Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

We spent six wonderful days at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo at the very end of our family trip through Costa Rica this summer (before heading off to NY) — two adults and our three kids, aged 14, 12 and 10. We arrived expecting a beautiful resort and left feeling that we had experienced something genuinely exceptional. The setting is spectacular, of course. The resort itself is extraordinary, the peninsula is beautiful, and there is an almost absurd abundance of things to do. But what will stay with us most is not the scenery, the facilities or even the wonderful suite we were given. It is the people. From the moment we arrived, the level of warmth, friendliness, genuine helpfulness and graciousness was simply remarkable. And what struck us most was that this was not limited to a few exceptional individuals: literally everyone we encountered seemed to share the same spirit. There was an extraordinary sense that people were genuinely pleased to see us, genuinely interested in making our stay enjoyable, and always willing to go the extra mile — without ever making it feel forced or formulaic. We were incredibly fortunate to receive an immensely generous upgrade on arrival to a truly amazing suite. We are enormously grateful for this gesture and it made an already special stay even more memorable. But interestingly, the suite was ultimately almost secondary to the experience created by the team. We have stayed at many wonderful Four Seasons properties around the world, and this was undoubtedly one of our very best experiences ever. There are simply too many people to thank individually, but we would very much like to mention some of those who made a particular impression on us: Jose at the Beach Club and Virador was wonderful during dinner, as were Kenneth and Fabo at Virador. At breakfast, Sharon, Adolfo and Santos looked after us beautifully, while Chicky had a nice surprise for us when we discovered his German skills. Our arrival and check-in could not have been more welcoming. Mel, Adrian and the entire welcome team, including even chef Martinez set the tone perfectly from the very beginning. We also particularly enjoyed meeting Eduardo during dinner at Anejo on our first evening, and Kelly, also at Anejo, was another member of the team who made us feel exceptionally well looked after. Isabel, the F&B Manager, was wonderfully attentive, and Gerald and his colleagues at Recreation/Watersports were fantastic when helping us with kayaking and snorkeling equipment. On the beach, Antonio and Isaac were super kind, friendly and helpful. A particular highlight for the whole family was our golf experience with Jonathan, the Golf Pro. He spent an entire morning with all five of us — and we were genuinely absolute beginners. He somehow managed to make golf immediately accessible, fun and intriguing for everyone, while explaining things in a way that meant we could actually hit a few balls surprisingly quickly. He did such a good job that our oldest child immediately wanted to return the very next day for another lesson. I cannot think of a better endorsement from a 14-year-old. The Spa was another highlight for my wife and me. Leidy provided a wonderfully relaxing treatment, while Jonathan was extremely kind and attentive to show me around the Spa facilities overall; both were exceptionally warm and professional. We also want to give special recognition to Justine Kellie Benz at Bahia and Yare, who checked in on us every single day simply to see how we were doing. That kind of personal attention is precisely what makes a stay feel special — and it was very much appreciated. And then there was the Bell Team. To name only some, Karim, Isaac, Carlos and David — whom, unfortunately, we only met on our last day because he had been off — together with the entire team were absolutely fantastic. Whenever we needed a golf cart to take us to or from our room, they were unfailingly cheerful and more than happy to help. Nothing ever seemed like an inconvenience. We also made extensive use of Papagayo Park, which is part of the wider Peninsula Papagayo complex rather than the immediate Four Seasons resort. It is only around a ten-minute shuttle ride away and is a fantastic complement to the resort, particularly for families. There is tennis and padel, a lap pool, a bike course and a range of other activities — but the undisputed highlight for our kids were the waterslides, which they absolutely loved. We went back several times. The convenience is excellent: activities like tennis as well as food and drinks can simply be charged to your Four Seasons bill, and the Bell Team were always delighted to arrange the shuttle for us. The resort gym deserves a special mention in its own right. It is simply extraordinary — one of the best hotel gyms we have ever encountered, with an outstanding range of equipment and facilities. For anyone who actually enjoys training while on holiday, this is a serious facility rather than an afterthought. Ultimately, however, what made this stay so exceptional was the feeling that every single person we encountered cared. The warmth was consistent, the service was wonderfully attentive without ever being intrusive, and there was a genuine sense of good humour and goodwill throughout the resort. We came to Four Seasons Costa Rica as the final stop of a fantastic family journey through Costa Rica before heading off to NY for a couple of days. We left feeling that the six days we spent here somehow became one of the absolute highlights of the entire trip. Thank you to the entire Four Seasons team for an unforgettable stay. We have stayed at a number of Four Seasons hotels and resorts over the years, and this was, without question, one of the very best Four Seasons experiences our family has ever had. We hope very much to return.

Four seasons in Costa Rica is an amazing property. We truly had a wonderful time. The food was amazing, the service was excellent. And the hotel was beautiful. Costa Rica is a beautiful country. The Golf Course on the property was amazing. We want I give a special shout out to two hotel employees who really made us feel like they were welcoming us into their beautiful home. Marvin at the pool & Carolina Bruno . Both truly went above and beyond the service we usually receive at the Four Seasons hotels.

