Want to take advantage of Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
We recently spent a few nights at the 181-key Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. I had never been to Costa Rica before, so I was looking forward to visiting a new country, and experiencing this resort, given that I had heard quite a bit about it, along with the overall Peninsula Papagayo area.
Our trip to Costa Rica (and specifically Peninsula Papagayo) exceeded my expectations — Costa Ricans are incredibly friendly, and the country is also known for being safe, even outside of resort compounds (it’s also why there are so many expat communities in the country, as many people choose to move here for the quality of life and value).
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Four Seasons Costa Rica, in terms of how it compares to resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, etc. I was pleased to find that it is a unique destination that’s unlike any of those, and I think it’s one that many people will enjoy. Let’s get into the review.
Booking the Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
First let me say that in the interest of full disclosure, Ford is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisor, and won a three-night stay here as part of an incentive program that Four Seasons has. So our room was complimentary, though we paid for incidentals.
Opinions expressed are my own, and of course you’re welcome to skip this review if these kinds of hotels aren’t up your alley.
With that out of the way, for the dates of our stay in December, the rate would have been around $1,500 per night before taxes and fees. For what it’s worth, the nearby Andaz was retailing for just over $1,000 per night. There’s quite a bit of seasonal variance with rates at the property, with the highest season being around December through May, give or take.
The best way to book any Four Seasons hotel is through a travel advisor affiliated with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program. When booking through Preferred Partner you pay the same rate you’ll find directly on Four Seasons’ website, but you’ll receive extra perks, including the following:
- A room upgrade, subject to availability
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- A hotel credit to use during your stay
Four Seasons Preferred Partner is generally combinable with promotions being offered directly through Four Seasons, including advance purchase rates, free night offers, and more. Ford and his team are happy to help book Four Seasons properties through Preferred Partner, and can be reached at [email protected].
You can’t beat getting all of these extra perks just for booking through an eligible travel advisor. Note that Preferred Partner bookings can also be made for the Four Seasons Private Retreats at the property, which consist of villas that can be booked by the night.
Note that booking Four Seasons properties through Preferred Partner is better than booking through programs like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®. Why?
- With Preferred Partner, you have the option of room service breakfast in place of restaurant breakfast
- Upgrades are prioritized for Preferred Partner bookings, given that it’s Four Seasons’ own proprietary program (and the value of an upgrade can be significant)
- You can combine Preferred Partner perks with virtually any rate on Four Seasons’ website (other programs don’t allow you to stack promotions in the same way)
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo location
The closest major airport to Peninsula Papagayo is Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR), which has several daily nonstop flights from destinations across the United States and beyond. From Miami, it was an easy two-hour nonstop flight for us.
From the airport to Peninsula Papagayo is a roughly 40-minute drive. You can either use a car service (through the hotel or through a third party), or you can rent a car, as driving in Costa Rica is pretty easy.
Peninsula Papagayo is a pretty secluded 1,400-acre compound, which has some amazing geography, as it consists of a private peninsula (as the name suggests). Admittedly there are pros and cons to this setup. On the plus side, it’s incredibly safe and feels private, though also don’t go here expecting that you’ll just walk out of the hotel and be in a vibrant town after a short walk. In that sense, it perhaps feels a bit like Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve, or the Four Seasons Punta Mita.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo layout & lobby
Upon arriving at the resort, we were welcomed by the friendly bellmen, and escorted into the beautiful open-air lobby. I love these kinds of spaces, which combine the comforts of being inside with the breeze of being outside.
The lobby has plenty of seating, so we were invited to sit down while check-in formalities occurred, and we were offered both fresh coconut juice and refreshing towels.
In the lobby you’ll also find complimentary coffee and tea each morning. I love how Four Seasons consistently offers this as a brand standard.
At the conclusion of our check-in, we were given a tour of the property on a golf cart, and then brought to our room.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo suite
The Four Seasons Costa Rica is quite a sprawling property. Most of the standard guest rooms are in two buildings near the main pools, so they’re right in the center of the action. There are three categories of rooms there — Terraza, Brisa, and Cielo — with the only difference being the view (Terraza is on the lowest floor, while Cielo is on the highest floor).
However, the other categories of rooms are spread out across the property. We were assigned room 1421, a Canopy Plunge Pool Suite. This was about a five minute (steep uphill) walk from the main part of the resort. Of course you can always call reception and they’ll send a golf cart, but it was nice to get some steps in. I also loved the lush greenery, and the nature sounds, from birds chirping to waves crashing.
Upon entering the exterior door to the suite, the plunge pool was located to the left, with a couple of daybeds, as well as a dining table with two chairs.
Once inside the suite, we found ourselves in the living room. This consisted of a couch and a chair facing a TV, as well as a dining table with four chairs.
