About this hotel
General information
The resort occupies the very tip of Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste: a narrow plateau some 97 metres above the Pacific with a beach on either side. Eighteen hectares of tropical dry forest run down to the water, and buildings conceived as tree houses sit among the canopy. Interiors draw on local wood, natural fabrics, work by local artisans and a palette taken from the jungle, so rooms open almost seamlessly onto their terraces.
There are 199 places to stay, from rooms and suites close to the heart of the resort to private villas and residences on the hillsides and above Prieta Bay, all let by the night. Around them sit an 18-hole golf course, an in-house surf school, the Papagayo Park sports and leisure hub, a canopy ropes course with ziplines, an 18-room spa and eight restaurants and bars. A kids’ club and a separate teens’ clubhouse make it an easy choice for families with children of different ages.
Location
The resort lies on Costa Rica’s north-west coast, at the end of Peninsula Papagayo between Culebra Bay and the open Pacific. Liberia International Airport is 37.5 km away, about 40 minutes by car. The resort arranges private transfers by SUV, sedan or van, with guests met as they leave customs.
Spa
The spa has 18 treatment rooms, a two-storey lounge with a rainwater wall, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pools in the men’s and women’s areas, a full salon and a boutique. The signature is the Rainforest Massage; the menu also covers hammam rituals, scrubs and wraps with coffee, cacao, coconut and sea salt, a purification ritual with volcanic ash and an Arenal mud mask, facials by Biologique Recherche and ISUN, and a post-surf massage. Yoga, sound-healing and stretch classes run daily, and the beach-view fitness centre is open around the clock. Casa del Mar doubles as The Wellness Villa, a private residence with tailored nutrition and personal training.
Sports & leisure
Activities cover land, sea and the forest around the resort.
- Golf: the 18-hole, par-72 Ocean Course above Culebra Bay, with a driving range, putting and chipping greens, club and shoe rental and complimentary transport from the lobby
- Papagayo Park: a racquet centre with padel, pickleball and tennis courts, a lap pool, basketball court, pump track and an art studio with ceramics and painting classes; four more clay tennis courts at the Club House
- Palmares Outpost: a two-hour guided aerial trail around 9 m above the ground, with seven ziplines and 21 high-ropes obstacles
- SurfX: beginner lessons at nearby beaches, boat trips to the breaks of Santa Rosa National Park for experienced surfers, e-foiling and surf-skate sessions
- Complimentary non-motorised water sports at Playa Blanca: kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling over a coral-planting project; diving, fishing and sailing can also be arranged
- Nature and culture: birdwatching with a resident naturalist (more than 150 species live on the peninsula), mangrove walks at Nacascolo Beach, sunset hikes, electric off-road bikes, cooking, coffee and rum classes, and Latin dance lessons
- Day trips across the Continental Divide to the rainforest for horseback riding, river floats and hanging bridges
For children
Kids For All Seasons welcomes children aged 4 to 12 every day in a mangrove-themed space with a shallow pool and nature playground; the schedule includes shell hunts on the beach, pool games, pottery painting, ocean-themed crafts and short hikes, and under-fours can join with a parent. Teens aged 10 to 18 have Tuanis, their own clubhouse with soccer, basketball and pickleball courts, video games, a pool table and tournaments, plus laser-tag nights. Both clubs are complimentary for resort guests. Papagayo Park adds a children’s adventure zone with a splash pad, slides, a zipline and a climbing wall, SurfX runs the Grom Squad surf programme for kids, and a childcare service is available on request.
Restaurants & bars
Eight restaurants and bars are spread between the lobby, the beaches, the golf clubhouse and the tennis centre, with menus built on produce from local farms.
- Bahia — all-day Latin grill cooking over wood in an open kitchen
- Pesce — classic Italian cooking with local seafood, pasta and a long wine list, overlooking the ocean
- Añejo — crudos and tapas bar with a DJ in the evenings and grab-and-go breakfasts
- Nemare — steakhouse at the peninsula’s golf clubhouse
- Palapita — Costa Rican street food and local craft beer by the Tennis Centre
- Virador Beach Club — Mediterranean and Levantine plates on Playa Virador
- La Reserva — rum bar with tastings and classes in which guests blend their own infusion
- Pool & Beach — tropical cocktails and light coastal dishes by the pools and on the sand
In-room dining runs 24 hours, and private dinners can be set up in the residences or on the beaches.
Swimming
Two white-sand beaches belong to the resort. Playa Blanca has calm, emerald water and is the base for SurfX, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling, with Blanca Pool and its cabanas just behind. Quieter Playa Virador is home to Virador Beach Club, with an adults-only infinity-edge pool and private cabanas. The freshwater Bahia Pool is the family pool, with attendants bringing drinks, fruit and chilled water, and Papagayo Park adds a lap pool. Guests in the Casa residences also have access to a private beach club on Prieta Bay.
