Four Seasons Costa Rica, The Nicoya Peninsula

Location

Papagayo Peninsula (The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica)

Description

A secluded resort hotel in extensive grounds on a private peninsula. There are excellent facilities including pretty swimming pools, two white-sand beaches and a sophisticated spa and gym complex on site.

Activities

There is an 18 hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer on the property, and many beach and water-based activities are available within the hotel complex. Excursions further afield such as diving or deep sea fishing can be booked locally. During turtle nesting season, the turtles can be seen on the beach and even wandering up into the hotel grounds looking for somewhere to lay their eggs!

Accommodation

120 spacious and comfortable rooms and villas are set in beautiful gardens and up the hillsides, overlooking the sea in several directions.

Our comments

This hotel is great for families as there is a full programme each day of fun activities to join in with (such as salsa or cookery classes), all free of charge. Unusually for Costa Rica, the sea here is normally calm and therefore great for swimming (especially important for children). We would advise booking on a room-only basis, to leave yourself free to choose from the many exclusive or more casual dining options around the peninsula.

Client comments and reviews

A self contained luxury resort on a stunningly beautiful peninsula, 30 minutes from the nearest town. The hotel could be anywhere and from the look and feel might be more at home in Hawaii than Costa Rica but the service is terrific and the spa was one of best I have been to. Downsides are the isolation and the food which was bland and relatively expensive (note that prices do not include local taxes and service). - PF (January 2007)