The minibar was along the interior wall, and consisted of a coffee machine, a kettle, and a variety of drinks and snacks for purchase.
There was a lovely welcome amenity on the dining room table, consisting of a cheese plate, a bottle of white wine, a make-your-own margarita kit, and some nuts, fruit, and sweets.
Off the living room is a full bathroom, with a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower (and that’s in addition to the one off the bedroom). So this suite would be great for families, since the living room can be converted into a second bedroom space for a family.
A door separated the bedroom from the living room. The bedroom had a signature Four Seasons bed, which I find to be the most comfortable in the hotel industry. The bedroom also had another sitting area with a table, plus a TV.
The main bathroom was located off the bedroom, and had a sink, a soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet. The bathrooms definitely feel a bit less modern than the rest of the room, and I suspect that reflects that the hotel first opened in 2004, though did recently undergo a renovation. However, often minimal changes are made to bathrooms during renovations, and I suspect that’s what happened here. For example, I found it odd how there was a single sink rather than double sinks, especially in a suite.
Toiletries were from Natura Bisse, and were in reusable bottles.
The suite had a gorgeous view both of the lush trees around the property, as well as of the water in the distance.
The views were especially nice around sunrise and sunset.
Wi-Fi in the room was fast and free, and as you’d expect, there was twice daily housekeeping.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo pools
The Four Seasons Costa Rica has two main pools, located near the center of the resort. These are elevated and are located near a narrow part of the land, with beaches on both sides. The Blanca Pool is the lower of the two pools. The pool has plenty of seating around it, including lots of shade.
A few steps up from the Blanca Pool is the Bahia Pool. This is on the same level as many of the resort’s restaurants.
On top of that, there’s a pool with cabanas specifically for adults, which is probably the most picturesque pool at the resort.
The pools are beautiful during the day, but are even more gorgeous at night.
The resort has a huge hot tub, but that was closed for renovations during my visit. As is standard at Four Seasons, I appreciate how sunscreen is readily available, since that’s an area where many hotels gouge guests. Service around the pool was consistently attentive, and the pool attendants would help with setting up lounge chairs and bringing ice water.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo beaches
Thanks to the Four Seasons Costa Rica’s privileged location, it has two beaches, with one on each side of the resort’s three pools. The two beaches are named Playa Blanca and Playa Virador.
Playa Blanca is the more popular of the two beaches, and faces Culebra Bay. This is also where you’ll find the water sports center, and it’s also where you can rent everything from kayaks to paddle boards.
Meanwhile Playa Virador is on the other side, and faces the Pacific Ocean. This tends to be a bit quieter.
As you’d expect, the beaches are also especially pretty around sunrise and sunset, given that they’re roughly east and west facing.
Look, so Costa Rica isn’t the Turks & Caicos when it comes to having white sand beaches, so don’t expect that this will be like Grace Bay. However, Costa Rica isn’t really a pure beach destination, but rather the beach is part of a larger active vacation. The beach setup here is much more impressive than at the nearby Andaz, in my opinion (which we also briefly checked out).
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo spa & gym
Four Seasons properties are known for having amazing gyms, and the Costa Rica property is no exception. The property’s gym is located inside the spa, and can be accessed by guests 24/7.
The gym is super impressive. There’s an entire level dedicated to strength training, with everything from machines to free weights.
There’s another level dedicated to cardio, with treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and more.
For those who are into this, there’s even an outdoor area with cardio equipment.
Speaking of the spa, that’s quite impressive as well. The Four Seasons’ spa has 18 treatment rooms, as well hydrotherapy, a steam room, a relaxation area, and more. You can find all the spa treatments here — as you can see, there’s way more than massages, as there’s also everything from sound healing to an astrology birth chart reading (hah).
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo activities
A big selling point of Costa Rica in general, and in particular of Peninsula Papagayo, is the number of activities that are offered. It’s a bit different than a Caribbean vacation, where some people may just come to sit on the beach for a week.
At check-in you’re given an activities sheet showing everything that’s on offer during your stay. Many of the activities are included, while others come at an extra charge. I loved the number of scheduled activities, and we ended up going on a kayak tour, taking a coffee class, doing a rum tasting, and even did a sound healing.
There are all kinds of other activities that the resort can arrange, from a zipline adventure, to bird watching, to night walks. Also, I’m not a golfer, but the Four Seasons Costa Rica has an 18-hole golf course, which is well regarded.
