Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica review

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica location

The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo is about 23 miles northwest of Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR). Several U.S. airlines fly here from their hubs, including Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles and San Francisco; American Airlines from Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York; Delta Air Lines from Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis; JetBlue from New York; and United Airlines from Houston, Newark and San Francisco.

To get to the resort, you can arrange a private transfer service, though this can cost hundreds of dollars each way depending on the vehicle. Instead, you might want to consider a taxi service from the airport, which should run about $60-$100 each way, or renting a car from one of the numerous agencies available at the airport since the hotel does not charge for parking.

The drive to the hotel takes around 40 minutes along safe, well-paved and well-lit roads. The final 15 minutes of the journey are within the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo luxury hotel and residential development itself, so there is not much traffic.

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica booking details

Four Seasons does not have its own points-based loyalty program, but you can still earn multiple points per dollar spent on a direct booking if you use a card that earns category bonuses on travel or, specifically, hotel purchases.

Standout features of the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

• Enormous rooms with screened-in ocean-facing balconies are excellent for unwinding after a day in the sun.
• Two beaches, three pools, a relaxing spa, a golf and tennis club, kids and teens clubs, and plenty of activities ensure there’s something to keep everyone occupied.
• The gourmet restaurants include Bahia for Costa Rican classics, Virador Beach Club for Mediterranean fare and Pesce for upscale Italian.
• Yoga and sound bathing sessions in the new open-air Wellness Shala are truly unique experiences.

Drawbacks of the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

• There are some newer hotels coming, but this resort remains the classic that sets the standard for Costa Rican luxury.
• Off-site excursions might take a while to get to, given the hotel’s secluded location.
• The price point is beyond most travelers’ budgets, but if you can book via a portal or travel adviser that unlocks extra perks, you can get even more value from your stay.

The vibe at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

As you crest a hill and pull up to the entry gate at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, you get your first glimpse of the hotel below. It fits right into a dip of the peninsula where a slender isthmus separates two sandy, crescent-shaped beaches. The curving, earth-colored buildings were designed to blend into the jungly surroundings by Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher and are surrounded by lush landscaping.

No sooner do you arrive in the lobby than you will have a freshly tapped coconut in one hand and a scented cool towel in the other. Welcome to paradise. Although “pura vida” is a byword in Costa Rica for positive vibes and a relaxed outlook, the staff will be ready at a moment’s notice to arrange anything from a private rum tasting to a sunset sail or a much-needed massage at the bilevel spa, not to mention reservations at one of the on-property restaurants, which now include the Mediterranean beach club-style Virador.

Family travelers are likely to predominate your fellow guests, and you might spot a wedding or corporate event taking place, but just book one of the private cabanas at the new adults-only infinity pool and you’ll be assured of a restful day. That is, if you don’t mind a visit or two from the resident iguanas.

Rooms at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

There are just 199 rooms and suites at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica. Rooms come in three categories in the main buildings flanking the pools, differentiated mainly by location and view rather than amenities or size.

My Cielo room was on the third floor of one of the main buildings closest to the pools and had a view into the jungle canopy and over Playa Virador, the beach on the Pacific side, from its screened-in furnished balcony, which was a pleasant place to while away an afternoon as troops of (harmless) white-faced monkeys paraded by.

Inside, the decor included locally sourced wooden floors, sliding doors and shutters, neutral-toned textiles, and art produced by nearby Indigenous communities. There was a signature Four Seasons bed dressed in spotless white linens and flanked by nightstands with plenty of plugs.

There was no shortage of places to sit or relax, including a divan at the end of the bed, an armchair and ottoman by the window, and a breakfast table with its own chair and an adorable welcome amenity of fresh fruit designed like a miniature local roadside stand.

Across from the bed, there was a long credenza housing the minibar (stocked with a variety of coffee, of course, and a Nespresso machine, not to mention gourmet Costa Rican Sibo chocolate bars) with a wall-mounted flat-screen television above it.

Back toward the front door, there was plenty of closet space along one side of the entry hallway, and to the other, the bathroom, which was separated from the bedroom by a set of wooden shutters and tiled in a mix of brown limestone and white marble.

