On the map, the resort looks almost improbable: a slender neck of land on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast with a beach on either side, one facing the calm Culebra Bay and the other opening toward the sunset. Wrapped around it are some 1,400 acres of tropical dry forest where howler monkeys call at dawn and white-faced capuchins pick their way along the rooftops. In the middle of it all sits Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, the country's benchmark for beach luxury.
The resort has held Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star rating for many years running. What makes it work for honeymooners is the range. You can spend one day doing nothing more strenuous than ordering a cocktail at the kid-free pool and the next surfing Witch's Rock or zip-lining through the canopy. Either way, finish with dinner by the water. It is also an easy 40-minute drive from Liberia's airport, which makes it a natural beach finale after a few days in Arenal's rainforest.
Highlights at a glance
- Long-running Forbes Five-Star resort
- Two beaches on either side of a dramatic isthmus
- Canopy Suites with private infinity-edge plunge pools
- Kid-free Serena Pool near Virador Beach
- Arnold Palmer–designed championship golf course
- Just 40 minutes from Liberia International Airport
Between Two Beaches
The resort's geography is its signature. Playa Blanca, on the bay side, is sheltered and glassy, ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding and an easy morning swim. Playa Virador, on the other side of the isthmus, has a livelier, more open feel and is home to the Virador Beach Club. Between them, buildings designed by Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher climb the hillside, using natural materials and organic curves that let them settle into the landscape.
The open-air lobby sets the tone the moment you arrive: ocean breezes, parrots overhead and the low rumble of howler monkeys somewhere in the trees. Because the surrounding peninsula is a carefully managed reserve, the dry forest stays wild. Wildlife sightings are part of everyday life here.
Rooms and Canopy Suites
Rooms were refreshed by Meyer Davis, with bamboo, tropical hardwoods and a palette of earthy reds, corals and teals. Standard rooms come in Terraza, Brisa and Cielo categories, which share the same layout and differ mainly by floor; the higher you go, the better your odds of a peek at the bay through the treetops. Bathrooms feature double sinks, glass showers and a deep soaking tub.
For a honeymoon, the Canopy Suites are the sweet spot. Set higher on the hillside, they come with infinity-edge plunge pools and long views over forest and water. The resort itself pitches them as its most private option for couples. If you want to go further still, the hillside Miramar Suite and the resort's private villas and residences offer their own pools and dedicated attendants.
A Table on the Pacific
With half a dozen restaurants and several bars, you could stay a week without repeating a meal.
- Nemare, the signature restaurant at the golf clubhouse, is a smoke-kissed Latin steakhouse known for long-aged steaks and inventive cocktails.
- Bahia serves Latin American dishes from a wood-fired open kitchen all day, including a generous breakfast spread.
- Pesce focuses on seafood and handmade pastas with thoughtful wine pairings.
- The Virador Beach Club leans Eastern Mediterranean with a Costa Rican twist, right beside the sand.
- Anejo moves from açaí bowls by day to tapas and DJ sets after dark.
- La Reserva is a rum bar where you can blend your own infusions with the resident mixologist.
Complimentary tastings and classes, from ceviche making to rum sampling, are a fun way to fill a lazy afternoon.
Why guests fall for it
Spa, Shala and Slow Afternoons
The spa was renovated with stone, wood and soft neutrals and has eighteen treatment rooms, three of them designed for couples. Rituals draw on local ingredients such as volcanic clay, cacao and Costa Rican coffee. Treatments for two are a highlight of many honeymoon itineraries. After your treatment, linger in the spa's indoor cabanas before wandering back to the pool.
The Wellness Shala adds yoga, sound baths, breathwork and private sessions. Among the four pools, the Serena Pool near Virador Beach is reserved for adults and is the quietest spot on property. For a splurge, reserve a cabana at the Virador Beach Club, where a dedicated bartender and in-cabana massages are on offer.
Adventure on the Doorstep
Guanacaste is made for active couples. The resort's team builds itineraries around whatever you enjoy. Surfers can take a boat to Witch's Rock, one of Costa Rica's most famous breaks. Golfers can play the Arnold Palmer–designed championship course, which winds through the peninsula's dry forest with ocean vistas along the way. On the water, there is sea kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and sportfishing.
On land, try a zip-line canopy tour near the resort, a guided hike to secluded Playa Prieta or a nighttime wildlife walk to spot creatures that only appear after dark. Five tennis courts and a fitness center round things out. Farther afield, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, with its volcanic mud pots, makes a memorable day trip.
Why Couples Keep Coming Back
Read through guest reviews and the same delights surface repeatedly. The setting wins hearts first: couples love having two very different beaches within a short walk and seeing monkeys, coatis and colorful birds right from their balconies. The service style earns steady praise as calm, professional and personal, with staff who remember preferences and tailor plans to each couple.
Guests also rave about the food, singling out the breakfast spread at Bahia and dinners at Pesce and Nemare. They appreciate the generous menu of complimentary tastings and classes, too. Many mention the beds and the welcoming arrival. Families and couples alike say the resort feels spacious enough that everyone finds their own quiet corner.
Good to Know
This is a full-service resort that welcomes families, not a kid-free property. Couples looking for calm should spend time at the Serena Pool and the Virador side of the isthmus. Consider a Canopy Suite for added privacy.
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's driest region. The dry season, roughly December through April, brings near-constant sunshine and is the busiest time; the green season from May to November turns the forest lush, with afternoon showers and generally lower rates.
Rates sit firmly in the ultra-luxury bracket. The resort is not all-inclusive, so budget for dining and activities. Pre-arranging the resort's airport transfer makes arrival at LIR painless. The two resort beaches are generally gentle, but open Pacific beaches farther afield can have rip currents, so swim where locals do. Mosquitoes are busiest in the green season and dengue occurs in Costa Rica; if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for this destination.
Insider tips
- If you book a standard room, request a Cielo (top-floor) room for the best chance of a bay view through the trees.
- Spend at least one afternoon at the kid-free Serena Pool and book a Virador Beach Club cabana for a special day.
- Go on the guided hike to Playa Prieta early in the morning when wildlife is most active.
- Combine with three or four nights in Arenal first and finish here; LIR is only 40 minutes away for your flight home.