Dining at Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
If you stay at the Four Seasons Costa Rica, expect that you’ll have most of your meals in the Peninsula Papagayo compound, given that there’s not all that much in the immediate area. Fortunately the Four Seasons has several great dining options. To briefly summarize those:
- Bahia is the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, featuring Costa Rican and international options
- Pesce is the resort’s Italian restaurant, and it’s open for dinner
- Nemare is the resort’s steakhouse, and it’s open for dinner
- Virador Beach Club is the resort’s pool restaurant that’s open for lunch and dinner, and it features Mediterranean flavors
- Añejo Tapas Bar is the resort’s bar, serving drinks and light snacks throughout the day
Let’s take a closer at each of these outlets.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Bahia Restaurant
Bahia Restaurant is located immediately underneath the lobby and right by the pools, and it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is open air, and has a variety of seating options.
This is where breakfast is served each morning — the buffet is available from 6:30AM until 10:30AM, while a la carte dining is available from 6AM until 11AM. You can find the breakfast menu here. If you book through Four Seasons Preferred Partner, breakfast is included, whether you prefer the buffet or a la carte (or you can even opt for room service breakfast).
If you select the buffet, that includes coffee, tea, juice, and eggs made to order. The buffet was excellent quality, and included things like pastries, cereal, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, waffles, pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, all kinds of veggies and breakfast meat, empanadas, rice, etc.
Costa Rica is known for its amazing coffee, and the Four Seasons didn’t disappoint, as both the cappuccinos and iced coffees were exceptionally good.
From the a la carte selection, we also tried the Costa Rican breakfast, the avocado toast, and the açaí bowl.
I also loved their selection of local hot sauce…
We also had lunch at Bahia one day, and you can find the lunch menu here. We split the Costa Rican ceviche, the roasted cauliflower salad, and the chicken al pastor tacos.
We found the food to be excellent, both at breakfast and lunch.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Pesce Restaurant
Pesce is the Italian restaurant located next to Bahia Restaurant, immediately underneath the lobby. It’s open nightly for dinner, from 6PM until 10PM, and you can find the menu here. The restaurant is beautifully appointed, and has both an indoor and outdoor seating area, with views of the beach and water in the distance.
Upon sitting down, we were presented with some olives and parmesan cheese, as well as a selection of freshly baked bread.
To start, we indulged in a fontina cheese, wild mushroom, and truffle paste pizza, which was sublime.
Then for our main courses, I had the branzino al cartoccio, while Ford had the pollo alla millanese primavera.
The food was excellent, and this was one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve been at in a secluded resort nowhere close to Italy.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Nemare Restaurant
Nemare is the resort’s steakhouse, and it’s about a five minute golf cart ride from the Four Seasons, as it’s located by the golf club. It’s open nightly for dinner, from 6PM until 10PM, and you can find the menu here. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and since it was a beautiful evening, we sat outside.
At the start of the meal we were offered some ciabatta bread with mushroom butter. Yum.
As a starter, we split the tuna tartare, served on tapioca chips, with sweet and sour ginger and ponzu sauce, as well as the kale and grilled pear salad.
For main courses, we split the salmon with diced red pepper and cabbage and mango sauce, as well as the filet mignon.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Virador Beach Club
Virador Beach Club is the resort’s Mediterranean restaurant that’s by the pool. It’s open daily from 11AM until 10PM, and you can find the menu here.
This restaurant is super casual and is outdoors and right on the beach, so you can stop here for a drink, a snack, or even a full meal. We didn’t have a chance to eat here, but the food looked great, and you can expect everything from hummus to Greek salads.
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Añejo Tapas Bar
Añejo Tapas Bar is located immediately underneath the lobby, and is basically the social hub of the resort. It’s open daily from 6:30AM until 11:30PM, so you can come here for a cup of coffee, a pastry, a salad, or a cocktail, depending on the time of day. In the evenings, there’s even a DJ here some days. You can find the food menu here, and find the drink menu here.
Immediately next to Añejo Tapas Bar is La Reserva, which is the resort’s rum bar (and as part of the property’s activities, there are frequently tastings here).
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo service
Service at the Four Seasons Costa Rica was excellent across the board. Virtually everyone we interacted with was both friendly and professional. I suspect that comes down to two factors — Costa Rica in general has a very friendly and happy workforce, and then Four Seasons specifically does a great job hiring and retaining talent.
From the restaurants, to the pool staff, to the front office associates, we didn’t have a single bad service interaction on property.
Bottom line
The Four Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is a fantastic resort, especially if you’re looking for an easy, active vacation from the United States. The resort has beautiful pools and beaches, a nice selection of high quality restaurants, impeccable service, and a vibe that generally feels different than other places people may vacation (whether it’s Mexico, or Hawaii, or Puerto Rico).
Admittedly there are a lot of places people from the United States can vacation without traveling so far, whether it’s the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, or Hawaii. Personally I think Costa Rica is ideal for those looking for an easy and active vacation that offers something for everyone, in a country with some of the friendliest people out there.
What do you make of the Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo?
Want to take advantage of Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
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