It’s all the time a delight once we get to return to the perfect luxurious resort in a rustic a few years later and see the way it has progressed. We not too long ago returned to the 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica, simply earlier than its twentieth birthday, and it was an amazing expertise throughout. We are able to’t say it seems to be model new since, in contrast to at a brand new resort, all of the bushes and vegetation are mature, however after main renovations, the lodge seems to be shiny and impeccably maintained throughout.
Whereas the renovations have been unfold all throughout the property and extra are on the way in which, like a hillside “Wellness Shala” yoga middle with an enormous platform and a view, the 2 key areas to get a revamp have been the swimming pool complicated and the suites. We lined all of these elements intimately in our evaluate of 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, so go test that out in case you’re planning on flying into Liberia and reserving a keep.
Even in our longer evaluations, nevertheless, we will’t get to all the pieces. So listed below are a couple of elements of this standout property that have been particularly spectacular, together with a video tour that provides you with a really feel for this high-end Costa Rica luxurious resort.
Three Swimming pools and Two Seashores
In order for you a change of surroundings while you’re lounging at this resort, you don’t must go very far. Three swimming swimming pools provide completely different vibes. The most important one on the high is closest to the primary buildings, with two lunch eating places and most of the resort’s rooms close by.
The one under that’s roped off for adults solely. This one has a number of staffers fetching drinks and meals in an space that’s off-limits to splashing youngsters. It has lounge chairs and shaded cabana daybeds (with a hefty US$600 further price) and appears out on the seashore and water by the bushes.
On the backside is one other pool open to everybody, this infinity pool being simply above the seashore. It’s solely steps away from the open-air beachfront restaurant and bar.
Then in relation to seashores, you may sit at one and watch the dawn, then hit the opposite one on the finish of the day for sundown. That’s as a result of the 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo isn’t solely on the big peninsula it’s named for, however it occupies a smaller peninsula that’s a part of the entire, a finger extending out into the Pacific Ocean.
In each spots, the water is calm sufficient that the little ones gained’t get knocked over and so they’re each lengthy sufficient for a stroll. Kayaks and paddleboards are on the prepared, with guided excursions obtainable some days, and infrequently there are actions on the seashore which can be included within the price. Within the video above you’ll see s’mores evening in motion.
Paradise for Youngsters in Costa Rica
My daughter is off on her personal now, however when she was little I introduced her to 4 Seasons Punta Mita and it spoiled her for years. After the 4 Seasons group will get to your kids, you’ll have hassle dwelling as much as that normal in any future stays.
That’s very true on the 4 Seasons in Costa Rica as a result of they exit of their means to verify the children are joyful so the mother and father are joyful, from toddlers up by teenagers. There are deliberate actions day-after-day for the entire household and only for youngsters, to allow them to do one thing energetic and academic day-after-day on this nature-focused nation.
The children membership right here is the best I’ve ever seen, one thing clearly put collectively by a proficient designer who wished to impart a way of place. There are nooks with pillows that seem like rocks, stuffed sloths hanging round, and modular furnishings models that may transfer round. Outdoors is a playground and shallow pool. For the design they introduced in Athens-based architect Polyanna Paraskeva, identified for creating useful studying areas solely for youngsters
Then after they get to the seashore, the little ones can be delighted with all of the sand toys sitting out ready for them: toy vehicles, buckets, shovels, sand fortress molds, and extra. Each restaurant has a youngsters’ menu and there are all type of enjoyable smoothies, shakes, and mocktails for them.
Teenagers aren’t disregarded although: they’ve their very own hidden-away membership with a pool desk, video video games with shaking chairs, and an out of doors basketball and soccer space.
A Devoted Tasting Room
The final time I skilled a lodge with its personal rum room was within the now-defunct Mukul in beleaguered Nicaragua. There’s one at this 4 Seasons although known as La Reserva and it’s an expansive place stuffed with pure gentle. Naturally they’ve each model of Centenario Costa Rican rum so that you can attempt, but additionally bottles from all around the area similar to Ron Zacapa, Botran, Diplomatico, Abuelo, and Flor de Cana.
