We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Hotels + Resorts Hotel Reviews This Stunning Costa Rica Hotel Just Got a Multimillion-dollar Renovation — With a Surf School, Golf Course, and Brand-new Wellness Shala The 198-room Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo is located in Guanacaste. By Samantha Leal Samantha Leal Samantha Leal is a writer, editor, and content strategist who covers all the good things in life—style, beauty, travel, drinks, and more. She's held editor roles at Well+Good, Marie Claire, Latina magazine, and The Knot, and her byline can be found all over, including Byrdie, ELLE, Fast Company, Parade, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on May 9, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article How to Book The Rooms Food and Drink Activities and Amenities The Spa Family-Friendly Offerings Accessibility and Sustainability Location How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons "Did I find paradise?" I think as I sip my cocktail and eat fruit delicately cut into shapes and placed neatly in a container — a sight for the eyes and sweetness for the mouth. Opened two decades ago, the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo received a multi-million remodel that finished at the end of 2023, and it has never been more ready for visitors. Located in Papagayo, a peninsula of the Golden Coast of Costa Rica, the 120-acre resort is sandwiched between the expansive Pacific Ocean, where the beach chairs beckon, and another bay called Playa Blanca, where SurfX, its surfing program and pavilion, invites you to ride some waves, paddleboard, or kayak. The property's crown jewel is the new, state-of-the-art Wellness Shala, welcoming you into serenity above the trees and water. It's a gorgeous architectural marvel that perfectly blends in with its environment, and you’ll find yourself in a zen-like state before your yoga experience or (my favorite) the sound healing session begins. Playing gongs and sound bowls relaxed me into total relaxation before returning to the property's central heart with its newly renovated on-site spa. The property is sprawling, at 120 acres, which you can explore with e-bikes or walking. It’s seriously one of the most relaxing stays — soon you’ll be living the life of pura vida. Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo The expansive property has six restaurants, three pools, a wellness shala, and an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. The Virador Beach Club has an oceanside restaurant and an adults-only infinity edge pool with private cabanas to rent.The design and open-air concept of the communal spaces give the feeling that you are immersed in the natural setting. The rooms are spacious and have private balconies for relaxing. How to Book Address: 26Km al Norte del Doit Centre Liberia, Peninsula Papagayo, Carrillo, Guanacaste 5000 Costa Rica Phone: 800-781-5700 Website: fourseasons.com/costarica Book Now The Rooms Don Riddle/Courtesy of Four Seasons With 198 rooms, tropical landscapes surround all, and the sounds of wildlife can be heard from private balconies. (Don’t worry; they feature mosquito netting to keep bugs at bay, perfect for sipping tea or coffee in the morning while you listen to the far-off waves crashing.) The beds are fluffy, and snooze-inducing (I almost couldn’t will my body out of it, which makes sense, given their 60-year reputation of quality mattresses), and the giant bathtub is the perfect addition to a relaxing stay. Suites and private residences are also available. CHRISTIAN HORAN/Courtesy of Four Seasons Book Now Food and Drink Courtesy of Four Seasons The Virador Beach Club, the new shining star of the property, is helmed by Chef Khaled Natour, who comes from Shafaram in Israel. The club offers Mediterranean eats, including Mezze plates, labneh, moussaka, kabobs, and more. Watch the waves roll in on the patio as you sip a spritz, or see the stars as you enjoy dinner and dessert. If you’re not feeling the beach club vibe, you can opt for Latin grill Bahia, which features a wood-fired open kitchen and is also the spot for breakfast. Nemare, a steakhouse, is delicious and feels like you’re almost going off-property as it's a short shuttle-ride away at the Peninsula Papagayo golf house. Palapita, set at the tennis center, offers Costa Rican street food and brews for easy nibbles. Añejo is the main bar, and in the morning, it provides quick grab items like acai bowls; in the evening, it features tapas and crudo. Lastly, and one of my favorites, is Pesce, the elegant Italian eatery with indoor and outdoor dining. (And, of course, there’s always room service.) Larizza Hernandez Sanchez/Courtesy of Four Seasons Book Now Activities and Amenities Courtesy of Four Seasons The resort offers many activities, including golf on the impressive 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course and water activities from the SurfX HQ right on the Playa Blanca beach. Surfing lessons, as well as lessons for the eFoil surfboard, paddle boarding, kayaking, and scuba diving are available. Tennis, volleyball, and other team sports are available. You can also work with staff to rent things like catamarans. The Spa Courtesy of Four Seasons The property has a renovated, on-site spa with multiple treatment rooms, beautiful locker rooms, excellent showers, and access to same-sex hydrotherapy pools. It also has a new, state-of-the-art Wellness Shala set at the tip of the resort (away from the spa, where a staffer drives you up in a golf cart), high above the trees. It’s an architectural marvel that becomes one with the environment, and there, you can partake in yoga classes, private or group, and sound healing sessions. Spa offerings at the on-site spa range from a Signature Rainforest Massage to facials using Biologique Recherche and my Tsuru Cacao Ancestral Ritual was one that centered around Costa Rican cacao, where I was wrapped like a tamale and relaxed in the heat and massage. Post-ritual, I enjoyed tea in the relaxation room before trying out the hydrotherapy pools. Family-Friendly Offerings The resort welcomes children and families of all ages. It has a remodeled kids’ club, designed exclusively for children by Greek architect Polyanna Paraskeva, with natural materials and bright colors that are used to mimic the lush and diverse ecosystems of the mangroves surrounding Peninsula Papagayo, inviting children to play and explore. There’s also the Tuanis Teen Center; all hubs employ staff specially trained for children and young teens. Kids and families can go for hikes and join for beach volleyball and soccer. Accessibility and Sustainability The resort features ADA-compliant rooms and the Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo is an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, making sustainability a core factor. The 18-hole, par-72 Arnold Palmer Signature course and driving range includes a precision irrigation system that will reduce water usage by 20 percent. Location Located on the 1,400-acre Papagayo Peninsula, located on the north Pacific Coast in Costa Rica (in the province of Guanacaste), it’s a 40-minute drive from the closest airport of Liberia Guanacaste (LIR). How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay The hotel regularly offers specials, including up to 25 percent off stays paid for in advance, a complimentary fifth night free, and resort credit packages, including up to $2,000 credit toward golf, activities, and spa treatments.