About this hotel
General information
Nekajui rises from the cliffs of Peninsula Papagayo above Playa Pochote and the Gulf of Papagayo, surrounded by some 570 ha of tropical dry forest, coves and private quiet. The architecture reinterprets the old haciendas of Guanacaste and the life of the region's sabanero cattlemen in local stone and wood, with shaded galleries, hidden gardens and winding paths. Guests arrive at La Casita, modelled on a Costa Rican village, before stepping into La Casona, an airy living room with panoramic views of the coast; a great ceiba tree stands in the courtyard between the two.
There are 107 rooms, suites and treetop tents, alongside two- to five-bedroom residences and the ten-bedroom Villa Guayacan. The art collection runs to more than 550 pieces, including around 125 originals by Latin American artists, and La Capilla, an events space, is laid with 650,000 handmade mosaic tiles. Service is built around personal hosts known as Manzus, and days divide between forest trails, the ocean, the spa and evenings up in the canopy.
Location
The resort sits on Peninsula Papagayo in the province of Guanacaste, on a hillside above Playa Pochote on the Pacific coast. Liberia International Airport is about 35 km away, roughly 45 minutes by car, and San José International Airport 241 km. There is no hotel shuttle: airport transfers are arranged in advance through a partner service, and residence stays include return airport transfers.
Spa
Naku Wellness & Spa is set in the forest above the ocean. Its hydrothermal circuit runs through contrast pools, a sauna and a steam room, alongside hydrotherapy pools, a movement studio, ocean-facing treatment villas and separate lounges for men and women. Signature rituals draw on native botanicals, cacao, coffee and volcanic minerals, led by juanilama, a Costa Rican herb blended with mandarin and bergamot. The menu covers massages (in-suite too), facials, scrubs and wraps, Ayurvedic treatments, manicures and pedicures, while sound healing and cacao and coffee rituals take place beyond the treatment rooms.
Sports & leisure
The Papagayo Explorers programme heads out to The Outpost in the Palmares Preserve, around 100 ha of protected tropical dry forest spanning three ecosystems in a compact area. Next to the resort lie the 18-hole, par-72 Ocean Course, laid out through old-growth forest, valleys and sea cliffs, and four clay tennis courts; Papagayo Park adds hard tennis courts, pickleball and padel, with private lessons and weekly clinics. The fitness centre is open around the clock. Activities include:
- guided hikes with naturalists, birdwatching and wildlife spotting in the wild
- ziplining and aerial trekking in the canopy, mountain biking and off-road jeep tours
- canoe trips through the mangroves
- surf lessons with SurfX coaches, including the breaks of Santa Rosa National Park
- windsurfing, paddleboarding, snorkelling, scuba diving and sailing
- whale watching and sunset cruises
- excursions to Rincón de la Vieja, Arenal Volcano and Santa Rosa national parks and to Monteverde
For children
Camp Nekajui welcomes children aged 4–12 every day from morning to late afternoon, with nature walks, sensory play, arts and crafts and science experiments led by counsellors. Papagayo Park on the peninsula has a splash pad and a playground.
Restaurants & bars
Restaurants and bars are spread between the forest and the beach, and the Dining Beyond programme arranges private dinners in treetop hideaways or on a secluded beach under the stars. Room service runs 24 hours.
- Puna — Peruvian heritage cuisine with Costa Rican produce, dinner
- Paruro — an Asian-Peruvian omakase inside Puna, one seating each evening
- Niri Beach Club — a beach club serving Iberian dishes from the grill with natural wines
- Brisa — poolside small plates by day, dinner inspired by Baja California at night
- Mirador — breakfast with ocean views
- Café Rincón — roasted-to-order coffee, cacao and artisan chocolate
- Ámbar — a treetop bar for botanical cocktails at sunset
- Casona Bar — a Latin-inspired lobby lounge with Pacific views and floral, herb-infused cocktails
- Cooper's — a hidden bar hosting mixology masterclasses
Swimming
Playa Pochote lies below the resort, and a funicular runs down to Niri Beach Club, with a pool, towels and service on the sand. Up at the resort there are a main infinity pool overlooking the ocean, the Terrace Pool and a hot tub, and many rooms and villas have their own plunge pools.
Pets
Well-behaved, healthy pets up to 18 kg are welcome, one per room, for a non-refundable fee per stay. Service animals stay free of charge.
Rooms
The 107 rooms, suites and treetop tents face the ocean or the forest; most have generous terraces or balconies and many their own plunge pools. Two- to five-bedroom residences and Villa Guayacan are sold separately.
Rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass doors to a terrace or balcony, a coffee and tea maker and free Wi-Fi, many with an outdoor shower and a deep soaking tub; suites and tents include a complimentary minibar with alcoholic drinks.
Reserve
A room with a sitting area and a balcony with partial ocean views. One king bed for two guests or two queen beds for four.
Ocean Vista
A room with a balcony facing the ocean. One king bed for two guests or two queen beds for four.
Reserve Plunge Pool
A forest-view room with a sitting area, private plunge pool and outdoor shower; one king bed, up to two guests.
Ocean Vista Plunge Pool
An ocean-view room with a private plunge pool; two queen beds, up to four guests.
Ocean Panorama Plunge
A room with panoramic ocean views, a sitting area, balcony, plunge pool and outdoor shower; one king bed, up to two guests.
Reserve Canopy
A one-bedroom suite among the treetops with forest views, a balcony and a plunge pool; one king bed, up to three guests.
Casona
A one-bedroom suite with a balcony and ocean views; one king bed, up to three guests.
Gran Casona
An elevated one-bedroom suite with private lift access, a balcony and ocean views; one king bed, up to three guests.
Ocean Vista Suite
A one-bedroom suite with a separate living room and sofa bed, a terrace and balcony facing the ocean, a whirlpool and an outdoor shower; up to three guests.
Two-Bedroom Ocean Vista
A two-bedroom suite (a king; a king plus bunk beds) with a separate living room, two and a half bathrooms, a plunge pool and ocean views; up to six guests.
Treetop Tent
An open-air tent in the canopy with ocean views: two king bedrooms, a sofa bed, two bathrooms and a terrace with a plunge pool; up to four guests.
Family Treetop Tent
A larger treetop tent with two bedrooms (a king; a queen or bunk beds), a separate living room, two bathrooms, an outdoor shower and a plunge pool; up to five guests.
Nekajui Villa
A three-bedroom villa (two kings and two queens) with a separate living room, four bathrooms, a plunge pool, a whirlpool and ocean views; up to eight guests.
Nekajui Grand Villa
A four-bedroom villa with five bathrooms, generous gathering spaces, a plunge pool, an outdoor shower and views from forest to ocean; up to ten guests.
Two-Bedroom Residence
A two-bedroom residence (a king and two queens) with three bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, ocean-view terraces and a pool; up to six guests.
Three-Bedroom Residence
A three-bedroom residence with a sofa bed, four bathrooms and a living room, some with a private pool; up to eight guests.
Four-Bedroom Residence
An estate-style residence with four bedrooms, a separate living room, four bathrooms, a pool and ocean views; up to ten guests.
Five-Bedroom Residence
The largest of the residences: five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a private pool and ocean views; up to twelve guests.
Villa Guayacan
A private ten-bedroom villa above the ocean with an infinity-edge pool, more than 50 works of art, a private chef, two Manzu butlers and a concierge; up to 28 guests.
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.