flat-screen TV was hidden behind wood-paneled doorways to encourage visitors to attach with nature. To at least one facet of the bed room was a big front room and bar, with complimentary bottled water, tea and occasional and a minibar stocked with snacks and drinks for buy.

On the opposite facet, a marble rest room let in tons of pure mild, with a window-backed dual-sink self-importance and a glass-enclosed rainfall bathe maximizing the room’s unbelievable views. Different rest room highlights included a soaking tub, an impossibly giant walk-in closet and toiletries made on-site utilizing vegetation grown within the resort’s personal backyard.

Eating at Nekajui

Nekajui presents a big selection of eating and consuming choices — so huge, the truth is, that you can keep for days with out seeing the identical menu twice, not to mention the identical menu merchandise. Its most important eating places have completely different lunch and dinner choices, and every venue has its personal cocktail checklist. These with dietary restrictions will not be quick on decisions, both, which is a rarity when staying inside the confines of 1 resort.

Whereas a number of the eating places characteristic international themes, the hyper-local substances floor the menus right here in Guanacaste. And wherever you dine, fare is recent, accessible and superbly introduced.

Mirador
Breakfast is not included in any of Nekajui’s room charges, so you may pay to begin the day at Mirador — however it’s value it. “Tray to desk” eating inverts the buffet idea as parts of fruit, bread and parfait come to you ($19).

Puna
Nekajui’s star is Peruvian fine-dining restaurant Puna from famend chef Diego Muñoz. Our favourite dish was the corn risotto ($32), and my husband’s scallop tiradito ($24) received excessive marks, too.

Niri Seashore Membership
This restaurant straddles the seaside and a tranquil, tucked-away pool and serves a Mediterranean menu you could order to your lounger. I notably loved the kale and charred broccoli salad ($19) and gazpacho ($16).

Brisa
Tacos and frozen cocktails are the best way to go at poolside Mexican restaurant Brisa. I beloved the guacamole ($19) and vegan chorizo tacos ($18).

Cafe Rincon
This cafe was our first cease every morning due to its world-class espresso and house-made pastries and goodies. It additionally has a beautiful lunch menu, and the gallo bowl ($19) with rice, black beans and plantains was a favourite.

Nimbu Spa & Wellness
Nekajui’s spa has its personal menu of recent and wholesome choices like smoothies ($16), good for fueling up earlier than or after a remedy or exercise.

Ámbar
This distinctive, open-air bar is suspended within the timber, and it is the lodge’s greatest spot for watching the solar dip beneath the ocean every night time.

La Casona
Sip impeccably crafted cocktails exterior on the hearth pits or inside whereas admiring the lodge’s artwork assortment.

In-villa eating
Whether or not you want meals in a single day or simply do not need to go away the room, room service is on the market 24/7.

Facilities and repair

• Service: The service at Nekajui was distinctive all through, however the largest spotlight got here after checkout, once we realized we had by accident left a couple of objects behind. Reasonably than mailing them, workers members insisted on driving an hour to our new lodge to ship them that very same afternoon.
• Private concierge: All visitors have a “Manzu” (or “pal” within the Chorotega language) who they will textual content to rearrange actions, make reservations and extra.
• Actions: Nekajui presents many included actions like yoga, nature walks, water sports activities and stargazing. Journey clothing store The Explorers, which has an on-property outpost, can organize off-site excursions.
• Swimming pools and seaside: The primary pool space and Niri Seashore Membership, which has seaside entry and a extra secluded pool, are linked by a glass funicular.
• Health middle: The power sports activities free weights and Technogym gear that overlooks the ocean. A devoted yoga room accommodates aerial apply and sound baths.
• Spa: The 27,000-square-foot Nimbu Spa & Wellness options treetop remedy rooms and its personal infinity pool.
• Children membership: Crafts, cooking lessons and desk video games preserve children ages 4 to 12 busy.

NIMBU SPA & WELLNESS

Nimbu arguably boasts the resort’s most spectacular views. Friends can take pleasure in them proper from the remedy rooms throughout companies starting from geothermal stone therapeutic massage ($499) to earth remedy ($409), which is a multi-sensory expertise that integrates clay pottery. Nimbu additionally options Central America’s largest hydrotherapy pool.

Child Friendliness

I had heard that Costa Rica was a child pleasant vacation spot, however I by no means may have predicted the welcome my 7-month-old daughter acquired. Our room had a crib, altering desk, diaper pail, child bathtub, hooded towel, baby-safe toiletries, seaside toys and even a bottle sanitizer machine ready for us. Excessive chairs had been available across the property, and every restaurant supplied to arrange her age-appropriate purées.

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Location and logistics

Nekajui sits about 22 miles northwest of Daniel Oduber Quirós Worldwide Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica, which is definitely reachable from a number of U.S. cities. The drive from the airport takes about 40 minutes.

To succeed in the resort, Nekajui can organize a non-public switch with a luxurious automotive firm, though that possibility can value tons of of {dollars} every means relying on the car sort. For a extra inexpensive journey, take a taxi (fares will fluctuate based mostly on season and demand, however count on to pay round $60 to $100) or lease a automotive, as lodge parking is free.

What it prices to remain at Nekajui and tips on how to e book

Nekajui is a part of Marriott’s portfolio, which means you possibly can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors to your keep. Unsurprisingly, costs are excessive in each {dollars} and factors, although it is doable to search out nights priced nicely beneath the lodge’s ceiling.

By the top of 2025, there are a number of nights accessible at 131,000 factors for a base room, which incorporates an ocean view and a balcony — although that charge jumps as excessive as 212,000 factors over in style journey occasions like Christmas. Money charges begin at $1,275 and keep beneath $2,000 till late December, once they skyrocket to $4,365.

When reserving Nekajui, you may need to use a bank card that earns factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably presents computerized Marriott Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Platinum Elite standing; and 25 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Silver Elite standing; and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Silver Elite standing; and 5 elite night time credit per yr towards a better tier.

The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Accessibility

Nekajui doesn’t have totally ADA-compliant rooms as outlined by U.S. requirements, and sure areas of the lodge — together with a few of its signature areas, like its seaside and treetop bar — will not be doable to achieve by wheelchair.

That stated, the lodge can accommodate sure accessibility wants upon request. Service animals are welcome on the property.

Backside line

Nekajui masterfully integrates native substances and supplies all through the property, whereas weaving in native tradition and customs round each flip. Because of this, you may doubtless come away feeling such as you received an ideal style of Costa Rica even with out ever leaving the lodge.

Sure, a keep right here is expensive — but when you need to use factors to offset some or all of that steep room charge, it looks like a really strong alternative for an ultra-luxe lodge expertise. Between the eye to element, proximity to Costa Rica’s lush environs and attentive service, my keep was one I am going to always remember.

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