Four Seasons Hotel, Papagayo, Costa Rica

Where do I start with this property? As a Four Seasons Hotel veteran (to-date I’ve stayed at 31 Four Seasons properties around the world), I can safely say that the Papagayo property easily ranks in my top 5 list! I visited the property in May 2016 for a family vacation and had a phenomenal time!

The Four Seasons Hotel is located in the breathtaking Peninsula Papagayo, it is the only Forbes 5 Star rated resort in Central and South America and is located on a Pacific hillside oasis which overlooks two golden sandy beaches. The property is the perfect place to experience a balance of scenic views, luxury, eco-tourism, relaxation, adventure, golf and culinary delights. The entire property is exceptionally photogenic and is nestled in Costa Rica’s incredible natural beauty so keep those cameras handy at all times!

For our 10-day stay, I had booked two Terraza Rooms, each of which is 56 m2 (603 sq. ft.) and was pleasantly surprised when both rooms were upgraded to the Pacifico Two-Bedroom Resort Residence upon check-in. The two-bedroom residence accommodated us all as a family of four and gave us significantly more space at 177 m2 (1,904 sq. ft.). The room had a view of the dry forest, two full bathrooms, two king beds, a spacious living room, a dining room, a patio and a small balcony. The room was a massive upgrade over the Terraza Rooms and made our stay more comfortable and memorable.

The property had 5 dining choices: Sol y Sombra, Cena Sociale, Caracol, CR Burger Shack and Tico’s. Throughout my stay, I tried all dining options as well as ordered room service on several occasions. The food was impeccably delicious and consistent across the board and my favorites were Caracol, which offered USDA and local Costa Rican cuts, and Cena Sociale which offered Italian cuisine and seafood made from the freshest local and organic ingredients as well an extensive selection of wine. I highly suggest you book ahead of time especially if you are visiting the property during the high season.

The beaches at the property are phenomenal! I prefer Playa Virador as it is wider, has a cozier feel and an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. On designated beach days, I spent most of the time at Playa Virador and right before sunset un-winded by the hotel pool (which was less busier then). I took out a jet ski from the beach and explored the surrounding area which was an awesome experience; one can take the jet ski in to a river and a swamp marsh. Overall, there are a ton of activities to do on-site at the hotel but I highly recommend designate several days to take excursions outside of the hotel.

This is where the hotel is exceptional! The concierge service was by far some of the best I’ve seen anywhere around the world (I’ve traveled to 76 countries and stayed at countless properties). The staff at the concierge was extremely helpful in organizing private tours and excursions. During my 10-day stay, I visited Palo Verde National Park, Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, Sensoria in Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Volcano Arenal, Rio Perdido Hot Springs and took a private boat tour around some of the neighboring beaches and islets in the Peninsula. I highly recommend all these excursions, in fact while it is tempting to spend the whole time lazing away on the beach and indulging in the delicious food and drinks on the premises, in order to really experience some of the marvels the country has to offer, these excursions are ideal. Before you leave, be sure to book a 90-minute massage at the hotel’s signature spa which is easily world class.

Overall, I had an incredible experience at the Four Seasons Hotel in Papagayo. The upgraded room was amazing, the service was exceptional, the staff was very friendly, the location was phenomenal and the attention to detail on all fronts was very difficult not to notice. I will definitely come back to the property in the future!

 

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