Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica: Why This One topped the list
I've been to a lot of Four Seasons properties… I’m a bit of super fan of the brand. I think they excel at luxury and have truly mastered the family experience. But this one… it stood out.
the four seasons costa rica will be top of my recommendation list for families and if i’m honest, it’s on my short list for a return visit.
why is it topping my list? let’s break it down.
First: The Peninsula Papagayo Context
Before we even talk about the Four Seasons specifically, you need to understand the papagayo Peninsula — because it's not just a resort.
It's a gorgeous gated resort Spread across 1,400 acres on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast. the entire peninsula is privately owned and master-planned with an intentionally low development footprint. The surrounding land is part of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste — a UNESCO World Heritage site covering 400,000+ acres of protected wildlands. So when I say you feel immersed in nature here, I mean it in the most literal way.
Within the peninsula gates, there are currently three luxury hotels:
Four Seasons — the original, the OG of the peninsula, and still (in my completely unbiased opinion 😊) the best address there.
Andaz Costa Rica — a more lively, design-forward Hyatt property with a lot of personality and great energy.
Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve — the newest addition, which opened in 2025 and is extraordinary in its own right — ultra-private, ultra-luxe, with treetop tents and panoramic ocean views.
The peninsula also has private residences, a golf course, a marina, and the newly opened Papagayo Park — a stunning social and recreational hub with a splash pad waterpark, pickleball, padel, tennis, a lap pool, a pump track, basketball courts, dining venues, and family play zones. It is basically its own little world in there, and you genuinely never need to leave.
But back to it….
The Four Seasons: Best Real Estate on the Peninsula, and It's Not Close
Here's what makes the Four Seasons so special from a pure location standpoint: it was the first hotel on the peninsula, and it claimed the best piece of land. The resort sits right at the tip of the property flanked by two completely different beaches — and that dual-beach situation is truly one of the things that makes this property unlike almost anything else in Costa Rica.
Playa Blanca faces Culebra Bay — calmer water, beautiful for swimming, and home to the water sports center. Kayaks, paddleboards, Hobie cats, boat rides, dolphin-spotting excursions. The energy here is active and fun. Beach service is excellent and the kids will spend half their vacation in the water.
Playa Virador faces the open Pacific and has an entirely different vibe — quieter, more dramatic, and absolutely gorgeous at sunset. Rows of beach chairs, a swimming area perfect for smaller kids, and those long golden-hour sunsets.
Two beaches. Two completely different moods. All yours. You're welcome.
The Renovation: Just... Go See It
The Four Seasons Papagayo completed a $35 million renovation in late 2023 and it shows in the best possible way. The Virador Beach Club, the Wellness Shala, the golf course, But the thing I want to talk about specifically is what they did to the kids' space.
Kids For All Seasons was completely transformed, and it is so good now. The space was designed to compliment the surrounding nature but with the bold + explosive color that attracts kids. They have their own pool here and outside play area as well.
And if you’re new to the fs brand, the kids for all seasons program is complimentary with your stay.
I’ll also mention that the teens club was also a highlight — you can visit with your younger children supervised. they have a mini soccer field, pickleball court and half court basketball as well as their inside gaming area!
What Your Family Will Actually Do Here
Here's the thing about Papagayo — you could stay entirely on property for your whole trip and never once feel like you're missing out. But if you want to explore, the surrounding area of Guanacaste delivers.
On property:
two beaches with full service, four pools, the renovated kids club, golf, tennis, spa, five restaurants, boat excursions, watersports, dolphin watching, night walks to spot hermit crabs and nesting turtles (!!), and now Papagayo Park for even more activity options.
Off property:
ziplining through the forest canopy, ATV adventures, white water rafting, snorkeling, wildlife tours — the whole Costa Rica adventure menu is right there. The resort's concierge team is excellent and knows exactly how to put a day together for families of every age and energy level.
One thing I always tell families: plan a mix of active adventure days and slow beach days, because once you're back on property with Playa Virador at sunset and a cocktail in your hand, you're going to want time to just be there. Trust me on this one.
Book your stay with us for perks :
As a preferred partner with Four Seasons, booking your Papagayo stay through Bern Voyage Travel means you receive:
✨ Complimentary daily breakfast for two adults, included. reminder : Kids 5 and under eat free at this four seasons property.
💳 $100 hotel credit to use during your stay — spa, dining, excursions, your call
⬆️ Room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
These perks are not available booking directly or through third-party sites. This is one of the most tangible benefits of working with a travel advisor, and I love being able to deliver them for my clients.
The Bottom Line
Four Seasons Papagayo is one of those properties I could recommend to any type of traveler — couples, families, multi-generational groups — and know with complete confidence that they're going to come back obsessed. The two beaches, the new park, the kids' club transformation, the setting inside this extraordinary peninsula surrounded by wildlands — it all adds up to something that really doesn't have many equals in Central America.
If Costa Rica is on your radar, this is where I'm sending you.
