Just returned from a short trip to Costa Rica to visit the Four Seasons Resort on the Papagayo Peninsula which is on the northwest coast. It's the only hotel on the peninsula (and the top full amenity resort in Costa Rica) with 2 beaches, a championship golf course, 4 tennis courts, an award winning spa, and 4 different restaurants. The list of potential things to do includes snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, bird watching, fitness classes - the gym is two floors with state of the art cardio equipment on one entire floor. Full day options off property (more about my zip line adventure later)include a day tour to Granada, Nicaragua for colonial history or a full day to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Rio Celeste - known for it's beautiful blue water if you want serious hiking or river rafting. There's another beach club for guest and residents only about 10 minutes drive away with more pools, beach and restaurant. The hotel takes you by complimentary shuttle or you can take a 25-30 minute hike. You could spend a week here and not be bored!
It's a wonderful resort, 155 rooms, suites, and residences so the only problem is choosing! The service throughout is superb. All of the guest rooms are in 3 four story buildings. Huge rooms, 600 square feet, with 200 square foot terraces - beautiful dark hardwood floors which I love because I'm always barefoot so these were cool and smooth. All the terraces have a very fine mesh screen that you hardly notice - but really appreciate (there are bugs, this is the tropics!). Suites with multiple bedrooms and private plunge pools are scattered on the hillsides, as well as the private residences that are managed by the hotel with kitchens, plunge pools, incredible views, full resort privileges. Families or couples traveling together have lots of options here.
This time of year is known as the "green season" although this far north in mid July, that generally just means morning or afternoon showers, sometimes with thunder and lightning. The upside of this time of year is that everything is so lush and green. In the dry season during November to April, there is no rain but many of the trees drop their leaves so it's not as lush. Our first day was a tropical storm so it was a downpour but still 85 degrees so a great time to experience the spa! I'm not a big spa person so not the best to evaluate in terms of comparison to other spas but I loved this facility and my massage was great.
The day we decided to try zip lining was sunny and clear so off we went to the Witches Rock Canopy Tour. After signing the release forms (essentially if you're crazy enough to try this, don't blame anyone else!) we were strapped into harnesses and clips, given helmets and big leather gloves, and led off up the trail to the first platform. Eleven platforms with wire bridges hundreds of feet off the forest floor, hikes and ladders, and up to half mile zip lines between each platform. It was strenuous and challenging and after my first panic attack, exhilarating! If you ever wanted to be Tarzan, this is for you - try it.
Insider Tip - a must do is the Trail of the Giants golf course tour. This is a guided visit by golf carts to see the signature holes which have fantastic views and the secret is that you also see the most wildlife here - iguanas, monkeys, coati (sort of a racoon), birdlife. It's a lot of fun whether or not you're a golfer and you learn quite a bit about the ecology of the area too.
A new option for guests here is the opportunity to participate in a community outreach program. As we were a group of 14, our project was to paint the outside of a local school. The resort provided the transportation so we arrived to find everything ready for us to get started - paint, brushes/rollers, and gloves. It was a holiday but there were a small group of kids there, shy and giggling and cute as could be in their uniforms. We got to it and in under 2 hours had given it a new look - it wasn't a professional job by any means but we did our best and made it fun. They were really appreciative of our efforts -I have to say it did look better than when we arrived! The volunteers at the program match up a guest request to participate with an appropriate project depending on how much time the guest wants to donate, how many people are involved, etc. It's a great way to give something back and see the results while enjoying this beautiful country.
It's fairly easy to get here, flights arrive at Liberia airport and the ground transfer is about 40 minutes on good roads. I wouldn't hesitate to include the Four Seasons in a more comprehensive Costa Rica itinerary, but it's just fine all by itself for a long week's vacation - great service, multiple restaurants with good food, beautiful accomodations,sandy beaches and warm sea water, the choice to be as active as you want or do nothing at all - what's not to like about that?!