The resort provides frequently scheduled rum and chocolate tastings, a category on making your individual infused rum, and mixology courses the place you possibly can hone your bartending expertise. You may expertise it in case you don’t drink alcohol too: there’s additionally a espresso tasting workshop.
A Low-key Stress-free Spa
I’ve discovered over time that I seldom get good spa pictures as a result of by nature, spas are supposed to chill out you, not distract you with a bunch of showy designs that draw your consideration. The spa right here embraces that philosophy, with an area that lets the character outdoors by the home windows be the main focus whereas the inside is minimalist and calm.
The services embody what you’d anticipate when it comes to steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools, with a pleasant leisure space for earlier than or after your therapy. I went for a deep tissue therapeutic massage and actually wanted it, with a laptop-work-induced knot in my proper shoulder that I couldn’t appear to shake.
My therapist went to work on my entire physique however with a give attention to eliminating that knot and he succeeded. He additionally spent a while afterward speaking about some stretching workout routines to try to these have helped as nicely. See the therapy choices right here.
Native Drinks and Components at 4 Seasons Costa Rica
One of many first issues I have a look at once I cross close to a lodge bar is whether or not they have any native beer on faucet. Then I have a look at the liquor choice to see in the event that they’re stocked up on what’s from that nation. This resort made me pleased with its craft beer from a neighborhood brewer that I bought to order on faucet and there’s loads of rum from Costa Rica obtainable, not simply within the tasting room.
Extra importantly, the kitchens supply all that they will from inside driving distance, together with good Costa Rican espresso, the wealth of tropical fruit that’s obtainable all 12 months, and greens grown on close by farms. I had some scrumptious juices within the morning and a few very fresh-tasting salads that clearly didn’t come from a plastic bag.
The property has its personal natural backyard for a lot of objects similar to herbs and microgreens, mitigating the necessity to transport these from outdoors the gates.
Concierges on Name Via an App
The 4 Seasons properties all make use of an app you can set up in your telephone, an app that acknowledges who you might be and which resort you might be in. It was slightly buggy for me once I was on the new 4 Seasons Tamarindo in Mexico, however it labored flawlessly in Costa Rica besides once I was on an tour and bought out of vary.
The principle public space at this 4 Seasons Costa Rica is pretty compact, so it’s not an extended trek to get to the foyer and speak to the concierge, however with this app it’s straightforward to achieve them and get a response at any time, regardless of who’s on obligation. I used to be capable of organize that tour, make dinner reservations, verify a spa appointment, and even lease a automobile then change the pickup time when one thing got here up.
A month later I’m nonetheless coping with an overcharge from Nationwide to get a partial credit score again on the automobile, so I’m actually glad I’ve this staff in my pocket to type it out as an alternative of making an attempt to take care of a overseas rental automobile firm by myself, lengthy distance.
The Unique Sustainable Luxurious Resort
Once I first visited the 4 Seasons Costa Rica greater than a decade in the past, the resort was doing what many trade skeptics mentioned couldn’t be finished: wean luxurious vacationers off of single-use plastic water bottles. It seems that the overwhelming majority of vacationers will do the fitting factor if given the possibility and this resort proved it was no huge deal to make use of refillable containers as an alternative.
There are refilling stations all through the resort and on the golf course. Friends are inspired to drink the superbly good Costa Rican water that’s most likely purer than what you get in your native grocery store. Bamboo straws, cardboard cups, sunscreen dispensers, and material laundry luggage within the rooms hold the plastic away from the peninsula.
These are simply probably the most seen variations although. By serving extra dishes that use native components and placing system adjustments in place, the resort has lowered meals waste by half. As a substitute of tossing objects which can be getting changed, there’s a system in place to donate them to regional organizations serving households in want.
Latest renovations to the golf course irrigation system have decreased water use by 20% and elevated the vegetation by 12 acres. The course is without doubt one of the few on the planet to be designated as an Audubon Reserve. See extra on their devoted sustainability web page.
See extra pictures and our detailed evaluate of this 4 Seasons Resort in Costa Rica.
