This Gorgeous Costa Rican Resort Is Nestled Between 2 Crescent-shaped Bays — and Was Simply Named One of many Greatest Inns within the World

Slowly making my manner via the semi-open hallway of the 4 Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo for a morning yoga class, I notice I am not the one one up properly earlier than 6 a.m. on a Saturday. My eyes are drawn to a gaggle of coatis on the lookout for breakfast that emerge from the luxurious crops close to the walkway. Every day wildlife encounters at this lush beachfront resort are a part of the expertise.

On the tip of Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the 198-key property, considered one of Journey + Leisure’s newly introduced prime 500 motels on the earth, is surrounded by tropical dry forest bustling with shade and wildlife. Nestled between two calm, crescent-shaped bays, visitors at 4 Seasons Costa Rica have entry to a few extensive, sandy seashores along with the three swimming pools, 5 eating places, a spa, many family-friendly facilities, and an Arnold Palmer championship golf course.

Whereas the lodge opened in 2004, it acquired a $35-million facelift on the finish of 2017, giving the general public areas and visitor rooms a brand new look. Now, after a 40-minute trip from Liberia Worldwide Airport, vacationers are greeted by the courteous workers with chilled coconuts in a spacious open-air foyer and may verify in from massive, snug sofas. 

When famend Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher was designing the sprawling property, he put his signature naturalist method to work, making certain that, whereas spectacular in measurement, the resort was not overwhelming the panorama and, as an alternative, blended with it. Consequently, the resort has 5 earth-colored buildings sculpted in sinuous shapes paying homage to the native natural world, completely camouflaging into its lush setting. 

The biophilic theme continues within the spacious rooms and suites the place textures, colours, and supplies rejoice Mom Nature in a complicated manner. Conceived by Meyer Davis Design Studio, the decor incorporates native wooden, artwork sourced from native Indigenous communities, and an natural shade palette provides a simple, inviting luxurious ambiance. My favourite function within the visitor rooms had been the big personal balconies and patios separated from the bedrooms through French doorways. I left mine open at night time (don’t fret, the balconies have mosquito nets), so I might go to sleep — and get up — to the soothing sound of crashing waves.

For individuals who’d wish to splurge, the resort has one- and three-bedroom suites with sweeping ocean or jungle views and personal plunge swimming pools. Or if full privateness and seclusion are on the prime of your want listing, lease one of many sprawling Prieta Bay Residences that vary from three-to-five bedrooms and have personal swimming swimming pools and expansive outside areas for leisure and lounging. The resort’s latest providing is the spectacular Casa Las Olas, a sprawling six-bedroom compound with a sunken courtyard and a 150-foot infinity-edge pool with 180-degree ocean and bay views. 

Meals is well one of many highlights of this award-winning resort. Whereas the 5 eating ideas have a definite theme and aesthetic, all of them have one factor in widespread — domestically sourced natural produce, seafood, and meats. Bahia, the lodge’s all-day alfresco eatery overlooking the swimming pools and the seashore focuses on grilled fare, and was my go-to spot for breakfast (strive the normal Costa Rican chorreado and the fruit-topped açaí bowl) and lunch (the place I savored ceviche with mahi mahi).

Sundown hour is greatest spent with cocktails and lightweight bites at Añejo, an open-air lounge-like house with a nightly DJ and stay music. Pesce, the resort’s Italian eatery, has a definite coastal vibe due to the numerous seafood choices on the menu, corresponding to yellowtail tuna carpaccio and grilled octopus salad. Lastly, steakhouse Nemare is positioned at Peninsula Papagayo’s golf clubhouse, a brief 10-minute golf-cart trip from the lodge rooms, and treats patrons to premium dry-aged beef and smoky cocktails (nemare means “smoke” in within the native Indigenous language).

As a resort that advertises itself as family-friendly, the youngsters’ membership really stands out. The property’s Children For All Seasons program was designed to teach its youngest visitors concerning the lush setting whereas conserving them entertained with actions corresponding to hermit crab and treasure hunts on the seashore, bird-watching, and aquatic video games on the youngsters’ pool, lined with cute kid-sized cabanas and solar loungers.

And for the adults, actions embody yoga lessons, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, mountaineering, monkey recognizing, and mountain biking. The resort’s surf faculty, SurfX, has been steadily increasing for the previous couple of years and now provides every part from newbie lessons and boat excursions to famend Witches Rock surf break to workshops that assist surfers enhance their breathwork, focus, and suppleness, and enjoyable occasions celebrating native surf tradition. 

“In partnership with Peninsula Papagayo, 4 Seasons has created essentially the most wonderful experiences in our 1,400-acre yard that connects our visitors to nature whereas additionally giving them the flexibleness to return to the resort in only a few minutes,” Ian-Robert Ciappara, the property’s common supervisor, advised Journey + Leisure. “Visitor can select their very own journey with land actions like The Outpost with ziplining or water-based like browsing with SurfX or water bikes.”

Nightly charges at 4 Seasons Costa Rica begin from $1,035, and you’ll e book your keep at fourseasons.com