Pets
Pets weighing up to 30 lb (13.6 kg) are welcome, with no limit for service dogs. Outside the room they stay on a leash or in a carrier and must never be left alone; only service dogs may enter restaurants, pools and fitness areas. Costa Rica requires an up-to-date vaccination card for a pet’s entry.
Rooms
The 199 accommodations comprise three types of guest room, three one-bedroom suites, two three-bedroom specialty suites and 15 private villas, estates and residences of one to six bedrooms with kitchens and pools, all let by the night. Most villas and residences include a round-trip airport transfer, and the largest come with a personal attendant.
Marble bathroom with a deep soaking tub, walk-in closet, Natura Bissé toiletries, smart TV with Chromecast, Bose speaker, coffee and tea, safe, ceiling fans, complimentary Wi-Fi, twice-daily housekeeping and 24-hour in-room dining.
Miramar Suite (Three-Bedroom)
A hillside suite close to the centre of the resort with the privacy of a house: full kitchen, dining room, private pool and lawn, and panoramic views of the bay, ocean and gardens. Three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, for up to six adults.
Canopy Premier Plunge Pool Suite (Three-Bedroom)
A spacious living room linked by an open-air walkway to three bedrooms, with a private pool and views of the dry forest and the bay. Sleeps up to six adults.
Canopy Plunge Pool Suite (One-Bedroom)
A hillside suite in the jungle with a patio and private pool facing the forest or the bay, five minutes on foot or by golf cart from the centre of the resort. King bed; up to three adults.
Canopy Suite (One-Bedroom)
A suite high in the forest canopy with a private terrace that catches the sunrise over the bay. King bed; up to three adults.
Papagayo Suite (One-Bedroom)
A suite in the main building with a large terrace, bespoke furniture, a spa-style bathroom and bay views. King bed; up to three adults.
Terraza Room
A first-floor room with a private furnished terrace overlooking tropical gardens and dry forest. One king or two queen beds.
Brisa Room
A second-floor room with a terrace giving partial views of the bay or ocean; louvred doors close off the bedroom. One king or two queen beds.
Cielo Room
A room on the third or fourth floor with a sunset terrace and partial bay or ocean views over the forest, a five-minute walk from the centre of the resort. One king or two queen beds.
Casa Las Olas Six-Bedroom Residence
A two-level residence above Prieta Bay with a palm-filled courtyard, a 30-metre pool, chef’s kitchen, media room, gym and a children’s room with bunk beds, looking out to the Pacific. Six bedrooms for up to 12 adults.
Casa del Coco Five-Bedroom Residence
A secluded estate home above Prieta Bay with a full-size pool and a large terrace for outdoor living. Five bedrooms for up to 10 adults and 4 children.
Casa del Cielo Residence Estate
A four-bedroom home high above the ocean with vaulted bamboo ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and 270° views over the Pacific, Culebra Bay and the resort; pool, jetted tub and barbecue. Up to 8 adults and 2 children.
Casa del Mar Residence
A gated hillside residence with an infinity pool, jetted tub, summer kitchen, sunset deck and a private gym overlooking the coast, including two en-suite primary bedrooms. Up to 8 adults and 2 children.
Casa de la Luna Residence
A light-filled home with floor-to-ceiling windows, an infinity pool, whirlpool and covered pavilion with a barbecue, facing the ocean and a rock formation off the peninsula. Up to eight adults.
Five-Bedroom Ballena Estate at Prieta Bay
An estate above Prieta Bay where pocket doors open the living spaces onto a pool terrace made for sunsets. Five bedrooms for up to 10 adults and 4 children.
Five-Bedroom Estate at Prieta Bay
An estate with high ceilings, wide windows and a European kitchen and dining area, overlooking the bay. Five bedrooms for up to 10 adults and 4 children.
Four-Bedroom Estate at Prieta Bay
A bay-view estate with a large pool, media room, marble floors and outdoor showers. Four bedrooms for up to eight adults.
Four-Bedroom Villa at Prieta Bay
A villa terraced into the hillside above the sandy crescent of Prieta Bay, with glass walls and a terrace with a plunge pool. Four bedrooms for up to eight adults.
Three-Bedroom Villa at Prieta Bay
A villa with a European kitchen, outdoor grill and wet bar, a plunge pool and bay views. Three bedrooms for up to six adults.
Three-Bedroom Canopy Villa
A hillside villa with three en-suite bedrooms, a full kitchen, a private infinity pool and ocean or bay views. Up to six adults.
Two-Bedroom Canopy Villa
A secluded villa reached by a private garden path, with a full kitchen and a patio with an infinity pool looking over the forest to the ocean. Two bedrooms for up to four adults.
Three-Bedroom Pacifico Residence
A hillside residence with a full kitchen, three bathrooms and a screened, covered outdoor living room facing the forest and the ocean. Three bedrooms for up to six adults.
Two-Bedroom Pacifico Residence
A residence with two generous king bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room with a dining area and a screened terrace. Up to four adults.
One-Bedroom Canopy Villa
A villa for couples with Pacific views, a plunge pool, deck and outdoor dining patio for sunset dinners. King bed; up to three adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.