I originally posted this review earlier but was forced to update it and strongly considered deducting a star based on what transpired on our final day: This was our first time to CR and rather than choosing San Jose, I wanted a "resort feel" with upscale accommodations and great service. Four Seasons CR delivers all three in spades. We chose a 2 bedroom villa which included 3 bathrooms (with FOUR showers), a private infinity pool, washer and dryer, full kitchen and outdoor patio deck with fantastic views is the peninsula. We saw monkeys, deer, and iguanas during our daily golf cart commutes around the hotel and surrounding areas and I highly recommend visits to the nearby water park if you have kids in tow and a visit to Nemare steak house is a must if you're a carnivore. Staff is incredibly friendly and responsive and being able to text message a team member with any requests or questions via WhatsApp is a lifesaver. All of the food we ate was very good and the breakfast buffet is a great way to start the day with an impressive spread. The ONLY possible downside is there are very limited options for souvenirs on site but we found a few vendors on Playa Blanco beach which is footsteps from the hotel lobby and one of the restaurants. When we had a very minor issue about service at the spa, it was an addressed quickly and appropriately by management. Again, customer service is often overlooked at many upscale and "high end" resorts and hotels as they rely on the name prestige alone to justify the fees and price. Four Seasons CR does NOT and it shows. If you visit Costa Rica with family and especially a large family and are seeking a relaxing experience in resort environment then Four Seasons should be your first and only option. Pura Vida! UPDATE: I deducted a star from my original review based on what happened during our final night. We returned from our dinner expecting our rooms to be ready to go for our final night of rest and relaxation before our journey home. When I opened the door to the secondary bedroom I immediately got that dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach that I have experienced far too often in other stays, albeit MUCH less expensive ones at that. Right away I noticed pillows and dirty towels all over the room and floor that had clearly not been removed and the sofa bed and not been set up. One might think this is a "small and minor issue" but we have 6 kids and getting them bed with a regular routine is not a small thing and the hotel had in fact followed up numerous times with me via email prior to our arrival to confirm the exact times we needed turn down service and the rooms prepped each night. When I opened the door to the main room/bedroom I noticed that all of the dirty dishes and half eaten food from earlier was still on our table as well. It looked as if housekeeping had done 80% of the cleaning for the main room and then checked out and called it a day, entirely ignoring the second room. This was all the more disappointing considering how great and thorough the housekeeping team had been the previous 2 nights. Again I understand that the sentiment is everyone is entitled to an "off day" but with the prices Four Seasons is charging its guests for these type of villas, that convenient excuse or justification would seem to be waived in perpetuity. Just a very disappointing end to an otherwise incredible stay. However on check out I met with a manager who provided a generous credit to our bill and genuine apology which was appreciated. Because of this effort and the great level of service provided prior to our final night, I decided to keep my initial rating at 5 stars.

The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo exceeded every expectation and delivered one of the best family vacations we've ever had. The setting is simply spectacular. The property is beautifully integrated into the natural landscape, with breathtaking ocean views, lush tropical surroundings, and wildlife everywhere. Every day we saw monkeys, coatis, iguanas, colorful birds, and other wildlife right outside our villa. The service was exceptional from beginning to end. Every team member genuinely seemed to care about making our stay memorable. The hospitality felt warm, personal, and effortless—exactly what you hope for from a Four Seasons. One of the biggest surprises was how much there was to do. Between the beaches, Beach Club, marina, golf, tennis, water sports, hiking trails, kids' activities, and numerous dining options, there was never a shortage of things to enjoy. Traveling with our son, we especially appreciated how family-friendly the resort is without sacrificing the luxury experience. The golf carts make getting around the peninsula incredibly easy, and every area of the resort has its own unique personality. Whether we wanted a quiet morning by the beach, an afternoon at the pool, or dinner overlooking the ocean, everything felt thoughtfully designed. The dining was consistently excellent, and every meal was accompanied by spectacular views. We also appreciated how well the resort balances luxury with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere—you never feel rushed or overly formal. After spending time elsewhere in Costa Rica, we came to appreciate even more what makes Four Seasons Papagayo special. The attention to detail, level of service, quality of the facilities, and overall guest experience truly set it apart. This is one of those rare destinations that lives up to the hype. It is expensive, but if you're looking for a luxury resort that delivers exceptional service, world-class amenities, and an unforgettable experience for both couples and families, it's worth every penny. We left already talking about when we can come back, and that's probably the best compliment we can give.

The resort is beautiful, The Peninsula Papagayo area is stunning, but it's mainly made up of luxury resorts, so if you're looking to experience more of the local culture, we definitely recommend visiting Playas del Coco for local restaurants, shopping, and a more authentic Costa Rican vibe. A special thank you to Gabriel, nomad tours Costa Rica, whom we met at Virador Beach. He recommended the Rainforest Experience, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. He also took some wonderful family photos that we'll always treasure. His recommendations and friendly.. Thank you, Costa Rica! We can't wait to come back.