With a deep soaking tub, a separate walk-in shower stocked with Natura Bisse products, a water closet and a long counter with two sinks, there was plenty of room to spread out.

Though the room was near the stairs and elevators, we didn’t hear other guests in the passageway outside or in the accommodations above or below us. Instead, we left the sliding doors to the balcony open and fell asleep to the sounds of the forest and the ocean.

Food and drink at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Whether you want smoothies accompanied by sultry sea breezes or a library tasting of rare rums, the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica has you covered.

Bahia

Amenities and service at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Although the Four Seasons lies at the tip of a peninsula in a gated luxury development 30 minutes from the nearest town, there’s still plenty to do both on and off the property.

Pools and beaches

The hotel has two large main pools, which are adjacent to one another and bordered by loungers and shaded daybeds that are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with plenty of towels, sunscreen and snacks provided by the dedicated staff. You can also reserve specific sunbeds for $75 and cabanas for $750.

The most recent addition is a smaller, roped-off, adults-only infinity pool where you must pay to reserve loungers or cabanas, which also come with dedicated service, including complimentary water and fruit plates.

On the Pacific side of the peninsula, Playa Virador is lined with rows of beach chairs and has a swimming area suitable for small children. Venture far enough down it and you come to a staircase that takes you up to a walking path linking the resort to the rest of the peninsula.

On the bay side of the resort, Playa Blanca also has plenty of beach chairs, plus a volleyball court, kayaks and paddleboards for rent, and an outpost of SurfX where you can book surfing lessons and excursions.

Wellness

Next to the lobby, there is a large, multilevel wellness complex that includes indoor and outdoor gym areas with both cardio equipment and weight machines by Technogym as well as areas for stretching, yoga and other classes.

The spa, meanwhile, features men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms and outdoor Jacuzzis and cold plunges. Among the signature treatments is an hourlong, customizable Rainforest Massage performed with a mix of essential oils tailored to the guest’s preferences ($230) and various facials utilizing high-end brands, including Biologique Recherche and Isun. There’s also a small hair and nail salon.

On the opposite side of the resort, overlooking the entire complex from a perch among the trees, the hotel’s new Wellness Shala was designed by Costa Rican architects Luis Alejandro Cuesta and Javier Creuheras of Arquitectura Mixta, and inspired by the whorl-like currents of the winds in the surrounding province of Guanacaste. The curvilinear space, which feels like the architectural representation of a freeform yoga pose come to life, is nothing short of breathtaking, especially during open-air yoga and sound bathing sessions performed by visiting experts.

Golf and tennis

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

Kids clubs

This is a family-friendly resort, and all the more so thanks to the child-focused spaces and activities. For younger tykes, the Kids for All Seasons Club has been completely redone by Athens-based Polyanna & Associates to resemble a mangrove forest come to life, including activity areas, a playground and a small pool.

The separate Tuanis Teen Center, meanwhile, has organized activities as well as plenty of video game consoles and lo-fi entertainment (foosball!) to keep adolescents occupied.

Excursions and activities

The sky, or ocean depths, are the limit here. The hotel can arrange everything from all-day surfing getaways to scuba trips, rainforest zip lining and helicopter tours. There are also rainforest tours, e-bike treks, night wildlife walks, photo safaris, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, stargazing and more. During a half-day excursion to Palo Verde National Park, a 90-minute drive away, guests take a river tour spotting crocodiles, howler monkeys and various birds, followed by a private rum-tasting and -mixing workshop, lunch at a historic hacienda and a cultural tour ($1,050).

When you check in, you will be provided with a calendar of both complimentary and paid activities for the current week to select from so that you can reserve a spot if need be.

Accessibility at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

The resort’s public areas including reception, the spa and the restaurants on the main level are all accessible via wheelchair thanks to ramps and elevators, though there are some doors to navigate. There are elevators to the various levels of the wellness center as well as from reception to the main pool area, and then to guest rooms in each of the main buildings.

Basic beach wheelchairs capable of maneuvering on sand are available on both beaches, and there is a chairlift into one of the main resort pools.

There are several rooms with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant features, though you should call the resort to book specific accommodations that suit your individual needs.

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